Fran Farrell Joins Aeolian Singers as Interim Conductor
(Halifax, NS) The Aeolian Singers (www.aeoliansingers.ca) are delighted to announce that well-known choral conductor and music educator Frances Farrell is leading the choir for the 2017 winter-spring term. The choir will perform under Fran’s direction in May at First Baptist Church in Halifax. New choristers wishing to audition for the choir are still being accepted; visit the website for more information.
A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Frances Farrell pursued her music studies in Winnipeg, graduating with both Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Manitoba. She subsequently earned a Master’s Degree and Artist’s Diploma in vocal performance from McGill University. Fran is currently enrolled in her fourth year of the Doctoral program in Choral Conducting at the University of Toronto where she studies with Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt.
Prior to this, Fran spent ten years as a high school music educator with the Halifax Regional School Board teaching general music and voice classes, directing high school concert choirs and an auditioned youth choir called Soundtrax. In addition to her role as a high school music educator, Fran has worked as a choral clinician in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta. Her recent conducting experiences include directing the University of Toronto Women’s Chorus and Florivox, a recently formed women’s community choir under the auspices of the Univox Choir organization. This year, Fran will continue her doctoral research into the role of improvisation in traditional choral settings while maintaining a position with the Halifax Regional School Board where she will conduct three high school choirs within the Halifax All-City Music program in addition to serving as interim conductor for the Aeolians.
Now in their 41st season, the Aeolian Singers (www.aeoliansingers.ca) began in 1976 under founding director Claire Wall as a program of Dartmouth Continuing Education. Since then, they were also conducted by Jacqueline Chambers, and most recently, Janet Gaskin. The Aeolians are champions of music for women, and over the years have commissioned many new works by a range of Canadian composers, including music by singer/songwriters Susan Crowe, Connie Kaldor and the late Raylene Rankin. They’ve shared the stage with a who’s who of musicians in their innovative and moving programs, and made three recordings, including the Canadian premiere of breast cancer oratorio, Where I Live, which they subsequently recorded, and performed with Symphony Nova Scotia and throughout Atlantic Canada, the U.K. and Europe. Heather Fraser will join the choir as Artistic Director commencing with the 2017-18 season. The Aeolians are accompanied by Diana Torbert, and their Assistant Conductor is Joanne Slack.