Brainerd Blyden-Taylor is the Founder, Artistic Director and conductor of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Canada’s first professional chamber choir dedicated to the creation and performance of Afrocentric music of all styles. Born in Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Blyden-Taylor immigrated to Canada in 1973. He founded The Chorale in 1998, in response to a musical void in Canada; there had never before been a professional ensemble dedicated to the dissemination of Afrocentric choral music. The response that The Chorale has received in Canada and the United States since its inception has certainly given credence to Mr. Blyden-Taylor’s vision.

Mr. Blyden-Taylor has conducted several university, youth and concert choirs, most notably completing a 25 year tenure with The Orpheus Choir of Toronto. In addition he works frequently as a guest conductor, having appeared with organizations such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Hannaford Street Silver Band, Nova Scotia Youth Choir, Ontario Youth Choir, Central Manitoba Youth Choir and the New Brunswick Choral Federation Youth Sing. He has also worked as artistic director and advisor for the Algoma Festival Choir, the Nova Scotia Mass Choir and the Chatham-Kent Roots Festival.

Mr. Blyden-Taylor has served as a member of the teaching staff of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and the Faculty of Music, Queen’s University. He is a Master Teacher with the Toronto Board of Education, coaching teachers and students in conducting and choral technique, and was recently awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from York University in Toronto.

Mr. Blyden-Taylor is also in constant demand as a Clinician, Adjudicator and Lecturer both nationally and internationally, working extensively across Canada and the United States of America, as well as in Cuba and France. He has also been invited to deliver workshops in Japan, Turkey and Israel. In addition Mr. Blyden-Taylor is an active and lifelong church musician, particularly in the Anglican tradition.

Conductor and composer Dr. Patrick Murray is Director of Music at St. John’s Elora, where he directs the professional Parish Choir, one of Canada’s premiere sacred choral ensembles. Additionally, Murray serves as Artistic Director of Chor Amica (London ON) and director of the University of Toronto Scarborough Concert Choir. Murray’s original works and arrangements have been premiered by notable ensembles including New York Polyphony, Carmel Bach Festival, Utah State University, Grand Philharmonic Choir, DaCapo Chamber Choir, and others. Murray has taught at Western University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and University of Waterloo, as well as with children and youth at the Bach Children’s Chorus and Oakville Choirs. He holds degrees from University of Illinois, Yale University, and University of Toronto,