Bach-Elgar Choir
History
History
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The Bach\-Elgar Choir was founded by [Bruce Carey](/wiki/Bruce_Carey "Bruce Carey") in 1905 under the name the Elgar Choir. The choir was subsequently conducted by G. Roy Fenwick, [W. H. Hewlett](/wiki/W._H._Hewlett "W. H. Hewlett"), and Edward Stewart. The choir disbanded for a few years during World War II, and reformed in 1947, joining with another disbanded amateur chorus, the Bach Choir (founded 1931 by Graham Godfrey), to form the renamed Bach\-Elgar Choir.["Hamilton Music through the Ages"](http://thespec-stories.com/2015/03/06/hamilton-music-through-the-ages/). *Hamilton Spectator*, Graham Rockingham, 2015/03/06 The Bach\-Elgar Choir made its debut in 1947 in [Handel](/wiki/Handel "Handel")'s *[Messiah](/wiki/Messiah_%28Handel%29 "Messiah (Handel)")* under [Charles Peaker](/wiki/Charles_Peaker "Charles Peaker") at Hamilton's Centenary United Church.

The choir began by presenting a subscription series of three to four concerts per year at Centenary United Church. Cyril Hampshire conducted the choir from 1948 to 1955, John Sidgwick from 1955 to 1960, Frank Thorolfson from 1960 to 1962, and [Charles Wilson](/wiki/Charles_Wilson_%28composer%29 "Charles Wilson (composer)") from 1962 to 1974\.*[Opera Canada](https://books.google.com/books?id=0ioKAQAAMAAJ)*. Vol. 12\-14\. Canadian Opera Association; 1971\. p. 24\. The concert series was moved to [Central Presbyterian Church](/wiki/Central_Presbyterian_Church_%28Hamilton%2C_Ontario%29 "Central Presbyterian Church (Hamilton, Ontario)") during the 1960s. In 1969 Wilson founded a 36\-voice subsidiary choir, the Bach Elgar Chamber Singers; they performed small concerts in Hamilton and southern Ontario for a number of years.

During the 1970s and 1980s the choir continued its concert series at [Christ's Church Cathedral](/wiki/Christ%27s_Church_Cathedral_%28Hamilton%2C_Ontario%29 "Christ's Church Cathedral (Hamilton, Ontario)"), with [Donald Kendrick](/wiki/Donald_Kendrick "Donald Kendrick") conducting from 1974 to 1978 and from 1981 to 1983, [Philip David Morehead](/wiki/Philip_David_Morehead "Philip David Morehead") from 1978 to 1980, and Denise Narcisse\-Mair from 1980 to 1981\.

In 1981 the Bach Elgar Children's Chorus was founded.

The choir continued under [Gerald Fagan](/wiki/Gerald_Fagan "Gerald Fagan") from 1983 to 1984\. By 1986 the choir had 95 members.["Canadian Brass offers a hot time at Thomson Hall"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/435540147). *Toronto Star* \- Toronto, Ont. Ronald Hambleton Dec 22, 1986, Page D.4 <https://www.proquest.com/docview/435540147> Wayne Strongman conducted the choir from 1984 to 1997; in the 1990s, concerts were performed at Toronto's Rosedale United Church, and at Hamilton Place (now [FirstOntario Concert Hall](/wiki/FirstOntario_Concert_Hall "FirstOntario Concert Hall")), where it has been a resident ensemble since 1975\. Philip Sarabura became conductor in 1998, and Ian Sadler from 2000 to 2005\. Concerts have been held at Melrose United Church since 2006\. [Howard Dyck](/wiki/Howard_Dyck "Howard Dyck") was artistic director from 2006 to 2010,["In gratitude of J.S. Bach: CBC Radio host/choral conductor ‘retires’ to other creative pursuits"](http://www.canadianmennonite.org/articles/gratitude-js-bach). March 16, 2011 \| *God at work in the World* \| Number 6\. By Dave Rogalsky and Alexander Cann has been the artistic director since 2010\.[*Bach\-Elgar Choir*](http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bach-elgar-choir-of-hamilton-emc/) in The Canadian Encyclopedia of Music

In 2018 the choir presented a series of concerts with the best\-known songs from Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.Judith Caldwell. ["Bach Elgar Choir does Gilbert \& Sullivan "](https://ontarioartsreview.ca/2018/02/26/bach-elgar-choir-does-gilbert-sullivan/). *Ontario Arts Review*. 26 Feb 2018 


What was the focus of the choir's presentation in 2018?