Commissioned Works
In the summer of 2019, the Choir School began commissioning two new works each year. These pieces are premiered at our annual services of Christmas Lessons and Carols and Good Friday Tenebrae.
December 2019 - 'The Christ Child' - Laura Hawley Text: The Christ Child, G.K. Chesterton
Premiered at the Seventh Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols Service - December 13, 2019 Metropolitan United Church
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Laura Hawley is a Canadian musician known for her distinctive compositional style, innovative artistic programming, pianistic sensitivity, and multi-faceted contributions to the musical and educational communities locally and throughout Canada.
Laura is the founding director of Hypatia’s Voice Women’s Choir, was the founding accompanist, associate director, and composer-in-residence for the Cantiamo Girls Choir from 2003-2017, and accompanied the Ottawa Children’s Chamber Choir from 2008-2011. She teaches at the University of Ottawa School of Music as well as in her private studio, and has taught at Carleton University. Laura has been Director of Music at St. John’s South March Anglican Church since 2007. |
April 2020 - 'The Rood' - Rob Cairns Text: The Dream of the Rood, Anonymous
Premiered in April 2022
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Rob Cairns is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Music where he received both his Honours Bachelor and Masters degrees, and Althouse College where he completed his Education degree. Prior to this he attended Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, graduating in Technical Theatre. While at University he was presented with both the Albert Winslow Award in Choral Conducting and the Don Wright Scholarship in Vocal Music. Rob is presently a teacher at Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts in London, Ontario where he specializes in Vocal Music and Drama. He also conducts the St. Thomas Youth Choir and the St. Thomas Children's Choir. The Youth Choir regularly tour overseas to participate in international choral festivals. At Metropolitan Rob serves as Associate Musician and is responsible for teaching and directing our various handbell ensembles.
Rob’s burgeoning career as a composer includes various pieces for handbells and voice, choral settings of the words of Shakespeare, and a variety of works for the church. Rob Cairns' Missa Brevis was given its world premiere by the Metropolitan Choir in the spring of 2019, with the composer conducting. |
July 2020 - 'Psalm 100' - Christopher Totney Text: Psalm 100
Premiered in September 2021
One of the choristers' favourite settings of the Evening Canticles is the Durham Service by Christopher Totney. Having sung this wonderful setting numerous times at Choral Evensongs over the past few years it seemed only correct that the choir should commission Mr. Totney to compose a setting of Psalm 100 (KJV) for their 2020 residency at Norwich Cathedral.
December 2020 - 'Christmas Morning ' - Ian Wicks Text: Poem, Eugene Field
Premiered in December, 2021
Ian Wicks is a British organist, pianist and a composer. Ian read Chemical Engineering at Exeter University where he combined the posts of Choral Scholar in Exeter Cathedral Choir with that of Organ Scholar in the University Chapel. Following university he joined the St Albans Cathedral Choir under Barry Rose.
Ian spent seventeen years as Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral School. From January to April 2017, he was Acting Assistant Director of Music of Salisbury Cathedral. Ian was Musical Director of the St John Singers of Salisbury and Assistant Conductor of the Salisbury Musical Society. He founded the Salisbury Cathedral Youth Choir in September 2016 and was a member of the close harmony group Sarum Six. Ian is currently the Head of Keyboard Studies at the Rugby School.
Ian spent seventeen years as Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral School. From January to April 2017, he was Acting Assistant Director of Music of Salisbury Cathedral. Ian was Musical Director of the St John Singers of Salisbury and Assistant Conductor of the Salisbury Musical Society. He founded the Salisbury Cathedral Youth Choir in September 2016 and was a member of the close harmony group Sarum Six. Ian is currently the Head of Keyboard Studies at the Rugby School.
December 2021 - 'A Christmas Carol' - Simon Lole Text: Christina Rosetti
Premiered in December 2021
Simon Lole has spent a lifetime in music, starting as a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. He received his musical training at the Guildhall School of Music and King’s College, London University. He spent many years as a professional church musician, culminating in positions as Director of Music at Sheffield Cathedral and then Salisbury Cathedral, and running the Chapel Choir and teaching at Jesus College, Cambridge University.
