Eastern Horizon Choral Writing Competition
Choirs for Change is currently accepting submissions to the second annual Eastern Horizon Choral Writing Competition! This is Canada’s first choral writing competition exclusively for the music of composers from under-represented identities. This competition seeks to support these marginalized identities in an effort to support social equity in today’s choral environment.
Shortlisted finalists will have their works performed and recorded by the Eastern Horizon Choir in June 2019. The first place winner will receive $850 and the second place winner will receive $450.
Submissions must have been composed since January 2016 and may not have been performed before. Submissions must also be between 2-7 minutes in length and must include voicing for at least SAB and up to SSAATTBB.
Entry to the competition is free and applicants of all skill levels are encouraged to enter.
The application deadline is April 15th. Full competition details can be found here: https://bit.ly/2M3v0Nc.
Hello friends,
Do not miss this great opportunity to perform at the 2020 National Choral Conference & Festival PODIUM in Montréal! Visit 
CALLING ALL MEN! Presented by Nova Voce in cooperation with the Nova Scotia Choral Federation, Voice Male is a workshop for changed male voices. It is an opportunity to learn, have fun and sing with a larger male chorus! The workshop will be followed by a concert featuring Nova Voce, guest choirs, and a massed choir sing. Join us for a day of music for men!
Guest Conductor Mark Ramsay: Mark Ramsay is the artistic director of the Exultate Chamber Singers as well as the conductor of the University of Toronto Men’s Chorus, the U of T Scarborough Concert Choir, and the MNjcc Community Choir. In addition to his conducting work, he is an adjunct professor at the U of T Faculty of Music where he teaches graduate choral conducting lessons, an undergraduate course in choral music education, and works as an administrator for the choral area. He is frequently asked to appear as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor, and is the editor of Choirs Ontario’s publication, Dynamic.He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from U of T where he was a student of Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt. He was a recipient of an Elmer Iseler National Graduate Fellowship in Choral Conducting, as well as multiple U of T Fellowships and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. In addition, he holds a Master of Music from U of T and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Prince Edward Island.Mark has also been a student conductor with the Elmer Iseler Singers, conducting fellow with the Canadian Chamber Choir, apprentice conductor with the Ontario Youth Choir, and tour manager for the National Youth Choir of Canada. Before moving to Toronto, Mark worked for ten years as a high school music teacher and curriculum specialist in Summerside, PEI where he was also the music director at Trinity United Church and conductor of the Summerside Community Choir.
Throughout 2018, we continued to foster a vibrant and inclusive choral community by providing resources, creating opportunities, and engaging Nova Scotia’s diverse population in the transformative power of choral music. Once again, we were able to present our annual programs: Sing Summer including Adult, Junior and Youth Choir Camps and two opportunities for conductor training through our Choral Conducting Apprenticeship and Choral Conducting Workshop, Children’s Chorus of Nova Scotia, Juvenata, PerformNS! (school workshops and performances), and the Nova Scotia Youth Choir as well as support for seven young singers from Nova Scotia to take part in 2018 National Youth Choir of Canada. These programs and opportunities bring together choristers of all ages from across the province, allowing us to provide services for thousands of choristers whilst investing in the next generation of choral enthusiasts.