This friendly group is ever improving its already fantastic tone, diction, rhythm, balance, harmonies and expression.We welcome new voices throughout the season and incorporate them into performances as they progress.

The Choir, September 2009

In addition to the weekly Wednesday evening full of singing, individual coaching sessions are also made available to each singer for a four week run.

An established core of singers formed the choir Sound Opportunity in March of 2005 under the leadership of conductor and voice instructor Cheryl Balay. The group adds to the rich choral tradition already enjoyed in the city of Edmonton, Alberta. The singers influence the selection of varied repertoire and the chosen performance opportunities.

Cheryl Balay has over twenty years of experience working with choirs. She has conducted groups ranging in age from pre-schoolers, through children and teens, to adults (both mixed choir as well as men's and women's choruses) and senior citizens. She first studied music privately, taking exams with the Royal Conservatory of Music, then at the University of Alberta and at Alberta College. She majored in conducting for two years on scholarship in Kyiv, Ukraine at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music and at the Veriovka Studio, as well as working with the Shchedryk Children's Choir during her music education abroad.

Cheryl studied voice first under Ruth New, then Alan Ord, Zinayivna Petrivna Buzyna, and Eva Bostrand. She is grateful for the influence of conductors Garth Worthington, Walter Rosiewich, Jean Woodrow, Dr. Larry Cook, Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff and Myron Shatulsky, among others. She has been honoured to be involved in National Festivals in Canada as a conductor in 1991, an Artistic Director in 2000 and one of the initial organizers for the National Ukrainian Centennial Celebration of 2005, working with amalgamated orchestras and choirs numbering hundreds of musicians. In addition to over 20 years as a conductor, she was concurrently a Cultural Director in Edmonton's Ukrainian community for 15 of those years. Since 1995 she's also been the conductor of Sturgeon Unity Singers, the premiere community choir in the Bon Accord-Gibbons area just north of Edmonton. She is familiar with a varied choral repertoire from classical to contemporary, but holds a special place in her heart for folk songs. She demonstrates her life-long love for learning and continues to share her passion for singing with students of all ages.

Book her for your choral workshop, voice coach or as a guest conductor today.

Phone or email Cheryl for information.

An integral part of the choir and its success, the title "Accompanist" just doesn't seem to do justice to the considerable talents which Bob brings to this group. In his role as Accompanist he often acts as a sectional leader, fills in for the Conductor when necessary, even sets the tempo for many of the selections, and always enhances the singing experiences with exquisite and supportive musicianship. Being with Sound Opportunity is just one of his many commitments as a vocal, instrumental and choral accompanist.

Bob was an early winner of the prestigious Johann Strauss Foundation Scholarship. He is also a piano instructor, having taught at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music since 1982. As assistant provincial carillonneur at the Alberta Legislature, his music can often be heard ringing out over Edmonton's river valley.

Any person, any age! If you can speak, you can sing. If you can hear, you can sing in tune! If you already sing well, you can sing even better! Not just tall tales, come out to our rehearsals or sign up for private voice lessons. Once you experience voice production with Cheryl Balay, you'll soon be singing her praises. Students are accepted into Cheryl Balay's voice studio from the age of eight years old and up, while the choir Sound Opportunity is exclusively an adult group.

Carols, Alberta Legislature, Christmas 2009

The singers in Sound Opportunity come from a variety of backgrounds, bringing with them great diversity and various vocal skill levels. The repertoire is challenging enough to ensure continual learning opportunities are given to each chorister, while the rehearsal process is complete enough to bring a level of comfort and confidence even to the newest singer. Solo opportunities are afforded throughout the season, where individual talents are showcased.

Repertoire

Repertoire for individual students is based on the syllabus from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada. It is augmented with additional selections chosen to suit each student's preferences and study needs, as well as to introduce them to songs, styles and languages which may initially be outside of their comfort zones. In addition to the classics, song choices often include additional contemporary, musical theatre, ballads, folk songs and practical performance selections such as national anthems and numbers appropriate for weddings, funerals, solos (for church, school, choir or family events), auditions, recitals and pure personal enjoyment.

Sound Opportunity Choir seeks its repertoire from varied sources. The chosen songs are suited to the voices in Sound Opportunity and selected with consideration of their thematic content, variety, levels of difficulty, enjoyment, learning opportunities and performance-specific needs.