The Soloists

Concert 1. Monteverdi’s Vespers

Michelle de Boer - Soprano

Picture and Bio coming soon.

Ariel Harwood-Jones - Soprano

Picture and Bio coming soon.

Robert Kinar - Tenor

Tenor Robert Kinar studied voice in Montréal and later at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he completed a Master's degree in performance practice.  San Francisco Classical Voice  praised his operatic debut (Nemorino, L'Elisir d'amore) as "...engaging, sincere, impressive, believable."  He has appeared as soloist in numerous Montréal performances, including Mozart's Requiem, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, and Bach's Cantata No.21 "Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis".  Since becoming a member of Tafelmusik in 2004, Robert has been featured as a soloist in their performances of Haydn's St. Nicholas Mass, and Charpentier's In Navitatem domini canticum. 
Robert has recently sung for the Toronto Consort, Opera Atelier and the Bach Consort, and has been a member of La Chapelle de Québec for several years. He makes his second appearance with the Grand River Chorus in Haydn's Creation in April 2008.

Christopher Fischer – tenor

Tenor Christopher Fischer, a performance graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, has appeared as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah nearly sixty times, with such organizations as the Guelph Chamber Choir, Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Boris Brott Academy Orchestra of Hamilton, and the early music ensemble Arcady (an organization with whom he has been happily associated for fifteen years). Chris has served as a section leader with the Guelph Chamber Choir since 2002, performing as tenor soloist in several major choral works with this ensemble: Mozart’s Requiem, the Coronation and C Minor Masses; Bruckner’s Te Deum; the Swan in Orff’s Carmina Burana; and, most recently, Beethoven’s Mass in C Major. Other highlights have included a 2006 tour of Austria and the Czech Republic, and singing in the finals of the most recent CBC Competition for Amateur Choirs.

With Arcady, Chris has participated in two studio recordings, as well as concert performances of Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute (as Tamino), Carrissimi’s rarely heard oratorio, Jephte (in the title role), and Ruth (the Narrator), a new musical drama by Canadian composer Ronald Beckett. Other recent concert engagements have included Mozart’s Coronation Mass (with the Karen Schuessler Singers and the London Singers), Bruckner’s Te Deum (with the Boris Brott Academy Orchestra), the Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio and The Company of Heaven by Benjamin Britten (both with the University of Guelph Symphonic Choir). The current season includes further performances of Messiah with the Milton Choristers and Arcady, Mozart’s Requiem with the Menno Singers of Kitchener-Waterloo, and Ruth, once again with Arcady.

Chris holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Music Education from Arizona State University and diplomas from Conservatory Canada and the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and has worked in the fields of church music, choral conducting and accompanying for many years throughout both southwestern Ontario and central Arizona. He has sung with the Elora Festival Singers and the Phoenix Bach Choir, conducted the Brampton Festival Singers, accompanied the Milton Choristers and the Guelph Youth Singers, and served as organist and director of music for congregations in five different denominations, on both sides of the border. Presently, Chris is the Director of Music Ministries at Knox Presbyterian Church in Guelph and maintains a home-based private music studio.

Concert 2 - Handel’s Messiah - Singalong

Heather Plewes - Soprano

Picture and Bio coming soon.

Richard Cunningham - Countertenor

Although he has an impressive catalogue of solo appearances to his career, Richard is perhaps best known as a choral conductor.

Richard earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Toronto. He has studied choral conducting with Derek Holman, Edgar Hanson, William Wright, Douglas Bodle, and Jon Washburn.

As a concert artist, Richard’s studies began at U of T with Lillian Weichel and Edgar Hanson. The grateful recipient of three scholarship grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Richard traveled to England to study with Timothy Penrose and James Bowman, two of the finest practitioners of the countertenor’s art. Richard also sang at Winchester Cathedral and St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, making many appearances before the Royal Family.

As a soloist, Richard has traveled through France, Holland, Germany, Britain, the United States and Canada, and has often been heard on the CBC. He has performed with the symphony orchestras in Toronto & Kitchener / Waterloo, the Hamilton Philharmonic and the English Chamber Orchestra, as well as the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Hamilton’s Bach-Elgar Choir and the Philharmonic Choir in K/W. He has often performed with Tactus Vocal Ensemble, La Chappelle de Quebec and Les Violons du Roy in Quebec & Montreal, the Elora Festival Singers, and with Toronto’s baroque choir and orchestra - Tafelmusik. Richard has also been a frequent performer with the John Laing Singers in Hamilton.

