Dr. John Holland has been named as the new Artistic Director of Toronto Classical Singers. He takes over from Jurgen Petrenko, who announced his departure from the post after three decades earlier this year.
Holland talks about the new appointment in a social media post.
“I am so excited to be named as the new Artistic Director and Conductor! It is an honour to succeed Jurgen Petrenko, and his over 30-year legacy with the choir, and I am excited to usher in a new era of choral excellence for the Toronto Classical Singers.”
Holland will be making his first appearance as AD of the choir on July 28 at a workshop reading of JS Bach’s Magnificat. Anyone who loves to sing can join the workshop at Christ Church Deer Park, (1570 Yonge Street in Toronto) by RSVPing here.
John will be leading the Toronto Classical Singers for a 2025/26 season that includes Magnificats in D by J.S. Bach, C.P.E Bach, and Zelenka on December 7, 2025, and Mozart’s Vespers K. 339, Dvořák’s Mass in D, Psalm 149 on Aril 19, 2026.
Dr. John Holland
Musicologist, opera singer, conductor and educator Dr. John Holland earned a B.Mus, Art.Dip, and M.Mus, followed by a PhD in Musicology at York University. His PhD work largely centred around Czech opera, and in 2013, he founded The Canadian Institute for Czech Music to promote both performance and research. In 2024, CICM celebrated the Year of Czech Music with a festival of three operas that were presented throughout the year.
As a vocalist, he’s performed in operas, oratorio and art song, and won a JUNO award as a member of the Ottawa Bach Choir in 2020. He’s sung the role of Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Leporello and Masetto in Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in Prague, Vodník in Rusalka in the Czech Republic, among his wide ranging performance credits.
As a conductor, he’s served as conductor and course director for the York University Chamber Choir and Concert Choir, and as music director at Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Parish in North York, Toronto. Other conducting engagements include assistant conductor of the Ontario Youth Choir, and various choral ensembles at York University, working with Dr. Lisette Canton.
John maintains a private voice studio of university-level and emerging professional singers.
Best of luck to Holland and TCS on launching their new era in 2025/26.
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