Henry Leck & Zimfira Poloz Toronto Children s Festival co-conductors Henry Leck & Zimfira Poloz Extension to Niagara Falls July 2019 www.kiconcerts.com
Your World of Music
Dear Friends We are both delighted to invite you and your choir to Toronto to sing in our 2019 festival celebrating the sounds of fine children s choirs. We have decided on Toronto because of its proximity to so many of the North American choirs we are inviting, it s safety and hospitality, the tradition of great children s choral singing that attracts choirs from around the world, and because it is a fun place to be! Canadian and US choirs have a great tradition of collaboration with both being able to learn and share from each other. Choirs from other parts of the world might join us too. We will develop an outstanding musical experience of rehearsals, workshops and combined performances which will complement the individual concerts you might wish for your choirs as well. Zimfira Poloz and Henry Leck Co-Conductors Henry Leck/Zimfira Poloz Toronto Children s Festival 2019 Page 3
LEADERS HENRY LECK Founder and Conductor Laureate - Indianapolis Children s Choir Professor Emeritus - Choral Music - Butler University An internationally recognized choral director, Henry Leck is a professor emeritus in choral music at Butler University, where he served on the faculty for 27 years. He is the Founder and Conductor Laureate of the Indianapolis Children s Choir and Indianapolis Youth Chorale. His choirs have performed regularly for national ACDA, MENC, OAKE and AOSA Conferences. Mr. Leck has conducted Mixed, Men s, Women s, Junior High and Children s All-State choirs and festival choirs in nearly every state. He is a frequent conductor of regional and national honor choirs, including the ACDA Southern, Southwest, North Central, Central, Western and Northwest Honors Choirs. In the spring of 2003, he conducted the ACDA National Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir in New York City and in 2011, the ACDA National Children s Honor Choir in Chicago. On three occasions he has conducted National Honor Choirs for OAKE. Mr. Leck recently arranged and conducted the national anthem for Kelly Clarkson and the Indianapolis Children s Choir at the Super Bowl XLVI. Mr. Leck has conducted annually at Carnegie Hall for nearly 30 years and conducts internationally every year. He teaches and conducts regularly in China, Brazil, and throughout Europe. He is a member of the World Choir Council and often is on the international jury of choral events. Mr. Leck has received many honors including the Sagamore of the Wabash and the State of Indiana Distinguished Hoosier Award from the Governor of the state of Indiana. He has received the Indiana Governor s Arts Award which is the highest honor one can receive in the arts in Indiana. Recently Mr. Leck was named a recipient of the Lowell Mason Fellows Award which is the highest award given by the NAfME. He also recently received the Indiana Living Legend award from the Indiana Historical Society. Mr. Leck is widely known as a specialist in choral techniques at all levels, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Laban, the child s voice and the boy s changing voice. He has produced four teaching DVDs titled Vocal Techniques for the Young Singer, The Boy s Expanding Voice: Take the High Road, Creating Artistry through Movement, Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Creating Artistry with the Male Maturing Voice. He was a lead author for the choral textbook series published by McGraw Hill/Glencoe titled Experiencing Choral Music and is the lead author of a new series of textbooks entitled Voices in Concert. He is also the editor of two nationally known choral series published by Hal Leonard Corporation and Colla Voce, Inc. He has written a textbook titled, Creating Artistry through Choral Excellence. Mr. Leck received his training from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, the University of Colorado and Indiana University. Page 4
ZIMFIRA POLOZ LEADERS Zimfira Poloz is a highly respected conductor, educator and adjudicator with a distinguished international reputation. She has been decorated with numerous awards in her long career, including the Honoured Representative of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Award, the city of Hamilton s V.I.P. Award, and the Leslie Bell Prize Award for Choral Conducting from the Ontario Art Council. She is invited regularly to serve as clinician for festivals, lead workshops for educators, and jury International Choir Competitions including the renowned Choir Olympics. Zimfira first established her musical credentials in Kazakhstan, founding the country s first Choir School. The school provided an outstanding music program that grew to employ 35 music teachers with an enrollment of 450 children. In addition to her