Elora Festival Singers - Celebrating the Music of J.S. Bach
March 11, 2010 // Toronto, ON – The internationally-acclaimed ELORA FESTIVAL SINGERS, led by founding conductor-artistic director Noel Edison and featuring Michael Bloss at the organ, present a program of glorious choral and organ masterworks by Johann Sebastian Bach on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 12 Noon. The performance is part of Roy Thomson Hall’s Free Noon Hour Choir & Organ Concerts, an annual four-concert series devoted to the artistry of outstanding Canadian choirs and organists.
The popular noon-time series, now celebrating its 13th season, spotlights Roy Thomson Hall’s magnificent four-manual Gabriel Kney Pipe Organ, one of the largest mechanical-action instruments in Canada. The free concert series is made possible with the continuing generous support of the Edwards Charitable Foundation.
The All-Bach Program features adored choral treasures including choruses from Mass in B minor; St. John Passion, Cantata No. 140, Motets Nos. 3 and 6, and the much-loved Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. Michael Bloss performs several solos, including Bach’s most famous masterpiece for the organ, Toccata and Fugue in D minor.
Recognized as one of the world’s finest professional chamber choirs, the Elora Festival Singers was founded in 1980 by Noel Edison to be the principal choral ensemble of the Elora Festival where it is the choir-in residence for four weeks every summer. Since 1997, the choir has also been the professional core of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Toronto Mendelssohn Singers. Through regular concert series, recordings, broadcasts, and touring, the Elora Festival Singers has contributed to the musical life, not only of the community, but internationally. The choir is known for its diverse styles, from early music to spirituals to contemporary, for its commitment to Canadian repertoire, and for its collaboration with other Canadian artists. The choir has released 12 CDs on the NAXOS label.
Noel Edison is conductor and artistic director of two world-class Canadian choral ensembles, the large-scale Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the chamber-sized Elora Festival Singers. Maestro Edison completed his formal education with a music degree at Wilfrid Laurier University, and also studied with such leading musicians as Victor Martens, Helmuth Rilling, Sir David Willcocks, Wayne Riddell, as well as the late Robert Shaw. In 1979 he co-founded the Elora Festival and, a year later, the Elora Festival Singers as its choir-in-residence and since 1984 has served as Artistic Director of the Elora Festival and Singers. He is also Organist and Choirmaster of Church of St. John the Evangelist in Elora. In 2009, Noel Edison was awarded the Order of Ontario.
Since April 2007, Michael Bloss has served as Director of Music Ministry at Dublin Street United Church in Guelph where he continues a distinguished tradition of pastoral music ministry which over 30 years has included Toronto tenures at the Cathedral Church of St. James and Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. An international prize-winner, his solo career has included performances in Europe, Japan, and throughout Canada and the USA. He is increasingly in demand as adjudicator and clinician in organ, piano and choral music at festivals and workshops across the country. Michael Bloss also indulges in his other passion of aviation through his work as a flight instructor and pilot at Toronto Airways, Buttonville Municipal Airport.
Concluding Concert of Roy Thomson Hall’s 2009/2010 Free Noon Hour Choir & Organ Series:
► Wed April 7, 12 Noon: The Choirs of VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto; Carol & Brad Ratzlaff, conductors; Michael Bloss, organ
For additional information and for high-resolution photographs, biographies or for any specific requirements, please contact:
The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall
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Stephen McGrath 3/12/2010 |
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