Singing In Flanders Fields Project

The Acadia University Singers are pleased to announce their upcoming concert tour -The Singing In Flanders Fieldsw Project- to the WWI battlefields of France and Belgium in commemoration of the 105th anniversary of John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields”.

Under the direction of Dr. Michelle Boyd, The Acadia University Singers will travel to Arras, France and then to Ypres, Belgium – the place where the poem was composed – to offer concerts reflecting on the legacy of this iconic poem. The program, titled “Singing in Flanders Fields: Canadian Reflections on War and Remembrance” will feature choral compositions of “In Flanders Fields” and other Remembrance-themed music by Canadian composers – including a brand new version of “In Flanders Fields” by choir member Brandon Zuniga.

The choir will also collaborate with Acadia archivist Wendy Robicheau, whose Adopt-a-Soldier program is bringing back to life the stories of the hundreds of Acadia student soldiers who served in WWI. During the tour, they will visit and sing at the gravesites of some of Acadia’s soldiers buried in France and Belgium, including that of the soldier who the choir will adopt.

-For more information about this project and to donate, visit https://crowdfund.acadiau.ca/flandersfields.
-For sound recordings of the choir visit our Facebook Page The Singing in Flanders Fields Project
-For more information on the content of the project, watch “In Flanders Fields” music (Dr. Michelle Boyd) on the Society for American Music’s Digital Lectures channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZujHheZkag

Join Choirworks in January!

Director, Krista Vincent, and Pianist, Lynette Wahlstrom, are offering choral classes in the beautiful space of First Baptist Halifax. Young singers 7-10 years of age are invited to partipate in the program’s weekly rehearsals and culminating performances. Sessions include ensemble singing, vocal technique, solfege, and music theory, in a welcoming and non-competitive environment. No previous choral experience is necessary. Bring your love of singing and an eagerness to learn!

Important Dates:
Saturday, January 18th 10:15-11:30 am: Family Sing!
Saturday, January 25th 10:15-11:30 am: Choirworks!
Saturday, February 1st– Saturday, June 13th: Regularly Saturday Sessions

Thursday, June 18th 6:30 pm: Choirworks Concert at First Baptist Halifax

For information on registration and cost, please contact Krista Vincent at choirworkshalifax@gmail.com

Job Posting: Associate Professor, Choral Studies, Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting

(From the University of Toronto: For FULL POSTING, visit:
Deadline:
March 16, 2020, Open until filled
Associate Professor / Professor – Choral Studies – Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting  1905335

The Faculty of Music, University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the area of choral studies and choral conducting. The appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor  with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2021. The start date is negotiable. The successful candidate will be eligible to hold the endowed Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting.

A doctoral degree in music, or a university degree in music with extensive exceptional professional experience is required. Applicants must have extensive experience in choral studies and choral conducting with a demonstrated record of excellence in teaching and a superior professional conducting profile.


Excellence in creative professional activities and research is required, evidenced by a track record of performances for major venues, organizations, and festivals, collaborations with established artists and ensembles, public presence through broadcasts, recordings, and digital media platforms, recognition through critical reception, academic and professional publications, and arts grant support. The successful candidate will also have demonstrated commitment to choral education in a wide range of styles and repertoire and an excellent track record in conducting education as demonstrated by the teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference.

Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Duties will include some combination of conducting one or more of the university choral ensembles and overseeing all Faculty of Music choral activities; teaching undergraduate and graduate music courses in choral music and conducting, which includes individual conducting lessons; research supervision and mentoring of conducting students at the masters and doctoral levels; and leadership in community choral engagement and collaborations.

The Faculty of Music is a division of the University of Toronto, Canada’s largest university. Located in the heart of one of North America’s most diverse and culturally vibrant cities, the Faculty of Music plays a vital part in Toronto’s active musical life and offers degrees in composition, music education, music and health sciences, music technology and digital media, musicology/ethnomusicology/music theory, and performance, including jazz and opera. There are approximately 900 students, 570 undergraduate and 330 graduate students. The Choral Area currently includes four choirs involving approximately 200 music majors.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply by clicking on the link below. Applications must include a cover letter, a complete and current curriculum vitae, a teaching dossier (including a statement of teaching philosophy, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations), a statement outlining current and future research interests, and links to samples of your work including rehearsal and concert videos. All application materials must be submitted online.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply . We recommend combining attached documents into two or three files in PDF/MS Word format. Links to media files should be provided on a separate list. If you have any questions about this position please contact Prof. Don McLean at dean.music@utoronto.ca.

Applicants must also arrange to have three letters of reference, printed on letterhead, signed, and sent directly to the search committee: Prof. Don McLean, Search Committee Chair and Dean, Faculty of Music, at dean.music@utoronto.ca by the closing date of March 16, 2020.

Review of applications will begin on March 16, 2020. Applicants should endeavor to have all materials, including reference letters, submitted by then; however applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

For more information about the Faculty of Music, please visit our home page at http://www.music.utoronto.ca.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP .

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Announcing: The Nova Scotia Choral Federation’s Young Composer’s Competition!

