CONDUCTING FOR COMPOSERS

CRISTIAN GORT – guest conductor

A co-presentation of the Canadian League of Composers and the Canadian Music Center in Quebec

Sunday 10 March 2013, 9am-5pm (Lunch Break 12-2pm)

Espace Kendergi
CMC Québec
1085, Côte du Beaver Hall suite 200, Montréal
Metro Station Square Victoria (Beaver Hall exit)

FREE!

A hands-on workshop for composers, lead by Montreal’s conductor extraordinaire, Cristian Gort. Have you ever been in a position where you had to conduct, but you lack even the basic skills?

Participating composers learn key techniques and great tips to function more effectively in conducting situations. No conducting experience required.

Don’t delay, space is limited!

To register as an active participant or an observer, contact: (514) 866-3477 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Deadline for registration/cancellation: March 6

Join the Facebook event.

ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS

To prepare: A one minute exercise for four voices (without pitches): The first half of the workshop will mainly have a theoretical-style approach. However, the second half will be devoted to hands-on exercises: participants will come together to form a four-part “choir,” that, in turns, reads each participant’s prepared exercise, under the direction of its composer.

The exercise should be simple, without pitches (so that each voice can be performed either by a man or a woman) and use simple rhythms. It could have a text or use onomatopoeic or vocal effects.

To bring: 13 copies of your 1-minute exercise; note taking materials.

OBSERVERS

If you do not want to be an active participant, or if all places are filled, we encourage you to come anyway, as an observer.

Last-minute observers are welcome, but advance reservations are highly encouraged so we can have an idea of numbers.

ABOUT CRISTIAN GORT

Cristian Gort's strong interest in contemporary music has led him to participate in the premieres of several works by composers of different nationalities: symphonic music, operas, chamber music and choral music. He has worked with various ensembles in Amsterdam, Argentina, Brazil, France, Taiwan and the Czech Republic.

It was in Argentina, his place of birth, that Cristian Gort started his studies in orchestra conducting, composition and theory. He obtained the Prix en direction d’orchestre from the Conservatoire de Musique du Québec à Montréal, under the supervision of maestro Raffi Armenian, and a master's degree in composition from Université Laval, with François Morel and Alain Perron.

He is currently working as guest conductor for the Contemporary Music Ensemble and the Schullich School Singers at McGill University, as guest professor for the Contemporary Music Workshops at the Université de Montréal, as director of the contemporary music ensemble La Machine, as well as artistic and music director of the Orchestre Symphonique de l’Isle and the vocal ensemble Musica Viva.

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About CLC Workshops:

The Canadian League of Composers held its inaugural workshop series in 2007-08. Past workshops have included Grant Writing for the Professional Composer, Composing for the Voice and Cultivating Your Career. The CLC has also co-sponsored, along with the Canadian Music Centre a series of "Woodshedding" workshops with many talented musicians as facilitators.

Past Workshops:

• 2012 - Vancouver (Woodshedding): Composing for Erhu with Nicole Ge Li , Creating Budgets for Grants with Julie Poskitt and Walter Quan, Fiolûtröniq: Techniques for hyper-flute, viola da gamba and harpsichord, SOCAN 101 with Terry O'Brien and Sara Pavilionis
• 2012 - Vancouver (Mentorship Project): Canadian Copyright Law For Composers: A Workshop With Bob D’Eith, GETTING OUT THERE: The Keys to Artistic Self-Promotion, SOCAN 101 and the Fundamentals of Rights Management,Taxation Benefits & Planning For Artists and the Self‐Employed With Rudy Bootsma of Compendia
• 2012 - Vancouver: Grant-Writing for Composers, presented by BC Arts Council officers Walter Quan and Julie Poskitt
• 2012 - Vancouver: Ana Sokolovic: A lecture from internationally renowned composer Ana Sokolovic
• 2012 - Toronto (Woodshedding): Kimberley Pritchard (accordion), Peter Pavlovsky (double bass), Daniel Morphy (percussion) - Composing for Accordion, Double Bass and Percussion
• 2011 - Vancouver (Woodshedding): Heidi Krutzen (harp), Mai Han (zheng), Ariel Barnes (cello)  Extended Techniques and Beyond: Composing for the Harp, Zheng and Cello
• 2010 - Vancouver (Woodshedding): François Houle (clarinet), Mark McGregor (flute) and Julia Nolan (saxophone)
• 2010 - Montréal (Cultivating Your Career): Walter Boudreau (SMCQ), Tim Brady (Bradyworks), Jean-François Denis (empreintes DIGITALes), Véronique Lacroix (ECM+), Simon Martin (Code d’accès), Danielle P. Roger (Groupe Le Vivier / SuperMusique), Mireille Gagné (CMC Québec), Nicolas Gilbert, Robert Lemay, Robert Normandeau, André Ristic, Ana Sokolovic and Brian Current
• 2010 - Calgary (Cultivating Your Career): Mélanie Léonard (CPO), Bob McPhee (Calgary Opera), Leonard Ratzlaff (Richard Eaton Singers), David Eagle (New Works Calgary), James Rolfe (ex of Continuum), John Reid (CMC Prairies), Paul Steenhuisen, Hope Lee, Arlan Schultz, Allan Bell, Victor Davies, and Laurie Radford
• 2010 - Vancouver (Cultivating Your Career): Sal Ferreras, David Pay, Owen Underhill, Scott Good, Jordan Nobles, DB Boyko, Ramona Luengen, Hal Beckett, John Oliver, Rodney Sharman, Jocelyn Morlock, Keith Hamel and Robert Pritchard
• 2009 - Vancouver, Winnipeg & Toronto (Grant Writing): Michael Jones (Metcalf Foundation)
• 2007-08 - Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg & Montréal (Composing for the Voice): Christopher Butterfield, Mel Braun, Pauline Vailloncourt, Benjamin Butterfield

Members can access pod-casts of select workshops by logging into MEMBERS CIRCLE.

CLC workshops are generously supported by funding from the Creator's Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage, as administered by the SOCAN Foundation.