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Initiated in 1998, the National Youth Choir of Canada Conducting Apprenticeship Program offers a young conductor the opportunity to work with one of Canada’s finest youth choirs.
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Conducting Apprenticeship Program
2022 National Youth Choir of Canada Apprentice Conductor
Thomas Burton
Raised in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Thomas Burton is quickly emerging as a dynamic contributor to Canada’s choral community. He is honoured to have been selected as Apprentice Conductor for the 2020 National Youth Choir of Canada.
As a conductor, Thomas has had the privilege of working with such ensembles as the Pacific Chorale, the Long Beach Symphony, and the Vancouver Chamber Choir. He is a passionate educator and works regularly with youth as an instructor for the Nova Scotia Choral Federation’s Sing Summer Choir Camps and as Apprentice Conductor for the Oakville Choir for Children and Youth.
Thomas currently serves as Director of Music at Munn's United Church in Oakville and is active as a professional choral singer in the Toronto area. A recipient of the Iwan Edwards Award in Choral Conducting and the Kenneth Elloway Award in Classical Performance, Thomas holds a Masters degree in choral conducting from the University of Michigan where he studied with Dr. Jerry Blackstone and Dr. Eugene Rogers.
The Conducting Apprenticeship also includes a partnership to work with Pro Coro Canada in a season subscription program under the mentorship of the ensemble’s conductor Michael Zaugg.
The apprentice is hosted by Pro Coro Canada for an 8-10 day period in Edmonton, Alberta and will work with the professional choir in preparation to conduct a selection in a concert. The apprentice will also meet with choral leaders in Edmonton, observe a variety of other choral ensembles, and create professional connections.
2018 – Gabrielle Gaudreault
2016 – Kathleen Allan
2014 – Irene Apanovitch
2012 – Dr. Joel Tranquilla
2010 – Heather Fraser
2008 – Dr. Jean-Sébastien Vallée
2006 – Dr. Caron Daley
2004 – Dr. Timothy Shantz
2002 – Kevin D. Skelton
2000 – Dr. L. Brett Scott
1998 – Dr. Julia Davids
This program is made possible through the generous support of:
Our office is located in Tkaronto, Dish With One Spoon territory and covered by Treaty 13 and the Williams Treaties. We are grateful to work, live and make music on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat.- ABOUT
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Banner photos: Sam Moffatt Photography
