Sarona Mynhardt - 2022

SARONA MYNHARDT 

Sarona has one goal in life, and that is to truly make a difference in the lives of the singers she works with. She firmly believes that through Music a teacher does not only have the opportunity to teach music literacy and musicianship skills, but those life skills and qualities that are universally important. Those  of love, compassion, humanity, respect, discipline, passion and joy! Born and raised in South Africa, Sarona completed her education degree in Pretoria where she majored in Math, Languages and Psychology, and specialized in Classroom Music, Voice, Choral Conducting, Drama, and Special Education. Her formal voice training culminated in postgraduate work at the Conservatory of Music at North-West University in Potchefstroom.

Her early singing career included membership in children’s and youth choirs, lead roles in Musicals and Operettas, and solo recitals. Following ten successful years of teaching  in South Africa, Sarona immigrated to Canada. In 1997 she founded the White Rock Children’s Choir, which had Choirs at several levels under her artistic direction for 20 years. The Choir participated regularly in International Festivals, and she conducted them in prestigious venues including Canterbury Cathedral,  St Peter’s in Rome, the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, Notre Dame Basilica Montreal, and St Georges Cathedral in Cape Town where the Choir performed for Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  One of the highlights for Sarona and her Choir was the invitation by Mr. Henry Leck to perform in Carnegie Hall as part of a Children’s Festival Chorus under his direction in April 2014. Over the past 10 years Sarona organized two Children’s Choir Festivals celebrating diversity and World Music,  and  also founded and conducted the Cantrix Women’s ensemble.

Sarona has taught Music in both the public and private school systems here in Canada, where she directed Elementary and High School Choirs and Musicals. She was on the board for the BC Choral Federation for five years, and received the BCCF Willan award for outstanding service to the BC Choral Federation in 2015. She regularly serves as a Guest Conductor for Honour and Festival choirs, Adjudicator at Music Festivals, and Clinician for Conductor and Choral workshops. Sarona has taught Vocal, Choral and Leadership workshops on several trips to both Taiwan and South Africa, and she has been on the faculty for the BCCF Choral DirectorshipCourses since 2006. Sarona has participated in and completed level three of Creating Artistry – Conducting Courses and Master Classes with Henry Leck and Vocal Training with Steven Rickards at Butler University in Indianapolis. Together with Henry Leck she co-conduced a North American Choir with members from the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and the White Rock Children’s Choir on a 14 day Concert Tour of South Africa in 2008. Sarona is a registered teacher of SongShine - a program based on the leading edge science of neuroplasticity and the brain’s ability to reorganize and change itself through singing and music.  Sarona recently moved to the Sunshine Coast where she founded the Inspirito Women's Vocal Ensemble, lead SongShine classes, and continue to teach voice at her private studio.