Conducting Workshop with Dr. Debra Cairns Monday February 7

The Elements of Conducting:  Getting them Started and Stopped,

and Everything in Between

MONDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2011 - 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church

10025 - 105 Street, Edmonton

Workshop Presenter:  Dr Debra Cairns

Presented by RCCO Edmonton Centre

Designed to provide helpful reminders for conductors and musicians who have been out in the field for many years, and to whet the appetite of those who may be beginning their conducting career or training, this workshop will focus on such conducting elements as beat patterns, cues, releases, articulation, dynamics, and tempo gradations, as well as address such aspects of technique as stance, hand and arm position, breath.  To enhance the experience, participants will be actively involved in applying the ideas within the safe learning environment of the group setting.

The workshop will be led by Dr Debra Cairns, Professor of Choral Music at the University of Alberta where she co-ordinates and co-supervises the graduate program in choral conducting, teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting, choral literature, and diction, and directs the University of Alberta Concert Choir. 

Both the Concert Choir and her community chamber choir, i Coristi, have been heard on regional and national broadcasts of the CBC and have been regular national semi-finalists and prize winners in the national CBC Radio Amateur Choir Competition.

Debra Cairns is in demand both nationally and internationally as a workshop and conference presenter, guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator.  In 2009 she published her first book, entitled Elements of Conducting.  An Instructional Manual (which will be available for purchase--$20--at the workshop). She is currently Past President of the Association of Canadian Choral Communities (founded as the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors).