CRMSS Tutors

The Tallis Scholars

Previous courses: CRMSS Ontario 2024

Peter Phillips has dedicated his career to the research and performance of Renaissance polyphony, and to the perfecting of choral sound. He founded The Tallis Scholars in 1973, with whom he has now appeared in over 2,500 concerts world-wide, and made over 60 discs in association with Gimell Records. As a result of this commitment Peter Phillips and The Tallis Scholars have done more than any other group to establish the sacred vocal music of the Renaissance as one of the great repertoires of Western classical music.

Peter Phillips also conducts other specialist ensembles. He is currently working with the BBC Singers (London), the Netherlands Chamber Choir (Utrecht), the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (Tallinn), The Danish Radio Choir (Copenhagen) and El Leon de Oro (Oviedo). He is Patron of the Chapel Choir of Merton College Oxford.

In addition to conducting, Peter Phillips is well-known as a writer. For 33 years he contributed a regular music column to The Spectator. In 1995 he became the publisher of The Musical Times, the oldest continuously published music journal in the world. His first book, English Sacred Music 1549- 1649 , was published by Gimell in 1991, while his second, What We Really Do, appeared in 2013. During 2018, BBC Radio 3 broadcast his view of Renaissance polyphony, in a series of six hour-long programmes, entitled The Glory of Polyphony.

In 2005 Peter Phillips was made a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture. In 2008 Peter helped to found the chapel choir of Merton College Oxford, where he is a Bodley Fellow; and in 2021 he was elected an Honorary Fellow of St John’s College, Oxford.

Peter says:

"I'm so looking forward to being with you in person this year at CRMSS Ontario 2024. Tallis' Spem in alium is a difficult piece, so we have our work cut out for us, but I'm sure we'll produce a thrilling performance. With that, Striggio's Ecce beatam lucem, and some other gems (look up Tallis' Salve intemerata if you have the chance), it's looking to be a challenging but brilliant week. I can't wait."

Previous courses: CRMSS Pacific 2024

Born in 1990, Julian Gregory started his singing career at the age of 8 as a boy chorister at St John's College, Cambridge, under the legendary Dr. Christopher Robinson. Following five years as a Music Scholar at Eton College and a Choral Scholarship at Norwich Cathedral, he returned to St John's College in 2009 to read Music as a tenor Choral Scholar and violinist Instrumental Scholar.

After graduating from Cambridge University, Julian spent a year studying German at Heidelberg University, and went on a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. There he completed his Masters with Distinction (DipRAM) in Vocal Performance studying with Neil Mackie and Ben Johnson, and has since been awarded an Associateship (ARAM) of the institution.

In September 2014, Julian took up the tenor position in the internationally renowned vocal ensemble, The King’s Singers. He subsequently spends over 200 days a year away on tour, giving around 120 concerts annually across six different continents. Personal highlights during his time in the group so far include singing on BBC2’s televised Carols from King’s on Christmas Eve 2020; the launch of their Finding Harmony project, which celebrates music that has brought communities together in the face of hardship throughout the ages; co-founding a charity called The King’s Singers’ Global Foundation, based in the United States; and performing in world-class venues each year, including favourites Carnegie Hall NYC, Tokyo Suntory Hall, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Koerner Hall Toronto.

Julian, when not working with The King's Singers, can be found performing with some other groups: The Tallis Scholars, Tenebrae, Gallicantus, and Archangelo.

Aside from his singing commitments, Julian is the Assistant Director of the UK-Japan Music Society, which lies close to his heart with his half-English, half-Japanese heritage; it brings together musicians from both countries and culminates in regular concerts across Europe and Japan. He was recently appointed onto the Board of Creatives Care, a New York-based charity which provides mental healthcare for artists, no matter their means or background.

Julian is also a keen runner and squash player, which helps keep him fit and overcome jet-lag both on tour and at home in London.

Julian says:

"As a huge fan of Renaissance music, musical collaboration and socialising -- not to mention Canadian maple syrup!! -- I'm delighted to have the opportunity to combine and indulge in all of these wonderful things at my first ever CRMSS course! And, especially during the warmer climes of August, what better part of the world to do it all than in beautiful, British Columbia!"

University of York, UK

Previous courses: CRMSS 2022

2022 marks the introduction of the CRMSS International Scholars programme. Each year, we will welcome a group of student singers from outside Canada, starting with the United Kingdom. They will come as a pre-formed group, who know one another and have worked together before, and will share their talents and experience with the rest of the CRMSS participants over the course of the week. They will act as leaders within the larger singing groups, and participate in the small group sessions in amongst the Canadian participants, as well as have some time to rehearse on their own.

