Coastal Sound International
Choral Festival 2009 -
Principal Guest Conductor Biographies
FRANCISCO J NÚÑEZ (New York, USA)
Born in New York City of Dominican descent, Francisco J. Núñez is a composer, conductor, a leading figure in music education, and a visionary, whose strongly held ideas have resulted in the critical and popular success of the award-winning Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC), a chorus of 250 young people from 8 through 18 of all ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds. One of today's most sought-after youth choirs with celebrated performances on three continents, YPC is the resident chorus of both the 92nd Street Y and WNYC, New York Public Radio, the first and only resident radio choir of any New York City radio station. In addition, together with the New York City Department of Education, Mr. Núñez is bringing the YPC choral program to an additional 400+ children as part of the chorus's Satellite Schools program in five New York City schools. Mr. Núñez is often contacted by cities around the country for help in replicating the YPC success.
Mr. Núñez formed the chorus in 1988 at the Children's Aid Society of New York City, where he served for nine years as director of music, in an effort to foster personal and artistic growth and cross-cultural understanding among the children, as well as to provide a safe haven where young people from many different backgrounds could come together with the common goal of learning and creating beautiful music.
In addition to their acclaimed performances, Mr. Núñez and the YPC are impacting the world of choral music itself through their groundbreaking Transient Glory series of concerts, CDs and publications, by commissioning today's most distinguished composers to write music for children's choirs. To date, YPC has sung more than 50 world premieres and commissioned 41 new works, 20 of which have already been published by Boosey & Hawkes in association with G. Schirmer and Chester Novello. The chorus's first Transient Glory CDs was released in 2004 to critical raves.
Mr. Núñez is also a composer whose award-winning works and arrangements for choirs, orchestras, and solo instruments are inspired by a wide range of Latin cultures and musical idioms. A CD of his music, entitled Cantan, recorded by the Ithaca College Women's Chorus under the direction of Janet Galvan was released in 2004. As a conductor, Mr. Nunez also leads the University Glee Club of New York City, the New York University Singers and NYU Women's Chorus, is active as a guest conductor and master teacher for choral workshops, demonstrations, and festivals nationwide.
For his exemplary work with children, YPC Artistic Director Francisco Núñez has been presented with numerous awards, such as the prestigious Child Champion award from Child magazine, a Liberty Award from the New York Post, and a Luminary Award from Casita Maria. He has also been honored as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics of 2005 by Hispanic Business magazine and selected for GMC's advertising campaign as an unsung Hispanic hero doing great work in his community.
ADAM CON (Georgia, USA)
Dr. Adam Jonathan Con is a conductor, a visionary, a respected teacher of conducting, and a leader in the advocacy of music education. A native of Vancouver and a third generation Chinese Canadian, his holistic approach to choral music through a unique blend of kinesthetic whole body movement and eastern philosophy continues to inspire singers of all ages in mind, body and spirit. His motto is “Music is more than notes in motion; music is notes in Emotion.”
Adam is a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan and incorporates Qigong and Tai Chi philosophy in every aspect of life and music making. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Music at Georgia Southern University where he serves as the Director of Choral Activities and Chair of Music Education. His duties include conducting the Georgia Southern Chorale, University Singers, Women's Chorus and the Statesboro-Georgia Southern Community Chorus. He teaches choral conducting, Elementary music methods, graduate research, and the First Year Experience course: Tai Chi and Music.
Dr. Con earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education (Secondary Instrumental and Choral) and a Master's Degree in Music Education (Elementary) from the University of British Columbia. At Florida State University, he earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Music Education (Choral Conducting Emphasis) studying with Rodney Eichenberger, Andre Thomas, Clifford Madsen and Judy Bowers. Dr. Con is also certified in Orff Schulwerk. In high demand in the United States and Canada both as a guest conductor and choral conducting teacher, Dr. Con has presented at prestigious events such as the National American Orff-Schulwerk Conference, the National Canadian Choral Conducting Symposium, the National Canadian GALA Conference, the Georgia State American Choral Directors Association Conference, and the Georgia Music Educator's Conference. His talent and ability to work with all levels of musical experience is grounded in 15 years of diverse K-12 public school music teaching which includes Orff, Kodály, and Dalcroze based general music, French immersion music, middle and secondary school choral, vocal jazz, concert band and jazz band. His professional conducting experiences include civic orchestras, professional musical theatre, community choirs, concert bands, and 28 years as a church choir director and organist. Currently, Dr. Con is serving his sixth year as the American Choral Director's Association Repertoire and Standards Chair for Multicultural and Ethnic Music for Georgia State.
Local Guest Clinicians
Each participating choir will have the opportunity to sign up for a one-hour clinic with a Local Guest Clinician. Conductors and clinicians will work together to plan an enjoyable and effective format for the clinic. Please refer back to this page for further updates on local guest clinicians.
