Michael Vincent, Ludwig Van Toronto

Montréal-born conductor Simon Rivard has been appointed Associate Conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.

Simon takes over from David Fallis, who stepped in for a two-year term following the departure of Noel Edison the spring of 2018.

Named as one of CBC’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30”, Rivard was mentored by Valery Gergiev at the Verbier Festival (2018), and served as assistant conductor to Sir Simon Rattle, Gianandrea Noseda, Marc Minkowski, and Gábor Tákacs-Nagy. At the conclusion of the Verbier Festival, he was awarded a Special Prize to help him pursue his mentorship with Gergiev and Noseda. Rivard holds degrees from the Montreal Conservatory of Music and McGill University

He has worked with the Ottawa Choral Society, the Orchestre de la Francophonie, and most recently, he has served as Associate Conductor of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra since 2017. Rivard has been serving as RBC Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra since 2018.

“I fell in love with the sound of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir from the very first moment I heard it,” said Rivard in a press release statement. “I have been fortunate to collaborate with these wonderful artists many times in the past two years and this appointment fills me with delight. Together, we will strive to maintain the highest artistic excellence and adapt our practices to the heightened social awareness of our times. It has already begun!”

The TMC has placed their search for an Artistic Director on hold temporarily due to the pandemic.

The TMC are in the process of programming their 2020/21 season. According to the TMC, programming will begin online with the hope of adding in-person elements as health and safety regulations permit. Full details will be announced later this summer.

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