Renowned Composers

Yang Hongnian – China

Yang-HongnianProfessor of the Conducting Department at the Central Conservatory of Music, well-known Chinese conductor, Vice Chairman of the ISCCPA. He conducts with zeal and precision. He has a profound interpretation of works and possesses a vast repertoire. His unique performance in choral training and his feats in extensive cultivation are highly praised and unanimously admired by Chinese and foreign experts in the music world. Professor Yang is praised as “a maestro who masters the mystery of choral art perfectly.” In recognition of his outstanding artistic achievements, conductors from various countries elected Professor Yang Hongnian Vice Chairman of the International Society of Children’s Choral and Performing Arts. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan awarded Professor Yang’s chorus the Highest Certificate of Appreciation. The Newark Municipal Government made him an honorary citizen of the city of Newark. The Osaka municipality and Hyougo prefecture separately presented him a Gold Key in honor of his contributions to cultural exchanges between Japan and China. Professor Yang is now the resident conductor and artistic director of the China Children’s Choir of the China National Symphony Orchestra, conductor of the Youth Chorus of the Central Conservatory of Music, the artistic director of the Kunming Symphony Orchestra, and the guest conductor of the Osaka Youth Orchestra Japan. He is often invited to conduct in symphony, chamber and choral concerts and has become a very influential choral conductor in the world. He frequently takes the China Children’s Choir on tours abroad and has let the choir leave its footsteps in many countries and regions such as: the United States of America, Japan, Singapore, Austria, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. In August 1996, under his leadership the choir won four titles in one shot at the 44th “Guido d’Arezzo” International Polyphonic Choral Contest, breaking the competition record. In 1997, Professor Yang held the position of the principle conductor of the Festival Chorus at the 5th International Children’s Choir Festival in the USA. In May 1999, the same China Children’s Choir participated in the “International Art Festival of the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Pushkin” in Russia. The choir received a special award commending their outstanding performances, which was the only award given to a particular group in the festival. In July 1999, he directed the Youth Chorus of Xingjiang Normal University to participate in the “38th Concorso Internazionale Di Canto Corale C.A.Seghizzi” international competition and won 3 gold awards. His continuous efforts in promoting Chinese choral music have been rewarded, as he is now the Chinese conductor who has won the most awards in international choral competitions.

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Yunnan Songs  A Song of Yang Pass  Introduzione & Toccata

 


Vytautas Miskinis – Lithuania

renowned composer Vytautas MiskinisVytautas Miškinis is the Artistic Director of the Ažuoliukas Boys’ and Men’s Choir, Professor of Choral Conducting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and President of the Lithuanian Choral Union and renowned composer. He graduated in Choral Conducting from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1976 (conducting class of Prof. H. Perelšteinas). He began his career in Ažuoliukas at the age of seven as a vocalist, and continued as Artistic Director from the age of 25. All the achievements of the choir from 1979 have been due to Mr. Miškinis’ leadership. For several years he conducted the Kaunas State Choir and Vocal Ensemble Museum Musicum. With the choirs he has won prestigious prizes at numerous national and international competitions – in Marktoberdorf, Gorizia, Varna, Maribor, Tampere, Mainhausen, Nantes. Currently Mr. Miškinis is an Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the All-Lithuanian Choir Festival. Vytautas Miškinis has led choral performances in Europe, Canada, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Singapore, and the USA. A number of compositions for choir with Symphonic Orchestras have been conducted by Vytautas Miskinis. He has also lectured and held seminars on Music Education and conducting in Lithuania and abroad – in the Czech Republic, Korea, Latvia, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Singapore and the Ukraine. He has participated in numerous national and international choral events as composer and advisor. He has led workshops and has been a Member of the Jury at International Choir and Choral Composition Competitions worldwide. Vytautas Miškinis has composed about 400 religious motets a cappella, 18 Masses, Magnificat, Cantatas, Musicals and about 400 secular songs , which are performed by choirs throughout Lithuania and the rest of Europe. Lithuanian and foreign choirs have recorded his compositions on CD. Many compositions for children’s choirs are published in Lithuania and a couple of religious compositions also in France, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan, Latvia and the USA. V. Miškinis has several times been awarded prestigious State and Government Prizes such as Honoured Artist of Lithuania, the Prize for Culture and Art, Order of Grand Duke Gediminas, Medal of Duke Žygimantas Augustas. In 2002 as a composer he was nominated “Author of the Year”. In 2010 Carus Verlag Publishing House, Germany, recorded the CD “V.Miškinis Portrait“ (Consonare Choir),Hyperion in UK published the CD “The Time is Endless” (choir of Royal Holloway University).

