Optimist ChorFest Saskatchewan looked very different in 2021 as have most of the activities that involve choirs and singing together. 
As an alternative to choirs performing and workshopping their music for one another the goal was to  provide a variety of professional development opportunities for directors as well as skill development for singers for community, church, school or university choirs or ensembles. 

ChorFest featured a mix of five live sessions (Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday morning and afternoon) and six pre-recorded sessions. 

Pre-recorded video presentations included both a singer-centered video and a conductor-centered video by: 
Erica Phare-Bergh - sight-singing and warmups
Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran - vocal percussion and vocal improv
Elroy Friesen - diction and tuning
Links to these videos will be sent out February 1st and available to watch at your convenience up to June 30, 2021.

Live presentations, approximately 1 hour in length were presented by:
Katy Luyk - Safe(r) Spaces for Singers - Considering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion;
Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt - Looking at leadership through multiple lenses;
Ryan Billington, Heidi Fellner Wood and Frank Lee - Stepping Stones to a Successful School Choral and Vocal Jazz Program: a panel discussion; 
Geung Kroeker-Lee - Culture and Community Design;
Cynthia Peyson Wahl - Decolonizing Your Music Room 
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​Session descriptions and bios available HERE.

The pre-recorded presentations will be available to watch until June 30, 2021.  The live presentations included access to an archival recording for 30 days (on request).