We welcome the National Canadian Chorus under the direction of two acclaimed conductors of Canada, Carrie Tennant (Vancouver Youth Choirs) and Jamie Hillman (University of Toronto). Taking turns on the podium, they will lead the chorus through a program of all-Canadian music. Repertoire will include a world-premiere from composer-in-residence Sarah Quartel, music by Oji-Cree artist-in-residence Corey Payette, and a wealth of diverse and exciting Canadian music for mixed voice choir. Participating ensembles will also have the opportunity to participate in a special welcome concert (location TBD) where choirs are invited to share in a performance exchange for one another.
Celebrated conductors, a renowned composer, and choirs from all over the country come together to create an unforgettable evening filled with luscious music and exciting visual projections. Audiences have never seen a choral concert like this before. An evening at Carnegie Hall made even more inimitable in this one-night collaboration.
ABOUT THE GUEST CONDUCTORS
Carrie Tennant is the founder and artistic director of the Vancouver Youth Choir. For the past 15 years she has worked primarily with youth, developing leadership and artistry with young singers. Carrie’s choirs have been featured at Chorus America, PODIUM (Choral Canada), and National ACDA conferences, and have twice been awarded first place in the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs. During her time with the Coastal Sound Youth Choir, their popular Indiekör shows were recognized with Choral Canada’s National Award for Outstanding Innovation.
Dr. Jamie Hillman is a Canadian and American musician, active as a conductor, singer, pianist, music educator, and composer. He holds the endowed Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting at the University of Toronto where he is also Director of Choral Studies and an Associate Professor. He conducts the U of T MacMillan Singers and leads the master's and doctoral degree programs in Choral Conducting. Prior to his appointment at UofT, Hillman served on the faculties of Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Gordon College, Kodály Music Institute, and Longy School of Music of Bard College. As a Boston University Prison Arts Scholar and faculty member of BU's Metropolitan College/Prison Education Program, Hillman co-initiated an innovative vocal music program in the Massachusetts prison system.
ABOUT THE COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE
Canadian composer and educator Sarah Quartel is known for her fresh and exciting approach to choral music. Deeply inspired by the life-changing relationships that can occur while making choral music, Sarah writes in a way that connects singer to singer, ensemble to conductor, and performer to audience. Her works are performed by choirs across the world, and she has been commissioned by groups including the American Choral Directors Association, the National Children's Chorus of the United States of America, and New Dublin Voices. Since 2018 she has been exclusively published by Oxford University Press, and she continues to work as a clinician and conductor at music education and choral events at home and abroad.