Showcase Concert

FRIDAY, OCT 20, 8:00 p.m.
WINSPEAR CENTRE
RECEPTION TO FOLLOW

featuring...

ALBERTA YOUTH CHOIR
Robert Filion, guest conductor
Britney Huynh, apprentice conductor
Kim Cousineau, pianist

ALBERTA WIND SYMPHONY
Dr. Shelley Jagow, guest conductor

AWARD WINNING STUDENT SOLOISTS
Ethan De Souza, vibraphone
Chanan Ngo, violin

Performers

ALBERTA YOUTH CHOIR

The Alberta Youth Choir is the province's honour choir for singers ages 16-22. AYC provides a unique opportunity for outstanding young singers from across the province to join forces in the pursuit of excellence in choral music under the direction of a renowned conductor. Conductors and teachers from across the province are encouraged to recommend their strongest singers for an audition.

Robert Filion, AYC Guest Conductor

Robert Filion’s choirs are celebrated across Canada, earning top awards at the local, provincial and national level. He currently conducts the University of Ottawa Choir and the Chorale du Conservatoire de musique de Gatineau. The ensembles he directed at the Centre d’excellence artistique de l’Ontario won six national championships. The vocal program he directed there was three times designated Best Music Programme in the National Capital Region by the Kiwanis Music Festival and the CBC—in 2008, 2012 and 2017.

A talented musician and artistic director, in 2011 Robert Filion was appointed Artistic Director of Unisong, the annual Canada Day festival of Canadian choirs at the National Arts Centre. He works with the National Arts Centre Orchestra on concerts involving youth choirs. He focuses on new works and music from around the world, and has collaborated on productions of original Canadian works by, among others, Ruth Watson-Henderson, Laura Hawley, Kelly-Marie Murphy, Stephen Hatfield, Donald Patriquin, Frédéric Lacroix and Clifford Crawley.

Since 2019 Mr. Filion is the Conseiller pédagogique en Arts et culture and continues his work to lead the next generation of choral conductors across Canada. In 2013 Mr. Filion received the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Britney Huynh, AYC Apprentice Conductor

Britney Huynh is a conductor, performer, and educator from Edmonton, Alberta. She completed her BMus and BEd at the University of Alberta while singing with the Madrigal Singers, Opera Workshop, and Chorale Saint-Jean. She continued her studies at the University of British Columbia, where she completed her MMus in Choral Conducting under the supervision of Dr. Graeme Langager and Dr. Hyejung Jun. During her time at UBC, Huynh assistant taught ensembles like the University Singers, Chamber Choir, Choral Union, and Vox Choir. In addition to her studies, she sang with the Vancouver Chamber Choir as a substitute Alto, and the 2023 BC Youth Choir. Since returning to Edmonton, Huynh has sung with Chronos Vocal Ensemble, and Pro Coro Canada - which she will continue to sing with in the fall.

Kim Cousineau, AYC Pianist

Kim Cousineau, B.Mus, ARCT, AVCM, received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Victoria, and studied privately with Anna Cal, student of Russian pianist Pavel Egorov. He is an alumnus of Opera Nuova's collaborative pianist program and has studied at the Franz Schubert Institute in Baden, Austria. Kim has worked as a répétiteur and music director for numerous organizations including Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera Nuova, Mercury Opera, Mayfield Dinner Theatre, MacEwan Theatre, and Concordia University of Edmonton. He is in high demand as a choral accompanist, collaborating with many groups including Concordia Concert Choir, King's Cantorum and Chamber Choir, Da Camera Singers, Vocal Alchemy, Chronos Vocal Ensemble and A Joyful Noise. In addition to his work with choirs, Kim freelances as a vocal coach and studio pianist in the Edmonton area.

ALBERTA WIND SYMPHONY

The Alberta Wind Symphony is Alberta’s honour band program for elite high school musicians from across the province. One of the cornerstone programs of the Alberta Band Association, the Wind Symphony provides high school aged musicians the opportunity to work with some of the finest concert band conductors recognized both nationally and internationally, grow musically, and collaborate with other talented instrumentalists.

Dr. Shelley Jagow, AWS 2023 Guest Conductor

Dr. Shelley Jagow serves as Director of Bands and teaches conducting at the undergraduate and graduate level at Wright State University School of Music (Dayton, OH). As an artist clinician with Conn-Selmer, Vandoren, Meredith Music, and GIA Music, “Dr. J” enjoys working with school bands and presents clinics, performances, adjudications, and serves as honor band conductor at various state, national and international conferences and events. She is a contributing author to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series (GIA Music) and is the author of several books: 1) Developing the Complete Band Program (2nd ed.) 2) Tuning for Wind Instruments 3) Intermediate Studies for Developing Artists on the Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone and Bassoon. Growing up riding horses and helping on the farm in her native Saskatchewan (Canada), Shelley continues to enjoy the outdoors, gardening, exploring independent craft breweries, and sharing a love for all animals. Website: www.shelleyjagow.com.

Ethan De Souza, Vibraphone Student Soloist

Ethan De Souza is an Edmonton born musician. His musical journey started in the contemporary arts of piano and guitar, but has quickly expanded to a variety of different instruments as opportunities presented themselves. He is now an established performer, educator, and producer. Ethan is currently in a Bachelor’s of Music degree for Percussion Performance.

Focusing on contemporary works, Ethan has established himself as an up and coming performer across Canada. In 2022, Ethan won the AMEF Student Recognition award in the People’s Choice category, as well as placed in the top percentile for the Quebec Music Competition.

Chanan Ngo, Violin Student Soloist

Violinist Chanan Ngo began piano at 4 and violin at 5. His violin studies, commencing with Fiona Carnie, have led him to receive awards at local, provincial and national music competitions. His most recent honours include the Rose Bowl at the Calgary Performing Arts Festival and first place at the Canada West Performing Arts Festival. Chanan made his solo debut with the Calgary Civic Symphony in 2022. Kensington Sinfonia’s newest CD release, Forces of Nature, marks Chanan’s first recording as soloist.