For nearly 25 years, High Park Choirs (HPC) of Toronto has been developing children’s choral and musical ability, promoting inclusiveness, fun, teamwork, cultural diversity and choral excellence. The result is children who have confidence in themselves and each other and who produce a beautiful and unique sound. HPC is carving a niche in the Canadian choral landscape with our varied repertoire, through an emphasis on global contemporary music and exquisite classical music
Zimfira Poloz 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 more recently, the Ontario Art Council’s Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting. She is invited regularly to serve as clinician for festivals, lead workshops for educators, and jury International Choir Competitions, including the Choir Olympics.
Ms. Poloz first established her musical credentials in Kazakhstan, founding the country’s first Choir School. In addition to her duties as Principal of the school, she served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the school’s Concert Choir, “Koktem”. Under Ms. Poloz’s direction, “Koktem” attained top international choral status and was a frequent prize-winner in choral competitions and festivals around the world.
Ms. Poloz is currently the Artistic Director for both the High Park Choirs of Toronto and the Hamilton Children’s Choir; in addition to her global travels as clinician and conductor, she teaches Vocal Pedagogy for Young Choirs at the University of Toronto. Ms. Poloz is a specialist in the Phonopedic Method of Voice Development, created by Professor V. Yemeljanov of Russia, an innovative educational program which includes voice development, coordination and training.
Organist Shawn Grenkie