Christopher Edwards – tenor

Tenor Christopher Edwards' studies in music were at the University of Toronto (Godfrey Rideout) and the Royal Conservatory of Music (Megan Rutledge,  Helen Simmie, Lois MacDonnell). Mr. Edwards' first professional engagement, as tenor soloist at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church,Toronto lasted for 17 years until his relocation to the USA in 1994. Several appearances with the Canadian Opera Company chorus in 1983 led to his oratorio debut in 1984 singing the role of Obidiah in Mendelssohn's Elijah, followed by Bach's Mass in B minor and Handel's Messiah the following year. Subsequent appearances on the concert stage in Toronto include Bach’s Magnificat, numerous cantatas and the St. John and St. Matthew Passions (solos and Evangelists), Mozart's Requiem, Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 2 (Lobgesang), and Elgar's Dream of Gerontius.

Performances while in the USA include the roles of Uriel (Haydn's Creation) and Caspar (Mennotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors) in addition to numerous Messiahs and Bach works.

Since returning to Canada in 2000 Mr. Edwards' attentions have also focused on the lighter works of Gilbert and Sullivan with roles of Nanki-Poo (Mikado), Marco (Gondoliers), Dr Daly (Sorcerer), Cyril (Princess Ida) and Capt. Corcoran (Pinafore). For the past 4 years he has held the position of Artistic Director for the Wandering Minstrals of St. James, Simcoe, creating their new productions of Iolanthe (2004), Starship Pinafore (2005), Sorcerer (2006) and Ruddigore (2007).

In addition to occasional solo appearances with the Grand River Chorus and Arcady, Mr. Edwards is proud to be a chorister of both groups.

John Van Maanen - Bass

John Van Maanen began piano lessons at age six and a few years later joined the junior choir of his home church in Simcoe, Ontario, joined the senior choir there.  He also regularly serves as substitute organist for local churches.John pursued musical studies at the University of Western Ontario, earning a Bachelor of Music degree (Honours Music Education) in 1991, and a Master of Music degree (Honours in Vocal Literature and Performance) in 1993.Currently, John sings with Arcady and the Grand River Chorus, and is regularly featured as a baritone soloist.  A charter member of a Simcoe-based light opera society, he has performed lead roles in several productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.John maintains a singing studio in Simcoe and enjoys composing.  Two hymn tunes have been published in Canadian hymnals.  An anthem, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, was published by Oxford University Press March 1, 2007, and more anthems are being prepared for submission to publishers.John is also delighted that local choirs are performing his anthems: Arcady presented three of his pieces in an April 2007 concert of music by Arcady composers, and the Grand River Chorus is including four anthems in their upcoming Christmas CD.  

Brahms Requiem: Ein Deutsches Requiem

Leslie Bouza - Soprano

Lesley Bouza is a graduate of the University of Guelph and has recently completed her post-graduate studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Lesley is a versatile singer whose recent performances include touring with the Swingle Singers, participating in the Tafelmusik Summer Baroque Institute and Welsh National Opera’s youth production, as well as solo appearances with The Elora Festival Singers, Arcady and the University of Guelph Choirs. Lesley is a regular chorister with The Elora Festival Singers. The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale and Ardcady.

Jordan Stumpf - baritone

Jordan Stumpf is a third year Biomedical Science major at the University of Guelph minoring in Music.  Jordan had his first professional solo debut at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto in the Canadian premiere of Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings Symphony.  Since then, he has continued singing as a soloist around Southwestern Ontario with such groups as Elora Festival Singers, Arcady, Da Capo Chamber Choir, Renaissance Singers, and of course the Grand River Chorus.  Past solo performances with the Grand River Chorus include the Rachmaninoff Vespers and Saul.  Most recently, Jordan performed alongside Terry Vaskor for a solo recital titled Shades of Love.  Jordan also occasionally indulges in theatre, having performed with community groups such as the Community Players, in Joseph; The Singer’s Theatre, in Parade; and Royal City Musical Productions, in Iolanthe.  In his spare time, Jordan holds a small private studio of voice students in Guelph.  He is also a budding composer, having just recently recorded the music from his original musical entitled Beige.