To begin, we are pleased to welcome all five current students studying for a master's degree in Music at the University of York, in the UK, enrolled in York's "Solo Voice Ensemble Singing" MA pathway (known as SVES). This is a course of performance-based master's level study dedicated entirely to one-per-part ensemble singing. The programme lasts one year and includes daily rehearsing and coaching, three major recitals, and opportunities to perform with all of the University of York's many other singing groups.

For more information on SVES, please have a look at the University of York's website.

This year's CRMSS International Scholars are:

Isabelle Palmer, soprano
Sarah Keating, soprano
Rachel Singer, alto
Josh Adams, tenor
T. J. Callahan, bass

Isabelle Palmer is a soprano graduate of Royal Holloway, University of London, where she held a choral scholarship from 2016-19. A current choral scholar of the HeartEdge Foundation, Manchester and Genesis Sixteen alumnus, she is now studying for her MA at the University of York. She enjoys performing a wide variety of repertoire, from French chansons to Baroque cantatas, but her primary passion lies with music of the Renaissance. When she isn’t singing she can usually be found reading, writing and getting far too excited about dogs.

Sarah Keating is a soprano from Waterford, Ireland and recent graduate of both the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College, Dublin. She performs regularly around Ireland with ensembles such as Chamber Choir Ireland, Resurgam and Sestina and has worked as a Lay Vicar Choral at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Her recent solo performance engagements include soprano soloist with University of York Choir in Fauré’s Requiem. Sarah is currently studying her Masters in York and is a voice student of Susan Young. In her spare time Sarah enjoys sea swimming and has an unhealthy obsession with hummus!

Sarah says:

"I am so looking forward to performing some exciting Renaissance music at CRMSS 2022 and meeting new people to sing alongside!"

Rachel Singer is a mezzo-soprano from Perth, Australia, who sings with an array of elite chamber and larger ensembles around Australia including the National Youth Choir of Australia and The Giovanni Consort, and is currently based in York, England, to pursue postgraduate study. In addition to her musical pursuits she has a Bachelor of Neuroscience under her belt, and a passion for making and drinking excellent coffee!

Rachel says:

"There is something so distinctly magical about the music of the Renaissance. A week filled with choral, consort and solo rehearsals on repertoire from this period, plus a gentle sprinkling of candlelit compline services and keynote lectures sounds like an absolute treat!"

Joshua Adams is a young Australian singer and award-winning composer from Perth, who has recently moved to York to pursue his MA. Before leaving Perth, he was the Principal Cantor at St Mary’s Cathedral where he was a chorister for 15 years, a voice teacher, and Musical Director of the chapel choir at The University of Notre Dame Australia – Fremantle. Josh has both sung and had his music performed in Australia in many of its professional outfits, a recording featured on national radio, and more recently, his music has also been performed in the UK. Canadian debut: coming soon?

T.J. Callahan moved to York to earn his MA after seven years in Seattle, where he worked for Seattle Opera and sang with premier choirs including the Byrd Ensemble and Radiance. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, so he’s been pretty close to one London or another for most of his life. He has a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and has only used it to make weird electronic music noises. He sings as a bass deputy at York Minster and studies with Alex Ashworth. He enjoys going on unreasonably long bike rides around Yorkshire and saying hello to the cows.

T.J. says:

"I'm so excited to be a part of CRMSS 2022. I've done a couple of Renaissance singing courses before, and there's really nothing better than getting together with other nerds and making music nonstop for a week. It's especially important for me as an American to have access to a course of such high caliber so close to home."

University of York, UK

Previous courses: CRMSS Ontario 2024

CRMSS International Scholars on our CRMSS courses come as a pre-formed group, the members of which already know one another and have worked together before, and share their talents and experience with the rest of the CRMSS participants over the course of the week. They act as leaders within the larger singing groups, and participate in the small group sessions in amongst the Canadian participants, as well as getting some time to rehearse on their own.

In 2022, we were pleased to have with us five students studying for a master's degree in Music at the University of York, in the UK, enrolled in York's "Solo Voice Ensemble Singing" MA pathway (known as "SVES"). After this proved so successful, we're very glad to welcome the current cohort of SVES singers to CRMSS Ontario 2024! The SVES course at York is a performance-based master's level course of study dedicated entirely to one-per-part ensemble singing. The programme lasts one year and includes daily rehearsing and coaching, three major recitals, and opportunities to perform with all of the University of York's many other singing groups.

