Whether you are a beginner at conducting choirs or just want to brush up on your skills, this class aims to give you the skills you need for a successful 2024-25 season. 

Designed for conductors of school, church and community choirs, the BCCF “Choral da Capo” (Choral Directorship Course) gives you an opportunity to study one-on-one with master teachers and also learn about rehearsal planning, vocal technique, diction and repertoire selection. 

Students will work within small peer groups every day to develop and refine conducting skills, then with the larger lab choir made up of experienced choral musicians. The atmosphere is always encouraging and low stress. 

Dates:

August 23–25, 2024

Venue:

St Mary’s Kerrisdale Church (2490 W 37th Ave, Vancouver)

Program Teachers:

Michelle Hartley
Kevin Zakresky
Willi Zwozdesky
Russell Wallace
Melanie Adams

Tuition:

• Early bird (thru August 4) $340 plus $40 individual BCCF membership
• Regular (from August 5) $370 plus $40 individual BCCF membership

Limited scholarships and travel bursaries are available by individual request. Please apply in writing at the time of application.

CLICK HERE to register and pay online.

Detailed Schedule:

Friday, August 23

1:30-2:00 Registration
2:00-3:15 Meeting and singing the course repertoire together
3:30-4:30 Small Groups
4:30-5:30 Basic Choral Techniques
6:00-7:30 Test Choir – Podium Time
7:45-9:00 Test Choir – Podium Time

Saturday, August 24

9:00-9:45 Adult Repertoire Selection
9:45-10:45 Small Groups
11:00-12:30 Vocal Techniques for Choral Singers
1:30-2:45 Children/Youth Repertoire Selection
3:00-4:15 Test Choir – Podium Time
4:30-5:30 Test Choir – Podium Time

Sunday, August 25

1:00-2:15 Resources in Indigenous Music
2:30-4:30 Test Choir – Podium Time
4:45-5:30 Wrap-up

Biographies:

Michelle Hartley began her career as a choral director in 2008, in Halifax, NS. Born and raised in Stephenville, NL, she has taught coast to coast, in the NWT, the USA, England, and France. With a passion for singing, languages and culture, her studies in piano were quick to expand into choral accompaniment and conducting. A graduate of Mount Allison and Memorial University, Michelle also completed a Masters of Music at Westminster Choir College. Since her arrival in BC in 2016, she has been developing a Kodály-based curriculum for students aged 4-18, integrating the method along with the Orff Approach as a certified Kodály and Orff Schulwerk teacher.

Kevin Zakresky is a touring orchestral conductor who has recently directed the Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses, National Geographic Symphony, Heroes Symphony and Sonic the Hedgehog, four shows that have seen him conduct orchestras throughout North America, South America, and Europe. He has recently begun as Music Director of the touring “Picasso Symphony,” and is Music Director of the Pacific Spirit Choir and Maddalena’s Descant in Vancouver. Previously he was Music Director of the Prince George Symphony and conductor of the Pacifica Singers. Kevin received his doctorate in choral conducting from Yale University in 2012 and has been on the voice faculty of the VSO School of Music since 2013.

Willi Zwozdesky (MA, MMus) is widely-known for his work as a choral conductor, arranger, clinician, and publisher. A native of north-central Alberta, Zwozdesky later moved to Seattle, completing a Master of Music in choral conducting and a Master of Arts in music theory at the University of Washington in 1981. Following his move to Vancouver in that year, he established himself as a leader in the city’s cultural community, and undertook developing the voice of the Vancouver Men’s Chorus (VMC). Under his direction for the past forty three years, the VMC has distinguished itself internationally through innovative, often collaborative programming that emphasizes the work of Canadian creators, custom arrangements, a wide range of women’s music, and extra-choral elements. Zwozdesky’s long-term dedication to choral music has been recognized by GALA Choruses and the British Columbia Choral Federation (BCCF). Through his position as Executive Director of the BCCF, he is also a board member of Choral Canada.

Melanie Adams is a prominent member of Vancouver’s music community. As a soloist, her repertoire ranges from early music to world premieres of new music by prominent Canadian composers. She has collaborated with many musical and theatrical organizations, including the Erato Ensemble, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, the Vancouver Island Symphony, the Fraser Valley Symphony, Redshift Musical Society, and the Health Arts Society of BC. For 20 years, Melanie was very well-known as a member of Vancouver’s musica intima, with whom she has toured extensively and has appeared on 8 of their 10 recordings. Teaching is also a very important facet of Melanie’s career, and she owns and operates an active and thriving studio from her New Westminster home. Her students have performed very successfully in and won awards for RCM examinations and music festivals. Many of her former students have studied music at the university level, and have music careers of their own. 

Russell Wallace is an award-winning composer, producer and traditional singer from the Stʼatʼimc and Lil’wat Nation. Wallace learned about traditional singing from his mom Flora Wallace from Xaxlip/Lil’wat. His music can be heard on soundtracks for film, television and theatre/dance productions across Canada and the U.S. Wallace received a Leo Award for best music for a documentary for his work on “1491” the TV series and received the Lieutenant Governor’s Art and Music Award in 2022 for artists who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, community engagement, and commitment through fostering and mentoring others in the fields of Visual Arts, Music or Performance. Wallace’s music has been performed internationally and was featured at Biennale Arte 2022-The 59th International Art Exhibition in Venice. He works with many choirs in Vancouver and has been the Director of Indigenous Vocal Ensemble at Vancouver Community College.