[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from almost 30 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions ac...

Mansfield University Concert choir at the 2012 World choir Games in the voices of Gold performance

2016 Christmas Concert at Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK. Directed by Richard Janzen 0:00 - O Come, O Come Emmanuel (arr. Richard Janzen) 3:00 - The Glory Of The Father (Egil Hovland)

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir]     This post is part of a series of occasional Questions and Answers. Just contact Chris if you want to submit a question.     Tim wro...

ore">Shumayela is part of Edmonton's Kokopelli choir Association. Launched in 2006, this choir for treble and changing voices continues to expand its horizons, develop its membership and satisy a variety of musical tastes. The choir has toured throughout Briti...  ore_link" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="$(this).getParent().getNext().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">moreore" style="display:none;">Shumayela is part of Edmonton's Kokopelli choir Association. Launched in 2006, this choir for treble and changing voices continues to expand its horizons, develop its membership and satisy a variety of musical tastes. The choir has toured throughout British Columbia and Alberta. In July 2011, they sang in Ottawa at the Unisong festival for Canada Day, and in July 2013 the group was featured at the presitigious and exciting international Festival 500 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Wherever the choir travels, we spread the joy of music-making and hope to bring communities together through song. Shumayela offers a focus on thorough and excellent music education, with singers learning about healthy vocal production, the body-voice connection, and vibrant performance presence as well as a strong emphasis on musical literacy, music theory, and sightsinging skills. As with all our ensembles, Shumayela provides a secure and accepting social environment where all singers feel their importance as members of the group...    less

male chorus singing songs of faith directed by Al Reesnes

ore">The Czech Boys choir, from the city of Hradec Králové in North Bohemia, maintains the famous traditions of boychoir singing in the Czech territory as it began in the 13th century with the first boys' choir at the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague and continue...  ore_link" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="$(this).getParent().getNext().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">moreore" style="display:none;">The Czech Boys choir, from the city of Hradec Králové in North Bohemia, maintains the famous traditions of boychoir singing in the Czech territory as it began in the 13th century with the first boys' choir at the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague and continues in modern times with the boys choir established in Hradec Králové by Jiří and Květa Skopal in 1982. Led by artistic director and conductor, Jakub Martinec, the Czech Boys choir organization provides artistic training for boys from the age of three to adult, and consists of the professional touring SATB concert choir, the Young Men's Ensemble with conductor Jennifer Beynon Martinec, and the training choir Zpěváček, led by Simona Hlavatá. The concert choir closely cooperates with pianist Martin Fišl. The choir regularly records for TV and radio, performs concerts in the Czech Republic and abroad, collaborates with renowned artists, ensembles and orchestras. Their repertoire includes both traditional and modern works of both Czech and international compos...    less

ore">Recognized across North America as one of Canada’s best choral ensembles, the 80-strong, mixed-voice St. Lawrence choir performs music from the classical choral repertoire as well as contemporary works by Canadian and other composers. 2011-2012 marks the...  ore_link" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="$(this).getParent().getNext().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">moreore" style="display:none;">Recognized across North America as one of Canada’s best choral ensembles, the 80-strong, mixed-voice St. Lawrence choir performs music from the classical choral repertoire as well as contemporary works by Canadian and other composers. 2011-2012 marks the 40th anniversary season of the St. Lawrence choir. Since 2008 the St. Lawrence choir has been under the direction of Michael Zaugg. The Swiss-born musician has distinguished himself as an innovative and versatile conductor on the Canadian choral scene. Active as artistic director, guest conductor, pedagogue and clinician, Michael Zaugg brings a wealth of experience and creativity to his work. St. Lawrence choir was formed in 1972 by Iwan Edwards and a group of singers residing in the West Island of Montreal. Concerts were presented in Lachine until 1983 when the choir relocated to downtown Montreal. Since 1986, the choir has regularly appeared with the Montreal Symphony orchestra as the largest component of the MSO chorus, and has made numerous recordin...    less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir]   Some years ago I did some voice-only arrangements of Queen songs for a weekend workshop. I ended up listening to a lot of Queen recordings!   ...