Helma Haller, 

Is known for the meticulousness and refinement in her interpretations and her dedication to researching and promoting Brazilian classical music.

She serves as Brazil's representative on the World Choir Council of Interkultur and Crescendo International, where she contributes with articles and lectures.

Helma acts as a mentor in preparing solo musicians and chamber ensembles for recordings and performances. She also works as a speaker in seminars on Brazilian music, sacred and vocal music, and as a guest conductor for specific national and international projects. Yes, Helma Haller specializes in translating choral works into Portuguese. This skill is valuable for making foreign choral compositions accessible to Portuguese-speaking choirs and audiences.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she continued her work as a conductor through online rehearsals and individual lessons, creating 5 virtual video clips. She was invited as a speaker in forums discussing choral singing at various virtual congresses and festivals.

Since 2000, her group Collegium Cantorum – Female Choir has provided students and music professionals with opportunities to develop their talents and enhance their academic education. This ensemble has become a centre of excellence, a continuous school of choral singing, and a name of reference. They have recorded unique works of Brazilian choral repertoire in the CDs "Echos of Faith in the Brazilian Soul" (2008), "Brazilian Christmas" (2010), "Rodrigo Herrmann – Life and Work" (2013), "Villa-Lobos Sacro – The Mass of São Sebastião" (2014), and "Acordes Poéticos (Poetic Chords)" (2018), all available on digital platforms.

In May 2018, Helma participated as a singer in the Soli Deo Gloria chamber choir in Stuttgart during their tour in Germany. She also sang with the Jerusalem Baroque Orchestra (David Shemer) under the direction of Maestra Monica Meira Vasques, contributing to the CD "Der Messias" by Handel in Hebrew, recorded for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, released in early 2019. In February 2017, she conducted Collegium Cantorum in concerts at the Philharmonie Berlin, Germany, participating in workshops and performing with the Rundfunkchor Berlin under the direction of Nikolas Fink.

In 2016, she was responsible for the formation and preparation of the Symphonic Choir of the Paraná Symphony Orchestra (OSP) for the works "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by F. Mendelssohn (June) and "Der Freischütz" by Carl Maria von Weber (November) under the direction of Maestro Stefan Geiger. She also coordinated the 1st International Female Choir Festival in Curitiba in May 2015, with special guest Maestra Maria Guinand.

For her performance as the conductor of Collegium Cantorum in the choral competition European Choir Games in Germany in July 2015, she received 2 Silver Diplomas. She has performed as a singer, director of Collegium Cantorum, and responsible for the Portuguese pronunciation of Brazilian works presented at the Avery Fischer Hall, Lincoln Center, in March 2014 as part of the Distinguished Concerts International series, New York, and in 2012 at the 7th World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. In the same year, she was part of the international jury for the 1st Xinghai Prize International Choir Championships in Guangzhou, CHINA.

She held the position of conductor of the Camerata Antiqua choir of the Cultural Foundation of Curitiba until December 2012. She had been a part of this professional group as a singer, choirmaster, and artistic advisor since 1980 in concerts, tours, and approximately 12 albums. Some of the major works under her direction include: (01) 1999, world premiere of the work "Turris Ebúrnea" by Harry Crowl; (02) 1999 - Launch concert for the "Brazil - 500 Years" celebration, organized by the Secretariat of Culture of the State of Paraná, featuring works by Heitor Villa-Lobos; (03) 1999 - Launch concert for the "500 years of Brazil" program in Brasília, DF; (04) 2004 – "Vocal Polyphony in the Germanic World"; (05) 2007/2008 – Scenic Concerts: "Colors of Brazil"; (06) 2008 "Glimpses of Brazilian Sacred Music"; (07) 2009 – "Sacred Music of the 20th Century"; (08) 2009 – "Fantasy"; (09) 2010 – "Celebration – German Poems and Songs"; (10) 2011/2012, "Ein Deutsches Requiem" by Johannes Brahms.

Under her baton, her groups have made a mark on both the national and international music scenes with performances in Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Italy, the United States, and China.

A musician of exceptional talent, Helma seeks to combine various poetic languages in her programs to achieve a comprehensive interpretation. She incorporates musical and textual rhetoric, dramatic and scenic movement, visual aesthetics, and, while upholding musical excellence, aims to build a connection with the audience and incorporate artistic content into the daily lives of spectators.

Ana Cristina Lago Calderon
Graduated in Piano from the School of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná, Ana Cristina Lago is a conductor, composer, singer, and arranger. She has extensive experience working with both children and adult choirs in schools and social projects, as well as in teacher training.

She currently serves as the Coordinator of the Music Department in the "Nós Fazemos Cultura" (We do culture) project in Piraquara, under the Beneficent Association São Roque. In this project, of which she is also a founder and the principal conductor of the "Coro Gato na Tuba" (Tuba Cat Choir), she reaches 200 children and adolescents in socially vulnerable situations. The music education programs cover children's musicalization,, children's and youth choirs, instrument learning, and the formation of string and flute groups.

Ana Cristina Lago is also the founder, singer, and Assistant Conductor of the Collegium Cantorum, a female choir based in Curitiba that is dedicated to research and promote Brazilian classical music. She has a strong interest in collective processes that use creativity as a tool for social integration.

Maria Herrmann Destefani
 

Specialist in public administration, planning and management (by JICA, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo, Japan), sociologist by Universidade Federal do Paraná, was director of human resources of the State of Paraná, chief of staff of the Secretariat of Environment and training manager in the Secretariat of Administration in the same State. She was awarded with two international scholarships : senior managers, in Tokyo, Japan, JICA; and for a year of study in South Dakota, USA, AFS International Scholarships. She has published papers and lectures in human resources in Brazil (Porto Alegre, Fortaleza and Curitiba), and has been a professor of extension courses at the Universidade Federal do Paraná in this same area.

Aware of the hard work of musicians in Brazil, especially those who died in the prime of their careers, she recognized the need to disclose their fruitful artistic production.

She is responsible for the CD Rodrigo Herrmann Life and Works, https://rodrigo.herrmann.mus.br/ and is involved in the staff of Collegium Cantorum – Curitiba Brazil being responsible for projects approved by Ministério da Cultura and the Municipality of Curitiba: she is one of the directors of Collegium Cantorum since it’s foundation. She is singer in this group and was co-responsible for the viability of: (1) two international presentations of this choir in Germany, in 2005, and in the U.S. in 2012, and (2) the surveys regarding to Brazilian folks, as “Cantos de Trabalho” – Work Songs and “Pastorinhas – Vivência do Folclore Natalino” Little Shepherds – Folklore Christmas Life Experience in Brazil.

She began her musical studies with her father, Rodrigo Herrmann. At the age of 13 she performed her first solo at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Curitiba. She studied with the following singers and conductors: Desta Dini, Idilio Donati, Neide Thomas, Rio Novello (Curitiba), conductor Stanley Rishoi (South Dakota, USA), and has presentations in political events (Watertown, SD, USA) and project "Art in the Park" with conductor Michael Ellingsen and clarinetist Susan Ellingsen, Minnesota, USA, 2009 and 2011. She sang by the direction of Dr. Elaine Brown (founder and director of the Singing City - Philadelphia, USA).