Scott Leithead
Artistic Director
Conductor, Korora, Korus
Conductor Emeritus, Òran
Scott Leithead is the founder and Artistic Director of both Edmonton’s Korora Choir Association and TIME Association. He has been invited to conduct provincial and state honour choirs on twenty-nine occasions and he has presented workshops in North America and beyond. Notable appearances include adjudicating the Tampere International Festival in Finland and conducting the Ellison Canadian Honour Choir nine times since its inception. He has adjudicated both the Choral Canada National Competition for Amateur Canadian Choirs and the Kathaumixw International Choir Festival (2014, 2016, 2023, 2025). Under his direction, Korora was the winner of both the 2015 CBC National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs and both the 2015 and 2016 Canadian National Music Competition. In the summer of 2019, Korora was invited to perform at the IFCM World Choral Expo in Portugal, where they represented Canada on the world stage. Also in 2019, Korora was featured on an episode of CTV's "The Amazing Race Canada”. This season Korora is thrilled to be performing with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in 13 concerts.
Scott has a passion for music from southern Africa, and he has been invited to work with choirs in South Africa and Namibia on numerous occasions. In 2008–2009, Scott was on sabbatical in Namibia, where he worked with the Mascato Youth Choir and many other choirs in southern Africa. Scott’s passion for innovative and unique choral music experiences has shaped the direction of the Korora Choir Association. In February 2023 he conducted the ISSEA Mass Choir in Johannesburg South Africa featuring international schools from across the African continent.
This fall he will conduct the Nova Scotia Youth Choir for the second time in his career. He will also adjudicate Choralfest Manitoba, The Comox Choral Festival, The Ontario Vocal Festival and the Hong Kong International Music Festival this year. Scott will return to conduct the BC Youth Choir for the second time next spring as well at the Ellison Canadian Honour Choir for the tenth time. Both the Ellison Choir and Korora will be traveling to Italy in July 2026 to participate in the Lake Garda Estate International Festival.
Scott is a longtime member of the advisory committee for the Canadian Rocky Mountain Music Festival and the Edmonton and Whistler Cantando Festivals. He has also served on many other community boards and advisory councils
Scott was awarded Choir Alberta’s top honour, the Richard S. Eaton Award, in 2015. He also received Edmonton’s Salute to Excellence award in 2016. He has also been awarded the Syncrude Award for Innovative Direction.