Melos Choir 2022/23

Melos Choir is an auditioned choir, active in Kingston for over 30 years. Most of our 32 singers are experienced choristers/musicians with a particular passion for early music across a range of periods and cultures. Our section leaders/soloists are voice teachers or cantors; have sung in groups like Tafelmusik, the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Canadian Opera Company; or are students/ recent grads of Queen's. The choir membership provides the backbone of our fundraising and Board of Directors. Thus we support Melos' active educational outreach in the community to instrumentalists and vocalists interested in period performance. We have a lot of fun and enjoy learning together with each outreach endeavour.

Sopranos    

Fiona Charles

Helen Cluett

Margot Craft

Donna Delyea

Gilda DiCola Mills

Laura Fissell

P. Jill Frick

JoAnne Hawley

Tarja Jaatinen

Catherine Lord

Zeinab Mohammed

*Safa Mozaffari Kojidi

Alice Nuevo

*Patty Smith

*Ariel Zaichick 

Altos  

Faiza Chowdhury

Elizabeth Cohoe

*Brenda Gluska 

Deborah MacCallum

Barbara MacDougall

Ruth Oliver

Ann Hunnisett Rouget

Maja-Lisa Thomson

Tenors   

Alex Barnes

Ian Coutts

*Gordon Gwynne-Timothy

Paul Malo

Youssef Mora

*Lorenzo Sivilotti

Cain Susko

Edgar Tumak

Basses

*Robert Burkolder

Michael Dufault

John Gale

Kris Michaelson

*Brent Nuevo

Alexandru Sonoc

Vincent Strohmaier

* indicates section leader/soloist

Melos Period Instruments

Melos Period Instruments is a group of dedicated, professional musicians, who have undertaken study of historically informed playing of replica instruments from the 9th-19th centuries. The group has a core of 12 regular players, as well as additional members who join us for expanded programs.

Melos Period Instruments, Western & Eastern:

Fahd Abou Zainedin, Syrian Oud

Eileen Beaudette, Viola

Michael Capon, Harpsichord 1, choir accompanist

Gisèle Dalbec-Szczesniak, Violin

Jennifer Day, Baroque Trumpet

Andrew Dicker, Violin

Lisa Draper, Violin

Julia du Prey, Recorders

William Egnatoff - Baroque Flute

P. Jill Frick, Recorders

Jeff Hamacher, Cello, Bass Gamba, Oud

John Hall, occasional harpichordist, choir accompanist; harpsichord tuning,

repair.

Daphne Kennedy, Cello

Walter Kipp, Baroque Oboe

Katie Legere, Baroque Bassoon, Dulcian, Recorders

Julia McFarlane, Violin

Brent Nuevo - Chamber Organ

Margaret Walker - Percussion, Medieval Harp

Guests and Mentors

Sadaf Amini, Iranian Santur

Jason Hawke, Recorders, Viol, Vielle, Rebec

Bryan Martin, Baritone, Medieval Lute

Paul Sanvidotti, Baroque Trumpet

Members of Navaa Ensemble:

Iman Moshiritabrizi, Tenor; Alireza Ghane, Tar; Reza Kashi, Daf

Members of Sine Nomine, Ensemble for Mediaeval Music: Rev’d Andrea Budgey, Bryan Martin, Randall Rosenfeld. https://pims.ca/article/sine-nomine/

Treasured Players Emeriti and Early Music Mentors:

Heather Schreiner, Baroque Oboe, recorders, viola da gamba, gemshorn, krumhorn, vielle

Aurora Dokken, harpsichord and organ
Daniel Chalmers, percussion

Joseph Haskour, percussion

Dr. David Cameron, Melos’ founder and Director, 1984 - November 2013.

 Photos by Daniel Clark - 2019, 2020