For more information on SVES, please have a look at the University of York's website.

This year's CRMSS International Scholars at CRMSS Ontario 2024 are:

Molly O'Toole, soprano
Dominique Saulnier, soprano
Tania Murphy, alto
Andrew Morton, tenor
Edmund Phillips, bass

Molly O'Toole is a Soprano from Sheffield, UK. She held a Music Scholarship while studying History at the University of Birmingham and has sung with ensembles including the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Birmingham University Singers, Lunds Akademiska Kor, Sweden, and St Giles’ Cathedral Choir, Edinburgh. She was a member of the Genesis Sixteen 2020-21 cohort, and held a scholarship with HeartEdge Manchester in 2021-2022. In 2022 she won the Open Recital Class at the David Clover Festival of Music, and received the Mollie Petrie Memorial Award. Molly is now studying for a Master’s in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at the University of York. When she’s not singing, Molly loves knitting hats and hiking.

Molly says:

"I’m so excited to join CRMSS for the week and sing some amazing music - what a dream!"

French Canadian soprano Dominique Saulnier comes from a musical family where she was trained from an early age in flute and piano. A BA and BMus graduate of the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she served as choral scholar with the King’s College Chapel Choir and as Lay Clerk at All Saints Cathedral during her studies. She has worked regularly with ensembles such as the Ottawa Bach Choir, the Theatre of Early Music, Aureas Voces, and Caelis Academy Ensemble, with whom she appears frequently as a soloist. Dominique is currently living in York, UK, to pursue a Master’s in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing.

Dominique says:

"After having attended CRMSS in 2022 as a participant, I am so thrilled to be back for CRMSS Ontario 2024 as an International Scholar, and to be given the opportunity to tackle Renaissance polyphony mammoths such as Tallis’s Spem in alium, no less."

Irish contralto Tania Murphy developed her love for singing when she was a senior girl chorister in Belfast. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at the University of York and a Choral Scholarship at York Minster. Alongside her studies, Tania is a freelance ensemble singer and soloist in both the UK and Ireland and recent solo highlights include alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Vivaldi’s Gloria. She is currently a member of the first ever cohort of Chamber Choir Ireland Studio 2023/24 and is an alumna of the Young Artist Programme Genesis Sixteen 2022/23 as well as Southwell Minster Apprentice Quartet ‘23 and Charles Wood Singers. When she is not singing, Tania enjoys bike rides in York and going to food markets.

Tania says:

"Having never visited Canada, I am super excited to attend CRMSS and to delve into the Renaissance world with people who love it as much as I do!"

Andrew Morton is a Tenor originally from London. He recently graduated from the University of Manchester, having read Music and French. He was a member of many choirs while in Manchester, including a one year choral scholarship with Heartedge, and regular performances with Kantos Chamber Choir. He was also a member of the National Youth Choir for four years under Ben Parry, and was appointed Section Leader in his final year. He currently sings as Tenor Choral Scholar at York Minster, while completing his masters at the University of York.

Andrew says:

"What's better than singing? Singing polyphony in Canada! Dogs are also pretty cool..."

Edmund Phillips began singing as a boy chorister in London, but has done most of his singing with various churches and groups in Manchester. This has included concerts in cathedrals, fields, nightclubs and even empty office buildings. He studied music and drama at university and after gaining his degree was also a choral scholar for one year at Lincoln cathedral. His pastimes besides singing and listening to others sing include reading and watching cricket.

Edmund says:

"Having never been to Canada, and only very rarely sung outside of the UK, I am thrilled to be coming to CRMSS to put both these things right. I look forward to it very much."

University of York, UK

Previous courses: CRMSS Ontario 2025

CRMSS International Scholars on our CRMSS courses come as a pre-formed group, the members of which already know one another and have worked together before, and share their talents and experience with the rest of the CRMSS participants over the course of the week. They act as leaders within the larger singing groups, and participate in the small group sessions in amongst the Canadian participants, as well as getting some time to rehearse on their own.

In 2022, we were pleased to have with us five students studying for a master's degree in Music at the University of York, in the UK, enrolled in York's "Solo Voice Ensemble Singing" MA pathway (known as "SVES"). After this proved so successful, we welcomed back another cohort of SVES singers to CRMSS Ontario 2024 and this year we are so happy to have yet another group coming to CRMSS Ontario 2025!

