Festival Schedule
Schedule for information only and subject to change.
WEDNESDAY - APRIL 17 | Evening
Hosted Information Session
Artistic Directors will have the opportunity to meet with Festival organizers and the Festival Artists in preparation for the weekend’s events. Light refreshments will be served. Further details to be confirmed.
THURSDAY - APRIL 18
Workshops | Daytime and evening sessions available
Two choirs will perform for each other and for the two Festival Artists in the beautiful Bella Concert Hall for the first 30 minutes of the session. Following the performances, choirs will move into separate spaces to each work with one Festival Artist to receive individualized feedback on the pieces they performed and experiment with the recommendations in a classroom setting. Directors will receive a written evaluation of their choir’s performance. It is possible that choirs participating in workshops may be invited to perform in one of the 300 Voices concerts. Choirs will choose repertoire that suits their group. Repertoire chosen should not exceed 10 minutes in total. Morning and afternoon session are targeted first to high school and other learning institutions who may not be able to participate in evening learning sessions. Evening workshops are targeted first to community choirs who may not be able to participate in daytime sessions.
Morning sessions | 10:00-11:15 AM, 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Afternoon sessions | 1:30-2:45 PM, 2:45-4:00 PM
Evening sessions | 5:15-6:30 PM, 6:30-7:45 PM, 7:45-9:00 PM
Session times are subject to change based on registration demand and compatibility of paired groups. All reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate preferred time of day (morning/afternoon/evening).
Friday - April 19
Workshops | Daytime sessions available
Two choirs will perform for each other and for the two Festival Artists in the beautiful Bella Concert Hall for the first 30 minutes of the session. Following the performances, choirs will move into separate spaces to each work with one Festival Artist to receive individualized feedback on the pieces they performed and experiment with the recommendations in a classroom setting. Directors will receive a written evaluation of their choir’s performance. It is possible that choirs participating in workshops may be invited to perform in one of the 300 Voices concerts. Choirs will choose repertoire that suits their group. Repertoire chosen should not exceed 10 minutes in total. Morning and afternoon session are targeted to high school and other learning institutions who may not be able to participate in evening learning sessions.
Morning sessions | 10:00-11:15 AM, 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Afternoon sessions | 1:30-2:45 PM, 2:45-4:00 PM
Session times are subject to change based on registration demand and compatibility of paired groups. All reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate preferred time of day (morning/afternoon/evening).
Technical Rehearsal | 5:30-8:00 PM
For choirs participating in any of the 300 Voices concert performances on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.
SATURDAY - APRIL 20
The Power of Graphic Scores with Katerina Gimon | 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
In this innovative professional development class, award-winning composer, improviser and vocalist Katerina Gimon will discuss how graphic scores - a visual representation of music - can be used as a tool for unleashing creativity, reinforcing musical concepts in the classroom, strengthening ear training, and deepening our understanding of the works we are performing. Participants will be led through exercises suitable for choirs of all levels, including completing their very own graphic score by the end of the session. Suitable for conductors, music educators, singers, students, composers, and music enthusiasts.
56 Compositions, 56 Composers in 56 Minutes with Dr. Larry Nickel | 10:30 AM-12:00 PM
In this enriching professional development class, acclaimed composer and conductor Dr. Larry Nickel will delve into the meticulous art of repertoire selection and concert programming, illuminating the intricate processes and considerations inherent in curating memorable choral experiences. Drawing from his extensive experience in the field, Dr. Nickel will share valuable insights into composition and the assemblage of what has become a quasi library for Canadian choral music, offering a rare glimpse into its rich tapestry of compositions. Participants will engage in enlightening discussions on the discerning process of selecting pieces for publishing and exploring the criteria and artistic nuances Dr. Nickel seeks in a piece. This class is a unique opportunity for choral enthusiasts, conductors, and composers to enhance their knowledge and understanding of choral music, gaining inspiration and guidance from one of Canada’s choral luminaries.
Kantorei Choral Festival Artistic Director, John Morgan, has asked Larry to run a reading session featuring nine Canadian composer’s nine new choral works in the Cypress Choral Library. This is an excellent opportunity to hear and discuss new repertoire and talk about concert programming. This portion of the class will have the participants read the score on a large projector and become the “choir” as we discover new music.
Masterclasses | Morning and afternoon sessions available
Choirs may register for a full 2-hour masterclass with one Festival Artist to target musical selections of their choice. The Festival Artist may direct the choir themselves or may work through the director. Learning and development will focus on understanding the nature of the music performed and making choral music in a contemporary setting. Choirs taking part in a masterclass will be invited to participate in one of the performances of 300 Voices. Masterclasses are best suited to professional and volunteer performance choirs.
300 Voices Concert | 7:00 PM
The Kantorei Choral Festival culminates in two performances of 300 Voices, a celebration of choral music featuring artists and ensembles from far and wide. Choirs who took part in Festival sessions and events will be invited to join Mount Royal Kantorei in an electrifying finale.
Participation in any one of the performances of 300 Voices concert includes your group's attendance at the Technical Rehearsal on Friday evening. In the concert, your choir will perform a short individual set, and will sing in at least one of the mass choral pieces. Select groups may be invited to participate in both the Saturday and Sunday performances.
SUNDAY - APRIL 21
Masterclasses | Morning and early afternoon sessions available
Choirs may register for a full 2-hour masterclass with one Festival Artist to target musical selections of their choice. The Festival Artist may direct the choir themselves or may work through the director. Learning and development will focus on understanding the nature of the music performed and making choral music in a contemporary setting. Choirs taking part in a masterclass will be invited to participate in one of the performances of 300 Voices. Masterclasses are best suited to professional and volunteer performance choirs.
300 Voices Concert | 2:00 PM
The Kantorei Choral Festival culminates in two performances of 300 Voices, a celebration of choral music featuring artists and ensembles from far and wide. Choirs who took part in Festival sessions and events will be invited to join Mount Royal Kantorei in an electrifying finale.
Participation in any one of the performances of 300 Voices concert includes your group's attendance at the Technical Rehearsal on Friday evening. In the concert, your choir will perform a short individual set, and will sing in at least one of the mass choral pieces. Select groups may be invited to participate in both the Saturday and Sunday performances.