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| | Choir Profile
Based in Toronto, the Elmer Iseler Singers is considered to be Canada's foremost professional chamber choir with an enviable international reputation since its debut performance in 1979. Now conducted by Dr. Lydia Adams, the group was founded by and nurtured under the direction of the late Dr. Elmer Iseler, the "Dean of Canadian Choral Conductors."
The Elmer Iseler Singers organization is celebrating its 30th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of Lydia Adams as Artistic Director and Conductor in 2008 and 2009. This 20 voiced-fully professional choir has performed throughout Canada and the United States as well as internationally. With repertoire that spans 500 years of choral music, the Elmer Iseler Singers are known for their beauty of tone and wide interpretive range. The choir regularly commissions and performs new works, and is frequently involved in radio and television broadcasts and a variety of recording projects. The Elmer Iseler Singers have appeared at several national and international festivals, including the Canada in Holland Festival, the Joy of Singing International Choral Festival in Toronto, Festival 500 in Newfoundland, International Choral Kathaumixw in British Columbia, Colours of Music Fall Festival in Barrie, Chamberfest in Ottawa, the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis, the Toronto International Bach Festival. In March of 2007, the choir appeared at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Miami, USA representing Canada and 8 Canadian composers in 3 showcases for 5,000 international delegates.
The Singers are highly valued for their contributions to master classes and workshops for schools and community choirs. For 10 years from 1997 to 2007 the Elmer Iseler Singers was the professional Choir-In-Residence at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, through the Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting under the baton of Dr. Doreen Rao. Currently the Elmer Iseler Singers GET MUSIC! Educational Outreach Initiative in Memory of John C. Bird involves secondary schools and the local school boards as participants. It expands on the history of the Elmer Iseler Singers workshops with the expertise, unique approach and dedication of the now vibrant and inspiring Lydia Adams - clinician/conductor of GET MUSIC! together with the high digital recording hands-on student mentorship of professional recording engineers.
The Legacy of the Elmer Iseler Singers has set standards for all choirs. For 30 years the organization has been a leader, in Canada and internationally, of excellence in choral singing, in creation and performance of new works and has led the way in touring, broadcasting, recording and performing throughout the small and large centers of Ontario, Canada and U.S. They believe passionately that when they bring a programme to audiences in different regions, they will touch their lives in a meaningful way.
The Elmer Iseler Singers has recorded extensively and 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.
Currently the choir self presents a 5 concert series in Toronto, mounts 40-60 other engagements annually through collaborations, networking and cross-promoting with Toronto, regional and national arts groups.
Stay tuned for details of our 2010/11 Season - coming soon! This page was last edited
May 7, 2010
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