The SVES course at York is a performance-based master's level course of study dedicated entirely to one-per-part ensemble singing. The programme lasts one year and includes daily rehearsing and coaching, three major recitals, and opportunities to perform with all of the University of York's many other singing groups.

For more information on SVES, please have a look at the University of York's website.

This year's CRMSS International Scholars at CRMSS Ontario 2025 are:

Alice Chapman, soprano
Beth Yates, soprano
Morven McIntyre, alto
Raphael Geldsetzer, tenor
Adam Hilton, baritone
Sebastian Thomas, bass

Beth Yates is a Soprano from Surrey, UK. She held several colleges chapel choral scholarships while studying German and Italian at Durham University and is now studying for a Master’s in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at the University of York. Her year abroad meant she was able to attend an intensive early music course in Brescia, Italy. Beth also co-founded The Phoenix Consort, a successful new vocal consort who placed third at the Tolosa Choral Contest in 2023 as well having as a recent CD release of new music by composer Alexander Campkin called ‘I Saw Eternity’. Beth also attended the Samling Academy in 2023 and performs regularly as a soloist. Recent solo highlights include Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St John Passion, St Matthew Passion and B Minor Mass, Zelenka’s Miserere, Mozart’s Requiem, and Fauré’s Requiem.

Beth says:

"I’m so excited to join CRMSS and sing some wonderful music. Extra exciting as I’ve never been to Canada before!"

Alice Chapman is a soprano from Sheffield, UK. Alice studied English Literature at Bristol University where she also held a music scholarship. She conducted the Bristol University Madrigal Ensemble and has sung in choirs across England, including the Fitzhardinge Consort and the Opera North Youth Chorus. Before university, she also studied at Chetham’s School of Music. Alice is now studying at the University of York, on the MA Solo Voice Ensemble Singing course. When she’s not singing, Alice loves reading and sketching.

Alice says:

"I’ve never been to Canada so I’m very excited to visit Ontario and to meet all the singers on the course!"

Edinburgh born, Morven McIntyre is a First-Class music graduate of Edinburgh Napier University. She is currently studying for a Master of Arts degree in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at the University of York, under the direction of Robert Hollingworth. Morven is an alumnus of Genesis Sixteen and has been an alto scholar with the Schola Cantorum of St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, and a Young Singer with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus. She is also a member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS). Highlights of her years with NYCoS include 4 tours. The first, to Carnegie Hall, New York City, in October 2018 saw the choir perform Berlioz’s Lelio. In the most recent European Tour in August 2023, she performed as the alto soloist in the 'Pie Jesu' of Durufle’s Requiem, both in Paris and Mechelen. Outside of music, Morven is an avid reader and loves to bake.

Morven says:

"A first trip to Canada which features music making? Count me in! I’m so thrilled to have this opportunity to further my knowledge of renaissance music and see a new part of the world."

Raphael Geldsetzer is a tenor initially hailing from London (England!). He started singing at age 8 when he joined the choir of Southwark Cathedral, of which he was head chorister for 3 years. He has sung with various professional choirs including CRMSS Ontario Bristol Cathedral Choir, the Fitzhardinge Consort, and Kantos Chamber Choir. Raphael moved to York last year to pursue singing further with the MA Solo Voice Ensemble Singing course, having completed a BA and MA in Languages at Bristol. In York, alongside his Master’s he is also a Deputy Vicars Choral at York Minster. Outside of a choir rehearsal, you can usually find Raphael on a train somewhere.

Raphael says:

"I’m hugely excited to take part in this course in Canada, travelling a very long way to sing exceptional renaissance music is everything I enjoy and more."

Adam Hilton is a baritone and conductor based in York and London, UK. Born in Wrocław, Poland, Adam found his love of music after moving to England and becoming a chorister at Lancaster Priory. He graduated from the University of York in 2022, after starting a chamber choir in his final year. After two years of freelance singing in London, where he sang in churches across the city, received the Hertford Choral Society Conducting Fellowship and worked for groups including the London Youth Choirs, Adam is now back in York on the Solo Voice Ensemble Singing Masters led by Robert Hollingworth - director of the innovative solo-voice ensemble I Fagiolini. Adam frequently sings in concerts and recording sessions, with last year’s highlights including performing Beethoven 9 from memory at the BBC Proms, being the baritone soloist in the Haydn Nelson Mass at Warwick Arts Centre and recording the latest New Composers album for NMC.

Adam says:

"My first time in Canada! Can't wait to see what singing on the other side of the world is like. Do the notes go the same way? Also, is there a limit on how much maple syrup one can buy? Asking for a friend."

