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."

International Zoom Presenters

Susanna Saw is an active music educator, promoting music and choral education in Malaysia. She is currently a choir director at the Faculty of Music at the University of Malaya (UM), Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) and the Adjunct Professor at the Taylor’s University. In 2007, Susanna established the Young Choral Academy in Kuala Lumpur, a venue for choral lovers to learn more about vocal and choral education. She was instrumental in bringing the Kodály Teachers’ Training Course to the Southeast Asia region to improve the standards of classroom music teaching. She also founded The Young Kuala Lumpur Singers and The Kuala Lumpur Children's Choir.

Internationally, Susanna has been a member of the World Choir Games Juries since 2007. She is an active Working Committee member of the Asia-Pacific Choral Council, under the auspices of the International Federation for Choral Music and is Vice President of the International Kodaly Society, the World Youth and Children Choral Artists' Association and the Malaysian Association for Music Education.

Francisco J. Núñez is a MacArthur Fellow and Musical America’s 2018 Educator of the Year. He is a composer, conductor and leading figure in music education. He is the artistic director/founder of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, renowned worldwide for its diversity and artistic excellence. It brings children from underserved neighborhoods together with children from more privileged circumstances and, with music as the equalizer, the diversity in the group has resulted in a vibrant choral sound and an avenue for children to succeed. He is now expanding the YPC model to children’s choruses beyond New York City.

Francisco Núñez also leads the University Glee Club of New York City, its fifth conductor since the all-men’s chorus was established in 1894; is the principal conductor of American Young Voices concerts of schoolchildren performing in some of the largest arenas in the Northeast; and is sought after nationwide as a guest conductor by professional orchestras and choirs. He is a celebrated composer and arranger, and is recognised as a leading authority on the role of music in achieving equality and diversity among children in today’s society.

Plenary presenter and Artistic Director

Dr Karen Grylls is an Honorary Associate Professor in Choral Conducting at the University of Auckland. She conducted the New Zealand Youth Choir from 1989 to 2011, founded Voices NZ in 1998 and was Artistic Director of three internationally acclaimed national choirs of Choirs Aotearoa NZ: these two and the NZ Secondary Student’s choir until 2024. From 2011 to 2013, Karen was also Artistic Director of Toronto’s Exultate Chamber Choir. Her performances with the Youth Choir and Voices NZ have won international competitions and awards. She is sought after internationally as a choral clinician and regularly conducts international masterclasses and workshops.

At the University of Auckland, Karen has established a postgraduate pathway in Conducting at the Masters and Doctoral level. In 1996 Auckland University honoured her with a Distinguished Teaching Award in Music.  She is also the recipient of the KBB Citation from the Composers’ Association of New Zealand and the Lilburn Trust Citation for services to New Zealand music, and in June 2023 she was further honoured as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for her services to choral music.