Photos from the 2019 Children’s Choral Festival

Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Holy Names University
Karyn Silva, clinician & Will Skaff, assistant clinician

PC: Robert Lee

Congratulations to these choirs who participated in the 2019 Children’s Choral Festival

Session I - Morning

  • Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, Girls Training IV (Nancy Linford, director)

  • Point Reyes Children’s Choir (Sarah Cane, director)

  • San Francisco Boys Chorus, Apprentice I & II Choruses (Michael Reilly, director)

  • St. Clement Choir (Jonathan Napier-Morales, director)

  • Vivace Youth Chorus, Intermediate Chorus (Jay Jordana, director)

  • Young Women’s Choral Project, Allegro Chorus (Danelle Johnson, director)

Session II - Afternoon

  • Cantabella Children’s Chorus, Children’s Choir (Velma Chan, director)

  • Crowden Chamber Singers (Betsy Marvit, director)

  • Rise University Preparatory, Voices Risen (Joanna Boyd, director)

  • Spring Children’s Choir, Spring Choir (Wenbo Deng, director)

  • Young Women’s Choral Projects, Vivo Chorus (Gemma Arguelles, director)

Past Festivals

From 1996 through 2019, the Kodály Center at Holy Names University and NCAKE have partnered together to provide opportunities for local choirs to receive coaching and perform for each other in a non-competitive and engaging festival that brings together all members from the music education and performing communities.  

In addition to non-competitive performing and coaching opportunities, festival participants leave with a greater sense of what Kodály-based choral music education provides: a holistic and musical approach to creating music, with activities (including songs and games) that address technical and artistic components of music making.  All of this goes into a day-long festival with culminating performances for families and friends to enjoy. 

Past festivals have featured local and international conductors who specialize in choral music for young voices.  These conductors are listed below:

1996: Judit Hartyányi 1997: Vance George 1998: Betty Bertaux 1999: Judit Hartyányi 2000: Sarolta Platthy 2001: Lenke Igó 2002: Ildikó Thész Salgado 2003: David Xiques 2005: Ildikó Thész Salgado 2006: László Matos 2007: Judit Hartyányi 2008: Ildikó Thész Salgado 2009: David Xiques 2010: Ragnar Bohlin 2011: Gemma Arguelles and Susan Tevis 2012: Margaret Clark 2013: Susan McMane 2014: Buddy James 2015: Andrew Brown 2016: Gemma Arguelles 2017: Judith Chan 2018: Joyce Keil and Kent Jue 2019: Karyn Silva and Will Skaff 2020: Fernando Malvar-Ruiz (Cancelled due to Covid-19) 2024: Marni Strome

Enjoy some photos from past festivals below. Additional photos can be found on the Facebook pages for The Kodály Center at University of Redlands and NCAKE.

Andrew Brown leading participants in warm-up activities for the morning session of the 2015 Children’s Choral Festival at Holy Names University.

Andrew Brown leading participants in warm-up activities for the morning session of the 2015 Children’s Choral Festival at Holy Names University.

Judith Chan sharing vocal technique with young choristers of the morning session of the 2017 Children’s Choral Festival at Holy Names University.

Judith Chan sharing vocal technique with young choristers of the morning session of the 2017 Children’s Choral Festival at Holy Names University.

Judith Chan rehearsing choristers for the afternoon session of the 2017 Children’s Choral Festival at Holy Names University.

Judith Chan rehearsing choristers for the afternoon session of the 2017 Children’s Choral Festival at Holy Names University.

Choristers of the 2016 Children’s Choral Festival collaborating in games with members from two choirs led by HNU Graduate Students.

Choristers of the 2016 Children’s Choral Festival collaborating in games with members from two choirs led by HNU Graduate Students.

Gemma Arguelles, clinician for the 2016 Children’s Choral Festival, working with one of the afternoon choirs in a coaching session.

Gemma Arguelles, clinician for the 2016 Children’s Choral Festival, working with one of the afternoon choirs in a coaching session.

Margaret Clark, clinician for the 2012 Children’s Choral Festival, conducing a group performance at Holy Names High School.

Margaret Clark, clinician for the 2012 Children’s Choral Festival, conducing a group performance at Holy Names High School.

Games and dances led by HNU Graduate Students in the 2013 Children’s Choral Festival at Holy Names University.

Games and dances led by HNU Graduate Students in the 2013 Children’s Choral Festival at Holy Names University.

Dr. Susan McMane, clinician for the 2013 Children’s Choral Festival, working with one of the afternoon choirs in a coaching session.

Dr. Susan McMane, clinician for the 2013 Children’s Choral Festival, working with one of the afternoon choirs in a coaching session.

Buddy James, from CSUEB and clinician for the 2014 Children’s Choral Festival, working with one of the afternoon choirs in a coaching session.

Buddy James, from CSUEB and clinician for the 2014 Children’s Choral Festival, working with one of the afternoon choirs in a coaching session.