Calgary Women's Chorus - Calgary

Cody Obst, pianist, conductor, vocal coach, and organist has dedicated his life to sharing the joy of music with everyone he meets. His remarkable technical ability, depth of musical expression, and engaging stage presence are known to transport and delight listeners from all walks of life. An advocate of arts accessibility for all, Mr. Obst has given well over 2,000 public presentations as soloist, accompanist, and conductor from tiny churches in rural Saskatchewan to huge concert halls in Japan.

In addition to being the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Calgary Women's Chorus, Cody is Accompanist and Assistant Conductor of The Festival Chorus. He has worked with many different choirs including the Calgary Multicultural Choir, Calgary Bach Choir, Savridi Singers, Firebird Chamber Singers, Calgary Children’s Choir, Calgary Youth Choir, University of Calgary Chamber Choir, Calgary Choir for Peace, and the Centennial Singers (in addition to many church and school choirs.) Cody has participated in choral intensives with the Vancouver Chamber Choir and the University of Michigan, and attended invaluable clinics through World Choral Symposiums in both Copenhagen and Seoul, the Sacred Summer Music Conference in Norfolk (Virginia), Choir Alberta, and the Edmonton International Choral Festival. He has created and delivered special choral programs for both the Calgary Board of Education and Alberta First Nation Communities.

Cody Obst holds Bachelor of Music and Education degrees from Brandon University (where he received the Silver Medal for best student in the program) and a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Calgary. He has competed in local, provincial, and national piano competitions and has won the Manitoba provincial championship in Senior Piano, was a finalist in the Saskatchewan Concerto Competition, and has competed in two national piano competitions: the National Music Festival and the Canadian Registered Music Teachers National Piano Competition. He is a Prizewinner in the Snjolaug Sigurdson Piano Competition. Cody has participated in two International Festivals: the Académie Internationale "Barbara Krakauer" in France and three times in the Mountain View International Festival of Song in Calgary. Currently, Cody performs with pop vocalist, Michael Hope, and appears on a CD with him titled, “Hallelujah,” which was nominated for “Inspirational Album of the Year” by the Gospel Music Association of Canada. He frequently concertizes with opera singer, Krista de Silva. This season he will also present a Cafe Concert music series in Calgary. He regularly works with pianists, choirs, and singers of all ages through private teaching, public clinics, adjudications, and workshops.

Cody values all of the arts and believes that they are life-enriching in ways that aren't always recognized by today's society. He frequents concerts of many different musical genres and also loves the theatre, ballet, contemporary dance, and the visual arts. In the rare time he isn't making music, you can find him enjoying cooking, at the movies, reading, eating at a new restaurant, or curling. Feel free to stay in contact by adding him on Facebook or Instagram!