2026 Instructors
Festival of Voices 2026 is thrilled to welcome the exquisitely talented instructors Karla Mundy and Emily Villavicencio!
Karla Mundy
Karla Mundy is a vibrant, soulful and diverse vocalist, pianist, arranger and choir leader. Karla directs Rhythm ‘n’ Roots and the City Soul Choir in Vancouver. Karla leads harmony singing workshops throughout BC and organizes many singing camps, workshops and singing study trips abroad. She is a founding member of the No Sh!t Shirleys, TriVo, Cleia, Plough, Tanglewood Trio and Big Whoop! Karla is also the founding director of SongRoots and has been running SongRoots Summer camp since 2014. As well, she designs and leads singing study programs internationally and so far she has led groups to Corsica, South Africa, Mexico, Cuba, New Orleans, North Carolina, Georgia and France. Karla is passionate about teaching harmony singing, getting the music off the page and digging deep into new musical territory.
Emily Villavicencio
Emily Villavicencio is a sought-after vocalist, songwriter, arranger, music leader, music educator and multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, banjo, percussion) who makes her home on the the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) & səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). Current musical projects include exploring bluegrass, jazz, French Canadiana and more with The Tanglewood Trio, and arranging and performing Eastern European and Balkan vocal music with trio Vostok. Emily performed for several years with indie folk-soul group Likewise on vocals and percussion, and was also a frequent soloist with the Universal Gospel Choir. She has performed at the Railway Club, Chan Centre, and St. James Hall with the Rogue Folk Club – Vancouver’s best music scene!
Workshop Structure
- All participants attend the Core Workshops and Mass Choir Rehearsals.
- Participants also choose ONE Elective Intensive – you will note your first choice during registration.
- We will do our best to give everyone their first choice, if space is available. Otherwise, you will be in the alternate Elective.
Core Workshops (All Participants Attend Both)
European Sampler – Karla Mundy
In this class we will sample some of the beautiful and unique styles of harmony singing from Croatia, Georgia, Bulgaria and Corsica. We will stretch our harmonic ears and delight in the magic of a good drone!
Let’s Groove! – Emily Villavicencio
Rhythm is everywhere – let’s dig in! We will learn songs with interlocking parts that are so satisfying to sing. We’ll also work on embodying the underlying pulse in the music we make, as well as trying out some tips and tricks to be precise with syncopation and complex rhythms. We’ll play with groove, feel, beat, pulse, meter, tempo, and accent. We’ll touch on some theory, but will mostly focus on having fun while singing and moving!
Elective Small-Group Intensives (Choose One)
Duets – Karla Mundy
Duets – dynamic, flexible, intimate and joyous! We will explore how to meld our voices with another singer, how to sing in a way that is responsive, attentive and playful. No need to come with a singing partner – we will learn the music by ear, as a group and there will be opportunities to split into smaller groups and we have a great time doing it! Repertoire will be in English and based on folky/traditional styles.
Vocal Improv – Emily Villavicencio
The voice is an instrument, so let’s play! Through exercises, games, and songs, we’ll explore some of the endless possibilities of vocal improv in a safe and fun space. We’ll take on different roles like melody, harmony, bass, and percussion. Our bodies will get involved, and maybe you’ll take a turn at leading the group. We’ll learn some of the symbol vocabulary of the Sound Painting live composing approach. Of course, this is an improv class, so that’s just Plan A!
