Australian Choral Conductors Education and Training (ACCET) welcomes your presence at its 34th Choral Conductors Summer School. Four exciting and involving days of demonstration, participation and learning will have you confidently facing the music with your choir in 2027 .
Accet presents
Dr Darius Lim
(Singapore)
Dr Darius Lim is an internationally acclaimed conductor-composer and visionary leader who has transformed Singapore’s choral landscape. As Founder and Artistic Director of Voices of Singapore (VOS), he has built the nation’s leading choral society, now with over 1.500 singers across 30 choirs. and has positioned it as a cultural force performing at national milestones such as the National Day Parade, President’s Star Charity and the opening of the Singapore Courts.
Darius serves as a Board Member of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), Curriculum Advisory Committee Member of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Music Faculty), a Council Member of the Asia Pacific Choral Council and a Board Chairman of the World Alliance of Children’s Choirs.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from Queensland Conservatorium and a Masters in Choral Conducting from the Welsh College of Music and Drama. At Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts his formative years included a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Music. A sought-after thought leader, he has presented his vision of music as a unifying force on global platforms such as TEDx, inspiring communities and audiences around the world. His choirs have performed in many prestigious venues, he has adjudicated internationally and he was a commissioned composer for the International Federation of Choral Music, Istanbul, 2023.
Dr Debra Shearer-Dirié
(Brisbane, Queensland)
Dr Debra Shearer-Dirié is an internationally respected choral conductor, educator, adjudicator and clinician whose career spans Australia, Europe and North America. A passionate advocate of collaborative music-making, she has worked extensively with choirs, composers, dancers, visual artists and cultural communities, creating innovative and inspiring artistic partnerships.
Debra holds a Diploma of Kodaly Education, Hungary and Master of Music Education and Doctor of Music in Choral Conducting from Indiana University, USA. At Indiana University Debra directed the Indiana University Children’s and Youth Choir, was Assistant Director of Pro Arte Singers and Director of the International Vocal Ensemble. From 2001-02 she was Music Director of Northwest Girlchoir, Seattle, a 400-voice organisation performing frequently with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
She is Director of Music for Choir Works (formerly Brisbane Concert Choir), founder of Vox Pacifica Chamber Choir, Fusion Vocal Ensemble and Vintage Voices. She has been a guest conductor, presenter or adjudicator at ACDA USA New York, ANCA National Conference, ANCA Choralfest 3 times, NZ Big Sing 4 times, and at the World Choir Games, NZ. She has been a contributing editor and reviewer for the IFCM International Choral Magazine, 16 years editor of ANCA journal Sing Out and is a Past-President of ANCA. Debra currently serves on the Academic Music Staff of Somerville House, Brisbane.
Mark O’Leary OAM
Mark O’Leary OAM has worked with young choirs for more than 40 years and is highly regarded for his work with Young Voices of Melbourne, Exaudi and Gondwana Voices with whom he has made more than 50 national and international tours and 18 Cd recordings.
He has special interests in Kodaly teaching techniques, the development of excellence in children’s choirs, the power of music to make better lives and Australian choral music. He is a regular guest conductor and presenter on choral music education at workshops and conferences around Australia.
Mark publishes choral music for young singers in the YMV Choral Series and is the creator of Sight Singing School website and books. He has 3 degrees from the University of Melbourne, is a Churchill Fellow, an Honorary Life Member of Kodaly Australia and was awarded an OAM for services to choral music in 2018.
“Thank you for another wonderful ACCET SS! Beautifully generous guest leaders were so inspiring. “
Emphasis on conducting
Development of your conducting skill is the central goal of this 34th ACCET Summer School. This will occur through major sessions, group tuition, demonstration and master classes. In five group conducting workshops you will improve your skill and confidence in choral conducting and rehearsal leadership. To assist you in nominating your current skill, for the application form, consider the following:
Basic
- has limited experience rehearsing and conducting a choir
- needs basic conducting patterns
- needs confidence in score preparation
- needs confidence in cueing entries and executing cut-offs
- needs beginning information on running rehearsals
Intermediate
- has substantial experience rehearsing and conducting a choir
- has had previous conducting tuition
- wants to increase technical skills with entries and cut-offs, phrasing, legato, staccato, accent, pauses, dynamics and time changes
- wants advanced knowledge of music interpretation
Advanced
- understands the requirement to audition on the first day to gain a place in the advanced group
- has had much experience rehearsing and conducting skilled choirs
- has had considerable conducting tuition
- is willing to tackle advanced music
What you need to bring for conducting classes
Bring one piece – or two pieces – on which you wish to work in group classes. Prepare them before coming so that you get the most out of your tuition. You will need 15 copies of each piece – for your group choir, the tutor and accompanist.
In your participant bag there will be a selection of works sourced from cpdl – choral public domain library – that you can access yourself if you need advice on repertoire to bring.
A Spring Song – Parry. Unison. Has triplets and pause
An Irish Blessing – Davey. Unison to 2 part
A Garden Lullaby – Offenbach. 2 part
The Cat of Cats – Ferrari. TTB
Bell Carol – Veitch. SSSAA. Rhythmic issues, hemiolas
Gloria patri – Henry Purcell. SATB. Contrapuntal
Die Harmonie in du Ehe – Haydn. SATB, dialogue between upper and lower singers
Bring Us in Good Ale – Holst. SATB, time changes, tempo changes, dialogue
Master classes
Led by Dr Darius Lim and Dr Debra Shearer-Dirié and observed by the whole Summer School, the master classes will provide learning along with the development of conductors in our midst.
Repertoire for you
In your participant bag there will be complimentary music. In sessions you will learn many new works. In music reading from the package, you will become familiar with a range of music. There will be a dedicated introduction to Australian music.
The Programme
The venue
The Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre at Xavier College will be the major venue, with break-out rooms and group tuition rooms in the Kotska Building. The school address is 135 Barkers Rd, Kew, Melway map 45.
There is ample parking in the car park below the sports fields.
Trams 16, 24, 48 and 109 are within walking distance. Tram 16 connects with Glenferrie railway station.
Accommodation
Information for Kew and surrounds, and for the City of Melbourne, is available on the web site within registration materials.
Registration
Is available below on this web site.
Payment is best by direct debit – see information on the application form. Please label it distinctly as from you.
Or download a Tax invoice and Registration form to print out.
“Thank you so much for this opportunity to learn. I’m so glad I found this summer school!”
