Mira Mentorship Program for High School Aged Singers
Welcome to Mira, a program for mentoring young women singers. This program has been established by Vancouver’s Elektra Women’s Choir to encourage students to develop their love of choral singing, build their choral skills, and to provide an opportunity for young women to sing with a renowned women’s choir, Elektra.
Offered annually, Mira educates future generations of singers and classical music supporters. The 2010 program includes several rehearsals with Elektra and participation in performance in the choir’s June 2010 concert, Romance: Schumann, Brahms & Fauré.
The ideal Mira participant:
- is one of the top choral students in her school choir
- has at least two years choral experience
- possesses strong musical skills
- has an in-tune voice
- has an ability and willingness to learn her part on her own or with her teacher
- loves choral singing
If that sounds like you, please discuss it with your high school choir teacher and make your application by January 31, 2010. Preference will be given to singers in Grades 11 and 12. Twelve singers will be chosen from those applying.
2010 Rehearsal and Performance Schedule
All rehearsals and the concert take place at Ryerson United Church, 2195 West 45th at Yew Street in Vancouver.
Map to Ryerson United Church
Rehearsals:
Monday, May 3, 2010 5:30pm – 6:30pm (welcome dinner in choir room) plus 7:00pm – 8:15pm (rehearsal)
Monday, May 10 7:00pm – 8:15pm
Monday, May 31 7:00pm – 8:15pm
Saturday, June 5 10:00am – 11:30am (“dress rehearsal”, not in uniform)
Performance:
Sunday, June 6 1:40 call time for 3:00pm concert
Evening: opportunity to volunteer at fundraising dinner
More Useful Details:
- There is no charge to apply for Mira 2010. Those who are selected to participate will pay a nominal $30 fee plus GST to cover costs.
- Mira participants are required to attend all rehearsals and the performance
- Mira participants are expected to practice on their own to meet Elektra’s high standards
- The 2010 music will be sung in the German and French languages
- Concert dress is your school’s outfit
- Family and friends can attend the June 6 public performance by purchasing tickets. Details available in the acceptance information package.
- Each Mira participant will receive a pair of complimentary tickets to the Elektra Christmas concert in November 2010.
- The list of the 12 successful applicants will be available by February 15, 2010
- Mira participants are always welcome to stay to listen to the full Elektra rehearsal, which generally runs an additional 60 to 90 minutes
How To Apply
Please make sure all three parts of the application reach the Elektra’s office by January 31, 2010.
Part 1: Ask your school music teacher or other adult musician to email a recommendation as to your suitability to participate in Mira to Morna Edmundson. There is no form for your teacher’s recommendation. A simple email of two or three sentences will suffice. This is an essential part of the application.
Part 2: Video record yourself singing and email the file to elektrawomen@yahoo.ca with the word “Mira” and your name in the subject line. Note that the recording requirements are the same as for the 2009 BCMEA Honour Concert Choir, so you may send a recording of yourself previously prepared for that application.
Here’s what to record:
1. Sing O Canada, unaccompanied, in any comfortable key. You must state the key before starting (e.g. “I will sing in the key of Eb major.”)
2. Sing the exercise below, beginning on your lowest note, ascending by semitones to your highest note. You must state your beginning and ending notes after completing the exercise. (e.g; “I started on G below middle C and ended on C, two octaves above middle C”.)
3. Using “la”, sing a one-octave ascending and descending chromatic scale beginning on a note of your choice. You must state your beginning/ending note after completing the exercise.
Part 3: Complete online application form found below. Be sure to fill out every section, as partial entries will not be considered.
All parts of the application are held in strict confidence.
Questions? Please contact Morna Edmundson, Artistic Director of Elektra Women’s Choir at morna@elektra.ca or phone 604.739.1255.
Thank you for your interest in singing with Elektra Women’s Choir!
