The first Choral Conducting course by Tenerife Choir Network is coming to an end on Sunday [20th] with a closing concert at 7:00 pm at Auditorio Capitol in Tacoronte. In the event, which is free of charge, University of La Laguna Polyphonic Choir and Auditorio de Tenerife Young Choir are also taking part. They are directed by Julio Chinea and Roxana Schmunk, respectively. The Choir Network is an initiative of the Performing Arts and Music Island Scheme fostered by the Cabildo as part of the Tenerife 2030 strategy.

Two pilot choirs, trained during the course and directed by Nuria Fernández Herranz, and two guest choirs are singing in the first part. The programme includes pieces they have worked on throughout the course; the teachers have chosen ten of the students as conductors. In the second part of the concert, the guest choirs will sing several songs from their repertoire, concluding with Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah sung by the Auditorio de Tenerife Young Choir.

The Choral Conducting course of Tenerife Choir Network started last September. Its objective is to unify choir activity on the Island through training, learning and joint performances by Tenerife choirs. The last session is taking place tomorrow [Saturday, 19th] and will focus on finalizing the closing concert. 

Directed by Nuria Fernández Herranz, in the past seven months the course has offered future choirmasters the chance to widen their knowledge on vocal technique, performing and directing. This has been possible thanks to the work done by a group of teachers in addition to master sessions given by directors of national and international standing, like Javier Busto and Paulo Vassalo Lourenço.

Nuria Fernández Herranz trusts the scheme will continue in the coming years and has pointed out the vocal quality and the musical vocation found in Tenerife, where “in general, people sing very well thanks to tradition and folklore”. She has also stress the “experience” shown by the students, most of whom are directors or choir members.