Since 2005, he has worked as a freelance musician, musical director, composer, arranger, conductor and organist, as well as record producer and workshop leader. He is increasingly in demand by the major record companies as an arranger, performer and conductor, particularly in the field of classical-crossover music. He has been musical director and arranger for All Angels, Laura Wright, Aled Jones, Hayley Westenra (with whom he has toured Japan), Will Martin, Blake, Camilla Kerslake, The Choirgirl Isabel, The German Choirboys, Russell Watson and Celeste. He has worked regularly with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, conducting sessions for Universal Records, as well as with many distinguished London session musicians.
Since 2005, he has worked as a freelance musician, musical director, composer, arranger, conductor and organist, as well as record producer and workshop leader. He is increasingly in demand by the major record companies as an arranger, performer and conductor, particularly in the field of classical-crossover music. He has been musical director and arranger for All Angels, Laura Wright, Aled Jones, Hayley Westenra (with whom he has toured Japan), Will Martin, Blake, Camilla Kerslake, The Choirgirl Isabel, The German Choirboys, Russell Watson and Celeste. He has worked regularly with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, conducting sessions for Universal Records, as well as with many distinguished London session musicians.
April 2022 - 'Christ died for us' - A Young Kim, FRCCO
Premiered in April 2022
A Young Kim graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where she earned master's degree both in music composition and organ performance. She studied composition and electronic music with Dr. Robert Frank and Dr. Martin Sweidel, and studied organ and harpsichord with Dr. Larry Palmer. She obtained a B.M in composition from Yonsei University, where she studied with Jiesun Lim, Seokjun Gong and Nanwook Paik. During that time she also studied organ with Soo Young Kim at Aquinas Institutum Musicae Sacrae.
Kim participated in June in Buffalo festival in 2008 and performed her electro-acoustic piece, Meeting of Two Strangers and studied with various faculties including Cort Lippe, Roberto Morales, Morton Subotnick and Hans Tutschuku. She was awarded for her suite for woodwind quartet from Deagu Contemporary Universiade of Young Musicians' Society in 2004, and performed the awarded piece. She received Dora Pottet Barckay Award, Meadows Artist Awards, O'Brien Scholarship and Johnson Doris Scholarship from Meadows school of Arts, Southern Methodist University.
She is also active as an arranger and orchestrator. She worked for various performances including the exciting concert for children in Deagu in 2005 and the Seoul Metropolitan Opera:Gala concert in 2004, the Japanese tour of Korean opera Shimcheong (Dong Jin Kim) in 2005 and the Joy Ensemble concert in 2008, several concerts of the Hwaum Chamber Orchestra (2009-2011). She worked as both a score editor and an arranger for Hallelujah Christian Church (2003-2005), for Dallas Young Nak Presbyterian Church (2006-2008).
As an organist, A Young Kim was presented at the Rising Stars concert of Dallas chapter of the American Guild of Organists. She also appeared at Meadows Museum's Organ music in gallery. Since 2018 A Young Kim has been the Shipman Organ Scholar at Metropolitan United Church
Kim participated in June in Buffalo festival in 2008 and performed her electro-acoustic piece, Meeting of Two Strangers and studied with various faculties including Cort Lippe, Roberto Morales, Morton Subotnick and Hans Tutschuku. She was awarded for her suite for woodwind quartet from Deagu Contemporary Universiade of Young Musicians' Society in 2004, and performed the awarded piece. She received Dora Pottet Barckay Award, Meadows Artist Awards, O'Brien Scholarship and Johnson Doris Scholarship from Meadows school of Arts, Southern Methodist University.
She is also active as an arranger and orchestrator. She worked for various performances including the exciting concert for children in Deagu in 2005 and the Seoul Metropolitan Opera:Gala concert in 2004, the Japanese tour of Korean opera Shimcheong (Dong Jin Kim) in 2005 and the Joy Ensemble concert in 2008, several concerts of the Hwaum Chamber Orchestra (2009-2011). She worked as both a score editor and an arranger for Hallelujah Christian Church (2003-2005), for Dallas Young Nak Presbyterian Church (2006-2008).
