COUNCIL TALK 02/2022 - The digital magazine of the World Choir Council

BAŞAK DOĞAN
TURKEY - ASIA
- Başak Doğan is an innovative conductor whose unique
style has been turning heads around the world.
After finishing her master in Philosophy of Music at
Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, she got her second
master’s degree in Rhythmic Choral Conducting at
the Royal Academy of Music, Denmark, with the
thesis of ‘Intuitive Conducting’.
- As a versatile conductor, she appears at numerous
choral events, leading singers from all age groups.
She won prizes and international recognition with
her choir Chromas.
- Known best for blending different styles, Başak
has developed a distinctive method for leading singers.
Her enthusiasm for bringing her own cultural
background into the choral world has had an impact
on rhythmic choral music.
- Central to her style is “Vocal Painting,” a series
of signals that allows the conductor and choir to
improvise together and create “music of the moment.”
- Her new initiative “Vokal Akademi” has become the
center for all the singers who want to master their
singing and further their music career.
JOHN ROSSER
NEW ZEALAND - PACIFIC
- Having graduated MA in Latin and Greek from the
University of Auckland and gainingan LTCL in performance
singing, John trained as a choral conductor
under ProfessorPeter Godfrey.
- A foundation member of both the National Youth
Choir and the NewZealand Singers, in 1985 he formed
the innovative and highly successful a cappella
chamber choir Viva Voce, which he has now led in
over 400 concerts, broadcasts and recordings.
- He has also appeared as guest conductor for many
groups, such as the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra,
St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra, Auckland
Sinfonietta, Hamilton Civic Choir, Rotorua
District Choir, South Auckland Choral Society,
Whangarei Choral Society and the Auckland Bach
Cantata Society.
- He was for several years Director of the Hamilton
Music School and ran the Auckland International
Festival of Choirs in 1996.
- From 1996 to 2018 John worked as Chorus Director
and Associate Conductor for New Zealand Opera,
for whom he prepared over 60 operas and conducted
five. He has given several concert recitals and
recorded three programmes for Radio New Zealand.
- Frequently engaged for choral and vocal courses,
radio talks, compèring, workshops and adjudication,
John was awarded a grant in 2008 by the NZ
Arts Council to attend the 8 th World Symposium
on Choral Music in Copenhagen and was later invited
to Brisbane to conduct the inaugural ANCA
Chamber Choir for the Australian National Choral
Association, Queensland. He has conducted a host
of large choral events, including the 1000 massed
voices at Auckland’s annual outdoor extravaganza
Starlight Symphony for 15 years.
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