Published by Communications and Public Affairs 519 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338

News Release

October 20, 2005

U of G Hosts Master Classes for Choral Conductors

The University of Guelph’s School of Fine Art and Music will host its first annual choral conductors’ master classes Oct. 25 to 30. Conductors from across Ontario will participate in intensive rehearsal, discussion and analysis periods, with emphasis on score preparation, choral techniques and conducting.

“There are very few opportunities in Canada for conductors to learn developmental skills,” said Marta McCarthy, director of the U of G Choir and an assistant professor in the School of Fine Art and Music. “It’s a rich and intense program. They’ll be working with the very talented U of G Chamber Singers and Elora Festival Singers, and the musical repertoire is of the highest calibre.”

The workshops will be led by Noel Edison, conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the new 60-voice Mendelssohn Singers. Edison is also the founding conductor of the Elora Festival Singers, organist and choirmaster at Elora’s St. John’s Church and co-founder and artistic director of the Elora Festival. He has received the Ontario Lieutenant-Governor's Award for the Arts and has been recognized by Heritage Canada and the Secretary of State as Canada's leading choral conductor. In 2002, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of music by U of G.

The public is welcome to observe the workshops. The cost is $30 a day for choral professionals and free for U of G students, staff and faculty.

On Oct. 30, Edison, McCarthy and the conductors who have taken part in the five-day session will direct the U of G Chamber Singers and Elora Festival Singers in a selection of choral classics at 4 p.m. at St. George’s Church, located at 99 Woolwich St. Tickets are $25 general and $15 for students and seniors.

For more information, contact McCarthy at (519) 824-4120, Ext. 54377, or mmccarth@uoguelph.ca.