BEYOND CHORAL SYMPOSIUM
Explore | Experience | Expand
ABOUT
WHAT:
A unique opportunity to gather to exchange ideas, connect with colleagues, challenge long-held ideas, and experience new ways to think about choir.
BEYOND is an initiative of MCA's IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Special Interest Group.
WHEN:
Friday, May 26: 4:30 - 9:00 pm
Saturday, May 27: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Day Sessions) & 7:00 - 10:00 pm (Evening Reception & Activities)
WHERE:
BEYOND will take place on Treaty 1 Territory, traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininiwak, Dakota, and Dene Peoples; and the homeland of the Red River Métis Nation.
Friday & Saturday Sessions - Canadian Mennonite University South Campus, Winnipeg (includes Friday supper & Saturday lunch)
Evening Reception & Activities - St. Norbert Arts Centre, Winnipeg (includes drink ticket & snacks)
FEATURING:
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Jordan Bighorn, Traditional Drummer & Singer
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Cory Campbell, Traditional Drummer & Singer
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Melanie DeMore, Vocal Activist (San Francisco, CA)
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Doug Friesen, Arts Educator & Musician (Toronto, ON)
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Roan Regan, Student & Choral Singer
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Caleb Rondeau, Student & Choral Singer
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Jenel Shaw, Executive Director, Arts AccessAbility Network MB
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Ray (Coco) Stevenson, Traditional Drummer & Singer
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Nicole Stonyk, Graduate Student, University of Manitoba
This event will interest you if you are a current or aspiring choral director, educator, singer, arts administrator, student, musician, or other musical leader in your community. Presenters will speak to both the Manitoba and wider Canadian contexts.
Join us to EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE, and EXPAND your arts practice this May!
SESSIONS
MCA has invited choral arts specialists from Manitoba, Canada, and the USA to present on topics such as Indigenous protocols for choirs, embracing and encouraging cultural diversity in choir, decentralizing power structures, working with transgender voices, decolonizing the choir practice, challenging gendered performance attire, accessibility for choirs, health and well-being, social justice, and more. You won't want to miss these sessions!
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, MAY 26
Note that all sessions are 50 minutes in length unless otherwise noted. A light supper & refreshments will be provided upon arrival on Friday.
Note: Attendees who register for the Full Event may choose to attend the Senior High Choral Workshop with Melanie DeMore as auditing individuals free of charge.
Time | Session | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
16:30 | Registration, Mingle & Refreshments | |
17:30 | Welcome Song & Session #1: "Gratitude" | Cory Campbell |
18:45 | Break | |
19:00 | Session #2: Full Body Forward! Pt I | Melanie DeMore |
20:00 | Session #3: Full Body Forward! Pt II | Melanie DeMore |
21:00 | End of Day 1 |
SATURDAY, MAY 26
Note that all sessions are 50 minutes in length unless otherwise noted. A light lunch, snacks & refreshments are included for daytime attendees on Saturday.
The Saturday evening ticket includes light appetizers and one (1) complimentary beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Additional beverages may be purchased.
Schedule is subject to change.
Time | Session | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
08:30 | Arrive & Mingle, Registration | |
09:00 | Session #4: Full Body Forward! Pt III | Melanie DeMore |
10:00 | Session #5: Sound, Listening, and Group Creativity: Exercises, Games, and Practices | Doug Friesen |
11:00 | Session #6: Accessibility for Choirs | Jenel Shaw |
12:00 | Lunch (Provided) | |
13:00 | Session #7: Moving Beyond “Indigenous Inclusion” in Music | Nicole Stonyk |
14:00 | Session #8: TBA | |
15:00 | Session #9: Choir as a Gender-Affirming Space | Roan Regan & Caleb Rondeau |
16:00 | Session #10: Collaborative SongWriting: An Approach to Writing Songs with your Choir | Doug Friesen |
17:00 | Dinner (Not Provided), Travel Time | |
19:00 | Wrap-up Social & Musical Evening | Jordan Bighorn, Doug Friesen, and more |
22:00 | End of Day 2 |
VENUES
The event sessions (Friday evening & Saturday day) will take place at Canadian Mennonite University South Campus (600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg). Come in the doors marked MAIN ENTRANCE and follow the signs.
The meeting spaces we will be using at CMU are accessible. The main washrooms are gendered but a gender-neutral washroom is available.
MAP OF CMU SOUTH CAMPUS (Main Entrance marked by red X, Parking in Lot N):
DIRECTIONS TO ST. NORBERT ARTS CENTRE
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations for out-of-town participants can be booked at special rates. Participants have the choice of two accommodation options:
Holiday Inn Airport West (2520 Portage Ave, Winnipeg)
$123 + taxes & hotel fees per night.
Group rate bookings by May 3: Call 204-885-4478 or 1-800-665-0352 (toll free) or email gsm@airportwest.com
Use reservation code A25 when booking.
Canadian Mennonite University Student Residence (South Campus)
REGISTER
Join us for this exciting event! Register before April 15 and take advantage of our early bird pricing. Registration closes May 21, 2023. Payment in full is due May 21. Payments are non-refundable after May 1.
NOTE: Friday evening sessions include light supper, Saturday day sessions include light lunch and snacks, and Saturday evening reception includes drink ticket & snacks. ASL interpretation will be provided for the Accessibility for Choirs session. If you would like ASL interpretation to be provided for any other session(s), please let us know by May 12.
Can't come for the whole weekend? No problem! Register for the event portions you are able to attend. Or register to receive recordings of the sessions afterwards (note: the sessions will not be livestreamed).
Portion | Adult Early Bird | Adult Regular | Student |
|---|---|---|---|
Full Event (Friday-Saturday) | $165* | $200* | $100* |
Friday Evening Sessions | $55 | $75 | $35 |
Saturday Day Sessions | $100 | $125 | $55 |
Saturday Evening Reception | $40 | $50 | $25 |
Session Recordings Only | $60 | $30 |
*MCA Individual and Student Members receive $15 off of the Full Event registration fee! Just use the email address used to log in to your MCA account when registering.
STUDENTS:
Proof of post-secondary enrolment may be requested upon registration. Students under the age of 18 must submit a consent form signed by a parent or guardian in order to participate in the event (form will be sent out after registering).
BURSARIES:
MCA seeks to make our programming accessible to all Manitobans, regardless of financial situation. If cost is a barrier for you, we encourage you to apply for a MCA Program Bursary to cover a portion or all of your registration fee. A limited number of bursaries are available each year.
SPONSORS
MCA is able to hold this exciting event thanks to generous funding from our key sponsors. We acknowledge support from Canada Council for the Arts and the Manitoba Accessibility Fund.
Interested in sponsoring this event? Contact MCA for more details
MCA is grateful to our event sponsors:
ADVERTISE
We are now accepting ad reservations for our symposium program. The program will be available in both print and digital formats. All ads will be published in colour and are due by May 14, 2023. Advertise to the choral community today! Click here for more details.