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What sets the emerging artists program
apart is its comprehensive approach.
Participants receive one-on-one mentorship
from professional musicians and have their
performances recorded, helping them build
portfolios for future opportunities. Vocalist Josiah
Maxfield, another one of Pro Coro Canada’s
emerging artists, remarked that being treated
as a professional while still learning creates an
environment where emerging artists can rise to
challenges with proper support.
For conductor Britney Huynh, the program
provided invaluable mentorship — after
singing with Pro Coro Canada a few times,
Zaugg encouraged Huynh to apply to the
emerging artists program, which she took part
in last year. She was invited to conduct with
the Grande Prairie Boys Choir and Pro Coro
Canada in February of 2024. The comprehensive
experience included private lessons with Zaugg,
coaching on conducting techniques and post-
concert debriefing sessions that helped refine
her skills.
The program also addresses a critical gap
in the artistic ecosystem. “Between post-
secondary education and professional careers,
there’s often nothing,” explains Zaugg. “Our
program provides that stepping stone, giving
young artists the experience and feedback they
need to succeed professionally.”
Beyond individual development, the program
also contributes to Edmonton’s reputation as an
arts hub. “People say, ‘Oh, look what they do in
Edmonton!’” Zaugg exclaims with enthusiasm.
The program’s commitment to contemporary
themes keeps choral music relevant in today’s
world. Furiouser & Spuriouser, which will
be performed at Pro Coro Canada’s June 7
concert at the Westbury Theatre, addresses
modern concerns about social media and the
internet. The piece — the title of which is a nod
to the famous line in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in
Wonderland, “Curiouser and curiouser!” — views
the internet as Wonderland, full of both wonders
and horrors, found at the bottom of the rabbit
hole. This engagement with current issues
reflects Pro Coro Canada’s philosophy that art
must respond to contemporary challenges.
10 Together we thrive
10 Together we thrive
Britney Huyhn in concert with tenors and basses from
Pro Coro Canada featuring the Grande Prairie Boys Choir
and Edmonton Swiss Men’s Choir
As Pro Coro Canada continues to nurture the
next generation of choral music talent, the program
works to ensure the vitality of choral music for the
future. By providing access to professional training,
mentorship and performance opportunities, the
emerging artists program creates a sustainable
pathway for artistic development in Edmonton and
beyond, thanks in part to ECF’s continued support.
“Pro Coro Canada has put in a lot of work to
create and grow their own endowment funds at ECF
that will support their work for years to come,” Matt
Mandrusiak, ECF’s Manager, Philanthropy says. “They
have been able to engage donors and patrons to get
behind their long-term success and sustainability
and have also had other ECF fund holders supporting
their work with additional grants.”
Zaugg emphasizes how this funding helps
the organization offer the program for free to
participants, removing the financial barrier often
associated with programs like this and making
world-class instruction more accessible.
“I don’t know of many other professional choirs
in North America, if any, that offer a program like
this for free. It’s the support of ECF that makes this
all possible.”
For aspiring participants, Noble and Huynh
enthusiastically recommend the emerging artists
program. “It’s such a great opportunity to make
connections, learn from people like Michael Zaugg
and work with professional vocalists,” says Huynh.
“Whatever you learn from this experience, you’ll take
to the rest of your career.”