Conductor Celebrates 20 years with choir

Founded 30 years ago, the Amadeus Choir, now under the direction of Conductor and Artistic Director Lydia Adams, is in its 12th season as Choir-in-Residence at the George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts.  The Choir has become known for its professionalism, exceptional musicality, and diverse, high quality programming - all a reflection of the leadership provided by Dr. Adams. During her 20 years as Conductor and Artistic Director, the Choir has grown significantly in size and reputation to become one of Canada's pre-eminent choral groups.  The 100 auditioned members of the Choir perform a regular series of concerts in the George Weston Recital Hall as well as at carefully selected downtown Toronto venues, presenting well-known artists in works by Canadian and international composers, including major works with instrumental ensembles of full orchestra, as well as challenging a cappella performances.

Surface & Symbol had the opportunity to interview Lydia Adams as she celebrates her 20th season with the Amadeus Choir.

S&S:  How did your career in music begin?

LA:   I was born into a house of music in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, where my mother taught piano and, as well, was the music director at a wonderful church - a fabulous acoustical room.  We grew up with an astounding group of serious young musicians, many of who are leading performers and educators in Canada and beyond.  If mom wasn't well, she would send me to play the service and to direct the choir.  I studied piano with a marvellous teacher, Marguerite MacDougall, now still hale and hearty at 95, who was the first piano graduate from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax -it must have been around 1920.  Mom just kept building choirs for me to perform in as I got older.  We had great colleagues in those groups.  Some of the singers from the girsl choir Mom directed can still sing the Bach duet 'Wir Eilen' (in German!) from start to finish, along with other repertoire they learned then -over 30 years later!  It was a rich childhood - rich in experiences, friendships and in music.  When I studied at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., I met another group of incredible and discerning musicians and friends.  Going on to the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio in London, England, I was really able to hone my abilities in an atmosphere where professionalism was expected from students.

S&S:  How does it feel to be celebrating your 20th Anniversary with the Amadeus Choir?

LA:   I can hardly believe that I have been with the Amadeus Choir for 20 years.  It is so exciting to be celebrating the choir's 30th Season with them.  They are an unbelievably dedicated and talented group of individuals - and they sing so beautifully.   They have a glorious sound - a sound that goes straight to your heart.  I feel that I must be one of the luckiest people on earth to have this privilege - making great music with great people!

S&S:  Please tell me about some of your accomplishments during that time.

LA:   The choir's accomplishments have been many.  The choir has become one of the leading choirs in the country.  We have consistently worked to develop all the elements that go into making a great choir - the musical quality being foremost and then, ensuring that all the support systems are in place to keep the choir moving forward in a positive manner in order to support the artistic vision of the group.  

The choir has hosted some of the best conductors in the world and takes great pride in maintaining a conviction to commission and perform works of Canadian composers.  Canada can boast some of the finest choral composers in the world today and we maintain an active commissioning program with them.  This year we are commissioning five Canadian composers to write works during our Anniversary season and are featuring, in particular, the music of Eleanor Daley of Toronto, one of the top choral composers in the world today.  We are very proud of our continuing association with the Bach Children's Chorus of Scarborough.  The Bach Children's Chorus began through the Amadeus Choir as The Amadeus Children's Choir with a concert that featured children of Amadeus choir members of 18 years ago.  The Bach Children's Chorus this year won the 2004 CBC Competition for Amateur Choirs, a prestigious competition, which attracts the best choirs in the country.  We are so proud of them and their conductor, Linda Beaupre.

The Amadeus Choir has sung for the Association of Canadian Choral Directors Conference in Edmonton and for the International Music Educators Conference.  Each year, we sponsor a composition-writing competition for Carols and Chanukah songs, a competition which has had an international importance and which has assisted composers of all ages from 5 years to senior citizens, amateur and professional, to write a piece, have it performed and often, to have it published.  We are also pleased to perform at least one concert per year in which we sing a performance for a charitable organization.  We have sung to raise money for the ALS Society and the Alzheimer's Society, among others.

S&S:  What changes have you witnessed in the Choir (growth, etc.)?

LA:   The choir has certainly grown in size since its beginnings.  It was founded in St. Mark's United Church in Scarborough 30 years ago with a terrific core group who wanted to develop a community singing group.  They worked hard and began to build the group, hiring excellent conductors and pianists to help them do it.  Throughout the history of the choir, the numbers have grown from a very small gruop to the choir's present size of approximately 100 singers.  We have built upon the vision of the original singers and expanded it.  It is important for us to grow, of course, but it is also important for us to maintain our connection with our roots and our audience in Scarborough as well as develop new audiences through recordings and tours throughout the country.

S&S:  Any plans for the future of the choir?

LA:   The choir is always developing plans for the future and is always looking ahead at least five years in its plans.  We have plans for recordings and tours as well as for our regular seasons ahead.  We look for wonderful events to celebrate - birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  We make plans to keep all the passion and power of the music alive within the choir body through everything we do.  Everyone deserves a chance to listen to great music.  Music, art, great writing, poetry and ideas can change the world.  We perform great music - the inspiration of the ages is within our grasp.  Through great music, we inspire not only the choir members but our audience as well.   We aim for everyone in the concert hall to leave our concert awed, warmed and inspired by the music they have just heard.  Why aim for anything less?

S&S:  How does it feel to be described as one of the very best choral directors working today?

LA:   I saw something yesterday that I felt was very apt to answer this question.  I can't remember exactly the quote, but it said that 'Honour was important, not honours'.  It is really wonderful, of course, to receive complimentary words and awards, but everyone must keep in mind that, in our business, you certainly can't achieve those words or honours on your own.

S&S  How will you celebrate your 20th Anniversary with the choir?

LA:  This is a very special year for us all.  I am thrilled that the choir will be singing the magnificent "Belshazzar's Feast' of William Walton for the very first time.  Also for the first time, we will sing Mozart's brilliant Grand Mass in C Minor for our Amadeus audience.  We will present a retrospective of some of the winning compositions from our international Carol and Chanukah song-writing competition as well as works for Harp and Choir with the incomparable Erica Goodman, as well as a special performance by the Bach Children's Chorus of Scarborough.  In the spring, we present one of my favourite works, the exquisite Requiem by Gabriel Faure and, to close the celebration, we finish the series with the magnificient Mass in B Minor, perhaps the greatest work of all time, by J.S. Bach.  The first and last programs are with orchestra.