Stephanie Martin so clearly cares deeply, not only about the music she conducts, but about the depth of musical experience shared by the choir. Her encouragement of the choir and obvious appreciation of their contributions results in truly committed singing and a shared passion for the music.
Catherine Robbin, mezzo-soprano guest soloist
20th Anniversary Gala Concert Elgar, The Music Makers (2007)
All the parts are strong and balanced, and the tuning and ensemble are great. Stephanie is such a good conductor – you can tell the choir and orchestra love her.
Laura Pudwell, mezzo-soprano soloist
Mendelssohn's Saint Paul (2006)
Artistic Director of Pax Christi Chorale since 1996, Stephanie Martin has conducted many memorable performances with choir and orchestra, and has commissioned several new Canadian compositions. Highlights include Bach's Saint John Passion; Handel's Israel in Egypt; Brahms' Requiem; Mendelssohn's Elijah and Saint Paul; Poulenc's Gloria; Vaughan William's Hodie and Dona Nobis Pacem, Britten's Saint Nicolas and Elgar's Dream of Gerontius and The Music Makers. Ms. Martin holds the distinction of being the first Canadian woman to conduct a full performance of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius. In April 2007 she received an honourary membership in the Elgar Society, with a note from the British Chairman, Andrew Neill, who said, "our congratulations and appreciation to Professor Martin for her contribution to the music of Elgar in this, the 150th anniversary year of his birth".
In February 2007, Stephanie was appointed Music Director of the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene in Toronto where she carries on the tradition of a cappella choral singing established by Healey Willan in the 1920's.
Choral conductor, composer, harpsichordist and organist, she can be heard on the Naxos, Marquis and Dorian labels, as well as several self-produced recordings. Her love of historically informed performance was fostered over 15 years of activity with Arbor Oak Trio who performed hundreds of chamber music concerts and several fully staged dramatic works, including Arne's rarely heard Love in a Village, and Gay's Beggar's Opera.
Martin holds degrees from the University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University, and is an Associate of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. She was the co-recipient with Lynn Janes of the Leslie Bell Conducting Prize in 1998. She is an Associate Professor of Music at York University, Toronto, in the Department of Music, Faculty of Fine Arts where she teaches courses in music history and performance.
Lynn Janes - Conductor, Pax Christi Youth Choir
Lynn Janes (Bac. Mus. Ed., honours; Bac.Ed., U.W.O.) is recognized as a soprano soloist, music educator and conductor in Ontario. For twenty years, Lynn Janes has sung with the Exultate Chamber Singers, one of Toronto's premiere professional ensembles, and has appeared as soloist on all of the choir's CDs. She has also performed as a chorister and soloist for several seasons at the Elora Festival.
As a music educator, Ms. Janes established a vibrant High School Vocal Program at Earl Haig School for the Arts, a program that, as a result of her tenure, provided the foundation for many young people to continue to pursue music as a profession. In 2007, Ms. Janes accepted the Headship of Music at Havergal College, a girls' preparatory school with a long-standing reputation for excellence in music education.
Early in her career, Ms. Janes demonstrated a gift for conducting and choral music and was co-recipient with Stephanie Martin of the prestigious Leslie Bell Conducting Prize in 1998. For over a decade, she was a conductor and voice coach for the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus and in the spring of 2009 completed four years as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir. Beginning in September of 2009, Lynn Janes will establish and conduct the newly formed Pax Christi Youth Choir in a unique and exciting partnership with Stephanie Martin and Pax Christi Chorale.
In the summer of 2009, Ms. Janes taught conducting at Wilfrid Laurier's Kodály Certification Course. Her passion for singing and working with young people give her many opportunites and she is frequently in demand as a soprano soloist, adjudicator and clinician in Ontario. In addition to her active professional life, Lynn is an avid skier and marathon runner. She resides in Pickering with her husband and daughter.
Bruce Kirkpatrick Hill - Accompanist
A native of Victoria, BC, Bruce Kirkpatrick Hill completed his MA in musicology at the University of Victoria before moving to Toronto for doctoral studies at the University of Toronto. He left his job as Organist at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Victoria, and for seven years was Organist and Choirmaster at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Scarborough, and College Organist for St. Michael's College on the U of T campus. From 1997 to 2008 he was Organist and Director of Music at Christ Church Deer Park in Toronto. He is Co-Director of the Anglican Chorale of Ottawa, the accompanist for Pax Christi Chorale, and the rehearsal accompanist for the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir. He is also a member of the award-winning Exultate Chamber Singers.
Pax Christi Chorale is grateful for the ongoing financial support of:
