Elektra Women's Choir present Reading Session of New Compositions

Elektra Women's Choir is pleased to present a reading session of new works for women's choir by local composers, Chris Sivak, Rita Ueda, Eireann O'Dea, and Norma Luccock. The works were selected from a number of entries to present a variety of textures and musical ideas, and the evening is meant to give composers insights not only into how their own works unfold in the rehearsal process and ultimately sound, but also to see and hear what other people are writing for the same ensemble. It is a warm and friendly evening and the public is invited to attend on Monday, February 21, 7 pm at Ryerson United Church, 2195 W45 Ave, Vancouver. Admission is free.

Chor Leoni Men's Choir Director, Diane Loomer, to receive Honorary Degree From University of British Columbia

This year’s recipients include individuals who have helped shape Vancouver and enhance its presence on the world stage. Environmental activist David Suzuki, along with Diane Loomer, an internationally acclaimed choral conductor, educator and composer, Jack Austin, Canada’s longest-serving senator, and Thomas Wing Fat Fung, founder and CEO of the Fairchild Group, will be recognized along with four other individuals.

"I was thrilled to find out that not only will I be receiving an honorary doctorate from my alma mater", says an excited Diane, "But also that UBC has also been honoured by being named as one of the top 50 universities in the world. Such recognition is both humbling and exhilarating."

Read the official announcement from UBC here.

Chor Leoni Men's Choir is delighted at this honour being bestowed upon our founder and Artistic Director, and offers a huge roar of congratulations!

Université de Sherbrooke: Maîtrise en direction chorale portes ouvertes

C’est avec plaisir que nous vous invitons à assister à notre journée des portes ouvertes, le 12 février 2011 pour le programme de Maîtrise en direction chorale. De 9 h à 14 h 30 au Pavillon Campus de Longueuil de l’Université de Sherbrooke, 150, place Charles-Le Moyne, à Longueuil (Québec) nous y serons pour répondre à vos questions. De plus, vous aurez l’occasion d’assister à une répétition ainsi qu’à une classe de maître en direction chorale de 15 h à 16 h 30 sous la direction du professeur Robert Ingari, responsable du programme.

Auditions – 17 avril 2011

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, February 6, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

Choral Music and the Junos

This Sunday on Choral Concert Peter Togni brings you the best of last year’s Choral releases, as judged by the panel that brings you the Juno awards. There are two Canadian choral CD’s that are up for the coveted award, “Into Light” by the fabulous Musica Intima from Vancouver, and Ensemble Caprice with their spicy release “Salsa Baroque”.

All this plus wonderful offerings from “The Sixteen”, and the Toronto based Amadeus choir conducted by Lydia Adams.

Edward Enman Wins Halifax Camerata Singers Composer’s Competition

Edward Enman, a versatile and accomplished musician from Kentville, Nova Scotia, has won the 2010 Halifax Camerata Singers Young Composer’s Competition.

His winning composition, Then Shall I Leap Into Love, uses text from a poem by medieval mystic Mechthild de Magdeburg. The choral work will be premiered by the Halifax Camerata Singers at a concert May 28.

Singsation Saturday: February 12th Choral Workshop

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC) presents Singsation Saturdays, choral workshops where anyone who loves to sing is invited to join with noted local conductors, TMC choristers and other singers to sing a variety of works from the choral repertoire. Musical scores are available for singers to borrow during the workshop.  During the 2009-10 season, between 70 and 100 singers from across Toronto joined their voices together at each Singsation event.

Saturday, February 12, 2011: Music of Fauré and Lauridsen with Guest Conductor Kelly Galbraith

Elektra Announces Tapestry International 2012 * May 2-5, 2012

“Tapestry International” is the name of a special, international choral festival that will be one of the highlights of Elektra Women’s Choir’s 25th Anniversary Season. Taking place in May 2012 in Vancouver, the project will see up to four outstanding women’s choirs from North America and beyond joining with Elektra for four days of rehearsal, collaboration, and public performance. Artistic excellence is at the heart of the project, with a goal of including a diverse mix of interesting musical cultures and repertoire. Full details and online registration available on Elektra’s website, www.elektra.ca
 
Application deadline: Received online or postmarked before March 18, 2011

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, January 30, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

Schubert’s Mass in A flat

This week on Choral Concert Peter Togni brings you what he calls “one of the most sublime mass settings on the planet”, Franz Schubert’s Mass in A Flat. One of 6 of his mass settings, this is Schubert at his most lyrical and most powerful, what he called his “Missa Solemnis” as he was reflecting on the earlier work of the same name by Beethoven.

We are playing this work in its entirety in honour of the fact that Sunday marks the day before what would have been Schubert’s 214th birthday. You will hear an incredible performance by the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre Revolutionaire et Romantique conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardner.

You will also hear new releases by the Vancouver Chamber Choir, and the choir of King’s College Cambridge.

Learn more about the birthday boy on the Choral Concert blog at:  http://cbc.ca/choralconcert

Terry Hurrell Retires from Nova Voce

After seven memorable years with Nova Voce, Nova Scotia's Provincial Men's Choir, founding Artistic Director Terry Hurrell has decided to retire. Terry has been recognized and honoured for his many accomplishments and achievements in choral music by The Heritage Registry of Who's Who, based in New York. His duties with Nova Voce have been taken over by Bill Perrot as Artistic Director, with Bryan Crocker as Associate Artistic Director. Both Bill and Bryan are well known choral conductors in Nova Scotia.

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, January 23, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

The Vancouver Chamber Choir in “Nova: Rising Choral Stars”

This Sunday on Choral Concert Peter Togni brings you the Vancouver Chamber Choir in concert. From Ryerson United Church you will hear this national treasure sounding at their very best. This concert focuses on hand picked rising choral composing stars, like Fredik Sixten, Timothy Corlis and Ivo Antognini. It's a beautiful concert and not to be missed.

You will also hear selections from some of the Vancouver Chamber Choir’s finest CD releases, as well as Schubert’s famous Mass No. 3 in B flat performed by non other than the Immortal Bach ensemble and the Leipziger Kammerorchester.

Tallis Scholars Summer School * July 23 - 30, 2011 * Seattle, Washington

Why not consider joining the Tallis Scholars for a week sight-singing Renaissance masterpieces, rehearsing with the world's finest polyphony specialists, and performing Renaissance polyphony under Peter Phillips?

This summer, singers will have the opportunity to perform Tallis' Spem in Alium, an epic choral work for 40 parts. Detailed course information and links are below.  All course information and applications are available at www.tsss.uk.com

DaCapo Chamber Choir NewWorks National Choral Composition Competition Reminder

The purpose of the NewWorks competition is to foster new and engaging choral works by Canadian composers.  The DaCapo Chamber Choir was founded in 1998 and is dedicated to exploring unaccompanied music, primarily of the 20th Century and later. We are continually looking for new pieces to perform which will challenge us and our audiences - both musically and emotionally.

The winning entry will receive a $1,500 cash award plus travel expenses to Kitchener to attend the premiere of his/her composition by the DaCapo Chamber Choir, under director Leonard Enns, in the choir’s 2011/2012 season.  Entry deadline is February 14th, 2011.

New this year - we are also inviting young composers (aged 25 and younger) to submit compositions for consideration in our new Young Composers Reading Sessions (YCRS).