PROGRAM

Zadok the Priest – George Frideric Handel (1685 – 1759)

Magnificat – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)

Intermission

Gloria – Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741)

CHORUS INSPIRA

As the premier symphonic choir in Edmonton, Chorus Inspira believes in the vital importance of great choral music and its power to transform. Engaging new audiences not only in masterworks, but also in newly commissioned works that nurture hope, imagination and understanding for our world.

As an astute and resilient organization, our pursuit of excellence embraces a spirt of collaboration, discovery and growth to promote the advancement of choral music.

Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Shantz, creates a rigorous and rewarding ensemble experience that values each member of our dynamic and diverse group of 100+ singers who share a commitment to mastery of skills and performance.

Always exploring new ways to contribute in the modern context and adapting through strategic partnerships that open opportunities for greater artistic and community impact, we are building on a vibrant legacy of almost 75 years, including 57 years as Richard Eaton Singers.

Performances have included Edmonton premieres of many choral masterpieces such as Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Schubert’s Mass No 5 in A-Flat, Vaughan Williams’s The Sea Symphony, as well as many shorter works for accompanied and unaccompanied choir.

The choir has commissioned and produced premiere performances by Canadian composers, including Allan Bevan’s No Mortal Business and Last Light Above the World, as well as works by John Estacio, Stephanie Martin, Imant Raminsh and Mark Sirett. They have also participated in several ESO premieres of Canadian works, including Malcolm Forsyth’s A Ballad of Canada.

The choir has traveled extensively across Canada, to the Netherlands, Britain, and Germany. They also have participated in choir exchanges, including with the Calgary Philharmonic Choir and Vancouver Bach Choir.

The choir regularly performs with other Edmonton area choirs, most recently with Kappella Kyrie in a fundraiser concert in support of Ukrainian families who relocated to Edmonton during the war.

Often partnering with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the choir has created many memorable choral events in our city, including the performance of Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand to celebrate the opening of the Francis Winspear Centre for Music. In recent years the choir has joined forces with the Alberta Baroque Ensemble to perform a number of masterpieces from the Baroque and Classical periods.

The choir has a history of making wonderful music and looks forward to continuing the exploration of the richness of the human voice, supported by outstanding ensembles. As they continue to build connections, they hope that you will follow the journey and come along for the sonic experience.

GUEST ARTISTS

Ian Bannerman, Tenor

Ian Bannerman is a conductor, vocalist, and teacher based in Edmonton, Alberta. Ian has had the privilege of performing with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, musica intima, Early Music Vancouver, Victoria Symphony, Okanogan Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Opera, Luminous Voices, Pro Coro Canada, and Early Music Alberta. Holding a B. Mus. from The University of British Columbia, and a B. Ed. and M. Mus. from The University of Alberta, Ian currently teaches music at a public middle school, instructs vocal students at Concordia University of Edmonton, and conducts A Joyful Noise Monday Choir.  Passionate about collaborative music making, Ian revels in opportunities to work with vocal ensembles as a conductor, soloist, or ensemble member. Recent highlights include conducting Edmonton Opera’s Singalong Messiah, singing a Palestrina 500 concert with the Schola Cantorum of St Joseph’s Basilica, and playing MacBeth in composer Andrew Creaghan’s MacBeth at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.

Roderick Bryce, Bass

Hailing from Scotland, Roderick was in great demand there as a baritone, teacher, vocal coach and choral director. As a singer he broadcast often on BBC Radio 4 and regularly sang with Cappella Nova, including on their third disc of music by James Macmillan (Linn Records). He has recorded Bach’s Matthäus-Passion (Linn Records), and sung across Scotland, Northern Ireland and France with the Dunedin Consort. He has appeared with Masaaki Suzuki’s Bach Collegium Japan at the Edinburgh International Festival. Roderick was director of the Scottish Chamber Choir; founder and director of Sospiro Baroque and chorus master for the Erskine Stewart’s Melville Choir.

Living now in Edmonton, Roderick is Director of Music at St Joseph’s Cathedral-Basilica, and founder of its professional Schola Cantorum, and Artistic Director and CEO of A Joyful Noise Choir Association.

He appears frequently as a soloist in and around Alberta, especially with Early Music Alberta and has sung with the professional choirs Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton), Voicescapes (Calgary) and Luminous Voices (Calgary), appearing as soloist on the latter’s recording of Mendelssohn’s Te Deum. Recent solo work includes Mozart’s Requiem with Chorale Saint-Jean and Buxtehude Cantatas with Early Music Alberta.

Future engagements include projects with both Early Music Alberta (Bach and Charpentier) and Alberta Baroque Ensemble (Cantata 140: Wachef auf).

OUR TEAM

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Special Thanks

To Paul Schieman and Alberta Baroque Ensemble for the loan of the only oboes d’amore in town for use by the oboists in this concert!