The Elora Singers will wrap up their 2023-24 season with a concert titled Maiden, Mystics, Myths and Memories on May 5. The concert will features both The Elora Singers and Elora Vocal Academy Participants.
The program will include works from a selection of composers from The Elora Singers repertoire, including Arvo Pärt, Reena Esmail, Ēriks Ešenvalds and Eric Whitacre.
“There is so much beautiful music in this program for our season finale!” said Artistic Director Mark Vuorinen in a statement. “Marian motets spanning nearly 500 years, a cappella pieces of poetry by mystical and spiritual poets such as Rumi, Hafez, St Francis of Assisi and St. John of the Cross. We evoke myths and memories in music by James MacMillan, Benjamin Britten, Ešenvalds, Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre. Gorgeous choral music to end our week with our vocal academy participants who will add their voices to the Elora Singers.”
The Elora Singers Vocal Academy
From April 29 to May 5, members of the Vocal Academy undergo six days of intensive training with Mark Vuorinen, Artistic Director of The Elora Singers, Benjamin Butterfield, tenor, Anna Ronai, collaborative pianist and coach, along with members of The Elora Singers.
Vocal Academy participants are: sopranos Anastasia Pogorelova and Alexandra Teske; mezzo sopranos Grace Ronan and Joanna Loepp Thiessen; tenors Joseph Adams and Morgan Ballantyne; basses Drew Aarssen and Benjamin Wallace.
- Soprano Anastasia Pogorelova holds a Master’s degree in voice and opera from the Gnessin State Musical College in Russia, and prior to that, studied music at the G. Vishnevskaya College of Music, aka КМТИ №61.
- Soprano Alexandra Teske is a native of Rosemont, Ontario, who began studying music as a child. She earned a BMus (Hons) in piano, and BEd at the University of Western Ontario, and went on to receive First Class Honours on her ARCT vocal performer’s exam.
- Mezzo-soprano Grace Ronan earned a Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2023, and recently performed at her graduation recital.
- Mezzo-soprano Joanna Loepp Thiessen studied music at Wilfrid Laurier University and Canadian Mennonite University, graduating with Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance in 2022, and serves as the Music & Arts Coordinator for Bethel Mennonite Church.
- Tenor Joseph Adams earned a Master’s of Music degree from the University of Western Ontario, and is known for his high range and coloratura technique. He has performed a variety of roles, and works as a performer and vocal teacher.
- Tenor Morgan Ballantyne recently performed the graduation recital after earning an Opera Diploma from Wilfrid Laurier University. Previously, he studied Vocal Performance at Cambrian College, after years spent singing in youth choirs.
- Bass Drew Aarssen has been playing music and performing since he was a young child, starting with violin. He is a composer as well as a vocalist, graduating from Laurier’s vocal program in 2022.
- Bass Baritone Ben Wallace graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor’s of Music degree, and is currently studying in the Opera Diploma program at the University of Toronto. He works as a conductor and teacher as well as a vocalist.
The May 5 concert takes place at Harcourt Memorial United Church in Guelph. Details, and tickets, available [HERE].
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