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 2026-27 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, accessibility 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.

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Dates:

August 23-25, 2026

Venue:

Vancouver Opera (1945 McLean Drive – Vancouver, BC)

Program Teachers:

Diana Clark
Hyejung Jun
Willi Zwozdesky
Geordie Roberts (Voice)

Tuition:

Early Bird Registration – before June 1
$435 + $40 BCCF Membership

Regular Registration – after June 1
$485 + $40 BCCF Membership

Observer Rate

$235 + $40 BCCF Membership

There is room for 21 participants

CLICK HERE to register online

Detailed Schedule:

Sunday, August 23: 1:00pm-8:00pm

1:00-2:00pm – Registration/Catching Up
2:00-2:30pm – Introductions
2:30-3:30pm – Singing through the course repertoire together
15 min Break
3:45-4:45pm – AEDI and Multiculturalism in Choral Music
45 min Break
5:30-8:00pm – Test Choir – Podium Time

Monday, August 24: 9:30am-8:15pm

9:30-10:00am – LISTEN UP – Warm-up
10:00-10:45am – Adult Repertoire Selection
10:45-11:30am – Small Groups – Choosing Repertoire
15 min Break
11:45am-12:30pm – Vocal Techniques for Choral Singers
60 min Break
1:30-3:30pm – Test Choir – Podium Time
15 min Break
3:45-4:45pm – Popular Styles in Choral Music
4:45-5:15pm – Small Groups – Reviewing Basic Skills
60 min Break
6:15-8:15pm – Test Choir – Podium Time

Tuesday, August 25: 9:30am-8:00pm

9:30-10:00am – SING TOGETHER – Warm-up
10:00-10:45am – Children/Youth Repertoire Selection
10:45-11:15am – Small Groups – Rehearsal Planning Strategies
15 min Break
11:45am-12:30pm – Vocal Techniques for Choral Singers
60 min Break
1:30-3:30pm – Test Choir – Podium Time
15 min Break
3:45-4:15pm – Small Groups – Group’s Choice
60 min Break
5:15-7:15pm – Test Choir – Podium Time
7:15-8:00pm – Wrap-Up and Group Discussion

Biographies:

Hyejung Jun is an Assistant Professor of Choral Conducting at the University of British Columbia, where she conducts the UBC Choral Union with 120 singers and teaches Choral Literature, Choral Conducting Techniques, and Conducting Lessons for graduate conducting students. 

Her performances have been recognized for their sensitivity and excellence. Before coming to the United States, she won the 2012 National Choral Conducting Competition in Seoul, South Korea. After moving to the United States, she was a finalist for the Graduate Conducting Competition in the American Choral Directors Association in 2017, and she also was the Conducting Fellow at the 2019 National Collegiate Choral Organization. In 2018, she was awarded the May Festival Conducting Fellowship with the internationally recognized May Festival Chorus in Cincinnati, OH. 

As a clinician, Jun has been invited to work with singers of all ages. She has conducted workshops and masterclasses with students from Canada, United States, and Korea. She also conducted the Vancouver Chamber Choir as a guest conductor in Vancouver, BC, in 2025. 

She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and earned her Master of Music degrees in Choral Conducting from Yonsei University in Korea and Emory University in the United States. 

Diana Clark is Artistic Director of Coastal Sound Music, a multi-level choral organization based in Coquitlam, BC. With an eclectic background that includes a Master’s Degree in Music Performance and a Master of Music Education from Northwestern University, Diana is recognized for her creative work with young musicians and has served as a clinician across Canada. She taught music in SD43 public elementary schools for 32 years, including 3 years as Fine Arts Coordinator. In October 2025 Diana was faculty at Choir Alberta’s inaugural Choral Leadership Gathering in Banff. Her workshop sessions always offer a treasure-trove of practical ideas that connect repertoire to curriculum and artistry. 

Diana proudly served the Canadian choral community on the Board of Choral Canada and Advocacy Committee from 2014-2024 where she co-coordinated the first-ever National Choral Census (2014-2017), National Roundtables (2020) and the Benefits of Singing Campaign (2022-2023). Diana has been a member of the BC Choral Mentorship Project since its inception in 2010.

When she is not working with choirs, Diana plays Trombone in Inlet Jazz Band, runs with her dog, and enjoys singing and performing with her musician-husband Andrew Clark.

Willi Zwozdesky is widely-known as a choral conductor and for his work as an arranger, which join together to form a large part of an active musical career that also includes music publishing and arts management. A native of Alberta, Zwozdesky later moved to Seattle, where he completed 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, working in choral music, education, musical theatre, and most notably, as the conductor of the Vancouver Men’s Chorus, a position he still holds today. He also trained in arts management at The Banff Centre School of Management and at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

At the core of Zwozdesky’s career are his choral arrangements, many of which regularly appear in concert programs and recordings across Canada and abroad. His choral music has been performed by leading choirs, including the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Pro Coro Canada, Elektra Women’s Choir, the Seattle Men’s Chorus, Turtle Creek Chorale, MUSE – Cincinnati Women’s Choir, Pandora’s Vox, and Chor Leoni Men’s Choir. His most recent commissions include an extended suite of traditional and original Ukrainian New Year carols for the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton.

In 1990 he established Rhythmic Trident Music Publishing, which focuses on his own and new Canadian work. An active choral clinician and adjudicator, Willi has also volunteered on a number of national and regional organizations, including the Canadian Music Centre, GALA Choruses, Inc., the World of Children’s Choirs 2001, and the Association of Canadian Choral Communities. In 2004, his dedication to choral music was recognized with both a Legacy Award from GALA Choruses for his contributions to the gay and lesbian choral movement and a Willan Award from the British Columbia Choral Federation for outstanding service to British Columbia’s choral community. In addition to his freelance work, he serves as the Executive Director of the British Columbia Choral Federation.

In 2007, Willi Zwozdesky received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 25 years of service conducting The Vancouver Men’s Chorus.

George “Geordie” Roberts is a graduate of the School of Music UBC and the Vancouver Academy of Music. As a long-time member of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, he was a frequent soloist in concert and on recordings. He is a faculty member at Capilano University Music Department, and the Co-ordinator of Music at Highlands United Church, both in North Vancouver  He is highly regarded for his ease of vocal production and expressive singing. In addition to keeping busy singing, teaching and conducting, George is also a gifted accompanist and coach.  A published composer and arranger, George’s choral music is available on the Cypress label. Geordie makes his home in North Vancouver with his wife, Frances, and they enjoy the company of three very musical sons: Aidan, Garreth and Liam.