Guest Conductor

Orebro University (Sweden), International Choral Conductor’s Seminar (South Africa), Ministry of Education and Culture in collaboration with Pedagogical Institute, Nicosia (Cyprus); Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan – International Scientific and Practical conference

“Musical VUCA World”; World Piece Festival (Austria); World Choir Festival (Hong Kong).

Zimfira established her musical credentials in Kazakhstan, where she served as founder and principal of the nation’s first choir school. Upon her arrival in Canada, Zimfira’s skill and passion found a home with Toronto Children’s Chorus, St. Michael’s Choir School, and eventually as Artistic Director of Hamilton Children’s Choir and Young Voices Toronto.

Zimfira Poloz

Zimfira Poloz is a passionate musician, educator, award-winning conductor, and internationally respected adjudicator and clinician.

Ms. Poloz has been decorated with numerous awards, including Honoured Representative of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the city of Hamilton’s VIP Award, and the Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting (Ontario Arts Council). Recent adjudication and guest conductor highlights include: Choralies – International Choral Festival (France); National Choral Competition (Japan); Europa Cantat (France); 1st International Choral Alberto Grau Composition Competition (Venezuela); Children’s Choir of Philharmonic Paris Orchestra (France); America Cantat 8 (Bahamas); World Choir Games – China, USA, Latvia, Russia, South Korea, National Choral Competition (Canada). Conductor in residence for Corfu Ionian University – Summer Academy in Choral Conducting Course (Greece),

Under Zimfira’s direction, the Hamilton Children’s Choir has won innumerable international and national contests and has transformed into one of the most widely acclaimed youth choral programs in the world, including several appearances at “Podium” Choral Canada Conference. HCC was invited World Symposium on Choral Music IFCM, Auckland (New Zealand), sharing stage with King Singers as a children’s choir in residence at the International Festival for Children and Youth Choirs (Hong Kong), ACDA National Conference (Minnesota), America Cantat 8 (Bahamas), Polyfollia, World Showcase on Choral Music (France), and IFCM World Symposium (South Korea), 1st Xinghai Prize International Choral Competition (China), “Let the People Sing”

Euroradio Choral Competition (Norway), Let the Future Sing, 70th International Festival, Adolf Frederik’s Music School (Sweden), Songbridge Choral Festival, Szczecin (Poland), and Tolosa Choral Competition (Spain).

From 2004-2011 – Zimfira Poloz led Young Voices Toronto (formerly High Park Choirs) as Artistic Director expanding the program from 3 to 5 choirs. Under Zimfira’s leadership YVT became Children’s Choir-in-residence at U of T. YVT was invited as a showcase choir to Germany for the 1125th anniversary celebrations for the town of Bodersweier; France, and to the World Choir Games (27,000 singers) in Latvia as a showcase choir & workshop choir for conductors. Unforgettable highlights were the Great Celebration Concert of the 8th WCG that took place in the Mežaparks – the Song Celebration grounds – where 10,000 Latvian and 5,000 international singers united in song, as well as the emotional Closing Concert in the Arena Riga.

In addition to her performance season with HCC and her travels as clinician and guest conductor, Zimfira teaches in the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. She is a Faculty Member & Canadian Representative for International Choral Space as well for the World Choral Council, Interkultur, ACDA International Activities, Mentor. In addition, she is a Board Member for the World Alliance of Children’s Choirs (A Global Network of Children’s Choirs and Conductors) and curator/editor for choral music publisher, Cypress Choral Music.