A newsletter for choral pedagogues

Dear choral colleagues

June is here, and we have just about one month left in our 2020-2021 season. With the re-opening strategy here in Alberta, we are hopeful that we will have the opportunity to meet once more to sing together. It would be an exciting moment to have all 24 singers, maybe even more with our extras and interns, in one room and in harmony.

I’m always interested in hearing from other choral leaders about their experiences during the pandemic, their particular challenges and successes. I would like to share one story today!

For over 10 years, the men of Pro Coro Canada have travelled north to work with the Grande Prairie Boy’s Choir and their director Jeannie Vanwynsberghe Pernal. Over the course of a weekend, there are individual coachings, rehearsals with the young men and PCC singers, and a spotlight concert for parents and friends. Jeannie’s work with these boys and young men is exemplary and we’re always happy to support her and the organization. They have released a 20 minute video about their work during the pandemic - it is inspiring for all of us!

Next week, our series Season-Planning-Mode will continue with a contribution by Zimfira Poloz and Melanie Tellez and the Hamilton Children’s Choir.

With my best wishes,

Michael Zaugg

Jeannie has focused her passions and talent on the development of young male voices for the last twenty-five years. She received her Bachelor of Music Education and Kodaly Certification from Brandon University. She specialized in Elementary Music Education and choral conducting. In addition, she was awarded her Voice Care Certificate from St. John’s University, North Dakota. Upon graduation from university, she secured a position as Director of Music at the all boys St. John’s Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg. In 1998 she moved to Vancouver, where she founded and directed the Boys’ Division of the Vancouver Children’s Choir. In October of 2001, Jeannie moved to Grande Prairie with her family, and formed the Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir. In 2013, Jeannie was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work with the choir and the choir’s contribution to the community. Recently Jeannie and the boys were awarded the Con Spirito award for their contribution to choral music in the province of Alberta.

In May 2021, Jeannie and the Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir debuted the film MUTED which explores the question “when singing in groups becomes illegal, what is a choir to do?” Join the group in their journey through the Covid-19 pandemic, and explore how the choir (and the community that loves them) copes when music is muted.

Season-Planning-Mode with Zimfira Poloz and Melanie Tellez

Zimfira Poloz is globally recognized as an expert in choral artistry for young voices. She has been decorated with numerous awards, including Honoured Representative of Education of Kazakhstan, Hamilton’s VIP Award, and the Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting (Ontario Arts Council).

Zimfira established her musical credentials in Kazakhstan, serving as founder and principal of the nation’s first choir school. Upon her arrival in Canada, Zimfira found a home with Toronto Children’s Chorus, St. Michael’s Choir School, and eventually as Artistic Director of Hamilton Children’s Choir and Young Voices Toronto. Under Zimfira’s direction, the Hamilton Children’s Choir has transformed into one of the most acclaimed youth choral programs in the world, including appearances across North America, Europe and Asia.

Zimfira teaches in the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. As of 2017, her curated Canadian choral collection can be found with Cypress Choral Music: The Zimfira Collection.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Melanie now calls Hamilton, Ontario home. As Assistant Artistic Director of the Hamilton Children’s Choir, Melanie develops original choral programming, oversees music theory and literacy programs, and directs the Esprimas choir. Melanie also teaches vocal music at Hillfield Strathallan College.

A finalist in the Sir Ernest MacMillan Foundation Award in Choral Conducting (2012) and Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting (2015), Melanie is an emerging leader in Canada’s choral scene. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from Dalhousie University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta. She has been thrilled to adjudicate choral festivals across South-Western Ontario, and proudly serves on the executive board of Choirs Ontario.