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Music, Maestro, Please
Make way for the maestro. World-famous British conductor Martin Neary is coming to campus Oct. 28 for a rehearsal prior to the biennial University Voices concert slated for Nov. 3 in Toronto, which will include the U of G Chamber Singers.
Neary gained international acclaim for his direction of the music at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, a ceremony seen by two billion people worldwide. He is the former organist of Winchester Cathedral and former music director of Westminster Abbey.
“Martin Neary is a renowned international leader in the field of choral music, and his presence in our community is a fabulous opportunity for our students to work with someone of great experience and stature,” says Prof. Marta McCarthy, Fine Art and Music. “He's also known for his ability to relate to and inspire young people, so this is an excellent match for us. The University's choirs have performed at numerous national events and international festivals, and the opportunity to rehearse and perform with Dr. Neary offers us another exciting challenge and a chance to demonstrate what we've achieved.”
Before leading the choirs at University Voices alongside U.K. composer/conductor James McMillan, Neary will offer his expertise in five days of workshops and rehearsals across Canada. His U of G rehearsal runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 107 of the MacKinnon Building and is open to the public.
The U of G Chamber Singers will be making their third appearance at University Voices along with choirs from six other universities — Manitoba, Toronto, Ottawa, Wilfrid Laurier, McGill and Memorial.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. at Toronto's Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E. For tickets, call 416-366-7723 or visit the website www.stlc.com.