Lydia Adams, one of Canada’s most distinguished conductors, is currently Conductor and Artistic Director of the Elmer Iseler Singers and the Amadeus Choir of Toronto. She is a native of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, received her musical education at Mount Allison University, New Brunswick, Canada and at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio, London, England. While in England, she worked and performed with many leading conductors, composers and arrangers including Sir David Willcocks, Sir Neville Marriner, John Rutter, Bob Chilcott, Tonϋ Kaluste among others. In 1981, Ms. Adams became the pianist of the Elmer Iseler Singers, a fully professional chamber choir based in Toronto, and worked with its founder, the late Dr. Elmer Iseler, in that capacity for 17 years. She was appointed Conductor and Artistic Director of the Elmer Iseler Singers in 1998. Under her direction, the Choir has received rave reviews for their Toronto Concert Series and for their extensive touring performances through the US and Canada. Lydia Adams has worked with celebrated Canadian composers such as R. Murray Schafer, Harry Somers, Louis Applebaum, Harry Freedman, Eric Robertson, Bert Carriere, Srul Irving Glick, Christos Hatzis, Ruth Watson Henderson, Eleanor Daley and many others, premiering and promoting their work through concerts, recordings and broadcasts. Lydia Adams has conducted many award winning compact discs with her Toronto choirs and has extensively toured and conducted throughout Canada and the United States. Currently Everlasting Light - choral music of Christos Hatzis, Sing all ye joyful! - works of Ontario composer, Ruth Watson Henderson, as well as Puer Natus in Bethlehem, Alleluia! have all been released by CBC recordings to critical acclaim. Including The Maple Leaf Forever, the People of Faith (Opening Day, 2006 - new release with the Canadian Brass) and the new retrospective CD of Harry Freedman’s Choral Music - The Tokaido (Centrediscs – CMC, 2006), Lydia Adams has recorded eight CD’s of Canadian music in the past eight years with the Elmer Iseler Singers, a remarkable contribution to the music of our country. The Canadian Music Centre recently stated that “Lydia Adams is the new leading exponent of the Canadian choral composer.” Ms. Adams has also conducted several Canadian Provincial Youth Choirs, the National Youth Choir of Canada and has served as a guest conductor with ACDA Honor Choirs in Michigan and Colorado. The recipient of many awards, she has been honoured by the City of Scarborough, the Women’s International Network, the Ontario Choral Federation and Mount Allison University. In 2003, Ms. Adams received an Honorary Doctorate from Mount Allison University for her service to music in Canada. Lydia Adams continues to pioneer and forge new roads into the endless possibilities of the Choral Art form, especially in context to and in representation of Canadian Choral Music. The choir has had a profound impact on the international artistic field, with a discography of over 50 recordings. This has been the backbone of repertoire development for conductors and choirs throughout Ontario, Canada and worldwide. Since becoming Artistic Director of The Elmer Iseler Singers 9 years ago, Lydia Adams has premiered well over 30 new works with the choir. She has a thorough knowledge of the choral repertoire and keeps in touch closely with new works from composers around the world. As conductor of the Elmer Iseler Singers and the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto, she has conducted on 3 Juno-nominated CD’s and is known as a great collaborator and colleague. Her extraordinary musicianship and exceptional spirit make her the most ideal Artistic Director and Conductor of the Elmer Iseler Singers with outstanding professionalism and vision. Her expertise, unique approach and dedication position her as a vibrant and inspiring clinician/conductor in our new GET MUSIC! Educational Outreach Initiative. E-mail Lydia Adams |
