CHORAL CONDUCTING OPPORTUNITY: 2026 GUEST CONDUCTOR Choral Canada is seeking to fill the position of Guest Conductor for the 2026 National Youth Choir of Canada (NYCC). Submissions from all candidates who meet the eligibility requirements are welcome. Interviews will be conducted by a selection committee established by Choral Canada. Please note: Peers who wish to recommend a candidate may do so via our online Guest Conductor Recommendation form. All candidates will be evaluated based on their application. A recommendation does not carry any weight in the evaluation process, but it is a way for Choral Canada and the NYCC to learn about potential candidates who may not otherwise apply or who do not know about the opportunity. Recommended candidates will be contacted by a representative of the NYCC and asked to complete the application requirements if they wish to be considered for the role. APPLY: Click here to access the APPLICATION FORM to submit your application. RECOMMEND: Click here to access the RECOMMENDATION FORM and recommend a peer. WHAT IS THE NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR OF CANADA? The National Youth Choir of Canada - Choeur national des jeunes du Canada (NYCC-CNJC) is a unique professional development opportunity for some of Canada’s best emerging singers. The program provides access to robust training, challenging repertoire, educational workshops, community engagement projects, exciting new connections with peers from across the country and culminates with a weekend performing, learning and networking at Choral Canada’s national choral conference and festival, Podium. In order to be truly national in scope, Choral Canada strives to have a quartet from each province and territory (one voice per part) to make up the NYCC. Since 1984, more than twenty incredible Canadian choral conductors have led this choir of outstanding youth. The NYCC has performed in 9 provinces and at each of Choral Canada’s Podium Conference and Festivals. The NYCC has also performed at the 1993 World Symposium on Choral Music in Vancouver, toured with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 2017 celebrating Canada's sesquicentennial, and has concert recordings broadcasted nationally on the CBC Radio network. To learn more about past National Youth Choir of Canada Conductors and their experience, please visit www.nycc.ca WHO SHOULD APPLY: Conductors/leaders with established experience in leading groups of singers with varied music skills through intensive rehearsal environments and performing challenging repertoire. In the past, the NYCC has been primarily based in a Western Classical tradition and while this repertoire could remain an important element of the program, Choral Canada has broadened the scope of the program to include other educational approaches and musical styles. Choral Canada is seeking a conductor/leader who identifies with one or more of the priority groups in our 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. These include: Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Official Language Minorities, d/Deaf, Disabled, 2SLGBTQ+, gender-diverse, women, and intersections of these identities. Applicants must be: * eligible to work in Canada * actively working in the choral and group singing community in Canada Language: Please note that NYCC rehearsals and program administration will be conducted in English. That being said, Choral Canada staff are fluent in both French and English; interested candidates are welcome to communicate with staff in either language. CONDUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES: The Guest Conductor of the 2026 National Youth Choir of Canada will: * commit to rehearsing the choir in person from May 2-7, performing with the choir on tour in British Columbia from May 8-14 and finishing at Podium in Victoria from May 14-17. * be responsible for preparing a program of 60 minutes of repertoire. * Repertoire is expected to include composers/songwriters from Canada, as well as seeking out challenging and diverse repertoire from a variety of composers, languages, musical styles and genres. * The program will also include a commission and the winning Diane Loomer Award composition from Choral Canada’s Competition for Choral Writing. * Choral Canada will support the program in the execution of this repertoire by coordinating workshops with living composers/songwriters and/or facilitating discussion with genre experts as needed. * plan and deliver meetings with the singers and artistic staff via Zoom in the months leading up to the program to support the singers in their preparation and home practice * work with and mentor the NYCC Apprentice Conductor * participate in the NYCC national audition selection process * participate as a member of the Final Selection Committee for the Competition for Choral Writing * work in collaboration with the NYCC Tour Manager * plan and deliver workshops and community engagement events as needed in May 2026. * fulfill all other artistic responsibilities necessary for the successful delivery of the program. COMPENSATION: * $7500 CAD honorarium (plus applicable tax), paid upon completion of the program. * All travel, food, and accommodations are provided for the duration of the rehearsal week and tour dates. * Complimentary Conference delegate pass and Festival pass to the PODIUM 2026 Choral Conference & Festival in Victoria, BC. HOW TO APPLY: 1. Complete the online application form. 2. Provide all documents and materials as requested. 3. Deadline to Apply: November 15, 2024 Choral Canada is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in all its work, and to being fair and equitable in practice. It strives to build diversity and inclusivity into its teams, committees, programs, and services, thereby fostering an organizational environment in which all people wishing to participate may flourish. If applying online is a barrier, please contact Choral Canada for alternative arrangements (written/oral applications) at 647-606-2467 or colin@choralcanada.org. If you have any questions regarding your application contact us at: colin@choralcanada.org SELECTION: Choral Canada will establish a Selection Committee that includes a past NYCC Conductor, a member from the NYCC Committee, a member of the Choral Canada Board of Directors, an external member of Choral Canada, and senior staff from Choral Canada. The Selection Committee will review all applications. Following review, the Selection Committee will select individuals for interview. The Selection Committee will then present its final selection to the NYCC Committee and then to be ratified by the Choral Canada Board of Directors. Selection will be based upon the individual’s eligibility, application and the qualifications outlined above. All individuals who apply will be contacted directly regarding the outcome of the process. Organization Description Choral Canada is the National Arts Service Organization for the choral and group singing arts sector and community in Canada. We are a member based organization that provides professional development, advocacy, resources, and opportunities to build connections from coast to coast to coast. Our members include conductors/leaders, educators, composers/songwriters, students, managers/administrators, choral industry leaders, choirs, and more. In 2016-17, Choral Canada produced with Hills Strategies Inc. the first ever national choral census which found that 3.5 million Canadians sing in a choir/singing group. Choral Canada not only serves its membership, but also strives to serve the entire choral and group singing arts sector across the country. Page 3 of 3