British Columbia Chamber Choir

The BCCF Youth Council is thrilled to announce the launch of a new project – the BC Chamber Choir (BCCC). This choir was conceived in conjunction with the BCCF Board, and will be comprised of a small group of singers age twenty-five and older under the directorship of Kevin Zakresky.

The debut performance of the BC Chamber Choir will be at the Chan Centre as part of Chorfest 2010. They will premiere a newly-commissioned work, Let the Great Song Come (words by Wendell Berry, music by Imant Raminsh), which is the first of three such commissions being written in memory of Joyce Maguire. Two of Joyce’s long-time colleagues appear with the BCCC for this premiere – Bruce Pullan, conductor, and Jane Coop, pianist.

Kevin Zakresky

Hailed as one of North America’s “rising star” conductors by Vancouver Sun critic David Gordon Duke, Kevin Zakresky has expanded his career over the last few seasons to include conducting, masterclasses and workshops, as well as vocal and piano performances in the United States and Canada. With degrees from Yale and the University of British Columbia, Zakresky is founder of the Southern Virginia Baroque Orchestra and founder an artistic director of the Chatham Chamber Series. He also serves as Choirmaster and Director of Music at Chatham Hall School. Winner of Yale’s Cavanagh Prize for distinguished Intellectual Achievement, Zakresky has published research on Stravinsky and Ligeti. As a vocalist he has regularly performed as tenor soloist in oratorio and opera, and as a lieder recitalist; as a pianist he was soloist in Mozart’s K. 414 Piano Concerto and is about to make his recording debut as pianist of the Rainier Trio.

The 2009/2010 season sees him working in both Canada and the United States as a conductor and music educator. In November, he will be working with Edmonton’s Kokopelli choir and during the summer months of 2010 he will return to Vancouver to join the faculty of UBC’s Young Artist Experience music program for exceptional performers. For more information, visit www.kevinzakresky.com.

Registration

Please contact the BCCF Youth Council for registration and more information at chamberchoir@bcyc.ca.