Sebastian Thomas graduated from the University of Oxford in 2023, having read music and sung as a Choral Scholar at Christ Church Cathedral. Since then, he has enjoyed a varied London (England) based portfolio career, with a prestigious choral scholarship at St Martin-in-the-Fields as well as a number of solo engagements, including Handel’s Messiah and Haydn’s Seven Last Words on the Cross. He has released a number of compositions and arrangements online with over 7 million streams on Spotify. He is currently studying for a Masters in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at the University of York, learning under Alexander Ashworth and Robert Hollingworth.

Sebastian says:

"I'm very much looking forward to visiting Ontario as part of this cultural exchange - and I'm particularly excited about the culinary delights that Canada has to offer!"

University of York, UK

Previous courses: CRMSS Pacific 2025

CRMSS International Scholars on our CRMSS courses come as a pre-formed group, the members of which already know one another and have worked together before, and share their talents and experience with the rest of the CRMSS participants over the course of the week. They act as leaders within the larger singing groups, and participate in the small group sessions in amongst the Canadian participants, as well as getting some time to rehearse on their own.

In 2022, we were pleased to have with us five students studying for a master's degree in Music at the University of York, in the UK, enrolled in York's "Solo Voice Ensemble Singing" MA pathway (known as "SVES"). After this proved so successful, we welcomed back another cohort of SVES singers to CRMSS Ontario 2024 and this year we are happy to introduce our CRMSS International Scholars programme to CRMSS Pacific 2025!

The SVES course at York is a performance-based master's level course of study dedicated entirely to one-per-part ensemble singing. The programme lasts one year and includes daily rehearsing and coaching, three major recitals, and opportunities to perform with all of the University of York's many other singing groups.

For more information on SVES, please have a look at the University of York's website.

This year's CRMSS International Scholars at CRMSS Pacific 2025 are:

Eleanor Miles-Kingston, soprano
Olivia Duffin, soprano
Lucy Ormrod, alto
Will North, tenor
Maxim Fielder, bass-baritone

Eleanor Miles-Kingston is a soprano from North Yorkshire, having began her singing journey as a chorister at York Minster. Now a BMus graduate from Royal Holloway, she has held choral scholarships at Royal Holloway and Queen’s College, Oxford. Both of which gave her the opportunity to be a soprano soloist for the Messiah, sing on multiple CD recordings including Ola Gjeilo’s Dreamweaver and sing in Oxford’s incredibly beautiful Sheldonian theatre. Outside of singing, she is training to be a primary school teacher and to run three half marathons!

Eleanor says:

"As someone who has never left Europe, I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to be a scholar with CRMSS and collaborate with musicians from Vancouver."

Olivia Duffin's passion for singing started at Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa, Canada where she was a chorister for 9 years, the last 2 years serving as Head Chorister. She completed her BMus in Classical Voice Performance at University of Victoria, Canada where she also served as a Choral Scholar at Christ Church Cathedral Victoria. She is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing with Robert Hollingworth at the University of York, UK. When Olivia isn’t singing she loves to ride her bike, surf, and find new music to listen to.

Olivia says:

"I'm super thrilled to be coming back home to Canada for CRMSS! This time though I'm lucky to have alongside me a group of very talented singers that happen to be my friends as well - Thank you Greg for the opportunity to make music closer to home!"

Lucy Ormrod started her musical training when she became a chorister at Manchester Cathedral aged 8, at the same time studying at the neighbouring Chetham’s School of Music. Lucy is a recent BMus graduate of Royal Holloway University of London, where she also held a choral scholarship. Lucy is an alumna of the Genesis Sixteen program and was a Choral Scholar of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Alongside her studies on the SVES course this year, she sings as a choral scholar at York Minster.

Lucy says:

"I am really excited to travel outside of Europe for the first time, and create music with musicians from Vancouver."

Will North was born and raised in Nottinghamshire and began his musical career as a chorister at St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark, later returning there as a Choral Scholar. He completed his degree in Music through the University of Lincoln, alongside a Choral Scholarship at Lincoln Cathedral, where he studied under Mark Wilde and Berty Rice. Whilst at Lincoln, he appeared several times on BBC Radio 3, and featured both on BBC Songs of Praise, and in the recent film Napoleon. Will regularly sings with the Yorkshire-based group the Tallis Consort and with Kantos Chamber Choir, and has sung alongside the Tallis Scholars. Recent solo engagements include Handel's Saul and Messiah, Bach's St John Passion and Cantatas 61 and 140, and Mozart Requiem. Will is now undergoing his MA on the prestigious Solo Voice Ensemble Singing course at the University of York, and regularly sings as a deputy Vicar Choral at York Minster. When not doing anything music related, Will enjoys walking his dog, cooking, and watching football.

