THE 33 ANNUAL PROVINCIAL HONOUR CHOIRS

Provincial Honour Choirs
Bursary
$50.00
PROVINCIAL HONOUR CHOIRS
The Provincial Honour Choirs (PHC)
Program provides an opportunity for
talented singers from all areas of our
province to come together for an
extraordinary choral experience!
PHC began as part of the Provincial Choral
Festival in 1982. By 1987, the conference
needed a weekend of its own. Between 70
to 80 auditioners across Manitoba chose
singers from all regions of the province to
participate in two choirs; the Junior Choir
(grades 6 - 8) and the Senior Choir (grades
9 - 12). Gordon Bell High School in
Winnipeg has hosted the conference since
1987.
2015 marks the 33rd Annual PHC Program.
Today, PHC consists of four choirs and
over 225 singers. Students are auditioned
by an impressive team of auditioners
throughout Manitoba. PHC continues to
feature the finest choral musicians as guest
conductors.
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A limited number of bursaries
are available to singers who
demonstrate financial need
Must be FIRST TIME PHC
participant (grades 6, 7, 8, 9,
10 or 11)
Must be a member of a
school/community choir (if
available)
Must include a letter that outlines a dedication/passion for
choral/vocal activities
Must include a recommendation from a teacher
(choir/band/other) which
should indicate financial need
Deadline for application is
October 31, 2014
Recommendation by
conductors/teachers does not guarantee
a position at PHC. Space is limited; the
PHC Audition Team and Conductors will
have the final decision on the
composition of the choirs. The adult
choir is a non-auditioned opportunity for
choristers out of high school who love
to sing.
Travel and accommodation
arrangements are the responsibility of
the singer.
FEBRUARY 6, 7 & 8
2015
February 6 & 7
Rehearsals
Gordon Bell High School
3 Borrowman Pl.
Winnipeg, MB
February 8 - 3:00 PM
Concert
Knox United Church
400 Edmonton Street
Winnipeg, MB
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
PARTICIPANT FEE:
$85.00
Conductors and teachers are asked to
ensure the high quality of this program
by recommending their best singers.
Students who are current members of a
regional youth choir, a divisional honour
choir or an auditioned community children’s
or youth choir in Manitoba may apply
without being auditioned by the PHC
audition team. Their conductors may be
asked to supply audition information to the
Manitoba Choral Association (MCA) office.
All others may contact the MCA office to
arrange an audition.
THE 33rd ANNUAL
PROVINCIAL
HONOUR CHOIRS
Deadline: November 28. 2014
Registrations will not be considered
complete until payment has been received.
Follow the links to
www.manitobasings.org/PHC/index.html
for online registration
PROVINCIAL HONOUR
CHOIRS
2015 SPONSOR
If paying by cheque send to
Manitoba Choral Association Inc.
#5-276 Marion Street
WINNIPEG, MB R2H 0T7
Phone: 204-942-6037
FAX: 204-947-3105
Email: mca@manitobasings.org
Website: www.manitobasings.org
If not selected, your complete fee will be returned.
Cancellations are subject to a $25.00
administration fee.
No cancellations allowed after Dec. 31, 2014.
To maintain vocal balance, MCA reserves the
right to re-allocate females to the Women’s PHC.
VOLUNTEERS:
Volunteers are needed for: Registration, giving
out music, assisting singers, food distribution,
selling tickets, ushering
TO BE A VOLUNTEER YOU NEED TO
HAVE:
 Provincial Child Abuse Registry
Child Abuse Registrar
Child Protection
Child and Family Services Division
Department of Family Services &
Housing
#102 - 114 Garry Street,
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4V5
Phone: 204-945-4796;
FAX: 204-948-2222
Cost involved
 Criminal Record Search
Available from local RCMP offices or
The Winnipeg Police on Princess St.
Cost involved
Watch the website for details:
www.manitobasings.org
Junior Mixed Provincial Honour Choir:
Women’s Provincial Honour Choir:
(For students in Grades 6 - 8.)
(For students in Grades 9 - 12.)
