Da Camera Singers
Since its inception in 1961, Da Camera Singers, now under the direction of John Brough, has established a strong presence in the Alberta choral community and holds the distinction of being Edmonton’s longest-standing chamber choir. The choir performs a diverse repertoire that encompasses classical music from the Renaissance to the 20th century, oratorios, and folk song arrangements and other lighter works. As well as being active with their own annual three-concert season, Da Camera Singers has performed on many occasions with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Alberta Baroque Ensemble under the direction of such esteemed conductors as Bernard Labadie, Ivars Taurins and William Eddins. In February 2009, Da Camera Singers’ concert Eulogies was recorded by CBC for broadcast on Choral Concert and Concerts on Demand, and is now available for sale.
Choir
Da Camera Singers is a non-professional choir which provides accomplished singers an opportunity to express the joy, beauty and bond of choral singing in a chamber choir. The choir rehearses every Monday evening and holds a series to weekend retreats to help develop the repertoire, the sound of the choir and the community that is Da Camera. All accomplished singers from the Edmonton area are welcome to apply to join the choir; annual membership is determined by audition. For more information on joining Da Camera Singers please contact Da Camera Singers on our contact page.
Da Camera Singers Board of Directors
The board of Da Camera Singers is made up of singing and non-singing members. The Artistic Director, Accompanist, Assistant Conductor and Business Manager are paid an honorarium. All other positions with the choir and the board are volunteer positions. The Board oversees: a three-concert season; annual choir retreat; auditions; guest appearances with other arts groups; hiring guest performers and orchestral musicians; volunteer appearances; paid private and corporate performances; all fund-raising activities; along with the hiring of all paid staff.
John Brough, Artistic Director
Dr. John Brough is in his seventh year as artistic director of Da Camera Singers. He has led the choir in concerts featuring such works as Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil, Bach’s Cantata No. 4, Christ Lag in Todes Banden, and Handel’s Dixit Dominus. Dr. Brough has also prepared the choir for appearances with the Alberta Baroque Ensemble and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Brough received his Doctor of Music degree from the University of Alberta and studied conducting with Leonard Ratzlaff, Debra Cairns, and Malcolm Forsyth (Alberta); Jon Washburn (Vancouver); Lawrence Ewashko (Ontario); and Frieder Bernius (Stuttgart, Germany). In November 2008, he led the Alberta Baroque Ensemble and Richard Eaton Singers in a rare production of Handel’s Solomon with world-renowned soprano Nancy Argenta and countertenor Daniel Taylor.
Dr. Brough is sought after throughout Canada as an adjudicator and clinician. He sits on the board of examiners for Conservatory Canada. He currently teaches music history at the Concordia University College School of Music. Dr. Brough has sung with Musica Divina (Ottawa) and Madrigal Singers (Edmonton) and continues to perform with Pro Coro Canada and Ensemble de la Rue. He is co-artistic director of the Scona Chamber Singers and vice-president of the newly established Early Music Alberta.