Five emerging conductors heading to Toronto in June to study with conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s annual Choral Conductors’ Symposium (returning after a three-year hiatus) offers an incredible opportunity for emerging conductors from across North America to work with the artistic director of the TMC and the full Choir in a five-day series of workshops and masterclasses. The participating conductors will conduct the 100 voices of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the 20-voice TMC professional core ensemble in rehearsals and in a concluding public performance.

The TMC looks forward to welcoming five conductors in June:

Joshua Boggs, of Emory, Virginia. Joshua is Assistant Professor of Choral and Vocal Studies at Emory & Henry College in Virginia, and Founding Artistic Director of AppOpera.

Ann Chen, of Los Angeles, California. Ann is pursuing a Master of Music degree in choral music at the University of Southern California. Prior to that she taught and conducted in Vancouver, B.C. 

Marcus Desir, of Los Angeles, California. Marcus is the conductor of the recently established Los Angeles-based singing group, De-Nuance, and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in choral music at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

Sarah Maria Leung, of Toronto, Ontario. Sarah is Music Director at the Newman Centre at the University of Toronto, and Assistant Conductor at Pax Christi Chorale and the project-based group Incontra Vocal Ensemble.

Matt Taylor, of Athens, Georgia.  Matt is a DMA student at the University of Georgia, currently pursuing his degree in Choral Conducting on a Hoveland Choral Fellowship.

Throughout the Symposium week these five conductors will be working with artistic director Jean-Sébastien Vallée on repertoire on the theme of Songs of Sanctuary: a musical reflection on the meaning of exile and sanctuary through the works of Caroline Shaw, Paul Hindemith, Roderick Williams, Benjamin Britten, and many others.

The Symposium concludes with a concert on Tuesday, June 28 at 7:30 pm EDT at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. There will be free in-person tickets available and the concert will also be available to stream for free on Vimeo. Visit the concert webpage for more details. 

TMC’s Covid-19 safety protocols include the requirement that all participating conductors must be fully vaccinated before their arrival at the Symposium. Protocols for patrons will be announced closer to the concert.

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