Tempus Choral Society will present a spring concert titled When You’re Smilin’ as a celebratory farewell for the Oakville organization’s founder and director Brian Turnbull. There will be two performances of the program on May 1 and 2 at Knox Presbyterian Church.
It marks the final performances for Turnbull, the founder and long time music director, who will be retiring following the concert.
“It has been the privilege of my life to bring joyful, uplifting music to Oakville audiences,” says Brian Turnbull in a statement. “This choir has always embraced the idea that music should make people feel connected — to each other, to their community, and to something larger than themselves.”
Brian Turnbull
Brian Turnbull earned his ARCT designation in piano studied while he was still in high school. He went on to study organ at the University of Toronto, and also studied both organ and choral skills at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. He received his Bachelor’s of Music, along with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto.
He is the Director of Music at Knox Presbyterian Church in Oakville, where he directs the Chanel Choir along with a children’s choir.
He led the Tempus Choral Society for more than two decades. The ensemble is characterized by his eclectic approach to programming. Under his leadership, the choir’s repertoire has grown to include classical masterworks, jazz standards, Broadway favourites, gospel, folk traditions, and contemporary Canadian compositions.
Brian has worked with singers of all ages and backgrounds, and developed a welcoming environment with a community spirit.
“I am deeply grateful for every singer who has walked through our doors, every audience member who has shared an evening with us, and every moment of music-making we’ve created together,” Brian reflects. “This final concert is a celebration — not of an ending, but of everything we’ve built as a community.”
About the Concert
Turnbull prepared a series of questions and answers that dive deeper into the concert and program.
What inspired the theme When You’re Smilin’ and how did that idea shape the overall emotional and musical arc of the concert?
The inspiration came from a simple truth I’ve seen again and again in rehearsal: when people sing together, something in them lifts. Even on the toughest days, the room brightens. I wanted a concert that captured that feeling — the way music can shift a mood, open a heart, and remind us of the joy we create when we share our voices. When You’re Smilin’ isn’t just the title of our opening piece; it’s a reflection of what choral singing does for our singers and our audience.
How did you approach selecting repertoire that balances familiar, beloved melodies with newer or unexpected pieces while still keeping a cohesive program?
The repertoire is upbeat, rhythmic, and full of colour — the kind of music that invites singers to lean in, listen to one another, and really enjoy the moment. It’s also a program that celebrates connection and the joy of being alive. The jazz charts can be more challenging so singers have to work on scat and less familiar intervals However, many of our singers have been with Tempus for years, and they do enjoy singing returning to our best-loved melodies again. The program is all feel good music!
What has been the most surprising or joyful moment in preparing for this concert so far?
No matter how tough a Tuesday has been, spreading joy with uplifting music makes every practice special. We leave with smiles.
If this concert had a colour or visual aesthetic, what would it be and why?
This particular concert is bright, perhaps red! I think of the French Quarter of New Orleans with its kaleidoscope of people, brilliant colours and festive decorations.
Event Details
Turnbull offers a message for the community on the occasion of his final concert as head of Tempus.
“This final concert isn’t a goodbye to music, it’s a thank you. A thank you to every singer that trusted me, every audience member who believed in us, and every moment when the room filled with stellar sound and I thought: “Yes, this is why we do it.” There is the added satisfaction of having given this joy to the Oakville community through special multi-choir concerts, carolling downtown and in Bronte, and at retirement homes. Tempus has been a huge part of my life’s work, and conducting this last program feels less like an ending and more like handing a beloved instrument to the next set of hands.”
When You’re Smilin’ — Tempus Choral Society Spring Concert takes place May 1 and 2 at Knox Presbyterian Church (89 Dunn Street, Oakville).
- Find tickets and concert details [HERE].
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