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Diverse Voci (SATB)
Hymn of Andrea del Verrocchio
International Choral Festival
(out of Category M)


David Slater – Australia

David Slater is an Australian composer, conductor and music educator. His compositions have received numerous awards and were twice short-listed for Australia’s richest composition prize. His work encompasses many genres from concert hall to TV, film and advertising, and includes solo, chamber, choral and orchestral music. He receives regular commissions and his work is performed throughout Australia and the world. Mr Slater is an experienced conductor with an extensive repertoire spanning from the Baroque to the present day. He has conducted student and professional orchestras and choirs in several countries, and many seasons of musical theatre. He founded and directed a number of award-winning ensembles which include contemporary music groups, orchestras, choirs, youth orchestras and musical theatre companies. Since 2016 he has worked with choirs and orchestras from Austria, China, England, Estonia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Russia, Spain, Taiwan and USA, as well as in Australia. He is a regular guest at international music festivals, where he sits on international juries, conducts masterclasses and gives lectures. His regular schedule includes engagements in Austria, Italy and Slovakia, with notable events in Germany, Latvia and Russia, among others. Mr Slater has over 35 years’ experience as a music educator and lecturer. He is passionate about the role of music in society and in education, and has promoted the creation, study and performance of great music throughout his career. He has been a consultant on music curriculum and final year examiner in three Australian states. He has won many major awards for composition, conducting and services to music in the community, including the Symphony Australia Prize, the National Award of the Orchestras of Australia Network and Australia Day awards for services to music in the community. He has published articles on music and music education and is Australia’s representative to the World Choir Council.

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Magnificat for a Prosperous World (SSAAA) Magnificat for a Prosperous World (SSATB)  Elegies (SSATB)  Elegies (SSS/AAA)

 


Tim Sharp – USA

Tim Sharp is Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association and Vice President of IFCM. Dr. Sharp pursues an aggressive agenda of progressive initiatives to keep ACDA energized and relevant in the 21st century, inspiring ACDA’s membership to excellence in choral music performance, education, composition, and advocacy. Tim is also in his fifth season as Artistic Director of the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus, Tulsa, where critics characterize his performances as having “stunning power” and “great passion and precision”. Before coming to ACDA, Sharp was Dean of Fine Arts at Rhodes College, Memphis, where he conducted the Rhodes Singers and MasterSingers Chorale. Earlier, he was Director of Choral Activities at Belmont University where he conducted the Belmont Chorale and Oratorio Chorus. Sharp’s publications include Mentoring in the Ensemble Arts, Precision Conducting, Up Front! Becoming the Complete Choral Conductor, Achieving Choral Blend and Balance, Memphis Music Before the Blues, Nashville Music Before Country, Jubilate! Amen!, Collaborative Creativity, and a variety of articles, essays, and CD liner notes. His most recent publication is the historical-critical edition Johannes Herbst: Hymns to be Sung at the Pianoforte. Published compositions and arrangements exhibit his interest in conceptual programming as seen in the collections Salvation is Created, An Early American Service of Lessons and Carols, the young voices series including Christmas Messiah for Young Voices, his own choral series through Gentry Publications, and A High Lonesome Bluegrass Mass, in which he regularly performs as a guest banjo player. Tim received undergraduate degree at Belmont University, and his MCM and DMA degree from The School of Church Music, Louisville, KY. His post-doctoral work has taken place at the Aspen Music School, Aspen; the NEH Medieval Studies program at Harvard University; throughout Belgium on a Rotary Scholarship; and at Cambridge University, where he is a Clare Hall Life Fellow.


Eva Ugalde – Spain

eva-ugaldeBorn in San Sebastian (Basque Country, Spain) in 1973. Finishes her studies in piano, composition, choral conduction and pedagogy in the Superior Conservatory of San Sebastián. Encouraged by the conductor and composer Javier Busto, begins writing music for women voices. Now her repertoire covers all type of groups: mixed, equals, children, amateur and professional. Ugalde’s music is usually programmed as compulsory pieces in several festivals and contests and exported to different countries (USA, Canada, Sweden, Japan, Italy, France, Argentina, Hungary, Mexico…). She usually participates in workshops and conferences in Spain: “Children choir strategies”, “Improvisation… who said fear?”, etc. Also is required for conducting her own music and as jury in different scenes: San Vicente de la Barquera, Gran Premio de Canto Coral, La Antigua, Pyrenaeum Musica… Eva Ugalde is often required in international meetings as guess conductor or jury in choral and composition competitions: Nyiregyhaza (Hungary) with Dénes Szabó and Cantemus Choir, European Award for Choral Composers, Children and youth music composition workshop in Aosta (Italy), etc. At present, she teaches several subjects at the San Sebastian Francisco Escudero Conservatory. She keeps on singing in KUP Taldea, conducted by the French conductor Gabriel Baltés.

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 Egun Berria (SATB)

Cubanita (for 2 equal voices)

Izadiak guri (SSAA)