CHORAL CONCERT, with host Nick Halley Sunday November 3, 2013: 9:05 - 10:00 am, (9:35 - 10:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2

Big music for big occasions

To kick off your Sunday Nick Halley has a few big, bold and bombastic pieces for you - three right in a row.

They are all Te Deums. A Te Deum is an expression of thanks meant for big occasions. There was a time when if you won a battle, the first thing you would do is order up a Te

Drum.

You will hear a tryptich of Te Deums from the master of effect George Frideric Handel, the reclusive Franz Joseph Haydn and the head of music for Louis the 14th himself, Jean-Baptise Lully.

Vancouver Chamber Choir - Deadline Approaching for Conductors' Symposium

NATIONAL CONDUCTORS' SYMPOSIUM January 20-25, 2014
Application deadline: November 8, 2013

The Vancouver Chamber Choir's 34th National Conductors' Symposium is an opportunity to take part in master classes with Canada's premier choral ensemble January 20-25, 2014 in Vancouver.

Presenting a week of conducting sessions and technique seminars, Master Conductor Jon Washburn will provide invaluable instruction for five selected choral conductors from around the world. The symposium will focus on providing conductors with as much podium time as possible and will culminate with each participant sharing in the conducting of the Vancouver Chamber Choir concert THE WORLD IN MUSIC.
 
The 2014 application brochure is here.

CHORAL CONCERT, with host Nick Halley Sunday October 27, 2013: 9:05 - 10:00 am, (9:35 - 10:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2

A musical spin on words.

One of the wonderful things about Choral Music is that it involves words. Of course this is stating the obvious - but nevertheless it is one of the gifts of choral music and singers do get to use words in the most wonderful ways.

This Sunday on Choral Concert Nick Halley will take you on a musical spin through pieces that explore words in all sorts of different ways. From Jacob Handl and his reformation-era take on "Our Father", to the literary relationship J.S. Bach had with the local high school teacher, Nick will explore the somewhat turbulent relationship words and music have had in the choral world.

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Choral Conductors’ Symposium, January 28 – February 1, 2014: Call for Applications

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir invites emerging choral conductors and conductors who wish to refine their choral conducting skills to apply for a spot in the 2014 Choral Conductors’ Symposium, January 28 – February 1, 2014, in Toronto. The Symposium is a five-day series of workshops and master classes with conductor Noel Edison, during which participants will have the opportunity to conduct the Elora Festival Singers and the Toronto Mendelssohn Concert.

Further information, including fees and schedule information and a link to the registration package, is available at  http://www.tmchoir.org/education/conductors-symposium.cfm.

NewWorks 5th Annual National Choral Composition Competition

The purpose of the NewWorks competition is to foster new and engaging choral works by Canadian composers.  This year, we are looking for a composition based on a Canadian text.

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 2013/2014 season.  We are also inviting young composers (aged 25 and younger) to submit compositions for consideration in our Young Composers Reading Sessions.

The Competition is open to all Canadians. 
For more information: www.dacapochamberchoir.ca/newworks

Entry deadline: February 17th, 2014

CHORAL CONCERT, with host Nick Halley Sunday October 13, 2013: 9:05 - 10:00 am, (9:35 - 10:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2

Thanksgiving… the time for sitting in your kitchen, with the fall light coming in the windows, drinking hot cider or tea, and listening to choral music of the highest order. 

It's a comfortable, contemplative time of year and this Sunday on Choral Concert Nick Halley will take you on a journey through some choral music that fits the mood. 

If you have an old chair in your kitchen, or an old book – some family heirloom, like an antique chest, when you look at it, have you ever thought about what it is that makes these objects so beautiful? Is it the sense of history in them? The sense they've been well-made – the craftsmanship? Or just that they've been well-loved and well-used?

It is the same with choral music, some of it is so perfectly built, it is a thing of beauty to behold, but also like that old chair in your kitchen, it’s made to be savoured and enjoyed.

This week you will hear a collection of perfectly built choral works..... everything from Palestrina's gorgeous Missa Brevis to Mozart's mysterious Mass in C Minor.

London International A Cappella Choir Competition April 21–26, 2014

From April 21–26th, 2014, the London International A Cappella Choir Competition will bring together 16 choirs from around the world to compete in a series of public concerts. A jury of renowned experts, chaired by the founder and director of the award-winning Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips, will select a winning choir from four preliminary rounds to compete in a prestigious final with the opportunity to win substantial cash prizes and further concert dates.