As an organist, A Young Kim was presented at the Rising Stars concert of Dallas chapter of the American Guild of Organists. She also appeared at Meadows Museum's Organ music in gallery. Since 2018 A Young Kim has been the Shipman Organ Scholar at Metropolitan United Church
May 2022 'Veni, sancte spiritus' - Sarah Quartel
Premiere - October 30, 2022
Technically this composition was not commissioned by the Choir School, but was a gift to our singers on the part of Sarah Quartel. It was originally composed to be sung on our 2022 Atlantic Provinces Tour, however this tour was cancelled. The work will now be premiered on Sunday, October 30th on the 200th Anniversary of Metropolitan United Church.
Sarah Quartel is a Canadian composer and educator known for her fresh and exciting approach to choral music. She celebrates the musical potential of all learners by providing singers access to high quality repertoire and engaging music education. Sarah's choral works are performed by children, youth, and adults throughout the world and her work as an educator connects exciting musical experiences with meaningful classroom learning.
Sarah regularly partners with ensembles worldwide on commissioning projects. In 2015, her work 'Wide Open Spaces' was commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association and received its premiere performance under the baton of Bob Chilcott. In 2017, her work 'Snow Angel' was performed at Lincoln Center in New York City by the National Children's Chorus of the United States of America. Her compositions have been featured in numerous concerts, commercial recordings, and radio broadcasts internationally.
Sarah is signed to Oxford University Press. She is an educator in Ontario, Canada and continues to work as a guest clinician at various music education and choral events internationally. She currently lives and writes in both Ontario and Hawaii.
Veni Sancte Spiritus", sometimes called the Golden Sequence, is a sequence prescribed in the Roman Liturgy for the Masses of Pentecost and its octave, exclusive of the following Sunday. It is usually attributed to either the thirteenth-century Pope Innocent III or to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Stephen Langton, although it has been attributed to others as well. It has been set to music by a number of composers, especially during the Renaissance, including Dufay, Josquin, Willaert, Palestrina, John Dunstaple, Lassus, Victoria, and Byrd. Later composers who have set the text include Arvo Pärt and Morten Lauridsen.
Sarah Quartel is a Canadian composer and educator known for her fresh and exciting approach to choral music. She celebrates the musical potential of all learners by providing singers access to high quality repertoire and engaging music education. Sarah's choral works are performed by children, youth, and adults throughout the world and her work as an educator connects exciting musical experiences with meaningful classroom learning.
Sarah regularly partners with ensembles worldwide on commissioning projects. In 2015, her work 'Wide Open Spaces' was commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association and received its premiere performance under the baton of Bob Chilcott. In 2017, her work 'Snow Angel' was performed at Lincoln Center in New York City by the National Children's Chorus of the United States of America. Her compositions have been featured in numerous concerts, commercial recordings, and radio broadcasts internationally.
Sarah is signed to Oxford University Press. She is an educator in Ontario, Canada and continues to work as a guest clinician at various music education and choral events internationally. She currently lives and writes in both Ontario and Hawaii.
Veni Sancte Spiritus", sometimes called the Golden Sequence, is a sequence prescribed in the Roman Liturgy for the Masses of Pentecost and its octave, exclusive of the following Sunday. It is usually attributed to either the thirteenth-century Pope Innocent III or to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Stephen Langton, although it has been attributed to others as well. It has been set to music by a number of composers, especially during the Renaissance, including Dufay, Josquin, Willaert, Palestrina, John Dunstaple, Lassus, Victoria, and Byrd. Later composers who have set the text include Arvo Pärt and Morten Lauridsen.
July 2024 - Wait his time Patiently
Dr. Gregg Redner
Premiere - Sunday, July 21, 2024
Norwich Cathedral
Premiere - Sunday, July 21, 2024
Norwich Cathedral
'Wait his time patiently' was composed for the Choristers' 2024 Tour to England. It is based on the words of Norwich's first Bishop Herbert Losinga, who was responsible for building the cathedral. The text deals with the patient use of the tools one has been given by God, and their application to a greater purpose - in this case, the building of a great cathedral.
The Choristers premiered this four part unaccompanied anthem at Norwich Cathedral, during Choral Evensong on the Feast Day of the Bishop.
The Choristers premiered this four part unaccompanied anthem at Norwich Cathedral, during Choral Evensong on the Feast Day of the Bishop.