ABOUT US

Who We Are

The Ottawa Children's Choir exists to enrich artistically the lives of our choristers, families and the community. We offer an instructional music program emphasizing musicianship and vocal training through choral music experience.

We are three ensembles:

• The Viva Choir, where choristers start their training at a beginner level;
• The Concert Choir, an intermediate group;
• The Chamber Choir, singing an advanced repertoire.

Children have the opportunity to experience their own progress as they master music with greater vocal facility and deeper musical understanding.

Choristers perform regularly within the National Capital Region, studying and singing the finest repertoire available, with an emphasis on Canadian compositions.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston,
Patron of the Ottawa Children's Choir

Photo: wpmcelligott.com

Vision & Mission

The Ottawa Children's Choir is devoted to artistic excellence, community connection and, above all, the joy of singing.

The OCC supports this vision by:

• Striving for choral excellence through the provision of professional choral training for children who have demonstrated musical apptitude
• Promoting the advancement of children's musical education in, and knowledge and apreciation of choral music
• Providing annual educational outreach initiatives
• Performing regularly within the National Capital Region, as well as nationally and internationally
• Studying and performing a wide variety of repertoire, with a particular emphasis on the works of Canadian composers
• Commissioning and performing new Canadian compositions

A Capsule History

The Ottawa Board of Education Central Choir was created in 1958 as a training ground for musically gifted students from grades 4 to 10.

Originally one group of 70 singers, the programme was expanded in 1987 and reorganized into an advanced Chamber Choir and training Concert Choir. In 2001 the Viva Choir was added as a second training choir for children just beginning their choral experience.

In 1998, the 40th anniversary year, the choir was incorporated as a not-for-profit charitable organization with a board of directors.

In 2003 the name was changed to the Ottawa Children's Choir to better reflect the community we serve.

Artistic and Music Directors:

Viva Choir (Beginner)

The Viva Choir is an ensemble of 8 to 11 year-olds that rehearses once a week. The choir is designed to initiate and develop the musical experience of children who have little or no choral training. Choral education goals include:

• Musical Literacy: beginning score study – rhythm, melodic contour, dynamics, finding parts, reading text in English, French and perhaps another language
• Choral Technique: listening, following a conductor, routines, awareness of other parts (accompaniment and harmony, unison singing, rounds, partner songs
• Vocal Technique: healthy vocal production, basic physiology of singing, alignment of the body, breathing, mouth shape, resonance awareness

The Viva choir participates in the annual OCC Christmas and Spring Concerts and is occasionally invited to participate in other events e.g. the Mayor's Christmas Party, Battle of the Atlantic Ceremony, school visits and visits to seniors' residences.

Concert Choir (Intermediate)

The Concert Choir is the largest of the three choirs and rehearses once a week with occasional Saturday rehearsals as required. Its primary objective is to instill a lifelong joy of singing through the development of vocal, choral and musical skills. Choral education goals include:

• Musical Literacy: continuing score study – rhythm, melodic contour and beginning sight reading (d-m-s-d), dynamics, articulations, harmony (2-3 parts), reading texts in a variety of languages
• Choral Technique: listening, following regular and guest conductors, awareness of and balance with other parts (harmony and accompaniment), some variety of repertoire style, begin score marking
• Vocal Technique: healthy vocal production, basic physiology of singing, alignment of the body, breathing (increased phrase length), mouth shape, resonance awareness (increased control over head and chest resonance), ability to hold a part in a group

Concert Choir participates in the annual OCC Christmas and Spring Concerts, the National Remembrance Day Ceremony, church services, the Battle of the Atlantic Ceremony, school visits and Unisong on Canada Day at the NAC. Occasionally the Concert Choir is invited to participate in other events e.g. Mayor's Christmas Party.

Chamber Choir (Advanced)

The Chamber Choir is an ensemble of up to 45 singers aged 11-15, rehearsing once a week plus one Saturday a month and additional rehearsals as required. Rehearsals are fast-paced and the repertoire is technically demanding. A wide variety of compositions are studied per term, including three-part, four-part and foreign-language material. Participants must demonstrate the ability to maintain appropriate singing posture, follow directions, use breath support, apply standard diction principles, follow a score, sing in tune, identify musical notations and other score indications, perform expressively and exhibit fundamental sight-singing skills. Choral education goals include:

• Musical Literacy: advanced score reading (including sound scapes), must exhibit sight singing skills, harmony is regularly 3 – 4 parts (sometimes more) and may include tone clusters and improvisation, reading texts in many languages
• Choral Technique: listening, following regular and guest conductors, performing basic conducting gestures, awareness of and balance with other parts (harmony and accompaniment) and understanding of parts in the context of the overall piece, variety of repertoire styles, detailed score marking
• Vocal Technique: healthy vocal production, more detailed physiology of singing, alignment of the body, breathing (increased phrase length and stagger breathing), mouth shape, resonance awareness (control over head and chest resonance as well as vocal colour), ability to hold a part alone

The Chamber Choir participates in annual Christmas and spring concerts, the national Remembrance Day ceremony, educational outreach projects, and Unisong at the National Arts Centre each July 1. The choir may be engaged to sing with symphony orchestras in performances of major works and is regularly contracted to perform at local and national events. It occasionally tours nationally and internationally.