Will says:

"I've never sung outside the UK before, never mind outside of Europe. I'm really excited to be a part of CRMSS!"

Maxim Fielder is a bass-baritone from Herefordshire, UK. He read Music at the University of Oxford and graduated with first class honours. While at Oxford, he held a choral scholarship with the Choir of The Queen’s College under Owen Rees, in which capacity he sang with Sharang Sharma (CRMSS Tutor) and alongside Greg Skidmore (CRMSS Tutor) in concerts with Contrapunctus. He also deputised in city, collegiate, and cathedral choirs, and performed with New Chamber Opera and The Oxford Gargoyles. He is now studying under Robert Hollingworth for the MA in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at the University of York, and is a Deputy Vicar Choral at York Minster and Ripon Cathedral. Alongside his studies, he freelances as a bass ensemble singer and a collaborative pianist, and is preparing to pursue a parallel career in the law. Maxim enjoys musicking with his friends, indoor climbing, and home-cooked food.

Maxim says:

"Having never crossed the Atlantic, I’m very excited to experience a new vocal environment, climate, culture, cuisine…"

Viola da Gamba Society of America

Previous courses: CRMSS Pacific 2024

Violoncellist, gambist, conductor, and educator are just some of the musical hats that Sarah Poon wears. Starting on ‘cello at an early age, Sarah began learning viol while at university, beginning on 7-string bass and gradually expanding her reach – and her collection – to treble and tenor viol. Currently her early music endeavours include leading a baroque chamber orchestra, running a local consort of viols, continuing viol outreach initiatives and workshops, and performing as a continuo team with her organ- and harpsichord-playing husband, David.

She is also on faculty at the Viola da Gamba Society of America’s international summer workshop (Conclave) and offers consort coaching, beginner viol classes, and private lessons throughout the year.

Sarah considers the viol to be the “perfect” instrument: blending resonance, timbre, and ergonomics into a singularly delightful experience. Known by her friends as a viol-evangelist, she considers introducing the instrument to new players as a particular joy. When not foisting her viol-centred enthusiasm on others, Sarah wears the hat of mother to her four fantastic children. Sarah, David, and offspring live in Gibsons, BC.

Royal College of Music (London, England), Early Music Society of Nova Scotia

Previous courses: CRMSS 2018, CRMSS 2019, and CRMSS Ontario 2024

Andrew Pickett, counter-tenor, was born and raised in Moncton, New Brunswick. After earning a master’s degree in biochemistry at Dalhousie University, he went on to study music at Western University and then the Royal College of Music in London, with early music specialists including Dame Emma Kirkby, James Bowman and Michael Chance. While there, he was a finalist in international competitions and won Best Singer at the RCM’s New Song competition. Andrew has performed major roles in operas from Monteverdi to Jonathan Dove, and has performed oratorio and chamber music across Canada, the USA and Europe. He is an alumnus of the National Youth Choir of Canada and of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, and was a lay clerk at Manchester Cathedral. Andrew now lives in Halifax where he is a voice teacher, early music coach, and artistic director of Galileo Chamber Choir and Helios Vocal Ensemble. His latest project is an annual Halifax Early Music Festival, held in November.

The Tallis Scholars, The Cardinall's Musick, Taverner Consort

Previous courses: CRMSS 2018 and CRMSS 2019

Emily Atkinson studied singing and percussion at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York, Potsdam, where she earned a degree in music education. Since moving to London to train at the Royal College of Music, she has enjoyed singing as a soloist and consort singer with many groups, and has sung regularly with the Tallis Scholars for the past four years.

Emily grew up as one of nine children in a family that travelled and moved frequently, always making musictogether, so touring with the members of the Tallis Scholars has felt like home in many ways. She feels lucky to have performed with the group across four continents, singing some of the most beautiful music in the world's greatest venues.

In addition to singing with the Tallis Scholars, Emily has appeared with The Cardinall's Musick, the Academy of Ancient Music, and the Taverner Consort. She loves living in a city with so much early music history, and the unique opportunities this has provided, from giving illustrative recitals and talks to tour groups at Handel's former residence in London to performing excerpts from Restoration-era masques at the Banqueting House of Whitehall Palace where they were first performed. Emily has sung solo-voice performances of more than fifty Bach cantatas in the liturgical context for which they were written, and has recorded a CD of Italian solo cantatas. Emily combines her busy performing career with work teaching primary school music classes, leading workshops for children, and mentoring new music teachers.

