Vacation of Choral Adult Learners
July 7th - 10th, 2010
Trinity Anglican Church, 79 Victoria Street, Aurora, Ontario
SUMMER TUNE-UPS FOR CHORAL SINGERS!
Choirs Ontario proudly presents the fourth annual VOCAL workshop for adult choral singers. Come to Aurora, just north of Toronto, for four full days of vocal training, and experience singing with some of Canada's leading clinicians. The program will include choral sessions, vocal technique and masterclasses with Maestro Ken Fleet, and acclaimed clinicians Elizabeth Parsons and Paul Coates. Evening Choral Sessions will be led by conductor Ken Fleet, who will inspire you with wonderful choral challenges, culminating in a 'mini-concert' on Saturday night, July 10th. Masterclasses will include Baroque and Classical Arias, Italian Art Songs, German Lieder, Romantic music, 20th/21st century songs, and stage music including opera, operetta, and musical theatre.
Participants may register as either a 'Masterclass Singer' or 'Masterclass Auditor'. (Singers who do not wish to participate as a soloist in the masterclasses will still gain valuable information as an auditor).
THE MASTERCLASS
We would like to encourage all singers who have ever wanted to try a solo to participate in the masterclasses. Simply sign up as a Masterclass singer and give us a list of some songs you might like to perform. If you'd like to work with one of our clinicians on a Baroque Italian aria, or a Schubert Lied, or a folk song -- whatever you'd like to sing - we will find a place for you!
If we don't have a category that suits your repertoire, let us know what you would like to sing and we will arrange the schedule to include your repertoire. We are bound to have a wonderful time learning together in a positive and encouraging environment.
As this week is intended to be an inspiring learning experience, auditions are not required for the Masterclasses. Anyone wishing to sing in a Masterclass may do so by indicating this on the attached form. However, since space is limited, please list your repertoire selections in order of preference. Also, please bring at least two copies of your music. An accompanist will be provided. Memorization is encouraged but not mandatory. If your selections are not memorized, an extra copy of music will be required.
REGISTRATION
The fee for this four-day event is $300 (Masterclass soloists) and $225 (Masterclass auditors). Participants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and meals. A special group rate is available at the Howard Johnson Aurora, call 905-727-1312 and quote booking reference CHOI, before June 7, 2010.
Please complete the registration form below and send it, along with your payment and a brief outline of your musical background, to the Choirs Ontario office by May 14th, 2010. Music packages will be mailed in June, 2010.
THE ARTISTIC STAFF
Maestro Ken Fleet
For thirty years, Mr. Fleet taught choral and instrumental music at Medway High School, north of London Ontario, helping to develop a program involving over 250 students. For twelve of those thirty years Mr. Fleet also taught choral conducting and music education courses and conducted four of the choirs within the Don Wright Faculty of Music. Currently he is teaching intermediate/senior music at the UWO Faculty of Education and choral conducting at the Don Wright Faculty of Music. He is also the Past-President of Choirs Ontario.
In addition to his work at UWO, Mr. Fleet is a former conductor of the Ontario Youth Choir (1999). He is a co-editor of a series of choral octavos published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company of San Diego, California, and is currently in his 21st year as conductor of London Pro Musica and his 10th year as co-conductor of the Amabile Boys Choirs with Dr. Carol Beynon. Mr. Fleet has given numerous workshops and concerts across Canada and the United States and in Europe.
Mr. Fleet is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (B. of Mus. 1975) and Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey (Masters of Music, 1987).
Elizabeth Parsons, Vocal Coach
Elizabeth Parsons, mezzo soprano, received her early vocal training in Thunder Bay, and continued her studies at the University of Western Ontario. After graduating in Performance (B.Mus.) in 1989, Ms. Parsons studied at The University of Toronto with Rosemary Landry. In 1996, Ms. Parsons received the Associate Diploma in Performance (A.Mus.) from Western Ontario Conservatory of Music (Conservatory Canada).
Ms. Parson's performing career includes solo appearances in several large orchestral works, and frequent recital work throughout Canada. Ms. Parsons maintains a broad performance base, with classical and musical theatre credits. For the past 15 years, Ms. Parsons and her husband Glenn have developed a following throughout Ontario for their jazz performances.
Ms. Parsons maintains a private voice and piano studio in London. She is also a lay youth minister at Calvary United Church overseeing family ministries and youth music, an examiner for Conservatory Canada, and a frequent festival adjudicator.
Paul Coates, Vocal Coach
Paul Coates is a graduate in both piano and voice from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario, where he fulfilled the requirements for the degree of Master of Music. He continued his musical education at the Banff School of Fine Arts, the Chautauqua Institute and in London England.
Mr. Coates has been on the music faculties of the University of Windsor, as well as The Royal Conservatory of Music's Community School and Glenn Gould Professional School. He is a senior examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music and is in demand throughout Canada as a voice and piano adjudicator.
As a singer and accompanist, Mr. Coates has appeared on CBC and TV Ontario Broadcasts. He is currently Music Director at St. John's United Church in Stratford where he maintains adult and youth choirs. Mr. Coates is thrilled to announce the formation of his new musical adventure, The Stratford Youth Choir: "Voices of Tomorrow."
THE SCHEDULE
| Wednesday, July 7, 2010 | Thursday, July 8, 2010 | Friday, July 9, 2010 | Saturday, July 10, 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
9:30 – 10:15 |
9:30 – 10:15 -- Ken Fleet |
9:30 – 10:15 -- Elizabeth Parsons |
9:30 – 10:15 -- Paul Coates |
|
10:20 - 1:10 - Paul Coates |
10:20 - 1:10 - Elizabeth Parsons |
10:20 - 1:10 - Paul Coates |
10:20 - 1:10 - Elizabeth Parsons |
| 1:10 - 2:30 Lunch | 1:10 - 2:30 Lunch | 1:10 - 2:30 Lunch | 1:10 - 2:30 Lunch |
|
2:30 – 2:45 Improve your music learning abilities! Come to rehearsals better prepared; gain greater assurance in singing! - Ken Fleet, Elizabeth Parsons, Paul Coates |
2:30 – 2:45 Partnership of the conductor and choir Small ensemble work - Ken Fleet |
2:30 – 2:45 Acting Components & Communication in Singing - Elizabeth Parsons |
2:30 – 2:45 Technical Components of Singing - Paul Coates |
| 4:15 - 4:30 break | 4:15 - 4:30 break | 4:15 - 4:30 break | 4:15 - 4:30 break |
|
4:30 Notes session - Carolynne Godin/Mira Jung |
4:30 Notes session - Carolynne Godin/Mira Jung |
4:30 "The Basics of Conducting: Conducting Tips - Ken Fleet |
4:30 Conductor's review session |
| 5:00 - 7:00 Dinner | 5:00 - 7:00 Dinner | 5:00 - 7:00 Dinner | 5:00 - 7:00 Dinner |
7:00 – 10:00 Choral evening |
7:00 – 10:00 Choral evening |
7:00 – 10:00 Choral evening |
7:00 warm-up |
THE REGISTRATION FORM
The registration form for Adult "VOCAL" Week can be downloaded from the web site here. For more information, contact Choirs Ontario.