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Tag: Shawn Grenke

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Honouring Leon Dubinsky (1941-2023)

Dear Friends – The Elmer Iseler Singers and conductor Lydia Adams join with people the world over in paying tribute to songwriter Leon Dubinsky, who died in Cape Breton on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023.

Leon Dubinsky is perhaps best known as the writer of the iconic song, ‘We Rise Again’, synonymous with the resilience of the people of Cape Breton Island to face life’s difficulties and loss. ‘We Rise Again’ touches a universal chord in people’s hearts, and has inspired generations of people worldwide to keep moving forward and to stay strong in spite of hardships and challenges. It is an uplifting work that gives people hope for the future. The Elmer Iseler Singers have been honoured to sing ‘We Rise Again’ in every part of Canada where we have toured: East, West and North. Leon’s words and music have brought inspiration, hope and light to many thousands of audience members and singers around the world.

The Elmer Iseler Singers send our deepest condolences to Leon’s family and his many, many friends and colleagues.

Thank you, Leon. We are forever grateful.


The Elmer Iseler Singers, conductor Lydia Adams and pianist Shawn Grenke are joined by choirs from across Canada singing ‘We Rise Again’ to pay tribute to our friend, Leon Dubinsky.

Joining the EIS are:

  • Whitehorse Community Choir (Barbara Chamberlin, conductor)
  • Thunder Bay Symphony Chorus (Maria Fuller, conductor)
  • Wiarton Concert Choir (Marla Spencer, conductor)
  • Agincourt Madrigal Singers, Toronto (James Pinhorn, conductor)
  • Cape Breton Chorale (Ryan Billington, conductor)
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This Friday – Handel’s Messiah

Conductor Lydia Adams invites you to join the Elmer Iseler Singers and special guest artists VIVA Chamber Singers, soprano Meredith Hall, mezzo-soprano Andrea Ludwig, tenor Owen McCausland and bass Jorell Williams with orchestra, as we sing the brilliant and timeless masterpiece by George Frederick Handel, Messiah – this coming Friday, December 9th at 7:30 p.m. at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto, 1585 Yonge Street (north of St. Clair). Don’t miss this night to remember!

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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.

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Song for Canada

Canada Flag by Lydia Adams

Lydia Adams sends Canada Day greetings and an interview with composer, Paul Halley

Canada Day musical gift from the Elmer Iseler Singers

Song for Canada by Paul Halley. The Elmer Iseler Singers, Lydia Adams, conductor and Shawn Grenke, piano. From the album: Elmer Iseler Singers Greatest Hits, Vol. 1.

Song for Canada by Paul Halley

Sing!                                                                                             

Sing a new song,
Sing loud and strong,
Sing of this land of our hopes and our dreams.
Rich harmonies of races and creeds
Join in the chorus from sea unto sea:
Where the whale’s ancient lullaby

Meets the song of the wind in the whisp’ring pines,
All our voices come together, always singing,
“Land of tomorrow, your time has come.”

Oui!

Qu’un nouveau chant
Dise à présent
Un voeu d’accord qui doit remplir nos cooers.
Peuples divers touchant les deus mers,
Heureux voisins, ne formez qu’un seul choeur
Pour mélanger tous vos accents
Aux refrains des cognées dansant sous les vents.
Que nos voix ensemble chantent et rechantent,
“Oui – Bel aujourd’hui
Vois mon pays.”

Sing!

Sing of new birth,
Sing of the earth,
Sing of great mountains that reach for the sky.
Proud cities swell,
Vast plains do tell
Of the promise and hope for the future that lies
In the loon’s timeless melody,
In the cry of an eagle that’s soaring free.
All our voices come together, singing
“Land of tomorrow, your time has come.”

English words by Paul Halley
French words by Anton Raphael Boldaire

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Song for the Mira

The Toronto Hunt Club, 2018 by Jessie Iseler Bride

A message from Lydia Adams

Song For The Mira by Allister MacGillivray, arr. Stuart Calvert. The Elmer Iseler Singers, Lydia Adams, conductor with soloist Nelson Lohnes; Shawn Grenke, piano; Clare Scholtz, oboe. From the album: Elmer Iseler Singers Greatest Hits, Vol. 1.