Music Conference Alberta is Alberta’s premier professional development opportunity for music teachers, choral conductors, band directors, and studio instructors. Delegates are invited to attend interest sessions, interactive panel discussions, open rehearsals and rehearsal labs, masterclasses, MCA One-on-One sessions, and concerts. The MCA Marketplace provides an opportunity for delegates to browse and purchase product, meet industry representatives, and learn about upcoming travel and fundraising opportunities.
Members of Choir Alberta save 20% on regular registration fees by entering the code CAB member on the registration page.
Choral offerings include
This page highlights some of the specific choir offerings at the conference. However, all delegates are welcome to attend all sessions, regardless of conference stream. See the full list of interest sessions here.
Building Sound Through Conducting Gesture | Dr. Hyejung Jun
This session will discuss clarifying and simplifying conducting gestures and how the basics open the door to artistry and precision. The gesture is one of the most important tools to communicate with singers and to show the conductor's musical ideas during rehearsals and concerts. This session comprehensively explains the effective conducting gestures for breathing, preparation, cueing, release, dynamics, and phrasing.
This session will discuss clarifying and simplifying conducting gestures and how the basics open the door to artistry and precision. The gesture is one of the most important tools to communicate with singers and to show the conductor's musical ideas during rehearsals and concerts. This session comprehensively explains the effective conducting gestures for breathing, preparation, cueing, release, dynamics, and phrasing.
Caring for Your Choir: Planning the Perfect Rehearsal | Dr. Joel Plaag
Maybe you're a great rehearsal technician. Maybe at times your rehearsal can slow down to a crawl. Should warm-ups be necessary? Should we even bother with a rehearsal order? How do we approach a new piece with the choir? How do we keep the choir members coming back? In this session, we'll look at the craft of planning an engaging rehearsal with one secret: keeping it moving. We're going to look at spreadsheets, rehearsal orders, and using the clock to dictate rehearsal pacing.
Maybe you're a great rehearsal technician. Maybe at times your rehearsal can slow down to a crawl. Should warm-ups be necessary? Should we even bother with a rehearsal order? How do we approach a new piece with the choir? How do we keep the choir members coming back? In this session, we'll look at the craft of planning an engaging rehearsal with one secret: keeping it moving. We're going to look at spreadsheets, rehearsal orders, and using the clock to dictate rehearsal pacing.
Caring for Your Choir: Connecting With Our Singers | Dr. Joel Plaag
We already know that loneliness is endemic in North America, and we posess the tools for one of the solutions - rehearsal in the choir. How do we help our choristers - especially those who only interact online - connect with others? What is "the Spirit of the Choir?" How do we use our time efficiently so our singers will want to come? How can we celebrate newcomers? Also, what should we do outside of choir time to keep our singers engaged? We're going to talk about rehearsals some, but we're also going to talk about goals: why they are important for our choirs and the rewards that come with them. Finally, we're going to talk about the magic of stopping loneliness that comes from participating in choir.
We already know that loneliness is endemic in North America, and we posess the tools for one of the solutions - rehearsal in the choir. How do we help our choristers - especially those who only interact online - connect with others? What is "the Spirit of the Choir?" How do we use our time efficiently so our singers will want to come? How can we celebrate newcomers? Also, what should we do outside of choir time to keep our singers engaged? We're going to talk about rehearsals some, but we're also going to talk about goals: why they are important for our choirs and the rewards that come with them. Finally, we're going to talk about the magic of stopping loneliness that comes from participating in choir.
Choral Conducting Masterclass | Dr. Hyejung Jun
This session will be a conducting masterclass. Several participants will get opportunities to conduct and get specific feedback and suggestions. All attendees will be introduced to a couple of conducting concepts throughout the session and we will discuss what to do and what not to do as a conductor at the end of the session.
This session will be a conducting masterclass. Several participants will get opportunities to conduct and get specific feedback and suggestions. All attendees will be introduced to a couple of conducting concepts throughout the session and we will discuss what to do and what not to do as a conductor at the end of the session.
The Choral Music of Marie-Claire Saindon | Marie-Claire Saindon
Session description coming soon!
Session description coming soon!
Choral Reading Session: Music for elementary and children’s choir | Elaine Mhyre
This reading session will focus on choral music for elementary and children’s choirs. The music packet comprises accompanied unison, 2-part, and some easy 3-part treble pieces in a variety of styles and genres. A complimentary reading session packet will be available to the first 50 participants courtesy of Long & McQuade Musical Instruments.
This reading session will focus on choral music for elementary and children’s choirs. The music packet comprises accompanied unison, 2-part, and some easy 3-part treble pieces in a variety of styles and genres. A complimentary reading session packet will be available to the first 50 participants courtesy of Long & McQuade Musical Instruments.
Demonstration Session with the 2024 Alberta Youth Choir | Jamie Hillman
Session description coming soon!
Session description coming soon!
Discovering the Creative Choir Conductor Within | Dr. Joel Plaag
We work in a creative field, but sometimes creativity can elude even the best of us. What inspires our creativity? What blocks it? How did we get "stuck" limiting ourselves, and how do we get out of it? In this discussion, we'll talk about what usually holds us back as creative people, and how best to understand and cope with it. We're going to talk about loneliness, how our minds play tricks on us, and how we best overcome fear using storytelling, rhythmic exercises, and creating safe spaces for ourselves and our choirs.
We work in a creative field, but sometimes creativity can elude even the best of us. What inspires our creativity? What blocks it? How did we get "stuck" limiting ourselves, and how do we get out of it? In this discussion, we'll talk about what usually holds us back as creative people, and how best to understand and cope with it. We're going to talk about loneliness, how our minds play tricks on us, and how we best overcome fear using storytelling, rhythmic exercises, and creating safe spaces for ourselves and our choirs.
Contemporary Korean Choral Music | Dr. Hyejung Jun
Korean Choral Music is flourishing with young composers. Contemporary Korean Choral Music includes Korean musical stylistic traits and new fascinating compositional mechanics. If you are looking for a new choral repertoire you haven’t explored yet, the Korean repertoire will bring your choir a distinctive and delightful experience.
In this session, you will learn a brief history of Korean Choral Music and be exposed to the new music of four well-known living composers: Hyowon Woo, Hye-Young Cho, Ji-hoon Park, and Jinsil Lee. It will be practical and beneficial to choral conductors and teachers who wanting to explore new Korean choral music with their choirs.
Korean Choral Music is flourishing with young composers. Contemporary Korean Choral Music includes Korean musical stylistic traits and new fascinating compositional mechanics. If you are looking for a new choral repertoire you haven’t explored yet, the Korean repertoire will bring your choir a distinctive and delightful experience.
In this session, you will learn a brief history of Korean Choral Music and be exposed to the new music of four well-known living composers: Hyowon Woo, Hye-Young Cho, Ji-hoon Park, and Jinsil Lee. It will be practical and beneficial to choral conductors and teachers who wanting to explore new Korean choral music with their choirs.
New Music by Alberta Composers | multiple
Come meet some of Alberta's renowned choral composers, sing their music, and have an opportunity to hear them talk about their work. The music packet comprises a cappella and accompanied pieces primarily for mixed choir; a variety of levels of difficulty will be included. A complimentary reading session packet will be available for the first 25 participants.
Come meet some of Alberta's renowned choral composers, sing their music, and have an opportunity to hear them talk about their work. The music packet comprises a cappella and accompanied pieces primarily for mixed choir; a variety of levels of difficulty will be included. A complimentary reading session packet will be available for the first 25 participants.
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Telephone780-488-7464
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© Choir Alberta 2021