What’s in store at Choral Connect 06 Jun 2019

We’re pleased to announce details of the plenary sessions and presentation topics at this year’s Choral Connect, as well as revealing the major work the delegate choir will sing at the final concert.

Plenary Sessions
In our three major plenary presentations, delegates will enjoy:

• an interactive session on developing a choral sound concept with Elise Bradley and the Toronto Children’s Chorus
• some thought-provoking ideas from Rachel Fuller on how conductors can use their rehearsal pianists to their greatest potential
• a presentation by Megan Flint on some practical methods for developing musical literacy in the choral rehearsal.

Special Topics, Repertoire Reading and Open Rehearsals
In our 3pm sessions on Thursday and Friday, delegates will be able choose from:

• special topic presentations by Julie Wylie (Building Connections, Singing for Life) and Brent Stewart (Efficient and Engaging Rehearsal Strategies for the Community Choir)
• repertoire reading sessions lead by Mark Stamper (Mixed Choirs), and Megan Flint (Treble Choirs)
• open rehearsals with the Toronto Children’s Chorus and the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir

Masterclasses & Advanced Conducting Strand
There are still a small number of places available for the Masterclasses and the Advanced Conducting Strand. If you haven’t already registered, be sure to get in soon as spaces are filling up quickly. Register for Choral Connect

The Grand Finale!
We can now reveal that the grand finale of the Choral Connect conference will be a performance of Bob Chilcott’s Canticles of Light. Delegates will rehearse the work over the four conference days and will also prepare excerpts from it to conduct in the conducting strands and masterclasses.

Canticles of Light is a dark and beautiful, yet also extremely approachable, work in three movements. The first two are darker in character: evening hymns that ask for protection and comfort through the night. The music lightens for the final hymn, a song for the morning that looks forward to a new beginning.

Prepared by artistic director Karen Grylls, and conducted by our guest conductor, Elise Bradley, a massed choir of all the delegates will be joined by the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choirand the Toronto Children’s Chorus, accompanied by Michael Stewarton the organ, and Brent Stewarton percussion. Be sure to invite any Wellington friends or family along to this concert as it is sure to be a highlight of the conference, and will be a magnificent experience in the stunning acoustic of our beautiful concert venue, St Mary of the Angels, at 7.30pm on Saturday 13 July.

Further details of conference highlights, presenters, choirs and sessions are on our Choral Connect page.