Conductor, Gabriela Gallo
Gabriela Gallo is a graduate of the University of
Manitoba’s Music-Education Integrated program, who
has a major in Voice and a minor in French. This friendly
and energetic young woman has been employed by the
St. James – Assiniboia School Division for over five
years in Early Years French-Immersion Music at Ecole
Bannatyne, Middle Years Choral at Lincoln Middle
School and is now the conductor of the Divisional Junior
Concert Choir. Gabriela has been busy in the last few
years, presenting as a clinician at the division-wide Louis
Riel Orff Days, attending the International Society for
Music Education conference in Greece, teaching the
Music for Kids Pre-School Music Program at Canadian Mennonite University,
directing the St. James Assiniboia Divisional Musical Theatre program and
instructing choirs throughout the province as a choral clinician. Throughout her
years as a musician, she has performed with the WSO, Canata Singers,
University Singers, participated in many church chamber choirs, and has done
several shows with Winnipeg's own RWB. In 2014, Gabriela was honoured to be
the recipient of the Winnipeg Music Festival’s Micheal J. Proudfoot Award. This
award is given to a conductor who displays a passion for choral excellence.
Conductor, Michelle Chyzyk
Michelle Chyzyk graduated from Brandon University in
1998 with the Gold Medal in Music Education. Since
that time she has called Virden home, teaching elementary music and high school choral music. Mrs.
Chyzyk possesses a diploma in Piano Performance
with First Class Honours. She has been active in Manitoba conducting the VCI Choir, Virden and District
Youth Choir, Sweet Debut, Sound Investment, WMYC
(8 times) and the Provincial Honour Choir on two previous occasions. This year she will be conducting the
Women’s Choir at PHCC. She currently works with a
talented group of young adults in a Brandon ensemble called Polyphony.
Michelle was under contract for three years with the Provincial government creating the touring ensemble “Pride of Manitoba.” Career highlights include being
featured in a nationally televised CBC Documentary entitled “A Prairie Christmas
Concert” in 1998, being named a YWCA Woman of Distinction in 2000, and this
year receiving the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Silver Medal at the Legislature.
Adult Provincial Honour Choir:
Senior Mixed Provincial Honour Choir:
(For students in Grades 9 - 12.)
Conductor, Dr. Christopher Aspaas
Dr. Christopher Aspaas, Associate Professor of Choral/
Vocal Music at St. Olaf College, conducts the Viking
Chorus, a 90-voice ensemble of first-year men, and also
leads the St. Olaf Chapel Choir, a 100-voice ensemble
specializing in the performance of oratorio and multimovement works like the Brahms Requiem,
Mendelssohn's Elijah, and Benjamin Britten's War
Requiem. Active as a guest conductor and clinician,
Christopher has conducted All-State Choruses Colorado,
Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, North and South Dakota,
Virginia and Wisconsin as well as festivals in Canada and
the Middle East. Also active as a tenor soloist, Christopher recently performed
the role of Evangelist in Bach's St. John Passion.
(For adult singers.)
Conductor, Dr. Elroy Friesen
Dr. Elroy Friesen described as “innovative, expressive, and
dynamic,” is Director of Choral Studies at the University of Manitoba
where he conducts numerous choirs, and teaches graduate and
undergraduate conducting and music education. Recently
publishing his research on the choral music of Finnish composer
Einojuhani Rautavaara, Elroy continues to pursue his passion of
study and performance of new Nordic repertoire as well as new Canadian works.
His award-winning ensembles tour nationally and internationally, and are
frequently recorded and broadcast by the CBC. They enjoy collaborating with
many outstanding local and national arts organizations, including the Winnipeg
Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, Canzona, WSO
New Music Festival, Soundstreams Canada, Groundswell, Vancouver Chamber
Choir, Musik Barock Ensemble, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, the National Arts
Center Orchestra and the Latvian Radio Choir.
Dr. Friesen studied at the University of Manitoba (B. Mus., B. Ed., M. Mus.) and at
the University of Illinois (DMA) receiving numerous scholarships and grants from
the Manitoba Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Foundation
for Choral Music in Manitoba. He is the Founder and past Artistic Director of
Prairie Voices and has recently been appointed Artistic Director of Canzona,
Winnipeg’s professional choral Baroque ensemble. He is in demand as a
clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout Canada, the United States,
and Northern Europe. Elroy and his wife Heidi are raising their family of four
children in Winnipeg, Manitoba.