Pax Christi Chorale, under the leadership of Stephanie Martin, is a fine choir with a lovely, fresh tone. They not only sing with good precision and blend, but they also are able to interpret music with emotional involvement and conviction. Their interesting programming is appealing to many choral fans.
Pax Christi Chorale was founded in the fall of 1987, inspired by the success of an ad hoc choir assembled for the Toronto celebration of the 1986 Bicentennial of Mennonites in Canada. Over the years, the choir has grown from about 35 to 80, including both Mennonites and singers from various faith traditions and cultures. Stephanie Martin has been Artistic Director since the choir’s 10th season, building on the work of former conductors Robert Loewen, Lee Bartel and John Ford. Stephanie led the choir in its first experience of singing with a large orchestra, for Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem and Benjamin Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb. As part of our 20th anniversary initiatives in 2007, we hired our first Assistant Conductor, Stuart Sladden, and launched the Pax Christi Chamber Choir. Both choirs were semi-finalists in the 2008 CBC National Choral Competition.
Other milestones include: releasing three recordings, Rejoice! (sold out), Seasons of the Spirit; and Buxtehude SuperConcert; premiering new works by Derek Holman, Andrew Ager and Scott Good; implementing programs to nurture young singers, including a Pax Christi Children’s Choir project and choral scholarship program; introducing emerging artists to Toronto audiences and providing performance opportunities for many established artists; performing in Ottawa in 2005; collaborating with the Earl Haig Girls' Choir, Christ Church Deer Park Junior Choir, Toronto, and with the Menno Singers of Kitchener-Waterloo.
Artistic Director Stephanie Martin and the Board of Directors are pleased to announce the formation of the new Pax Christi Youth Choir. The choir will comprise youth between the ages of 13 and 21 and will be led by well-known, highly respected music educator Lynn Janes, current Head of Music at Havergal College, former conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir (TMYC), and former music teacher at Earl Haig Secondary School. Lynn and Stephanie Martin were co-winners of the Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting in 1998.
The Pax Christi Youth Choir will rehearse separately with Lynn Janes and perform repertoire on their own in the regular season concerts, but will also join the adult choir for the oratorio performances under the direction of Stephanie Martin.
"Most of us who enjoy choral singing as adults have strong, positive memories of singing in a youth choir or children’s choir," says Stephanie Martin, "It’s so important for us to pass the torch – to give the next generation a chance to experience our great inheritance of choral music. A lot of us give up on organizing community projects like this because it does take a lot of time, hard work, enthusiasm and financial support. We owe it to ourselves to ensure the future of classical music in our community. Let them sing!"
Lynn Janes adds: "One of the best ways for young people to express their creativity, meet new friends and develop a range of skills is to join a choir. Singing in a choir is a pursuit that knows no age, gender, economic, geographical or social boundaries, and one which offers considerable benefits. Young people need positive opportunities and singing in the Pax Christi Youth Choir will be an amazing and enriching experience. We look forward to this exciting collaboration with Stephanie Martin and we thank the Pax Christi community for its support of young people in the Greater Toronto Area."
For information about auditioning for Pax Christi Youth Choir, contact General Manager Jennifer Collins at (416) 786-2509 or by email at
jennifer.collins@paxchristichorale.org.
Pax Christi Chorale is grateful for the ongoing financial support of:
