By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Member Blog • Professional Development • Uncategorised 0 Comments

Upcoming Webinar: Brave Choral Spaces – Fostering Transparency, Accountability and Trust

Presented by Justin Jalea. (bio below)
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 1:30 – 2:45pm
FREE for NSCF Members. $25.00 for Non-Members. (Thank you to Choir Alberta for hosting!)
Register Here

This webinar explores how choral communities can cultivate spaces where singers, conductors, and administrators are heard, valued, supported, and empowered. We will examine the principles of transparency, accountability, and trust as cornerstones of an inclusive and equitable environment. Drawing from interdisciplinary insights, we will explore strategies for fostering open communication, ethical leadership, and shared responsibility.

By addressing power dynamics and systemic barriers and inequities, we will discuss ways to create policies and practices that uphold dignity and respect. From rehearsal practices to institutional decision-making, we will explore how proactive engagement and clear expectations build stronger, more resilient choral communities.

This session will offer conductors, singers, educators, and arts leaders, tangible tools to foster a culture where every voice has the courage to contribute and the confidence to thrive.

REGISTER HERE

About Justin:
Canadian human rights activist, conductor, and JUNO-nominated tenor, Justin Jalea is an internationally sought-after consultant for projects that seek positive social change through the arts. In his dual role of musician/activist, Justin has collaborated with organizations such as Americans for the Arts, the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Musicians for Human Rights, the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and the United Nations.

​

Justin is a seasoned choral artist having sung with professional choirs throughout Canada and the United States, including the Canadian Chamber Choir, Pro Coro Canada, Luminous Voices, and the Choir of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York.​​ He has founded numerous vocal ensembles that foster compassion and action for diverse social causes, including the New York City-based ensemble Inspire: A Choir for Unity, whose community-building work is featured in his recently published chapter on choral music and human rights in the Routledge Companion to Music and Human Rights.
​
​Justin holds dual JD/BCL degrees from McGill University’s Faculty of Law. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree from the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University, and an MA and BA (Hons.) from the Universities of Alberta and Toronto, respectively, both in philosophy.

By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page 0 Comments

Let’s Love on our NSYC and NYCC Singers – Toss a Tunee is back!

It’s Time for our Annual Fundraiser, “Toss A Tunee”!! It’s an opportunity for all our singers in all our choirs to come together to support youth.The funds raised by our community are split equally between the Nova Scotia Youth Choir program and sponsoring the singers who will represent Nova Scotia in the National Youth Choir of Canada. A little bit, from a lot, goes a long way! Pass the hat in your rehearsals (or collect electronic donations) to show your love in the month of February!

By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Uncategorised 0 Comments

ADEI-DAR – New Organizational Change Program for Choirs and Singing Groups!

NSCF is a collaborator of this important new initiative!

Choral Canada, in partnership with the Black Pledge Collective—an initiative dedicated to dismantling anti-Black racism in live performance spaces—is proud to launch All Together Now, an organizational change program for leaders of choirs and singing groups.

Born from our joint training and collaborative work with CPAMO (Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario), this initiative is designed to support leaders in driving transformation within their choral and group singing organizations through the lens of Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Decoloniality, and Anti-Racism (ADEI-DAR).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, COURSE CONTENT, AND EXPERT FACILITATORS:
https://www.choralcanada.org/en/all-together-now

Registration opens January 8, 2025 with the first of seven (7) sessions taking place on March 8, 2025.

For NSCF or Choral Canada Member Choirs only.

By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Uncategorised 0 Comments

Giving Tuesday – Amplifying Our Collective Voices

Dear NS Choral Community,  

#GivingTuesday is two weeks away!  This global movement has unleashed the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. This is a time when Canadians, charities, and businesses come together to celebrate giving and participate in a variety of activities that support charities and nonprofits; to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those in need. 

Every act of generosity counts. Everybody has something to give in their own way. 

Among the many worthy charities in your lives, including your own singing organizations, we humbly ask that you consider the NSCF in your giving plans, and the benefits your gift will have on our community at large. Your support directly impacts our ability to create and offer meaningful programming, provide services and resources, advocate and raise the profile of our beloved art form, and increase participation in collective singing of all kinds across our province.

This year the NSCF is focusing our campaign on children and youth as we work to grow the voices of our future Nova Scotia choral community. 

  • Donate to help us enrich and reignite a culture of singing in the schools by investing in the development of new initiatives to create training programs and resources for music educators, and bringing choral artists and clinicians into schools in rural communities across Nova Scotia.  
  • Give generously to lift up our provincial youth choral programming with our “Friends of Nova Scotia Youth Choir” campaign, or the Children’s Chorus of Nova Scotia.  
  • Help us ensure our programming is accessible, through our Choir Camp Bursary and Scholarship Funds.  

We commit to making every dollar count.  On our Canada Helps Online Donation Platform, you may choose to direct your donation to an initiative or to general programs and services.  You may also choose to set up a monthly or annual donation – these gifts are especially helpful for us for sustainability and planning for the future. 

We sincerely thank you for your consideration, and for any contribution you can make.  Stay tuned on social media for stories about our impact and how your support matters. We wish you all – our singers, leaders, audience members and any choral enthusiasts – the very best for Giving Tuesday, and in this upcoming holiday season. 

