Transgender Voices Festival Youth Choir

Do the students need to register?  Yes! Registration is closed, but you can still register at the door.

Cost of the festival?  The whole festival is $0-100 sliding scale registration. There is no need for each student or teacher to pay.

Do the students need to audition?  No, there are no auditions -- everyone aged 14-20 is welcome.

Do the students need to learn music ahead of time?   No.

Will lunch be provided? Yes, we plan to provide sandwich lunches (for all who ordered them when pre-registering) from 12:45-1:30pm.

Is there a performance?  Yes! Right at 12:30pm, the youth choir will perform what they learned for the rest of the festival attendees.

Can teachers get a continuing education credit? Yes, continuing Education Unit verification (Clock Hours) are available for teachers. Download the Minnesota CEU verification form or a general CEU form for teachers from other states.

Born in Trinidad, André Heywood (he/him/his) grew up and studied in London, Ontario earning undergraduate degrees in both Biochemistry and Music Education, and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from The University of Western Ontario. A former chorister of the renowned Amabile Boys’ and Men’s Choirs, Mr. Heywood served as the group’s assistant conductor for two years before moving to Minnesota in 2007. Since then he has worked on the campus of Saint John’s Abbey and University, serving as Artistic Director of The Saint John’s Boys’ Choir, conductor of the Saint John’s Abbey Schola (monastic choir), Liturgical Music Director at Saint John’s Preparatory School, and as an adjunct faculty member at the university where he directs two ensembles and teaches graduate choral conducting. In 2013 he joined the faculty of the VoiceCare Network, and since 2016 has served as conductor of the National Catholic Youth Choir and director of the choir program at Ontario’s Interprovincial Music Camp. He has twice been awarded by the American Choral Directors’ Association of Minnesota – in 2011 with the VocalEssence Creative Programming Award, and in 2013 as the Outstanding Young Director of the Year. A highly sought after clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor, Mr. Heywood is a well-known specialist in developing young male voices. He is currently a doctoral candidate in choral conducting at the University of Toronto, where he studies with Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt.