Volume 9 Issue 4 - December 2003

WALK OF FAME
The case for Elmer Iseler
by Alison Roy
Dr. Elmer Iseler was a pioneer in
the world of choral music. It is
through his perseverance and devotion
to professionalism in choral
music that professional and community
choirs are flourishing in
Canada. He had the knowledge
and expertise, fifty y:ears ago, to
found the Festival Singers of Canada
in 1954, the Ebner Iseler Singers
in 1977,, to lead the TorontO
Mende~hn Choir beginning in
1964 and bring a professional core
to it in 1967.
A staunchly proud Canadian, he
traveled extensively to every part
of Canada, believing that all communities
should enjoy the live choral
experience, sharing the same sound and
enthusiasm with small communities in
northern Ontario or British Columbia
or Saskatchewan that he took to larger
audiences in the United States, Asia
and Europe. He brought Canadian
content and promoted Canadian composers
to foreign ears. He was an
educator and coached young conducting
students at universities on choral
techniques but also on finding their own
"voice" in conducting.
He is History. It is through his
devotion to choral music that this year
we are celebrating 50 years of professionalism
in choral music in Canada.
It is too easy to forget our past, our
beginnings and to take for granted pioneers
we should acknowledge for making
our own achievements possible.
His funeral was one testimony to
his legacy. He had been involved in
the choral world since 1954. He died
in 1998. ThecongregationatStJames
Cathedral in Toronto was at capacity
seating for the funeral. One thousand
voices strong, forty four years of trained
professional . singers that had all been
touched by Elmer as a choral conductor,
sang the.hymns in four part harmony
and with every nuance that Elmer
had once instructed. The police led a
large procession of cars from Toronto
to his beloved Caledon hills· for the
burial. A funeral fit for the ambassador
of choral music.
Now there is another opportunity to
acknowledge him. There is an ongoing
petition to have a star on Canada's
Walle ofFame presented posthumously
to Dr. Elmer Iseler in recognition of
his contributions to choral music in Canada,
and professionalism in choral
music in North America.
On the eve of the fiftieth year of his
transforming achievement, now is the
time! Ifyouareachoral singer, young
or old, you· are probably in a choir
because of the influence of Dr. Elmer
Iseler and probably don't realize it.
Visit the Walk of Fame website at
www .canadaswalkoffame.com before
December 31 which is when nominations
for 2004 will close, Add your
name to the growing list of supporters
of Canadian choral music who honour
Dr'. lseler's legacy.
Alison Roy is a member of the
Iseler Singers and a music
teacher with the Toronto District
School Board. Her mother,
Janet Roy, was a member of the
first Festival Singers Choir
formed in 1954.
Dave Snider Music Centre
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eMail: snide'rmusic@snidermusic.com www.snidcrmusic.com /
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DECEMBER 1 2003 - FEBRUARY 7 2004
WWW, THEWHOLENOTE.COM
by Jason van Eyk
After a peak of activity in November, the new music community is taking a
small break this December, allowing just enough time to prepare for a
full concert calendar in January. In this December/January double-bill,
Composer Companions highlights five upcoming new music events, all
of which showcase great Canadian musical talent, whether composer or
peiformer, or both. As always, we encourage you to attend with one of
our accomplished local composers as your own personal concert guide.
Waite~ Buczynski
Early in December Chrylark Arts
& Music presents Canadian composer
and pianist Walter Buczynski
in a solo piano recital. On December
7th at the Heliconian Hall, Bilczynski
will perform a mixed programme
ranging from Bach to his
own Autumn Collection - 24 Preludes.
Like R. M•may Schafer, Buczynski
celebrates his 70th birthday
this year, with this concert marking
the first of many planned throughout
the season to celebrate some of
his best compositions. For more information,
or to purchase tickets, call
416-651-9380.
In the middle of the month, The
Hannaford Street Silver Band
brings in the holiday cheer with a
concert that includes original Canadian
festive works and classic carols
arranged by Canadian composers. On
December 16th at St. James Cathe-
Gary An
Toronto's Center
for Clarinets
and Oboes
SALES
*
REPAIR
*
RENTAL
dral, the Canadian Children's
Opera Chorus and guest conductor
Richard Bradshaw will join Hannaford
for this annual Christmas celebration.
Come sing beloved carols
, in great arrangements by Godfrey
y , Ridout, Morley Calvert, Howard
·· « Cable and more.
A special holiday treat will be the
world premiere of Canadian conductor
and composer Bramwell Tovey's
new Magnijicat for band and choir.
For more information, visit their
website at www .hannafordband.com
or call 416-366-7723.
Heading into the New Year, Toronto's
new music presenters seem to
be saving the best for last, as one
dynamic vocal recital and two minife~tivals
heat up the cold late-January
nights.
First, on January 29th at the Jane
Mallett Theatre, Music Toronto
presents stellar new music soprano
Barbara Hannigan and equally talented
pianist Linda Ippolito in a prograll1Jlle
ranging from the 20th-century
modern to a completely brand
new work. Hannigan and Ippolito
will perform a wide range of songs
from Szymanowksi, Schoenberg,
Ligeti, Vivier, Andriessen and Ives,
as well as give the world premiere
of James Rolfe's Six Illuminations
based on the poetry of Rimbaud.
' Rolfe composed this song cycle
expressly for Hannigan when she
was having difficulty finding Canadian
repertoire to match the rest of
her ambitious programme. Moreover,
this world premiere marks a thir-
CONTINUES
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