A Masterclass for Conductors, by Conductors

This summer, the Phoenix Chamber Choir Conducting Masterclass will offer a space for conductors of all levels to grow and connect. With guidance from our well-known faculty—Nicholle Andrews, Frances Roberts, and Geordie Roberts—participants will improve their skills in areas like podium presence, rehearsal strategies, and body mapping.

What sets this masterclass apart? The chance to work with a lab choir composed of fellow participants and even members of the Phoenix Chamber Choir, making it a truly hands-on experience. If you’re ready to take the next step in your conducting journey, join us in July at North Vancouver!

Find all the details here: Conducting Masterclass.

Phoenix is elated to welcome the incomparable Dee Daniels to join our concert, Sounds of Radiance, on March 2, 2024

 

With a palpable authenticity, towering five-octave range, a powerful blues and gospel-tinged jazz vocal approach, Dee Daniels has built a sterling reputation amongst jazz fans and critics around the world for over four decades. One critic says, “Daniels is effortless and fluid in reaches that defy other singers. Her voice is so enchanting that the words she sings almost don’t matter. She embodies the music, the sound becomes flesh.” Dee has 15 CDs as a leader and has performed and/or recorded with the who’s who of the Jazz world including Jazz legends, both past and present. The list includes Benny Green, Houston Person, Russell Malone, Wycliffe Gordon, Cyrus Chestnut, Ken Peplowski, Kenny Barron, Toots Thielemans, Hank and Elvin Jones, Monty Alexander, Lionel Hampton, and Herb Ellis. She is the recipient of many awards in music, education, and community services. Her awards include the 2022 Pop Award (Germany) for Album of the Year; Legacy Award from the National Congress of Black Women Foundation; Western Canadian Music Award; Global Music Award; the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame; and a 2009 Honorary Doctorate Degree of Fine Arts.

 

Learn more at https://www.deedaniels.com/ 

 

 

Purchase tickets to Sounds of Radiance

Congratulations to Colin Cossi, the winner of our 2023/2024 Student Composition Competition!

 

Colin Cossi is a conductor, composer and choral artist. His roots are in Minneapolis, MN, and he earned a BM in Music Education from the University of Oregon in 2016. He taught K-5 elementary music and 6-12 choral music in Kelso, WA from 2016-2022. Since beginning his MM in Choral Conducting at Arizona State University in 2022, he has taught Undergraduate Choral Conducting, co-taught Undergraduate Choral Methods, supervised student teachers, conducted the Sol Singers, assistant-conducted the Concert Choir, and served as chorus master to the ASU opera chorus. Additionally, he serves as Artistic Intern for the Phoenix Chorale, and previously served as the Graduate Assistant Conductor for the Phoenix Boys Choir. Community, inclusion, and storytelling are his lens for music making. His skills in conducting, composing, teaching, singing, and writing serve to bring people across all sorts of differences together through music.

 

Social Media:

Instagram @colincossi

Facebook—Colin Cossi

Twitter @colincossi

 

The Lost Lagoon by Colin Cossi will be premiered at our March 2, 2024 concert “Sounds of Radience”

 

 

Listen to Colin share more about his piece:

We’re thrilled to introduce an exciting new program for families – a unique opportunity to enjoy our concerts stress-free! This program’s goal is to inspire entire families to register and bring their children along, eliminating the need for finding a babysitter.

Here’s how it works:

  • Children will spend the first 10 minutes of the concert seated with their families
  • Afterward, they will be cared for by our dedicated Hatchlings experts in a supervised setting within the same venue as the concert, where they will play musical games and learn a piece of music
  • Towards the end of the concert, the children will return to perform their piece on stage with Phoenix

Our goal is to allow parents to fully immerse themselves in the performance, and provide an even more enriching musical experience for the whole family.

 

For families considering Hatchlings, the registered ticket price for Hatchlings (children 5 to 12 years old) is set at $10, ensuring an affordable and inclusive experience for families.

Please note that adults are required to purchase a full-price ticket for their own admittance – the adult ticket is not included in the Hatchlings ticket.

If a slightly older child (13-14) would like to participate as a mentor to younger singers, we welcome their leadership; they may purchase Hatchlings tickets and engage in the rehearsal process with a focus on setting a positive example and helping their younger peers.

The Hatchlings program is now available for purchase for our May concert. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at admin@phoenixchoir.com.

 

Meet Melanie Starr Scarcella, the Educator for May 4, 2024

We asked Melanie to share a bit about herself and her plans for the Hatchlings:

 

1. Tell us a little about yourself

Melanie Starr Scarcella grew up in a small town in Newfoundland where she was fortunate to enjoy a childhood by the ocean and connection to community.  From a young age, she was involved with the performing arts as a vocalist, pianist and actor. After receiving her B.Mus and B.Mus.Ed at Memorial University, she moved to BC in 1997 to pursue graduate studies in education at the University of Victoria.  She has been an active educator in BC for over 27 years having a plethora of teaching experiences from inspiring Kindergartens and Grade 1’s to building successful music programs from K-12.  Melanie is currently the District Early Learning Helping Teacher with SD42 [Maple Ridge] as well as a passionate learner, educator, facilitator, speaker and advocate of playful learning, classroom design, arts integration and finding ways to encompass daily doses of joy in teaching and learning. She prides herself in leading with heart in her journey working with children, families and educators! Melanie Melanie and her husband recently moved to Port Moody as “empty nesters” as both of their children, Sophia and Aidan, are currently in post-secondary education. She is excited to be able to reconnect with the ocean, to explore new musical passions and to challenge herself with this new adventure as a woman in business!

2. What inspired you to become part of the Hatchling program?

Nicholle [Phoenix Artistic Director] reached out to me about the Phoenix Hatchling Program and I thought it was a wonderful way of connecting families to the singing community and introducing them to the joy of participating and “doing” music!

3. What would you like a Hatchling to experience?

I would love a Hatchling to experience the feeling of warmth and joy that goes through your body when you are singing with others!

 

We hope Hatchlings will add an extra layer of enjoyment to your future concert experiences!

We are thrilled to welcome Frances Roberts back as our new Vox Panacea director! Frances led the in-person choir last spring as our interim director, and will be coming on board as the new director of Vox Panacea this fall.

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We’re thrilled to announce that Phoenix’s new album, Through the Storm, is now available on major music streaming platforms!

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We are thrilled to welcome Danielle Hamilton, current Phoenix singer, as our interim director for Vox Panacea online. Danielle will be directing the seven-week online session beginning on March 29 and running until May 10. Read more

We are please to welcome Frances Roberts as one of two interim directors for Vox Panacea! Frances will be leading the in-person choir from February 27 through their performance on May 7.

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Join us on February 11 to experience the World Premiere of Herdsman and Weaver, by Kristine Choi, the second annual Student Composition Competition winner! We invite you to read more about the piece and about Kristine’s motivations for writing it.

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We are pleased to announce our 2022-2023 Student Composition Competition Winner, Kristine Choi.

This season marks the second annual Student Composition Competition, in which Phoenix Chamber Choir invites undergraduate and graduate students of any age to submit an SATB choral work to be performed at a concert in the upcoming season. This season, we asked composers to write on the topic of “Love” and we are thrilled to share Kristine Choi’s winning piece, “Herdsman and Weaver,” at our concert “From Phoenix With Love” on February 11. Read more