DONATE to the NSCF

Here’s to Song!

Heather Fraser 
Executive Director, Nova Scotia Choral Federation 

By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Member Blog 0 Comments

Fall Advocacy Toolkit – Canadian Arts Coalition


This fall, the Canadian Arts Coalition is asking artists and allies who care about culture in Canada to spend time with both Members of Parliament and prospective candidates. They have created a Fall Advocacy Toolkit so you can easily welcome your local politicians to see why the arts matter nationally and to understand that culture is a part of every constituency.

The Coalition’s five-step approach to advocacy involves:

1. Connecting with MPs and candidates.
2. Inviting sitting members and candidates to your rehearsals, performances, facilities and events this fall and winter.
3. Sharing specific, impactful stories about the arts’ value in your community and asking politicians of all parties to support the national call for 1% for the arts!
4. Thanking them for coming out and talking with you and asking them to keep coming to cultural events and to pledge their support for the 1% call. 
5. Taking a photo and posting about their visit on social media, tagging accounts and using hashtags provided in the toolkit. 

Follow their five steps to make new neighbourhood allies and get to a permanent 1% funding for the arts!
FALL ADVOCACY TOOLKIT
Together, we are the storytellers of our neighbourhoods and our nation. If we each speak with our Parliamentarians and candidates as neighbours this fall and winter, we can help all the politicians from coast to coast to coast understand the role that artists and arts organisations play in every single community of Canada. Let’s make these moments matter. 

To learn more information about the Coalition visit: https://www.canadianartscoalition.com/
By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Member Blog • Professional Development • Uncategorised 0 Comments

Webinar: The Empowered Choral Community: Building Sustainable Approaches to ADEI (Choirs Ontario Workshop)

Facilitated by Justin Jalea, this interactive workshop is designed for choir leaders and administrators, focusing on how to effectively integrate ADEI (Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) principles into your organizational culture. You will learn how to develop ADEI practices and initiatives that align with your mission, enhance your organization’s impact, and foster a more equitable and inclusive choral experience for singers, staff, and audiences alike. We will explore strategies for community consultation and engagement, creating a shared vocabulary and reflective spaces, and setting meaningful goals while navigating the challenges your organization may encounter as it learns and grows. This workshop is free to Choirs Ontario members and available to non-members for a small fee.

Register for the webinar here: https://forms.gle/kioLb88qZ44wmCzy8

By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Member Blog • Uncategorised 0 Comments

Nov. 6, 8 & 9 – Free Choral Leadership Workshops with Dr. Kiera Galway from Mount Allison University

Kiera Galway, Assistant Professor of Music Education and Choral Conducting at Mount Allison University, will be offering a 2 hour workshop for singing leaders of all kinds – choir directors, music educators, music education students welcome!

Wednesday, November 6 – 6:00 – 8:00pm
New Glasgow – Trinity United Church (151 Temperance St.)
Friday, November 8 – 6:30 – 8:30pm
Halifax – NSCF Central Space (1113 Marginal Rd.)
Saturday, November 9 – 10:00am – 12:00pm
Rm 226 – Denton Hall, Acadia University School of Music

Re-energize your choral rehearsals and engage singers of all ages with playful, creative warmups and vocal exercises that spark imagination and enthusiasm!  Gain some valuable skills and tools to add to your leadership toolbox for your students and singing groups! And who doesn’t love the chance to sing together with friends new and old, with new repertoire and incredible leadership?

  • Inspiring Warm Ups, Rehearsal and Teaching Techniques (for music classroom and more formal choral settings)
  • Vocal Health (for singers and teachers!)
  • Conducting Gestures
  • The value in the collective experience of singing together!

Workshop is in partnership with the NSCF, New Glasgow Youth Choir, Acadia University. Register now using button below!

REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP HERE!

More about Kiera Galway:

Choral conductor, musician and educator Kiera Galway was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where a supportive family and community encouraged her musical growth. She completed Bachelors’ degrees in Bassoon Performance and Music History/Literature and Music Education and a Masters in Choral Conducting at Memorial University. Kiera then relocated to Toronto, Ontario, where she was active in the music community as a choral conductor and educator. While there, Kiera founded and directed the choral ensemble Toronto Chamber Voices and conducted the Massey College Choir. She also directed choirs and taught musicianship at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Dixon Hall Music School and University Settlement House. Kiera completed a Masters’ degree in Musicology and a PhD in Music Education at the University of Toronto.

Kiera returned to St. John’s in 2015, teaching at Memorial University and serving as the Director of Music at the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. She also played bassoon with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and worked as an administrator in the St. John’s music community, acting as the Executive Director of the Calos Youth Orchestras, Vice-Chair of provincial choral organization Choral NL and project manager for Podium 2018, Choral Canada’s national choral conference and festival. Kiera joined the faculty at Mount Allison University as Assistant Professor of Music Education and Choral Conducting in 2020.

Kiera’s research interests centre on placed-informed approaches to music and music education. Her PhD dissertation focused on cultural and musical geographies in Canada, mapping the intersections of space, identity, and music.