FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2024 | Toronto, Ontario – Choirs Ontario is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Elaine Choi as conductor of the 2024 Ontario Youth Choir. The Ontario Youth Choir is one of Ontario’s most prestigious youth choirs and choral training programs, and core artistic program for Choirs Ontario.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Dr. Elaine Choi as the Ontario Youth Choir Conductor for Summer 2024! Elaine’s joyful warmth in connecting with singers, extraordinary musical skill, and depth of performance experience are sure to make for an unforgettable experience for the singers and audience alike.” – Choirs Ontario Board of Directors
Dr. Elaine Choi (D.M.A.) is Director of Music at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Artistic Director of Pax Christi Chorale, and founder and Artistic Director of Babεl.
Elaine is known for her contributions to Toronto’s vibrant choral community as a conductor, educator, adjudicator, chorister and collaborative pianist. Elaine was a sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music from 2015-2023 as conductor of the Soprano-Alto Chorus. She has served as an adjudicator and clinician for various community events, including the 2023 Junior Treble Festival, TCDSB music festival, Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival and OMFA provincial festival. A dynamic and expressive conductor, Elaine is also active internationally, recently headlining as the guest conductor for the Bangkok International Choral Festival in 2022.
Elaine is a four-time recipient of the Elmer Iseler Fellowship in Choral Conducting and in 2018, she was the recipient of the prestigious William and Walters graduating award. In 2023, Elaine was awarded the prestigious Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting by the Ontario Arts Council.
An advocate for Chinese orchestral and choral music, Elaine was the conductor of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra from 2010-2017 and continues her connection as Guest Conductor and Educational Outreach Representative. In 2018, Elaine founded Babεl, an SATB choral ensemble with a mission to bridge cultures through choral music; Babεl was recently featured in the Canadian Opera Company showcase series for 2023.
“It’s truly an honour to be chosen as this year’s OYC conductor. I am looking forward to meeting everyone – to make friends through music, explore exciting repertoire, welcome new challenges, and learn & grow together!” – Elaine Choi
The Ontario Youth Choir will run from August 2 to August 11, 2024 at the University of Waterloo Conrad Grebel University College. Choirs Ontario is excited to welcome Dr. Elaine Choi and honoured to have her lead the artistic team in the 53rd Ontario Youth Choir.