Choral Professional Development

1 July 2023 | 9:00AM | The Friends' School

A day of learning for choir leaders

This is a professional development opportunity for all choir leaders to work with internationally recognised choral conductor and music educator, Heather Buchanan.

Topics include understanding your choral program, mapping and optimising your choral gesture, delving into effective rehearsal techniques and much more! These sessions will include practical, movement-oriented elements, so please wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to sing!

Co-presented by the Australian National Choral Association, this will be an upskilling session suitable for conductors of choirs of all ages and musical genres.

A light morning tea will be provided. Participants should bring their own lunch, or purchase from nearby shops or cafes.

The Friends’ School is located in North Hobart and is approximately a 30 minute walk from central Hobart. It is easily accessible by car, bus, Uber or taxi. Interstate participants who require transport to the venue should contact kerry@festivalofvoices.com.

Please note: Choirs registered for Young Tasmania Sings have one place at this event included in their registration.

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Heather Buchanan

Australian-born conductor Heather J. Buchanan, PhD, is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities in the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University (MSU), New Jersey, where she conducts choirs ranging in size from 24 – 175 voices. Choirs under her direction have earned critical acclaim for their “heartfelt conviction,” “vibrant sound,” “grace and precision,” being a “marvel of diction, tuning and rhythm, “impeccable dynamics and diction,” “eloquence,” “new-minted enthusiasm and vibrancy,” and for singing with the “crispness and dexterity of a professional choir.”

Her 36-year career encompasses experience with her own high school, university, and community choirs as well as regular professional-level collaborations with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. She has prepared choirs for conductors Neeme Järvi, Jacques LaCombe, Xian Zhang, Patrick Duprè Quigley, Rodrick Cox, and John Maucceri for masterwork performances including Verdi Messa da Requiem, Mozart Requiem, Orff Carmina Burana, Handel Messiah, Fauré Requiem, Beethoven Symphony No. 9/Choral, Mahler Symphony No. 3, Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, and Howard Shore’s Academy Award winning The Lord of the Rings Symphony. She has also collaborated with internationally renowned artists Meredith Monk, Richard Alston Dance Company (UK), and members of the Vienna Philharmonic Strings.

A Licensed Body Mapping Educator since 2002, Dr. Buchanan specializes in the teaching of this neuro-anatomical approach for enhancing music performance. A vibrant teacher, dynamic performer, and passionate musicians’ health advocate, Dr. Buchanan is in demand as a guest conductor, somatic educator, and choral clinician in the US and abroad. Her collaborative partner is pianist Steven W. Ryan, with whom she has enjoyed a 17-year professional relationship at MSU.

Heather’s attendance at Festival of Voices is kindly supported by the Australian National Choral Association.

Image credit: Tom Russo

Tickets

General Admission – $49

Concession Tickets – $42
Full time secondary and tertiary students, Pension concession card holders, Senior card holders, Companion card holders, Veteran Affairs, TPI and health care card holders, children under 12

Individual ANCA Members – $42
Individual ANCA members. This rate does not apply if your choir has an ANCA membership but you don’t have an individual ANCA membership.

*A Booking Fee of $3.00 applies, plus a 2.2% Basket Fee which will be calculated at check-out.

DURATION

6hrs

VENUE: The Friends’ School

Getting to the venue

The Friends’ School is located at 395 Argyle Street, North Hobart.

Entry is via a lane way located off the main car park.

Street parking is available on Lewis and Boa Vista Street on street parking around the school with no time limits.

Wheelchair access is via the main lane way.

Accessibility

Guide Dog / Registered Assistance Animals welcome

Wheelchair Accessible

Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are located on the lower floor of the venue.

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Conditions of Sale

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Festival of Voices adheres to the Live Performance Australia Ticketing Code of Practice.
All tickets are non-refundable, unless otherwise specified on the specific event page.
Read the full terms and conditions of sale and entry.