The JUNO Award-winning Elmer Iseler Singers (EIS), conducted by artistic director Lydia Adams since 1998, is singing its 46th Concert Season in 2024/25. This 20-voice professional choral ensemble, founded by the late Dr. Elmer Iseler in 1979, has thrilled audiences internationally, and led the way in developing exciting new choral works and experiences, building a stellar reputation in Canada, the United States and abroad, performing a wide range of repertoire with a focus on Canadian composers. 

EIS presents a concert series in Toronto each season, and the choir is featured as guest artists and collaborators with many professional colleagues, including Esprit Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Gryphon Trio, among others. The EIS tours regularly throughout Canada, East, West and North, engaging community singers and conductors of all ages through workshops and concert performances. Most recently, the EIS and TSO received a 2019 GRAMMY nomination and 2019 JUNO award for their Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Chandos CD recording, with Peter Oundjian conducting.

The Elmer Iseler Singers are dedicated to the education of emerging choral singers, conductors and composers, and sponsor conducting and compositional workshops, as well as the James T. Chestnutt Scholarship, a choral mentorship initiative with Lydia Adams and the Singers. Through their collaboration as Associate Choirs, the Elmer Iseler Singers are delighted to share their skills and knowledge with the VIVA Singers in their stated aims of performance artistry, vocal music education, inclusion, leadership as well as mentoring and community.

Music Director Michael Newnham is best known for his intense and inspiring conducting style, based on a deep knowledge of the score and informed by a strong interest in languages, cultures and history. A born communicator, his open and direct contact with musicians and audiences creates performances full of expression and energy.

Along with his duties at the PSO, he is also presently (since 2018) Music Director of Orchestra Toronto. During his tenure as Music Director of Symphony New Brunswick (2009-2018), Newnham was instrumental in bringing that orchestra to new artistic heights and raising its profile on the national level.

In addition to his performances in his native Canada, Newnham has also appeared at the helm of many orchestras and opera companies throughout Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Italy, and South Korea.

Endowed with a special passion and gift for working with young musicians, Michael was the founding conductor of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra and has been a faculty member at Music at Port Milford for several years. His involvement in educating young musicians is not limited to Canada; he spent two years as a guest professor and orchestra conductor at Taegu-Hyosung University in South Korea.

Originally from Hamilton, Newnham is a graduate of the conducting class of prof. Bogusław Madey at the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland. He also studied at the Indiana University School of Music and at the University of Toronto.

He is a recipient of several awards, including the “Order of Merit” from the Republic of Poland, the “Best Conductor” Award from the East Slovakian State Opera, and the Turzanski Award for his services in promoting Polish music and culture in Canada.

Before taking up the baton, Newnham began his musical career as a trombonist, playing with the Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphonies, as well as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. He currently lives in Peterborough with his wife, cellist Zuzanna. He is an avid reader, proud father to two daughters and a passionate home barista.

For those who would like to study up or have a sneak peek! Not all works will be performed by the PSO, but here is a sample of Howard Cable, the Elmer Iseler Singers, and of course, Tchaikovsky.

Spotify Playlist link