Jean Ashworth Bartle

Jean Ashworth Bartle's contribution to the art of choral music for children has evolved over three decades into one of international distinction. Whether conducting the Toronto Children's Chorus or sharing a wealth of knowledge with directors and choirs worldwide, she has demonstrated a steadfast dedication to choral excellence and has exerted a profound influence on all children and conductors with whom she has worked. In 1998, Ms. Ashworth Bartle received both the Order of Ontario and the country's highest honour, the Order of Canada, for raising the standards of children's choirs and Canadian choral music for children to an unprecedented artistic standard. She was further recognized in 2002 with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, awarded at Canada House in London. In November 2003, she was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the Ontario Music Educators' Association in recognition of her distinguished contribution to choral music education in Ontario.

Widely sought-after as lecturer, clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor of children's choirs, Ms. Ashworth Bartle has worked extensively with choirs, conductors and teachers throughout North America, Europe, Israel, South Africa, the Far East and the Pacific Rim. Her engagements this season include conducting at the Norbusang Scandinavian Children's Choir Festival in Norway, and at conferences in California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico and Singapore. In July 2004 she will return for the fourth time as conductor of the Tuscany International Children's Choir Festival

Through her consummate skill, and exemplary artistic vision and direction, the Toronto Children's Chorus has developed into one of the world's foremost children's choirs. This highly distinctive instrument has achieved many first place awards including the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales (1982); the International Choral Kathaumiwx in British Columbia (1984); six time honours at the CBC Choral competition; and the Let the Peoples Sing Competition, sponsored by the European Broadcasting Union (1993). Ms. Ashworth Bartle has conducted the TCC in nine compact discs with celebrated guest artists such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, tenor Ben Heppner, baritones Gino and Louis Quilico, contralto Maureen Forrester, soprano Lois Marshall and the Elmer Iseler Singers. A Toronto Symphony Orchestra recording of Holst's The Planets won a coveted Juno Award. She has prepared the Toronto Children's Chorus for performances of the Mahler's 3rd and 8th Symphonies, Mendelssohn's Mid-Summer Night's Dream, Orff's Carmina Burana, Berlioz's Damnation of Faust and Britten's War Requiem for internationally celebrated conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, Charles Dutoit, Sir Simon Rattle, Jukka Pekka Saraste and Sir David Willcocks.

Jean Ashworth Bartle - Lifeline for Children's Choir Directors

Before You Begin Developing the Child's Voice The Uncertain Singer Diction Musicianship Conducting Children's Choirs The School Primary Choir The School Junior Choir The Junior Church Choir The Community, or Professional, Children's Choir

Life Line for Children's Choir Directors, by Jean Ashworth Bartle, is a must for people who work with children's voices. As the founder of the Toronto Children's Chorus and experienced educator, Bartle compiles her 20+ years of experience into this book. The beginning provides an overview of important details necessary for any choir, such as diction and musicianship. The remaining chapters are devoted to specific types of children's choirs in school and the community. Each chapter is thoroughly detailed from organization through performance and includes extensive repertoire lists. Bartle includes many useful references throughout the book. This revised and expanded version can help anyone who conducts a children's choir and should be read cover to cover.

Jean Ashworth Bartle - Sound Advice

The Formative Years Training Eight to Fourteen Year Old Children to Sing Checklist for Ideal Rehearsals and Preparation for Complete Artistic Performances Developing Literacy Discipline The Importance of Organization The Audition Process Things They Didn't Teach You In Music School Conducting a Orchestra Preparing the Children to Sing a Major Work with Orchestra Warm-up Vocal Exercises Sample Programs from Toronto Children's Chorus Criteria for Choosing Repertoire Appropriate for Children Concepts to Be Learned by the End of Training Sight-Singing Curriculum Outline for the Toronto Children's Chorus Rounds All Children Should Know Treble Choir Repertoire with Orchestral Accompaniment Examples of Four-Measure Sight-Reading Passages Transposing and Non-transposing Instruments

Sound Advice is a valuable resource for college students, beginning teachers, and experienced conducters of children's choirs. It covers the vast array of skills needed by today's conductor and will benefit all choir directors who want their choirs to reach a higher level of artistry. This book will be useful on many levels: for the college student studying the child voice and elementary teaching methods; for the teacher beginning to direct choirs in schools, synagogues, churches and communities; for experienced children's choir directors who wish to know more about orchestral repertoire for treble voices, conducting an orchestra, and preparing a children's choir to sing a major work with a professional orchestra. The underlying educational philosophy is sound; the author sees development of musicianship through singing as the primary goal of a children's choir program. This philosophy differs dramatically from the traditional concept of the conductor as all-knowing and the singers as receptacles. An outstanding aspect of the book is how the author leads the reader to an understanding of how to teach musicianship. Developing literacy in the choral setting is a mysterious, amorphous process to many conductors, but the author clearly outlines this important process with practical suggestions, well-documented examples, and a clear reading style which will reach readers on many levels. The comprehensive repertoire, skill-building sheets, and programs for all types of children's choirs will provide teachers with immediate and highly valuable resources.

Toronto Children's Choir

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