Cheryl Balay has decades of experience working with choirs. In 2019 she received the Con Spirito Award from Choir Alberta in recognition of her dedication to choral music. 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 or substitute conductor today.
Call, text or email Cheryl for information.