duties as Principal of the school, she also served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the school s Concert Choir, Koktem. It was through her strong leadership, vision and musical expertise that Koktem attained top international choral status and was a recurring prize-winner in choral competitions and festivals around the world. Immediately upon her arrival to Canada, Zimfira s boundless energy and her passion for choral music found an outlet, first as a member of the Toronto Children s Chorus Artistic Staff and later as vocal coach at St. Michael s Choir School. Zimfira has been the Artistic Director for both the Hamilton Children s Choir and the High Park Choirs of Toronto. She has enjoyed the recognition earned at national and international festivals/competitions with both choirs. As a leader in her field, Zimfira has been awarded the Audience Choice Award & 2nd Place at the Tolosa Choral Competition in Spain (2006), won the CBC Radio National Choral Competition in both the Children s Category and Best Canadian Performance by a Children/Youth Choir (2008), earned the Cantabile Grand Prize Award for best performing choir at the CBC Radio National Choral Gala Competition in Quebec (2008), obtained the Grand Prize Award at the World Choral Singing Competition (2009) and was awarded first place in the Children s Category at the 2009 Let the People Sing Euroradio Choral Competition in Oslo, Norway. In addition to her global travels as clinician and conductor, Zimfira still continues to teach, lecturing on Vocal Pedagogy for Young Choirs at the University of Toronto. She has now made her family home in Toronto, and she continues to work tirelessly with educators and children alike in the pursuit of music excellence. Henry Leck/Zimfira Poloz Toronto Children s Festival 2019 Page 5
PROGRAM TORONTO CHILDREN S FESTIVAL 2019 MONDAY, JULY 1 Arrive Toronto Meet KI concerts tour manager Introduction to Toronto TUESDAY, JULY 2 Breakfast (daily) View Toronto from the top of the CN Tower Guided walking tour of Toronto. See Graffiti Alley and Queen Street West, Nathan Phillips Square, the Old City Hall, and the vibrant Yonge-Dundas Square Check in Dinner (nightly) Overnight Toronto Afternoon Festival Choir rehearsal under the direction of Henry Leck and Zimfira Poloz Welcome dinner Overnight Toronto Page 6
PROGRAM WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 Morning Festival Choir rehearsal Continue to tour and explore Toronto. Tour the Historic District and St Lawrence Market Option for individual concerts (tbd) Overnight Toronto Tour the historic legislative Assembly of Ontario nestled in Queen s Park THURSDAY, JULY 4 Gala concert dress rehearsal Visit the waterfront area. See Toronto Music Garden, Canoe Landing, Simcoe Wave Deck, the Harbourfront Centre and the Sherbourne Common Gala concert featuring individual choirs and the Combined Festival Choir Overnight Toronto FRIDAY, JULY 5 Return home or depart for Niagara Falls ** Itinerary subject to change. ** Confirmation of performances is dependent upon early receipt of performance information: biographies, pictures, recordings and repertoire Henry Leck/Zimfira Poloz Toronto Children s Festival 2019 Page 7
PROGRAM NIAGARA FALLS EXTENSION FRIDAY, JULY 5 Travel to Niagara Falls View the mighty Niagara Falls from Queen Victoria Park. Walk the span over the Rainbow Bridge SATURDAY, JULY 6 Tour the Niagara Falls area seeing all the key sights Check in Fireworks display at Queen Victoria Park (if held) Overnight Niagara area Option for individual performance (tbd) Boat tour of the Falls Overnight Niagara area SUNDAY, JULY 7 Transfer to the airport for your flight home ** Itinerary subject to change. ** Confirmation of performances is dependent upon early receipt of performance information: biographies, pictures, recordings and repertoire Page 8
PRODUCERS For over 35 years, KIconcerts (Kingsway International) has provided choirs and instrumental ensembles with affordable and unforgettable international and domestic custom tours and festivals. KIconcerts combines unique destinations, awe-inspiring venues, warm audiences with renowned composers, educators, conductors and musicians. Together with our talented local concert tour organizers we facilitate a deep sharing of culture the essence www.youtube.com/kiconcertsvideos of performance travel. Performance travel has always presented challenges requiring a myriad of details to combine in order for life changing magical musical moments to occur. This has never been truer than today. KI looks to partner with you in managing these challenges in new and creative ways. Our recent clients have shared their views on our tours have a look at www.kiconcerts.com/testimonials 5245 Centennial Blvd, Suite 202 Colorado Springs, CO 80919-4405 P: 719 260-0200 F: 719 598-8674 info@kiconcerts.com KIconcerts.com