Dr. Elaine Choi, Artistic Director
Dr. Elaine Choi has been Artistic Director of Pax Christi Chorale since July 2022.
Elaine contributes to Toronto's vibrant choral community as a conductor, educator, adjudicator, and collaborative pianist. In addition to her role at Pax Christi Chorale, she is Director of Music at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, past conductor of the University of Toronto Soprano/Alto Chorus, and a Past President of Choirs Ontario.
As a music educator, in addition to the above affiliations, Elaine is active as an adjudicator and a clinician for various community events, such as the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival, CAMMAC reading sessions and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Singsation Saturdays.
Elaine is an advocate for Chinese Orchestral and Choral music. She was the conductor of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra from 2010-2017 and currently 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. The ensemble worked with more than 200 musicians in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau in its inaugural tour in 2019.
Elaine holds a Doctor in Musical Arts and Master in Music Performance (Choral Conducting) degrees from the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt and Dr. Doreen Rao. Elaine is a four-time recipient of the Elmer Iseler Fellowship in Choral Conducting (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015) and a finalist in the Sir Ernest MacMillan Foundation Fellowship Award in Choral Conducting (2012). She's the 2018 recipient of the prestigious William and Waters graduating award.
Joshua Tamayo, Collaborative Pianist
Joshua Tamayo is a pianist, conductor, composer, and arranger. His passion for music comes from many years of piano lessons with his long time mentor and teacher, Peter Lam. He also draws inspiration from the 10 years he spent with St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto, where he specialized in organ and sacred choral music. His love for conducting blossomed when he was 12 years of age when he had the honor to be the guest conductor of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. He later pursued music at the University of Toronto majoring in piano performance. Josh joined the Pax Christi Chorale artistic team in September 2022.
Jocelyn Fralick, Soprano Choral Lead
Canadian soprano Jocelyn Fralick recently returned from two years in Amsterdam, where she completed her Masters' degree with honors from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She also holds degrees from the Glenn Gould School of Music and The University of Toronto. During her time in Amsterdam, Jocelyn performed the role of Madame Lidoine in Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites (2021) and Contessa Almaviva in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro(2021). Jocelyn is thrilled to be returning to St. Catharines to perform Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with the Niagara Symphony in May 2024. She joined Pax Christi Chorale in September 2023.
Camille Labonte, Soprano Choral Lead
Camille Labonté holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with honours from the University of Toronto, where she studied in the studio of Monica Whicher. Currently, Camille is the soprano soloist and section lead of the Chancel Choir at Kingsway Lambton United Church, conductor of the Mississauga Children’s Choir Training Choir, and a member of the Concreamus Concert Choir, which collaborates with emerging Canadian Composers. On the operatic stage, Camille has sung such roles as Poppea in Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea (Opera NUOVA), and Cleopatra in Handel’s Julius Ceasar (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre). She is very excited to sing with Pax Christi Chorale this season.
Catharin Carew, Alto Choral Lead
Described as “a real personality with a dark edge to her mezzo as well as clear top notes" (WhatsOnStage, UK) as well as “exhilarating” by Opera Canada, Canadian mezzo Catharin Carew holds Masters of Music in Vocal Performance both from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London England and McGill University, Montreal and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal performance from the University of Toronto. Alongside her classical soloist career Catharin is a voice masterclass technician specialising in vocal projection with choral groups. Catharin has been alto choral lead with Pax Christi Chorale for multiple seasons.
Mark Wood-Salomon, Tenor Choral Lead
Mark Wood-Salomon, tenor choral lead with Pax since 2019, is a proud graduate of St. Michael’s Choir School, and the Faculty of Music at the University Of Toronto. He is currently the Music Director and Architect of the St. George’s On The Hill’s Wednesday Candlelight Liturgy. In addition to his day job at a wealth investment firm, Mark is also a professional choral lead at Holy Blossom Temple and St. Thomas’s Anglican Church, and a section lead with the Mississauga Chamber Singers. He has performed in many countries including all across Canada and the United States, England, Italy, Bulgaria, and his ancestral home of Trinidad & Tobago, as a choral lead and soloist.
Christopher Wilson, Bass Choral Lead
Christopher Wilson is a professional performer, arts educator, and independent theatre producer. He has sung with many choral ensembles including the Elmer Iseler Singers, Amadeus Choir, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Nathaniel Dett Chorale (Founding Member), Elora Festival Singers, and Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal. He currently sings as a section lead with Rosedale United Church. As a professional arts educator, Christopher currently teaches with Sheridan College and the Toronto District School Board. He is also the Artistic Producer of Toronto Musical Concerts, www.torontomusicalconcerts.com.
Choral Scholars
William Salinas-Crosby, Tenor Choral Scholar / Anthony Varahidis, Tenor Choral Scholar / Gabriel Klassen, Bass Choral Scholar