In addition to the opportunity of winning one of the prizes which are on offer, each competing choir will be given discounted entry to an opening concert from given by the Tallis Scholars, free tickets to the competition heats and will be invited to give a further concert at another prestigious London venue during their stay.

View the brochure outlining the schedule for the week, details of repertoire and information of how to apply. An application form is available at www.sjss.org.uk

CHORAL CONCERT, with host Nick Halley Sunday September 29th, 2013 9:05 - 10:00 am, (9:35 - 10:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2

The best new choral releases with Nick Halley

This Sunday on Choral Concert Nick Halley takes you on a survey of the best new releases from across Canada, the USA and Europe. You'll hear the Lady Cove Women's Choir from St. John's, the Laurier Singers from Waterloo, and international groups like the Orchestra and Chorus of the Age of Enlightenment, and Conspirare

ACCC composer Elise Letourneau listed as finalist for The American Prize 2013

Composer-performer Elise Letourneau has been selected as a finalist for The 2013 American Prize in the choral composition category.

The American Prize in Composition recognizes and rewards the best composers in America of new works for orchestra, chorus, concert band, or chamber ensemble that have been publicly performed.

The panel described Elise’s work as “capitalizing on her active background in the jazz field, while also displaying considerable skill writing academically/classically-oriented music. She reveals an impressive amount of craft and confidence in writing contrapuntally while moving through key centers. Letourneau writes with vivid imagination and a willingness to try new things in the choral idiom.”

Elise’s submission included her “Four Love Poems by E.E. Cummings” for double choir and jazz trio, performed by the Vancouver Chamber Choir with Jon Washburn directing; “Peace Prayer” for mixed choir and piano, performed by Canada’s National Youth Choir with Ivars Taurins and Joel Tranquilla directing; and “Ave Maria” for treble voices and piano, performed by the Toronto Children’s Chorus with Elise Bradley directing.

Elise is also the most recent winner of the Ruth Watson Henderson composition competition and the ACCC composition competition. She has been named an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre.

Elise is the director of two choirs in Ottawa: Capital Vox Jazz Choir and Vox Eclectica Women’s Chamber Choir. She performs regionally and teaches at Alcorn Music Studios and Carleton University.

Vancouver Chamber Choir's 34th National Conductors' Symposium January 20-25, 2014

The Vancouver Chamber Choir's 34th National Conductors' Symposium is an opportunity to take part in master classes with Canada's premier choral ensemble January 20-25, 2014 in Vancouver.

Presenting a week of conducting sessions and technique seminars, Master Conductor Jon Washburn will provide invaluable instruction for selected choral conductors from around the world. The symposium will focus on providing conductors with as much podium time as possible and will culminate with each participant sharing in the conducting of a Vancouver Chamber Choir concert.
 
Download the 2014 National Conductors' Symposium application here.

Applications must be received by November 8, 2013. For more information about the Vancouver Chamber Choir or the National Conductors' Symposium just visit our website here.

CHORAL CONCERT, with host Nick Halley Sunday September 22th, 2013 9:05 - 10:00 am, (9:35 - 10:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2

10 choral events you can’t miss in the coming season

No one should have to walk through life on this planet without experiencing at least one great performance of choral music.

Here in Canada we’re lucky because there are great choirs in every province, city and community. If you keep your ear to the ground, you’ll find a great choral performance coming up near you.

With that in mind, CBC Radio 2’s Choral Concert crew has put together a list of 10 must-see choral events in the coming season and in this edition of Choral Concert, Nick will take you through as many as he can squeeze into the program.

Click here to go to the blog and see the complete list, and to add your thoughts and comments.

Notice of Annual General Meeting Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 8:00 PM EST

The Association of Canadian Choral Communities will be holding an Annual General Meeting by teleconference on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 8:00 PM EST. 
Meeting information is now available at the following links:
Agenda
Minutes
Motions
President's Report English
Financial Statements
Len Ratzlaff Bio

The membership may vote electronically on the motions of the meeting between Thursday, September 19 at 9:00 AM EST, and Sunday, September 22 at 3:00 PM EST at  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BZ5BMPD. 

In addition to online voting, members may join the teleconference by dialing 1.877.278.7443, and entering passcode 2099883. Please notify Erin Bustin of your intent to join the teleconference, by emailing accc@choralcanada.org, no later than Friday, September 20 at 12:00 pm EST.