Artistic Director, Conductor Chamber Choir

Jackie Hawley graduated from the University of Toronto with an honours degree in Music Education and from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Education.  She has over 20 years of experience in conducting adult, youth and children's choirs and has been a clinician for choirs and schools throughout Ontario.  Ms. Hawley is a passionate advocate for music education and aside from working with students; she has presented numerous music workshops for teachers. She is a teacher with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. Ms Hawley is Artistic Director of the Ottawa Children's Choir and conductor of the Chamber Choir as of January 2008. Ms. Hawley is also director of the Cantiamo Girls Choir of Ottawa which she founded in 2003. 

Associate Artistic Director, Conductor Concert & Viva Choirs

Allison Prowse became conductor of the Ottawa Children's Choir Concert and Viva choirs in 2005 and Associate Artistic Director in 2008. A graduate of Queen's University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music (piano performance), Ms. Prowse has been a professional accompanist for choral, instrumental and dance performances for over 20 years and was accompanist of the Concert and Viva choirs from 1987 to 2005. She has also conducted the choral component of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra's summer school programme. Ms. Prowse also holds a Bachelor of Education degree from Queen's University, with Specialist Qualifications in Special Education (Speech and Language). As an educator with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board for 18 years, Ms. Prowse placed a strong emphasis on music education both in the classroom and at the schoolwide level.

Photograph © Jean-Marc Carisse

Acknowledgments

The Ottawa Children's Choir gratefully acknowledges grants from:
The City of Ottawa
The Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Community Foundation of Ottawa
The Ontario Arts Council

Patron

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston,
Patron of the Ottawa Children's Choir

Accompanists

Mauro Bertoli

Mauro Bertoli, pianist, born in Italy, winner of many International Piano Competitions, has established himself on the international stage and has been praised by the press for his formidable technique and his exceptional sensitivity (from Toronto Star "....dazzled by (the) up-and-coming pianist ...with absolutely flawless technique and deep musicality... Here is a newcomer to watch out for"). He has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and with Orchestras for important Festivals and in major concert halls throughout Europe, North America, Israel, Brazil and China.

He received his musical education at the Academy of Music "G. Verdi" in Milan, at the Academy "S. Cecilia" in Rome, at the Foundation "R. Romanini" in Brescia, at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, in Brussels (ICPA – International Certificate for Piano Artists) and at the Ecole Normale de Musique "A. Cortot" in Paris. He won the "Giuseppe Sinopoli Award 2006", the prestigious Italian prize awarded personally by Giorgio Napolitano, the President of the Italian Republic.

Mauro is an Associate Performance Faculty Member (piano), Department of Music, at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Sally Robinson, Accompanist, Concert and Viva Choirs

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Music Degree in 1981, Ms. Robinson has run a private teaching studio. She has students "from six to sixty" and teaches various styles of piano, from classical to boogie-woogie, jazz and blues. As an accompanist, she helps prepare instrumentalists and singers for festivals, exams and student recitals. She has worked as a ballet accompanist for various dance schools and has accompanied a number of choirs in Ottawa. She also has acted as Musical Director at the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama over the last several years.

A singer as well, Sally has her own jazz trio, in which she sings and plays keyboard and clarinet. Last spring she released her debut CD, The S Files, of original tunes

Board of Directors

Role

The governing body of the Ottawa Children's Choir, the Board of Directors is responsible for the overall management of the Choir, the viability of its finances and the hiring of the Music Directors, General Manager and other staff. The Board is also responsible for ensuring that the Choir's legal responsibilities are discharged and all reasonable measures are taken to ensure the safety and well-being of choristers, staff and volunteers.

The Board consists of up to 13 members, including "community" representatives and up to six of parent representatives for the three Choirs. Directors are elected by the parents of choristers at the annual general meeting, which usually takes place in June. Directors are elected for two-year terms, with the exception of the Viva Choir representative, who is appointed by the Board itself for a one-year term. Vacancies may also be filled by the Board itself.

The President of the Choir, who is also the chair of the Board of Directors, is elected at the annual meeting for a one-year term. Other corporate offices, such as the Vice-President, the Treasurer and Secretary, are chosen by Board members at their first meeting in September.

Board meetings generally take place the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm. Parents are encouraged to attend.

Administration

The General Manager of the Ottawa Children's Choir is Anna Tessier, who may be reached at

613-233-4440

The General Manager plays a central liaison role for choristers, parents, music directors, and the Board of Directors.

Choir Managers of each choir are responsible for the day-to-day administration and are the liaison between the conductors, choristers and parents.

Assistant Managers help the Choir Manager with uniforms, music distribution, supervision and other tasks related to the smooth functioning of the choir.

Vocal Assistants aid the choir directors by attending weekly rehearsals, singing within assigned sections and occasionally leading sectionals.

Donors

Donations are a significant part of the choir's budget each year. The choir is a registered charity so all donors receive an income tax receipt. Donors' names are listed in the Christmas and spring concert programs and posted on this Web site.

Families who solicit donations family members, friends and associates receive credit towards their fundraising requirement.

The Ottawa Children's Choir gratefully acknowledges donations from: