Looking forward to Choral Connect '25
5 Dec 2024
We're pleased to share the first few details of Choral Connect '25, our biennial conference for leaders of group singing.
Dr. Pearl Shangkuan, National President-elect of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), will be the International Guest Presenter, while the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir and the Aotearoa New Zealand Academy Choir will be our Guest Choirs, showcased at a concert on Friday 26 September. Choral Connect will run from 25-27 September at Queen Margaret College in Wellington.
It's exciting that we'll welcome Dr. Shangkuan back to Aotearoa after her trip here earlier in 2024, during which she worked with the Hamilton Civic Choir and held a conducting workshop, titled Leading with the Body, Mind, Spirit and Voice, at the University of Auckland. Workshop participant Blake Scanlen said, "Pearl's valuable insights, warm demeanour and vast knowledge of the industry were really appreciated and we all came away with plenty to consider in our practice."
Read on to learn about Dr. Shangkuan, NZSSC and the Academy Choir. You can find out more about Choral Connect, including details of past conferences, here.
Dr. Pearl Shangkuan — International Guest Presenter
Dr. Pearl Shangkuan is a highly sought-after conductor, lecturer and clinician who has led performances and workshops on six continents. She is the National President-elect of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the chorus director of the Grand Rapids Symphony and Professor Emerita of Music at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
She has conducted several times at Carnegie Hall and other major concert halls in the US. Her guest conducting engagements regularly take her to Europe, Asia, and across North America.
Renowned conductor and composer Dr. André Thomas, National Past President of the American Choral Directors Association (and our Choral Connect guest presenter in 2017) says:
"Dr. Pearl Shangkuan is a distinguished conductor, lecturer, and clinician, known for her exceptional leadership and inspiring presence. With experience on six continents, Dr. Shangkuan brings excellence, scholarship, and excitement to every rehearsal and lecture she leads. Those who sing or perform under her direction feel seen, respected, and energized by her passion and commitment to music-making.
"As National President-elect of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Dr. Shangkuan is deeply involved in shaping the future of choral music in the United States. In addition, she is the Editor for Hinshaw Music, a renowned choral music publisher, where she continues to influence the development and publication of high-quality choral repertoire.
"Dr. Shangkuan’s work as a conductor, educator, and scholar is celebrated globally, and her leadership continues to inspire musicians and choral communities worldwide."
New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir
Aotearoa's national choir for secondary school students, NZSSC gathers during school holidays to rehearse and perform across the motu. Each two-year cycle culminates in an international tour: in July 2024, the choir travelled to China, where they took part in the Shanghai Oriental Art Centre Chorus Exchange, the Chorus and Conducting Art Conference in Hangzhou, and the China International Chorus Festival in Beijing.
NZSSC is directed by Sue Densem, alongside Assistant Conductor and Accompanist Brent Stewart and Assistant Conductor and Vocal Consultant Ben Madden.
Aotearoa New Zealand Academy Choir
The concept for the Academy Choir arose from a "reserves" programme for singers who had just missed out on a place in NZSSC or the NZ Youth Choir. The choir is made up of young members from across Aotearoa who meet during school holidays to rehearse and perform. In 2024, the Academy Choir received a Gold Diploma at the World Choir Games.
The Aotearoa Academy Choir is co-directed by Elise Bradley and Rowan Johnston.
We'll be sharing more details about Choral Connect over the next few months — to stay in the loop, make sure you've signed up to eBreve, our monthly newsletter!