- Emily says:

I loved being part of this whirlwind week of music-making at both CRMSS 2018 and 2019. Each participant brought something special to the course, and it was inspiring to see the level of dedication, energy, and love for the music evident in everyone who attended. I'm really looking forward to working with singers on this course again next year, as we explore even more stunning Renaissance music.

Duke University, North Carolina, USA

Previous courses: CRMSS 2018

Roseen Giles is currently a Fellow of the Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies at the University of Toronto. In January 2018 she will begin as Assistant Professor in the Department of Music at Duke University, having taught previously at Colby College (2016-17). She completed a doctoral degree in musicology at the University of Toronto in 2016 with a dissertation on the Venetian works of Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643). Her research explores the culture of the Italian seventeenth century, particularly the relationship between text and music in secular music of the period.

She is currently writing a book about the aesthetics of Giambattista Marino's poetry and his pervasive influence in the history of Seicento music. She has published articles in Renaissance and Reformation, Early Music, and Cambridge Opera Journal, and is preparing an edition of Alessandro Grandi’s Madrigali Concertati (1615-1622) for the composer's Opera Omnia published by the American Institute of Musicology. She is also an active baroque flautist, performing regularly in both orchestral and chamber settings.

Toronto Oratory

Previous courses: CRMSS 2021

Organist and musicologist Aaron James is the Director of Music at the Toronto Oratory of St Philip Neri, where he directs the professional Toronto Oratory Choir, a Gregorian chant schola, and the Oratory Children’s Choir, as well as teaching music to the students at St Philip’s Seminary. An alumnus of the Eastman School of Music, he graduated in 2016 with both a PhD degree in musicology and a DMA degree in organ, along with the Performer’s Certificate in organ. He was the 2011 winner of the National Organ Playing Competition of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and has won numerous other prizes and scholarships for his organ playing, including first prizes in the Florence and Stanley Osborne Organ Competition and the Howard Fairclough Organ Competition; he was also a finalist in the 2012 Franz Schmidt International Organ Competition (Kitzbühel, Austria). He performs regularly as an organ recitalist in both Canada and the United States, and has appeared as a soloist with the Eastman Graduate Chamber Orchestra, the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. A regular performer of contemporary music, Aaron has given national or world premieres of numerous new compositions, including works by Emily Hall, Martin Herchenröder, Michael Nyman, Daniel Ochoa and Kyle Quarles. He is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, the College’s highest academic distinction, receiving the Willan and Porter prizes for the 2012 Fellowship examinations. He currently serves as president of the RCCO Toronto Centre and as national Chair of Examinations for the College.

Aaron completed his doctoral studies as an organist in the studio of Edoardo Bellotti, having previously studied with Hans Davidsson and Michel Bouvard at Eastman, and with Paul Merritt at the University of Western Ontario, where he received the Faculty of Music Gold Medal. His PhD dissertation examined the mid-sixteenth-century German music printer Sigmund Salminger, demonstrating how Salminger adapted and transformed older repertories of Franco-Flemish polyphony for the religiously divided public of post-Reformation Augsburg. Aaron’s research has been presented at conferences in Canada, the United States, Belgium and the United Kingdom, and has been honoured with the Charles Warren Fox Award and the Jerald C. Graue Fellowship; his published musicological work appears in the Journal of the Alamire Foundation, Early Music, Sacred Music, Oxford Bibliographies Online and Grove Music Online. He currently serves as a Sessional Lecturer in organ at the University of Toronto, having previously taught at Eastman and at the University of Rochester.

Western University, University of Toronto Scarborough

Previous courses: CRMSS 2021

Conductor and composer Dr. Patrick Murray is Lecturer in Choral Music at Western University, where he directs two choirs and teaches conducting and choral methods. Murray is also director of the University of Toronto Scarborough Concert Choir. Choirs under his direction have been recognized in the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs and been invited to perform at Podium, Canada’s national choral conference. Previously, Murray held positions as director of the University of Illinois University Chorus, Music Director of FAWN Chamber Creative (Toronto), and as a teaching artist with the Ad Astra Music Festival (Russell, KS), Illinois Summer Youth Music, and Toronto Children’s Chorus. As a guest conductor, Murray has collaborated with ensembles and festivals such as the Guelph Chamber Choir, Illinois Modern Ensemble, New Music New Haven, Thin Edge New Music Collective, and University of Toronto New Music Festival. An avid singer of early music, he has sung professionally with the Yale Schola Cantorum and ecco early music ensemble.

