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Tag: Eleanor Daley

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Order of Canada Appointments!

Order of Canada medals (photo: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall)

Dear Friends – it is with enormous pleasure that we congratulate three of our treasured choral friends on their appointment to the Order of Canada.

We are thrilled to congratulate Toronto composer Eleanor Daley on her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada. Eleanor is honoured for her many contributions to Canadian music and to choral culture throughout Canada and internationally. The Elmer Iseler Singers have had a long-standing connection with Eleanor, and have championed her music in our Toronto concerts, on Tour throughout Canada, and through recordings.

Eleanor Joanne Daley, O.C.

We are also so happy to congratulate Kingston composer Mark Sirett on his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada. The Elmer Iseler Singers have presented Mark’s music on our Toronto series and on Tour throughout Canada, and we are thrilled that he has been granted this great honour for his contributions to Canadian choral music.

Mark Geoffrey Sirett, C.M.

The Elmer Iseler Singers also celebrate with St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador conductor Douglas Dunsmore for his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada. Douglas has been awarded this prestigious award for his significant contributions as a conductor and music educator and for his significant contributions to prominent provincial and national music organizations. On a personal note, Douglas has been a life-long colleague and has hosted the choir on tour in St. John’s many many times through his university and community connections.

Douglas Allen Dunsmore, C.M.

Eleanor, Mark and Douglas will be presented with their insignia at a future investiture ceremony (date to be determined).

The Order of Canada was created in 1967, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to honour people whose service shapes our society, whose innovations ignite our imaginations, and whose compassion unites our communities.

“The Order of Canada celebrates the lives, endeavours and successes of people from coast to coast to coast and from all walks of life. Those being appointed today come from a variety of sectors, have achieved national and international success, and have shown ingenuity, innovation and generosity. What’s more, they have made a difference in their communities and for Canada with their outstanding dedication and commitment. Congratulations to the new Order of Canada appointees, as well as those celebrating a promotion within the Order.” – Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada

Congratulations to Eleanor, Mark and Douglas!
The Elmer Iseler Singers and conductor Lydia Adams celebrate with you!!

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Paradise: A Song of Georgian Bay

Flowerpot Island, Georgian Bay by Julie Daoust

A Summertime Message from Lydia Adams and musical gift from the Elmer Iseler Singers

Lydia Adams, Parry Sound, Ontario
Lydia Adams (photo: Mark Rash)

Dear Friends of the Elmer Iseler Singers,

It’s the end of July, and the summer heat, thunderstorms and evening breezes are here reminding us that the world is continuing its regular cycle, no matter what else is happening on this planet.

Friday, July 31st,  we would have been with our long-time friends and colleagues at the Festival of the Sound, making music in the friendly surroundings of the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Arts in Parry Sound, Ontario, watching the many boats cruising in the largest freshwater archipelago in the world.

The Elmer Iseler Singers have been guests of the Festival of the Sound since its inception, and we share our anniversary with the Festival – 41 years!

What a great partnership this continues to be, and we want to celebrate the Festival of the Sound, on Sabbatical this year, and Artistic Director James Campbell, to say:

“We miss you, too!“

We look forward to singing with you next summer and we have July 16th, 2021 marked in our calendar for your Gala Opening!

To celebrate today, we are offering you, our wonderful supporters, a musical gift commissioned by the Festival of the Sound and written especially for the Elmer Iseler Singers. Paradise: A Song of Georgian Bay by Parry Sound composer Eleanor Daley on a text by Parry Sound poet Eleanor Hunter, describes the heart and soul of the ancient and iconic Canadian Shield amidst the intense beauty of Georgian Bay. The music is accompanied by the stunning photography of Mark Rash, photographer for the Festival of the Sound; singers of the Elmer Iseler Singers, and one special photograph by Dr. Dan Daley.

We wish for you all, wherever you are, good health and peace.

Lydia Adams
Artistic Director
Elmer Iseler Singers

Summer festival musical gift from the Elmer Iseler Singers

Paradise: A Song of Georgian Bay by Eleanor Daley. The Elmer Iseler Singers, Lydia Adams, conductor and Shawn Grenke, piano. From the album: Elmer Iseler Singers Greatest Hits, Vol. 1.

Paradise: A Song of Georgian Bay by Eleanor Hunter (adapted Eleanor Daley)

A song is born in Georgian Bay,
where the rolling breakers roar
on the reefs that were laid in an ancient day,
and the song begins to soar,
when the tune is tossed to the waiting breeze
that flings it to the skies,
then down to the island’s pine trees
to add to their lullabies.

Paradise, this our paradise.

The waters give to the rocky shore,
and the shore gives to the land,
in the crashing surf that evermore
carves its beach of curving sand,
and each of them offers their sound to the song
as on to us it flies,
the lone loons call,
and the seagulls scream their wild and haunting calls.

Paradise, this our paradise.