AYC 2026 Overview

GUEST CONDUCTOR
Jackie Hawley

RESIDENCY
19-22 February 2026, Edmonton

SHOWCASE CONCERT
22 February 2026, Winspear Centre

2026 Artistic Team

JACKIE HAWLEY
Guest Conductor

Jackie Hawley is the founding Artistic Director of the Cantiamo Choirs of Ottawa. She has conducted and toured internationally with adult, youth and children’s choirs and has been a clinician for choirs and schools throughout Canada for nearly 40 years.

Ms. Hawley has presented at numerous events including Festival 500, Podium and the International Symposium of Singing and Song II Ms. Hawley has adjudicated for the Alberta Choral Federation Choralfest South and was a jury member for the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs.

Ms. Hawley works frequently with the Education Department of the National Arts Centre and was the Music Director of the NAC’s 500 voice annual Music Monday Choir. Ms. Hawley is the Founder of the Nipiit-Katittut- Voices United (NKVU) educational engagement project which connects choristers with youth in Iqaluit to build community and promote leadership skills, musical artistry and cultural enlightenment.

Ms. Hawley is committed to the creation, performance and promotion of Canadian choral music and has premiered over 50 works by Canadian composers. The Cantiamo Choirs of Ottawa has commissioned and continues to commission one or more Canadian compositions every year.
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Ms. Hawley was also a teacher with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and is dedicated to the mission of having all children singing in schools every day. Ms. Hawley continues to give music leadership workshops to Board staff and facilitate workshops for school choirs

DANIEL BROWNE
Apprentice Conductor

​Daniel Browne is Assistant Conductor of Korora and Shumayela, and a music educator with Edmonton Public Schools, where he specializes in music and French. He recently completed his Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of Alberta, studying with Dr. Tim Shantz. Daniel also holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in cello performance, a Bachelor of Music Education, and a Minor in French from Memorial University of Newfoundland. An avid choral singer, Daniel is an alumnus of the Shallaway Youth Choir and served on its faculty as a choral scholar and apprentice conductor from 2017 to 2023. His choral experience includes singing with Newman Sound Men’s Choir, Quintessential Vocal Ensemble, and the MUN Chamber Choir, as well as participation in a wide range of community and academic choral projects.