Pfälzische Kurrende and High Park Choirs joint benefit concert for SickKids Foundation

April 10, 2011 - PRLog -- Zimfira Poloz, Artistic Director and Conductor, and the choristers of the High Park Choirs of Toronto’s Allegria choir, are delighted to be hosting the Pfälzische Kurrende, a choir who has earned many accolades throughout Europe. The two choirs will spend time learning about their respective cultures with the high point of their week together culminating in a free joint concert to benefit the SickKids Foundation on April 19, 2011. The benefit concert will take place at Humbercrest United Church at 16 Baby Point Road in Toronto at 7:30 p.m.

The Pfälzische Kurrende hails from Neustadt an der Weinstrasse in Germany’s Palatine region. A “Kurrende” is a group of students whose origins date to medieval times. The students used to walk from door to door to offer their singing services for holidays, weddings and funerals. The choir has been led since its inception by Carola Bischoff, a music teacher and member of Germany’s “Conductors for young people” Board.  Last year, the Pfälzische Kurrende celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The High Park Choirs (HPC) are known for their rich, flexible, unique sound and innovative use of choreography and visual and sensory artistry. They offer choral music lovers a performance experience well beyond the traditional chorus.  HPC is the Children's Choir-in-Residence at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. 2011 marks the choirs’ 25th anniversary and many special events are planned throughout this year.

Children aged 5 to 18 are welcome to join HPC and receive an excellent choral education in an atmosphere of inclusiveness, fun, teamwork and cultural diversity. Auditions are being held on April 30, May 14 and May 29 for September placement. To book your audition, please email info@highparkchoirs.org or call 416-762-0657.

About Zimfira Poloz
Zimfira Poloz has been the Artistic Director for the High Park Choirs of Toronto since 2004, and under her direction, the choirs have earned praise nationally and internationally. She is a highly respected conductor, educator and adjudicator with a distinguished international reputation. She has been decorated with numerous awards in her long career, including the Honoured Representative of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Award, the city of Hamilton's V.I.P. Award and the Leslie Bell Prize Award for Choral Conducting from the Ontario Arts Council. She is invited regularly by presenters and educators from across Canada, Europe and around the world to act as clinician and educator for festivals, conferences and competitions. She is also invited to serve as a clinician for festivals, lead workshops for educators, and jury international choir competitions, including the renowned Choir Olympics.

About High Park Choirs
The High Park Choirs was founded in 1986 as a girls’ choir and now comprises over one-hundred-and-twenty boys and girls aged five to eighteen arranged in five skill-based divisions. The choirs develop the children’s choral and musical ability while promoting inclusiveness, fun, teamwork, cultural diversity and choral excellence.

The choirs are directed by highly acclaimed artistic staff whose talent and choice of innovative repertoires, from Bach to Eric Robertson, has drawn singers from 71 schools across the GTA. The choirs have also benefited from collaborations with renowned Canadian and international composers.

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The High Park Choirs is for children aged 5 to 18 who love to sing. Choir divisions are skills-based and develop the children’s choral and musical ability while promoting inclusiveness, fun, teamwork, cultural diversity and choral excellence.