The Nova Scotia Choral Federation is proud to announce our 4th Nova Scotia Choral Federation Young Composer’s Competition! Hosted in conjunction with the 30th Anniversary of the Nova Scotia Youth Choir (NSYC), the winning composition will receive three premiere performances by the NSYC, conducted by Nova Scotia conductor Christina Murray.

The competition will be judged by a jury of Nova Scotian choral conductors and composers. All competing composers will receive constructive written feedback from jurors.

This year, Guest Conductor Christina Murray has selected two poems to be used as the basis for the composition; Sharon Blackie’s “Peregrina” from If Women Rose Rooted or Shannon Webb-Campbell’s “See How Low the Moon Hangs” from I Am a Body of Land.  See below for the full text of each poem and biographies of each of the poets.

The composition competition applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 30. In addition to the premiere performances by the NSYC, led by Christina Murray. The winner will also receive a monetary prize of $1,200.

The entry deadline is April 1st, 2020.

Click here to read the Competition Regulations and Application Guidelines

DEADLINE EXTENDED: CCNS 2020 Registration due February 7th

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED! NOW DUE FEBRUARY 7TH, 2020

We are pleased to announce that Registration is now open for the 2020 Children’s Chorus of Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia Choral Federation invites talented singers in grades 5-9 to participate in the Children’s Chorus of Nova Scotia. This year’s program brings together students from all over the province for a weekend intensive under the direction of leading music educator, Dr. Susan Brumfield. Dr. Susan Brumfield is Professor of Music Education at Texas Tech University, and holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Oklahoma. In frequent demand for workshops, Dr. Brumfield focuses on creating engaging musical environments that foster development of choristers’ musicianship.

For more information, please visit our CCNS webpage!

To Register:

Teachers:

Register your students at: https://forms.gle/EC9gk4BwNDBeW7uw8

Parents/guardians

Step 1: register your child by filling out the following form at:  https://forms.gle/6kN3pjiTAWR7kvDS7

Step 2: complete the Paypal payment on our CCNS website.

Please contact our Program Coordinator, Ryan Henwood, at ryan@nscf.ca if you have any questions.

Sing Out: Choirs in Contact!

We are so pleased to announce anew project by the Nova Scotia Choral Federation, Sing Out: Choirs in Contact! aims to create space for the numerous community choirs around the province to network, sing and share music with one another. This year, the NSCF is proud to announce that Julia Davids and the Canadian Chamber Choir (CCC) will be joining us to launch this exciting choral weekend experience.

During concert season, it can be difficult to attend the concerts of all your fellow community choirs! Sing Out will allow choirs to perform for each other in a casual and supportive environment while also receiving the opportunity to work with Dr. Julia Davids. Following the closing performance, all participants are invited to an evening performance by the Canadian Chamber Choir at St. Andrew’s United Church.

To read more, and to register now, please visit our brand new  Sing Out! page. 

Mount Allison Audition Preparation Days

Mount Allison University is excited to share information regarding its upcoming Audition Preparation Days, to take place at Mount Allison University,  January 31 – February 1, 2020. The Audition Preparation Weekend is a two-day event designed for grade eleven and twelve students who are considering pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. Students learn essential auditioning skills, receive a private lesson, and participate in discussions about career opportunities, stage deportment, and practice skills.

The cost of this event is $60 (plus HST = $69 total) and includes accommodation on campus, meals, and access to all instructional opportunities. A day participant fee of $45 is available for those who do not require accommodation.

Please visit the Music Department website to learn more about this event: Audition Preparation Days.

To register, visit the Registration Page.

Please be in touch with administrative assistant Margaret Craig, mcraig@mta.ca, or me, vstpierre@mta.ca, with any questions.

Unisong – Now Accepting Applications

The Unisong Choral Music Festival is now accepting applications for 2020 and Beyond!

​Be Part of a Chorus of Hundreds!

Unisong is accepting new applications to join our massed ensemble choir for a once in a lifetime chance to be a central part of Canada Day festivities in the Nation’s Capital.

Choirs of all ages will be considered!  Contact us now at info@unisong.ca for more information.

You can also visit Unisong’s website at: https://www.unisong.ca/

HCCI Announces its 2020 Season

The Halifax Conducting Institute Announces its 2020 Season!

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Since 2013, the HCCI has offered conducting instruction in an integrative curriculum and dynamic community of learning, equipping conductors of all levels to be confident and courageous musical leaders. And now, the HCCI is paving the way for women’s success in the field of conducting with the Women’s Conducting Intensive, the first of its kind in Canada.
JUL 20–24, 2020
HALIFAX CHORAL CONDUCTING INSTITUTE
Offering a holistic curriculum, collaborative atmosphere, and world-class faculty and guest artists, HCCI is a unique and inspiring musical experience in an informal, supportive environment.
JULY 27–29, 2020
WOMEN’S CONDUCTING INTENSIVE
Open to all levels of conductors, the WCI focuses on strengthening podium presence and leadership while developing practical skills for transformative choral practice.
To learn more about these programs, visit: http://halifaxsummerchoral.com