National Choral Conducting Seminar 2015
23 - 25 November
This year's National Choral Conducting Seminar (NCCS) we have invited Dr. Kari Turunen (current Chairman of the Finnish Choral Directors’ Association) to helm the lead position of international clinician. Mr Turunen boasts an outstanding track record being awarded Choral Conductor of the Year 2008 in Finland. Dr. Turunen taught choral conducting at the Tampere University of Applied Sciences, School of Music between 2001 and 2011 before concentrating on the roles of conductor and artist-scholar. At the international level, he appears regularly as a teacher of choral courses, adjudicator and clinician.
Jointly Organised by
Siglap South Community Centre
Centre of Excellence for Performaning Arts
Supported by
National Arts Council Singapore
Did you miss the seminar?
Here's what went on...
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Photo credits:
Aaron Tay
Yao Tian
Dont miss out on our next event!!
International Clinician CV
Kari Turunen
Finland
Kari Turunen was educated at the University of Helsinki and the Sibelius Academy where he studied choral conducting with Matti Hyökki. He has complemented his studies with numerous master classes (with Eric Ericson, Anders Eby, Stefan Sköld, The Hilliard Ensemble and Oren Brown). He holds a doctorate from the University of the Arts, Helsinki on the performance practice of 16th century sacred music.
Mr. Turunen is the artistic director of five choirs and ensembles: the male chorus Akademiska Sångföreningen (2008–);Kampin Laulu chamber choir (2011–); the choir of the cantors of the Finnish Lutheran Church, Chorus Cantorum Finlandiae (2011–); the all-male Ensemble Petraloysio (2011–); and Spira Ensemble (2012–). He is also a member of Lumen Valo, a vocal ensemble that is one of the driving forces on the Finnish early music scene.
He was awarded the conductor prize at the 2003 Marktoberdorf Chamber Choir competition, where Lyran received third prize in the category for female choirs. Mr. Turunen teaches choral conducting at the Pirkanmaa University of Applied Sciences, School of Music and heads its choral activities between 2001 and 2011 before concentrating on the roles of conductor and artist-scholar. He appears regularly as an orchestral conductor, teacher of choral courses and as a journalist specializing in choral music. Mr. Turunen acts as chairman of the Finnish Choral Directors’ Association (FCDA). He was the Choral Conductor of the Year 2008 in Finland.
Combined Demonstration Choir
Anderson Junior College Choir
Established in 1985, the Anderson Junior College Choir embodies the vibrancy of the performing arts in AJC. With a dedicated group of choristers, the choir has attained high standards of choral excellence, under the esteemed conductorship of Professor Nelson Kwei.
The choir received several awards at the SYF Central Judging – the most notable being the Gold with Honours Award in 2005, 2009 and 2011. In 2013 and 2015, the choir received the Certificate of Distinction in the SYF Arts Presentation for Choirs. The choir also travels widely, bringing honour to the nation and college at internationally acclaimed choral festivals. Most recently, in 2014, the choir achieved a Gold B in the Mixed Voices Choir (Open) category and Category Winner in the Chamber category at the Asia Cantate International Choral Festival, held in Hong Kong, China.
Tanjong Katong Secondary School Choir
TK Choir was formed in 1992 with merely 30 members. Since then, it has grown from strength to strength and comprises over 100 members today.
TK Choir has achieved tremendous success since its founding. It won its first Gold award in the 1995 Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging of Choirs (SYF), and continued this achievement at every SYF competition until 2003. In 1999, TK Choir clinched the Best Choir Award in the SYF Competition, and was admitted into the prestigious Choral Excellence Programme (CEP) in 2002, an honour only bestowed upon the best choirs. TK Choir went on to win the Gold with Honours award in the 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 SYF arts presentations, and a Certificate of Distinction at SYF 2013 and 2015 under the direction of conductor, Mr Nelson Kwei.
TK Choir works very hard to maintain a high standard. They practices on every Monday and Friday. Besides practising for competitions, the members are regularly exposed to a whole variety of experiences, including choral workshops, public concerts, overseas choral competitions and choral exchanges with both local and overseas choirs. TK Choir also renders its services at TK school concerts and events, and collaborates with other local organisations such as the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.
Nanhua High School Choir
Nan Hua High School Choir’s fiery passion for singing has taken them to multiple events and experiences, performing for local and international audiences. Since its inception in 1998, the Choir has been achieving good results in the Singapore Youth Festival, with its latest accolade being the Certificate of Distinction in 2015. The Choir also attained a Distinction grade for the London College of Music Examinations.
With the heart of touching the community through their voices, the Choir has performed in events such as Our People, Our Music during the opening of the Singapore Sports Hub graced by Mr Lee Hsien Loong, sang to over a thousand residents in the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru 49th National Day Celebration Dinner and sang together with local Xin Yao singers in the Here’s Where I Belong SG 50 Concert. It also held its own concert as part of the Limelight series at the Esplanade Concert Hall and performed in Hong Kong Disneyland in 2014. The Nan Hua High School Choir is led by renowned choral conductor Mr Foong Hak Luen.
Victoria Junior College Choir
The Victoria Junior College Choir is one of the most celebrated Singaporean school-based choirs in the international scene. 30 years on since its formation in 1985, Victoria Junior College Choir has established itself as a highly versatile choir under the baton of choral director, Professor Nelson Kwei, proudly presenting an extensive repertoire of choral pieces, which include majestic sacred pieces to dynamic folklore pieces from various cultures.
The Choir holds the impressive record of being the first in Singapore to win the Olympic World Choir Games Championship title - the most prestigious international choral award. In 2015, the Choir was awarded the Certificate of Distinction in the 2015 Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Arts Presentation. They also took part in the 4th Vietnam International Choir Competition held in Hoi An and achieved category champion in 4 different categories; Male Chorus, Female Chorus, Sacred Music and Mixed Choirs (Youth).