THE NATHANIEL DETT CHORALE AND THE ELMER ISELER SINGERS
Two of Canada’s finest choirs join together for the first time to present a celebration of black and white spirituals of North America. Forty professional singers make a joyful noise in such beloved songs as Deep River, Going Home and, of course, Amazing Grace.
The Elmer Iseler Singers was founded in 1979 by Dr. Elmer Iseler, the dean of Canadian choral conductors, and is now conducted by Lydia Adams.
The Elmer Iseler Singers, conducted by Artistic Director Lydia Adams, is a twenty-voice professional chamber choir based in Toronto, Canada. Founded by the late Dr. Elmer Iseler in 1979, the Elmer Iseler Singers are one of Canada’s most illustrious professional choral ensembles.
The choir has built an enviable international reputation through its concerts, broadcasts and recordings throughout Canada, the United States and on the international concert stage. Known for the unique beauty of their sound, the Elmer Iseler Singers bring to life exciting repertoire that spans 500 years of great choral music.
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, dedicated to the performance of Afrocentric choral music, was founded in 1997 by Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada’s first professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues. The 21 classically trained outstanding vocalists of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale have shared the stage with internationally recognized artists such as Juno Award-winning jazz pianist Joe Sealy, singers Molly Johnson and Jackie Richardson, and opera star Kathleen Battle and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble has performed for such luminaries as opera singer Jessye Norman and Dance Theatre of Harlem founder Arthur Mitchell. The Chorale has performed at events honouring world leaders Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, personality Muhammad Ali, and pianist Oscar Peterson and was the only Canadian ensemble invited to perform as part of the celebrations surrounding the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama in January of 2009.
The multi-faceted vocalists of the Chorale, whose talent stretches beyond the traditional expectations of a classical chamber choir, seek to broaden their vision to include all styles and genres of music, from classical to jazz, folk, blues and popular music, as appropriate to the traditions of the African Diaspora.
Saturday, March 2, 2013 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets:
Platinum $45.00
Gold $35.00
Silver $25.00
Student $15.00