A children’s choir can sound polished and still not be truly free. The turning point is trust, and that’s where this conversation with Zimfira Poloz, Artistic Director of the Toronto Children’s Chorus and a University of Toronto educator in vocal pedagogy, gets practical fast.

We talk about what it really takes to develop healthy young voices: playful first steps, audition nerves, and the small choices that tell a child “you’re safe here”. Zimfira shares how she builds choir culture so singers feel they belong, speak up, and take ownership of the ensemble. We also dig into independence, including what happens when young singers perform a cappella, shift formations, and make decisions on stage without the conductor present.

There’s plenty for choir directors and vocal leaders who want better rehearsals too: English diction, vowel placement, teaching sound with clear physical cues, and how to choose repertoire that trains flexibility rather than locking singers into one colour. From authentic world music to the demands of large-scale classical works, we explore why style should change with the music and how that benefits developing voices.

We close with a powerful leadership idea: don’t use the choir as a vehicle for your career, serve the singers through the music. If this helps you rethink your next rehearsal, subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share the episode with a fellow choir director who’d benefit.

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More about Toronto Childrens Chorus:

Website: www.torontochildrenschorus.com
Instagram: @torontochildrenschorus

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