Choral Masterclass Workshop
DATE & VENUE
March 16, 2025
Sterling Beckwith Studio
York University, Toronto
MASTERCLASS INSTRUCTOR
Professor Lisette Canton
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
Leo Li
OCCASION
Opening Event of the Series Celebrating
55 Years of Canada–China Diplomatic Relations
On March 16, 2025, the opening ceremony of the series celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Canada took place at York University's Sterling Beckwith Studio. The event, titled "When Poetry Meets Opera" Choral Masterclass Workshop, attracted numerous choral and music enthusiasts. Over 70 participants, including observers from the Greater Toronto Area, special guests, and members of the NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir, gathered to engage in this choral art activity.
The series received support from the Consulate General of China in Toronto. Consuls Wang Yifei and Ma Zhensong attended the event, bringing congratulatory messages from Consul General Luo Weidong.
Notable cultural figures present included conductor Cai Hongmei of the Tsinghua University Alumni Art Troupe Choir, alumni representative Tang Hong, President of the Canadian Performing Arts Alliance Zhang Wei, Sing Tao Chinese Radio reporter Han Xiao, and President of the Chinese Canadian Writers' Association Yan Fei. Representatives from DX FINANCIAL, as well as members of the University of Toronto and York University student unions, also attended, experiencing this fusion of music and culture.
In the opening segment, NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir's Artistic Director and conductor, Leo Li, highlighted the choir's dedication to promoting Sino-Western musical exchange since its inception. As the only Chinese choir active on the stage of Canada's national choral conference, NeoVoce's performance quality has been widely recognized in the Greater Toronto Area's choral community. Leo Li serves as the Chair of the Membership Committee and a board member of the Adjudicators Committee for Choral Canada. In February, he was re-elected as a board member of Choral Canada, becoming the sole Chinese board member—a testament to the Canadian choral community's high regard for Chinese conductors.
Leo Li expressed gratitude to the Consulate General of China in Toronto for their support and warmly welcomed the attending guests. He introduced the workshop's keynote speaker, internationally renowned conductor Professor Lisette Canton, praising her outstanding choral artistry and significant influence in Canada's choral arts field.
Under Leo Li's direction, the workshop commenced with an engaging vocal warm-up session. All choir members and guests participated, creating a relaxed and lively atmosphere filled with artistic energy. Following the warm-up, guests expressed their enjoyment, praising the educational and entertaining nature of the training.
In the workshop, Professor Lisette Canton led choir members in exploring Western classical choral works, including "Anvil Chorus" from Verdi's opera Il Trovatore, "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves" from Nabucco, and selected movements from Vivaldi's Gloria RV 589. With her profound artistic expertise, Professor Canton provided meticulous guidance on vocal parts, emotional expression demonstrations, and musical style analysis, deepening the choir members' understanding and mastery of Western operatic choral works.
Simultaneously, the segment focusing on Chinese poetry choral works became a highlight of the workshop. Conductor Leo Li explained the distinctions and expressive forms of the ancient lyric "Bodhisattva Barbarian," the modern poem "In the Past, Life Was Slow," and the extended ancient poem "The Song of Ch'i-le." He led choir members to explore the beauty of integrating Chinese poetry with choral music. Through comparative analysis of Eastern and Western classical choral works, participants profoundly experienced the musical expressions across different cultural backgrounds, as well as the fusion and interplay between Chinese and Western choral arts.
Notably, some members of the NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir are scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall in the United States in late May 2025. Under the baton of Professor Lisette Canton, they will present Vivaldi's "Gloria RV 589" and Mozart's "Vespers K.339".
In preparation for this international performance, Professor Canton emphasized sectional collaboration, tonal unity, and stylistic control during the recent workshop. She encouraged choir members to build a solid musical foundation through current and future rehearsals, ensuring they are well-prepared for the upcoming event. Professor Canton urged participants to cherish this choral exchange opportunity and looks forward to witnessing their growth and breakthroughs on the Carnegie Hall stage.
The masterclass workshop concluded successfully in a relaxed yet rigorous artistic atmosphere. Professor Canton's precise guidance, complemented by Conductor Leo Li's interpretation of Eastern music, provided participants with a deeper understanding of the fusion between Eastern and Western choral arts. Attendees expressed that this experience was not only a rare opportunity to enhance professional skills but also a unique journey into the integration of musical cultures.
NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir will continue to uphold the philosophy of blending the essence of Eastern and Western music, striving to build a bridge of cultural friendship between China and Canada, and showcasing more splendid performances on the international stage. The successful hosting of this event not only marked the beginning of the series celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Canada but also injected new vitality into promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries. In the future, the choir will remain committed to advancing the exchange of Eastern and Western musical cultures, contributing to the development of choral art.
