The Grand Philharmonic Choir here has announced the appointment of Mark Vuorinen as its new artistic director and conductor as of the 2010-11 season.
Vuorinen is a rising star in the Toronto choral music world, where he directs the acclaimed Toronto Chamber Choir. He is earning his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from University of Toronto. He is also the George Black Fellow in Sacred Music at Church of the Redeemer in Toronto.
Vuorinen has strong ties to Waterloo Region. He grew up here and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. He has conducted choirs at WLU and University of Waterloo, and was director of music at St. John’s–Kilmarnock School in Breslau for five years.
“It is a tremendous honour to be asked to become the next artistic director and conductor of this wonderful organization,” Vuorinen said. “The Grand Philharmonic Choir has played an important part in my own musical formation. Having grown up in Kitchener-Waterloo, I regularly attended performances with the choir, particularly those on Good Friday. At that time, I was hearing many of these masterworks for the first time; they had a profound effect on me then, as now.”
Vuorinen succeeds Howard Dyck, who is retiring this summer after an illustrious 38-year career of building the choir into a musical force that regularly showcases the world’s top soloists and performs the most challenging repertoire.
“I am delighted to be handing the reins of this proud organization to a dynamic young conductor,” Dyck said. “I want to encourage the community to support Mark Vuorinen in the same positive way that it supported me.”
John Cripton, the Grand Philharmonic Choir board member who led the search for a new artistic director, said Vuorinen is the ideal candidate to continue Dyck’s legacy.
“Mark’s training and experience and his artistic sensitivity are a perfect match for this unique music ensemble,” said Cripton. "I have been associated with the Grand Philharmonic for almost five years now and I continue to marvel at the high standards of repertoire selection and performance of this choir. Waterloo Region surely must know what an artistic gem it has thanks to the steadfast work of Howard Dyck."
Vuorinen praised Dyck for building the choir into “one of the finest symphony choruses in the country.
“He has brought the great masterworks to the Waterloo Region and introduced some of Canada’s finest soloists to this community. “I am excited to return to Waterloo Region to lead the Grand Philharmonic Choir into its next chapter.”
The search for Dyck’s replacement began last summer and reached across North America.
The search committee included outside experts from the academic and music community as well as choir and board members.
The choir is preparing for its performance of the Verdi Requiem on May 8 at 7:30 pm. at Centre in the Square. That will be its final concert under Dyck’s leadership, with a cast of renowned soloists and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Following the performance, there will be a gala reception on stage to say farewell to Dyck.
