The Alberta Children's Choir provides an opportunity for children between the ages of 11 and 15 from across the province to pursue excellence in choral music under the direction of an internationally recognized choral conductor. Conductors and teachers from across the province are encouraged to recommend their best singers to participate in this choir.

Alberta Children's Choir Showcase Concert

Jackie Hawley, guest conductor
Kim Cousineau, pianist
Sunday, February 4 2024 (time)
Francis Winspear Centre for Music, Edmonton
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The 2024 Alberta Children's Choir

Guest Artists
Jackie Hawley, guest conductor
Kim Cousineau, pianist

Schedule Overview
(DATE) | Online rehearsal prep session
(DATE) | Rehearsal residency (Grant MacEwan Conservatory of Music, Edmonton)
February 4, 2024 | Concert (Francis Winspear Centre for Music, Edmonton)

Registration Fee  $(AMOUNT)
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Please note that participation in ALL scheduled rehearsals and performances is mandatory for accepted choristers. This will mean having to miss at least one day of school. A discounted room rate at a hotel near the rehearsal and concert venues will be available for out-of-town families.

Guest Artists

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. 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.

​KIM COUSINEAU, PIANIST
Kim Cousineau, B.Mus, ARCT, AVCM, received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Victoria, and studied privately with Anna Cal, student of Russian pianist Pavel Egorov. He is an alumnus of Opera Nuova's collaborative pianist program and has studied at the Franz Schubert Institute in Baden, Austria. Kim has worked as a répétiteur and music director for numerous organizations including Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera Nuova, Mercury Opera, Mayfield Dinner Theatre, MacEwan Theatre, and Concordia University of Edmonton. He is in high demand as a choral accompanist, collaborating with many groups including Concordia Concert Choir, King's Cantorum and Chamber Choir, Da Camera Singers, Vocal Alchemy, Chronos Vocal Ensemble and A Joyful Noise. In addition to his work with choirs, Kim freelances as a vocal coach and studio pianist in the Edmonton area.

COVID-19 protocol

The health and wellbeing of ACC choristers is our top priority. All accepted choristers are expected to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols in place for this program. At present, our protocol requires that:
  • Proof of full vaccination (at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine) must be provided before the first rehearsal
  • Masks be worn by all individuals at all times
  • 2-metre distance be maintained between individuals at all times
  • A screening checklist be submitted on a daily basis prior to the first rehearsal of the day
  • A well-organized process for arriving at and departing from rehearsals be in place
  • Equipment or printed music not be shared
  • Car pooling be avoided; but that, if there is no other option, individuals remain masked while in transit
  • Any symptomatic individual not attend rehearsal
  • Any individual who becomes symptomatic during a rehearsal leave immediately

What conductors & choristers say about ACC

ACC is a unique experience, and an opportunity to use my talents to create a masterpiece, alongside like-minded Alberta youth. I attend ACC because it is a chance to expand my musical horizons and learn new techniques. I would recommend ACC for any young chorister.
—Aliya, Northern ACC Chorister (Northern Lights Harmonics, Lac La Biche)

ACC is a wonderful program for gifted and hard-working young singers! The experience for choristers goes beyond the synthesis of their vocal, aural, theoretical, technical and interpretive skills. It provides them the opportunity to meet new friends and to work on a consistently high caliber of repertoire. Being in this safe environment of music-making builds their confidence for performing. It has always been a pleasure for me as a conductor to be able to recommend my choristers and have them come back rejuvenated with added tools and strategies for healthy singing. ACC also allows them the opportunity to be leaders in their choir as they model what they have learned and share their experience with other choristers.
​—Beth Pecson, Music Teacher, Monsignor Fee Otterson School

I was blown away by the performance and stunned by what [the guest conductor] Ruth managed to create with the choristers in such a short amount of time! I was moved to tears and cheers by the songs the choir sang! 
​—Nicolette Groeneveld, parent of ACC participant