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Welcome to the official website of the Healey
Willan Singers
The Healey
Willan Singers was founded in 2005 as a tribute to the dean of Canadian
composers, the late Dr. Healey Willan, on the 125th anniversary of his
birth. Initially a mixed chamber choir of young singers, it has now evolved into
an all women’s ensemble open to all singers. However, the choir maintains the
goal of preparing young singers for a musical career, with opportunities for
solo performance and conducting will made available to the choristers. The combination of
more experienced singers with the younger singers will also provide a mentoring
environment that is invaluable for aspiring musicians.
In addition to
the choir’s two concert season, we have also begun the Young Artist in Recital
Series, which features musicians on the verge of their professional career. The
recital will provide an opportunity to hone their skills and a forum for solo
performance experience. The music selection for the choir will be challenging,
with both the standard choral repertoire as well as some lesser known
compositions. Also, the choir will perform in a variety of styles, from medieval
to modern music. Of course, the music of Healey Willan and other great Canadian
composers will be included.
The Healey
Willan Singers rehearses and performs at the Church of St. Martin in-the-fields,
located at 151 Glenlake Avenue, just north of Bloor Street West, and east of
Keele Street (Keele Subway Station). Rehearsals are held on Saturday morning
from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. If you are interested in auditioning for this new
and exciting venture as a singer, or would like to contribute or volunteer to
the organization, please contact us.
Mailing
Address: Healey Willan Singers, 18-93 The Queensway, Toronto, Ontario M6S 5A7
Website:
www.healeywillansingers.com
email: healeywillansingers@yahoo.ca
Telephone:
416-519-0528
Ron
Ka Ming Cheung, Artistic Director/Founder
Ron Cheung
holds a Master's Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Toronto
and Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from McMaster University. An
experienced choral singer, he has performed with the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth
Choir, the Bach- Elgar Choir, the McMaster University Choir, the 1990 National
Youth Choir, and from 1991-1996, he was also a member of the world renowned
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Ron has also served as the tenor section leader with
Westdale United Church Choir in Hamilton, as well as with the Choir of Grace
Church on-the-Hill in Toronto.
In 1996 and
2002 Ron attended master classes with the Vancouver Chamber Choir under the
direction of Maestro Jon Washburn, at the Annual National Conductor's
Symposium. In 1998, Mr. Cheung was selected as a participant in the conducting
master class at the Oregon Bach Festival, under the tutelage of Maestro Helmuth
Rilling. In 2001, Ron attended master classes with the great English choral
conductor, Sir David Willcocks, and once again with Bachs specialist, Maestro Helmuth Rilling.
In addition to
the Healey Willan Singers, Ron is also the artistic director and
founder of Voices, a mixed voice community choir in downtown Toronto, and
the conductor of Xiao Ping Chorus from 2006-2011, a Chinese community choir in
Markham. From 2001-2005 Ron was also the conductor of the Toronto
Mendelssohn Youth Choir. Ron continues to provide choral workshops
with school choirs and community choirs in the GTA and surrounding areas, as
well as teaching music theory. |
