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Markus Howard -- Music Director
As a conductor, director and choreographer, Markus Howard has worked extensively in the arts throughout Canada and abroad. A graduate from the University of Toronto with a degree in voice and conducting, he has appeared in 27 countries, working with musicians of varying ages and experiences. As an adjudicator, clinician and private teacher, Markus works in many musical genres including opera, pop, musical theatre and jazz voice. He has taught at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Glenn Gould School, University of Toronto's Hart House, and the Randolph Academy for Performing Arts. His students have included members of the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, Toronto's Lion King and Mamma Mia, and a number of Broadway and touring productions.
Markus is the founding conductor of the professional chamber choir, La Movida, his proudest accomplishment to date.
By accepting the positions of Music Director for both, Oriana Singers and La Jeunesse Northumberland Youth Choirs, Markus brings a wealth of experience to Northumberland County that will enrich our community in the years to come. We welcome him with open arms in his first season with us!
Robert Grandy -- Accompanist and Composer-in-residence
Robert began his musical studies in Port Hope and later continued at York University. He is the former Organist-Choirmaster at St. Mark's Anglican Church, Port Hope, a position he held from 1981 to 2004, and is currently Director of Music at Trinity United Church in Peterborough. Robert has been involved with the Oriana Singers for many years, as a singer, guest soloist, director, accompanist and composer. His excellent ear and skillful technique continue to be a gift to the choir.
A long-time member of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, Robert's own musical compositions have been sung by a number of church choirs in the local area, choirs in Peterborough and Toronto, as well as by MusicMakers and the Oriana Singers. As composer-in-residence, he has been commissioned by the Oriana Singers several times over the last few years. In 2005, he was commissioned to write three short anthems for the Spring 2005 concert: "The Paradise of God" (for SATB a cap), "Arbor Amoris" and "The Vine" (both for SATB and piano). For the Oriana Singers' entry into the CBC Choral Competition, Robert composed "Le Vaisseau d'or" with text by Emile Nelligan. Another composition, "Fairytale Madness" was written especially for the Oriana Singers' Spring 2005 concert. In 2006 the choir asked him to write a work for former Music Director Marie Anderson's last concert with the group. The result, "Prayer and Benediction" used one of Marie's favourite texts: "Christ be with you, Christ within you".
His latest commission is a joint project with the Concert Band of Cobourg. Robert has arranged the Southern United States folk-hymn "Wondrous Love" into a set of variations for choir and band. It will be premiered at the November 10th 2007 concert. For more information, visit Robert's personal website here.
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