News

Conducting Apprenticeship Program 2014
Call for Applications

The Association of Canadian Choral Communities is pleased to present the National Youth Choir of Canada/Choeur national des jeunes du Canada Conducting Apprenticeship Program. This program is made possible through the generous support of The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation.  

Initiated in 1998, the NYC/CNJ Conducting Apprenticeship Program offers a young conductor the opportunity to work with Canada's finest youth choir. The successful applicant will spend two weeks with the NYC/CNJ during rehearsals, performances and touring. Throughout the time period, the apprentice will have opportunities to study with one of Canada’s finest choral conductors, to observe rehearsals, to discuss choral techniques and to have some conducting opportunities in performance with the NYC/CNJ.  Please note that all NYC/CNJ rehearsals will be conducted in English only; however bilingualism (English/French) is an asset.

The successful applicant must be a Canadian citizen (or landed immigrant), must not be older than 35 years as of the concluding date of the program (May 18, 2014), and must be a member of ACCC. He or she will demonstrate a keen desire to learn more about choral conducting at an advanced level. An independent selection committee will choose the successful applicant. Candidates must submit*:

• a letter of application (1-2 pages) explaining her/his desire to enter the apprenticeship program, what s/he would like to gain from the opportunity, how s/he intends to use this experience, and why s/he should be chosen;
• a detailed résumé outlining her/his choral conducting education and experience;
• a list of the repertoire conducted over the past 2-3 years;
• video footage (on DVD) showing 10-15 minutes of the candidate in rehearsal and 5-10 minutes of the candidate in performance;
• two letters of recommendation from established conductors who know the candidate’s work well.
  

The 2014 National Youth Choir/Choir national des jeunes will meet in Nova Scotia, and a week-long performance tour of the Maritime Provinces will culminate with a performance at Podium 2014 – Canada’s biennial national choral conference – in Halifax, NS. NYC/CNJ 2014 will be conducted by Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt, Director of Choral Programs at the University of Toronto. Dr. Apfelstadt holds degrees in vocal music education from the University of Toronto, the University of Illinois, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Choirs under her direction have performed at regional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and at state and regional conferences of the National Association of Music Education. She has conducted many honour choirs and all-state choruses throughout the United States, and has guest conducted in Canada, Cuba, and England. In February 2009, she conducted the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a public broadcast of “Music and the Spoken Word.” She is a frequent lecturer and clinician at professional conferences and universities, and is a mentor to many young conductors and choral educators. Dr. Apfelstadt’s research areas include leadership styles among conductors, and choral repertoire, particularly by Canadian composers.

Thanks to the generous support of The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation, there is no tuition for this program. The successful applicant will be responsible for transportation to and from NYC/CNJ (Halifax, NS) but local transportation, accommodation, and meals will be provided for the duration of the program.

*Please see the document NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR CONDUCTING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM 2014 APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS for full details on the submission of materials. Materials submitted in a format other than that described in this document will not be accepted.

Send the complete application to: 
Association of Canadian Choral Communities
A-1422 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, ON M4G 3A7 

Applications must be RECEIVED no later than October 1, 2013. Receipt of applications will be acknowledged. The successful applicant will be announced on or before December 1, 2013.

For more information, please contact the ACCC:
Phone: 416.519.1165
Email: accc@choralcanada.org

The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation provides significant career development opportunities to young Canadian musicians and music scholars in their advanced education, and in so doing commemorates a great Canadian and his unique career. The Foundation’s Award is offered on a biennial basis across a wide range of areas of music through a competitive process that is national in scope. For more information see www.macmillanfoundation.com. 

Noteworthy

Positions Available with National Youth Choir 2014



National Youth Choir 2014 will take place in Nova Scotia and the Maritime Provinces from May 4—19, 2014. ACCC is currently seeking applicants for the positions of NYC Coordinator and Piano Accompanist.

The Coordinator will work closely with the National Youth Choir Committee and ACCC staff to carry out the organizational activities of the NYC rehearsal camp and tour and to coordinate all logistical matters concerning NYC 2014. This is a 14-month contract with an honorarium of $4000.

The Piano Accompanist will be an accomplished collaborative pianist with experience working with professional-level choirs and must reside within the tour region. There is a $2500 honorarium for this position.

Application Deadline: May 31, 2013

Details on both positions available here.


Call for Research Papers
The Editorial Committee for the Association of Canadian Choral Communities (ACCC) is now accepting research papers for the Fall 2013 issue of Anacrusis, the magazine of the ACCC.  For submission guidelines, please visit the ACCC website.  Submissions should be forwarded to the attention of Carolyn Nielsen (academic@choralcanada.org).  All papers will undergo a process of blind peer review.
Submission deadline is July 15, 2013.


Employment Opportunities
Looking for a position as an accompanist or choral conductor? Check the latest listings on our Employment Opportunities page.


ACCC Competition for Choral Writing
The Association of Canadian Choral Communities encourages and supports the composition of new choral works by emerging Canadian composers. To that end, ACCC invites submissions to the 2014 ACCC Competition for Choral Writing.
Entry Deadline: October 1, 2013. Watch for more information here.


Podium 2014 Choralscapes Paysages Chorals



Bring your song! Halifax 15-18 May 2014

Conductors, choirs, composers, educators, administrators, and choral enthusiasts from across the country will gather together in beautiful Halifax for Podium 2014. Come enjoy concerts in historic churches, in parks, and even on the ferry crossing Halifax Harbour. Choral music specialists will lead special interest sessions on a wide range of topics, such as body mapping for choral conductors, rhythmic mastery, using your tablet as a music folder, and choosing children’s choir repertoire. Make sure 15-18 May 2014 is on your calendar. You can expect a warm welcome (and lobster) in Halifax!



National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs 2013



A project of / Un projet of ACCC
In collaboration with / en collaboration avec


The National Competition of Canadian Amateur Choirs is a signature program of the Association of Canadian Choral Communities, Canada’s national service organization for choirs and the choral community. For more information please visit National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs.



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