Singing in a choir isn’t just about the notes and harmonies—it’s about creating a tight-knit community where everyone feels like they belong. It’s a fantastic boost for your mental health, giving you that feeling of being part of something bigger.
When we sing, our brains light up with endorphins and oxytocin, those magical chemicals that melt stress away and lift your spirits
Singing helps sharpen your memory and cognitive skills as you master those tricky lyrics and melodies. Andrea Ciona, an educator, mentor, and conductor for over 20 years, says it best: “Joining a choir is like giving your brain a joyful workout.
Andrea Ciona is a highly regarded conductor, performer, adjudicator, and educator. Having conducted and adjudicated ensembles around the world, Andrea’s highlights include conducting on the Great Wall of China, adjudicating in Jakarta, Indonesia, and leading a massed ensemble of 1,000+ performers at the Royal Nova Scotia Military Tattoo. Artistic Director of the Spiritus Chamber Choir, Andrea is regarded as an innovator and leader in Calgary’s Choral Music Community. Director of Choirs at Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary, Alberta, since 2010, her ensembles have received national and international recognition. Andrea is the founding director of the Rocky Mountain Symphony Chorus, and regularly performs with the Symphony. Previously Andrea has served on faculty at Red Deer College School of Music and worked with Alberta Education on the Provincial Arts Education Curriculum Redesign. In her free time, Andrea loves traveling and exploring the world with her husband and two children.
Andrea holds degrees from the University of British Columbia (B. Mus, Performance & M. Mus, Choral Conducting) and the University of Calgary (B. Ed, Secondary Music).
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