Keynote Presenter

Dr. Cristian Grases, University of Southern California

Join award-winning conductor and composer, Dr. Cristian Grases, as he shares the expansive world of Latin American choral music with us in our Exchange keynote. Discover the unique traditions, composers, and practices that shape Latin choral repertoire. Gain valuable insights into integrating these rich sounds into your choir’s performances, with practical tips for enhancing your choral work.

The Choral Impact: Music-Based Leadership Skills for Broader Applications

Dr. Jean-Sébastien Vallée, Artistic Director of Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

Choral music is  reflection of community—it thrives on trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. In this workshop, Jean-Sébastien Vallée explores how leading and participating in a choir reveals valuable lessons for inspiring and guiding others, both within a choir and in everyday life.

The session will explore building harmony by uniting diverse voices around a shared vision, adapting leadership styles to empower collaboration and individuality, and creating a space where every voice feels valued and essential. Participants will also learn how choral leadership principles—listening deeply, leading with empathy, and fostering connection—can be applied to real-world settings.

This session celebrates the unique power of choral singing not only to bring people together but to inspire leadership rooted in trust, understanding, and collective growth.

One Voice: Creating a Unified Sound Through Community Building and Improvisation

Thomas Burton, Artistic Director of the Orpheus Choir of Toronto

This workshop will explore various techniques for choristers to develop a unified sound and expand their listen skills. Approaches will include community building exercises, free improvisation, vowel and resonance matching, and more. Participants will gain new tools to build their best sound, become more comfortable taking risks, and develop their chamber ensemble and ensemble skills. Standard choral repertoire will be used as a case study to apply the techniques developed during this session.

Harmonizing Resistance: The Power of Music in Social Change

Irene Gregorio, TMChoir Collaborative Pianist and Musical Assistant

Music is a powerful vehicle of expression that has inspired political and cultural change across the world. This session will explore the background and impact of choral resistance songs, and explore personal connections to these songs from participants.

Chorister Cheat Codes

Nila Rajagopal, Associate Conductor of the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto

Enhance your choral skills with conductor and soprano, Nila Rajagopal at Chorister Cheat Codes. Unlock your full potential as a chorister in this hands-on workshop. Whether you’re a seasoned chorister or just starting, these “cheat codes” will help you navigate choral music with ease and confidence.

Singing and Performing Authentically in the Gospel Style

Dr. Darren Hamilton, University of Toronto

Gospel music has rich cultural roots in African American history and has influenced several popular music genres. In this workshop, participants will learn the stylistic nuances of singing in the gospel style while developing aural musicianship skills by learning a gospel song by rote. Choristers will also learn about authentic gospel music performance practices and etiquette. Come prepared to sing and move!

Vocal Technique

Dr. Darryl Edwards, University of Toronto

Improve your vocal technique and expand your singing range with Darryl Edwards in this dynamic workshop. Focused on strengthening your vocal foundations, Darryl will guide you through warm-ups, breathing exercises, and tips for developing better tone, pitch, and stamina. Learn how to optimize vocal resonance, control, and diction, and take away practical tools for improving your choral performance and solo work.