Noel Edison

Noel Edison is well established as one of the most versatile and charismatic conductors in the world today. As conductor and artistic director of two world-class Canadian ensembles, the large-scale Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC) and the chamber-sized Elora Festival Singers, Mr. Edison is widely recognized and appreciated for his skillful interpretive blending of rigorous musical purity together with warm emotional content. In addition to full seasons with the TMC and the Elora Festival Singers, he is in demand for guest engagements with such orchestras as the Winnipeg Symphony, Toronto Symphony and Symphony Nova Scotia. His recording on the Naxos label, featuring the choral music of Eric Whitacre, has just been nominated for a Grammy.

Morna Edmundson

Morna Edmundson is one of Canada's best-known choral conductors, with special interests in the areas of tone colour, language, and interpretation. As a conductor, singer, and administrator, her professional music career spans over twenty-five years, including eight years as a professional singer in the Vancouver Chamber Choir. Ms. Edmundson is best known for her 22 years of accomplishment as Co-Founder and Co-Conductor of Elektra's Women's Choir, with which she has received numerous honours and awards. At the end of the 2008/2009 season, Morna was appointed Artistic Director of Elektra at the same time as her long-time colleague Diane Loomer, C.M. stepped into the Conductor Emeritus role.

Stephen Hatfield

Stephen Hatfield is a resident of Vancouver Island, where he composes for the theatre * Has taught band, chorus, stage band, vocal jazz, guitar, keyboard, steel drum and music appreciation, as well as university English and graduate courses in teaching techniques * Noted for his exciting arrangements of world music, and for his original works which weave influences from diverse cultures into a fresh and distinctive idiom * His choirs have earned gold medals in national festivals, and he has received various awards for his work in education, music and poetry, including the Governor General's Gold Medal * Often featured as a guest conductor and workshop leader throughout the world.

Elmer Iseler

n a career that spanned five decades, Elmer Iseler, the Dean of Canadian Choral Conductors, was pivotal to the development of choral music in Canada. After founding the Festival Singers in 1954, Canada's first professional choir, he became Artistic Director and Conductor of the 180-voice Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for 33 years. In 1979 he established Canada's leading chamber choir, the 20-voice Elmer Iseler Singers. He also enjoyed a long association with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducting over 150 performances of Handel's Messiah, and often premiering complex twentieth century music. Under his baton, Dr. Iseler's choirs achieved international stature for their technical brilliance and artistic versatility. He has, in the estimation of many of his peers in Canada and abroad, created a vibrant world class choral infrastructure in Canada.

Diane Loomer

Diane Loomer, C.M., is founder and conductor of Chor Leoni Men's Choir and co-founder and co-conductor of Elektra Women's Choir; she has taught on the music faculty at the University of British Columbia. Both her men's and women's choirs have repeatedly won first prizes in national and international competitions. Her choral compositions have been published and recorded internationally, and she frequently appears on CBC national radio as a spokesperson for the classical arts.

The first woman to conduct the National Youth Choir of Canada, Diane received the Healey Willan award in 1990 for her service to choral music in British Columbia; in 1994, she was named YWCA of Vancouver's Woman of Distinction in Arts and Culture; and in 1997 and 2004 received Distinguished Alumni Awards honouring her achievements in choral music. In 2002 she received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for her significant contribution to Canada's culture.

Elaine Quilichini

Elaine Quilichini is recognized internationally for her exceptional musicianship and distinguished work. As a Master of Music (Kodaly), she has served as a clinician, lecturer, adjudicator and guest conductor across Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan, Argentina and the Canary Islands.

In 1995, Ms. Quilichini founded the Calgary Girls Choir, and with her vision and passion has built it into one of the most celebrated choirs in the world. Ms. Quilichini conducted the University of Calgary Women's Choir for over ten years and continues to lead an active music studio. A notable indication of Ms. Quilichini's stature in the choral community is her successful choral series published by Alliance Music Publishing, Houston, Texas.

A recipient of the Alberta Choral Federation's 'con spirito' award for her contributions to the choral arts. In 2003 Ms. Quilichini made her debut as maestro at Carnegie Hall with the Calgary Girls Choir directing the choral concert A Tribute to Peace and Freedom.

Nancy Telfer

Nancy Telfer is a Canadian composer who has been a choral clinician and guest conductor for many provincial, national, and state organizations throughout Canada and the United States. For many years she has presented workshops on vocal production to both choral conductors and singers.

Since 1979 Telfer has composed over 300 works for choirs, soloists, chamber ensembles, orchestras, bands, and pianists; many of which are published in Canada and the United States. Her music ranges from beginning to virtuoso levels and she has been commissioned to compose music for many fine performers. She believes that all music should delight the ears, capture the imagination of the mind, and feed the soul. Successful Sight-Singing, Books 1 & 2 and Successful Warmups, Books 1 & 2 (published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company), her reputable method books for singers, choirs, and vocal classes, provide innovative systematic teaching materials for sight-singing and every aspect of good vocal production. Her more recent publications, Singing In Tune and Singing High Pitches with Ease, focus on strategies and solutions for conductors, conductors-in-training, and voice teachers. Nancy Telfer's newest book, Successful Performing, focuses on ideas to ensure an outstanding choral performance.

Jon Washburn

Jon Washburn is the Conductor and Artistic Director of Canada's outstanding professional vocal ensemble, the Vancouver Chamber Choir. Well known internationally for his mastery of choral technique and interpretation, Washburn travels widely as guest conductor, lecturer, clinician, and master teacher. In addition to Canada and the United States, he has performed in Russia, Finland, Estonia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil.

Washburn's early musical experience was wide-ranging and eclectic. As a teenager, he was a jazz bass player and band leader. At university, he became heavily involved in musical theatre, specifically acting, singing, conducting, and stage directing. He earned a choral conducting degree at the University of Illinois and proceeded to pursue musicological studies at Northwestern and the University of British Columbia.

Brenda Zadorsky

Brenda Zadorsky (B.Mus. Hons, B.Ed W.C.A.M.) is a highly sought after voice teacher, clinician, adjudicator and soprano soloist. She co-founded the Amabile Youth Singers in 1985 and has won numerous honours for her artistic leadership. She has acted as a clinician and adjudicator at several national and international conferences over the years and has been a guest conductor for numerous choral organizations. Her extensive career as a music consultant and teacher with the Thames Valley District Board of Education spanned some 30 years before her retirement in June 2009. Prior to that, Brenda was choral director at the St. Mary Choir and Orchestra School and she also taught music education methodology for the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Music where she was awarded several certificates for outstanding teaching. Brenda received the Don Wright Scholarship for Vocal Music, and in 2002, she was presented with the Canadian Learning Tree Award. She is principal of the Zadorsky School of Music and over the years, her students have consistently won major scholarships at festivals as well as entrance scholarships into universities and have continued with performing careers in Canada and abroad.