Murray’s compositions have been commissioned and premiered by numerous ensembles in Canada and the United States including New York Polyphony, Carmel Bach Festival, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Grand Philharmonic Choir, and the Canadian Men’s Chorus. His works have been recognized by the SOCAN Young Composers Award, recorded by the DaCapo Chamber Choir, and are published by Cypress Choral Music and Renforth Music.

Murray received his DMA in choral conducting from the University of Illinois, where he concurrently held a SSHRC Doctoral Research Fellowship studying practices of community engagement in contemporary choral composition. As a volunteer, Murray leads a participatory singing program for the London InterCommunity Health Centre, focused on social connection and well-being. Murray holds additional degrees from the Yale School of Music and University of Toronto, and has studied under noted conductors including Andrew Megill, David Hill, Masaaki Suzuki, and Ivars Taurins.

Murray lives in London, Ontario with his partner, Taiwanese-American harpist Noël Wan, and their tuxedo cat, Georgina.

The Toronto Consort, St Bartholomew Regent Park

Previous courses: CRMSS 2021 and CRMSS 2022

Singer (and player of the viola da gamba and nyckelharpa) Katherine Hill first developed a keen interest in the interaction between older European text and music as a teenager in Toronto, singing Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony in various choirs and ensembles. With support from the Canada Council for the Arts she moved to the Netherlands in the year 2000, pursuing studies, all over Europe, in as many facets as possible of historical performance practices of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and early Baroque, very intentionally seeking out and building a natural, vibrant and sustainable singing technique for rhetorical music. Over the last 20 years, Katherine has performed, recorded and toured with many early music groups, including the Sequentia Ensemble for Medieval Music, Scivias (Berlin), Ars Choralis Coeln, ensemble nu:n, Cappella Amsterdam, Collegium Vocale Ghent, Early Music Voices Calgary, and Ensemble Les Fumeux (Montréal).

Katherine is currently a co-artistic director of the Toronto Consort and is the Cantrix and Director of Music at the Anglo-Catholic parish of St Bartholomew, Regent Park, where she directs a mixed choir (that sings primarily 16th century liturgical music) and also a women’s choir, Vinea (specializing in music from women’s communities before the year 1500). In 2010, she completed an M.A. in Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto’s world-renowned Centre for Medieval Studies, and works regularly as a singing teacher and vocal coach in Toronto, particularly in historical theatre projects at Glendon College (York University).

Tafelmusik, St. James Cathedral Toronto

Previous courses: CRMSS Pacific 2023

Jonathan is a specialist in period instruments of the lute and guitar family based in Toronto, Ontario.

Versatile as a soloist, chamber musician and continuo player, Jonathan frequently distinguishes himself in the rich early music scene throughout Canada and abroad. He can be seen performing music on period instruments, solo and with ensembles such as Tafelmusik, Aureas Voces, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Capella Intima, Theatre of Early Music, and in festivals and series including Music and Beyond, Festival Montréal Baroque, and Musique Royale. Alongside soprano Sinéad White, Jonathan forms Duo Oriana, who’s album ‘How Like a Golden Dream’ releases March 17, 2023 under the Leaf Music label. Duo Oriana has been featured by Early Music America, as artists in residence at Toronto’s St. James Cathedral, and embarks on their first tour abroad in September 2023 as they head to the UK and Ireland.

In 2020 Jonathan received a Master's in the Performance of Early Music at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barcelona, studying in the studio of Xavier Diaz-Latorre. His master’s research on historical stringings on the baroque guitar received the highest marks and is published in RECERCAT which archives research carried out at institutions in Catalunya. His classical guitar studies began in Penticton, British Columbia and he received a bachelor of music with a double major in guitar and lute performance at McGill’s Schulich School of Music, where he was recognized for outstanding achievement in Lute. He studied with Jérôme Ducharme and Sylvain Bergeron.

Jonathan says:

"I’m delighted to be joining the team at CRMSS Pacific this year, this course unifies three out of the four greatest things on earth: vocal music, *renaissance vocal music*, and lute music (the fourth being tea of course). I participated in this course as a singer in 2019 where it was a joy to be steeped day-in-day-out in renaissance music. I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to my home province and share my passion for lute playing and this exceptional repertoire."