Cantores Celestes All Women Choir

Cantores Celestes All Women Choir
	Conductor: Kelly Galbraith Cantores Celestes is one of the few women’s choirs in Toronto, Canada. The choir was founded in 1989. The ensemble began as a group of eight women who wanted to sing interesting thematic choral programs and develop concerts that involved participation from other art forms. These concerts have included exhibits from local visual artists, readings from Toronto authors, dramatic presentations, period costumes and a variety of multimedia presentations. The members of Cantores Celestes believe in giving back to the community and have donated over $25,000 to local charities. The choir actively performs at various religious services and musical celebrations in the Greater Toronto Area. We are a not-for-profit, non-professional (only as far as wages are concerned - not referring to quality!) group who perform for the love of singing! From our beginnings as an eight-woman choir we have grown into a 40-voice ensemble, representing women of all ages and from all walks of life. Cantores Celestes does not rely on government grants to subsidize its activities. Audience attendance and corporate sponsors are truly responsible for the continuing success of this highly trained and enthusiastic choir. The cost of admission is a small price to pay to ensure that inspirational music continues to be an integral part of community life. Cantores Celestes has appeared on both CBC Radio One and Radio 2, as well as CBC’s commercially released video, Clyde Gilmour: a Celebration in Words and Music .They have recorded music for three films and have released six CDs: Wassail!, Bright Shining as the Sun, Love's Pure Light, The Circle Never Ends, Wake Up in the Moonlight Singing -- and Women of Light, their 6th recording, which marks their 20th anniversary. Cantores was one of the invited choirs participating in Newfoundland's Festival 500, a festival that brings together choirs from around the world. They performed in St. Andrews, Fredericton and Saint John in July 2008 with terrific musicians from the communities. Cantores Celestes toured western Ontario in June 2009. They have been invited to be the opening act at Barrie’s 2010 Colours of Music Festival.
	Kelly Galbraith, conductor Choral music has always been a passion of Cantores Celestes director Kelly Galbraith. Since childhood she has not only sung in choirs but, as a student in high school, was music director and organist at a local church in Saint John. While a student at Mount Allison she had opportunities to conduct the Mt. A Women's Choir, and it was that experience that shaped her quest to discover the greatest beauty that choral music offers. Her work life has been closely connected to CBC Radio. She began her career as music consultant for CBC International Relations and from that position gained experience as producer for Choral Concert and Saturday Afternoon at the Opera; she also organized the CBC Choral Competition for Amateur Choirs. Kelly was the senior producer for the classical music program, Music & Company, and she produced a special radio day celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Life and Times of Thomas Tallis. When CBC Radio began to broadcast on Sirius, Kelly was involved in its development. Besides conducting Cantores Celestes, the choir she founded over 20 years ago, she has been the conductor of the mixed-voice Manulife Financial Choir for 18 years and is the first-ever conductor of the CBC Complaints Choir. Kelly loves broadcasting and is currently a freelance producer, working for CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two as well as Sirius. For the last eight years or so she has also been the programmer for CBC Classical Music Galaxie channels Opera Plus and Classic Masters. Kelly is music director of Royal York Road United Church, Toronto. She is also a member of New Music Canada, CARAS, SOCAN, The East Coast Music Association, Choirs Ontario, The Musicians Union and the RCCO. One of Kelly's joys is taking her dogs Lucy and Porter every week for the Pet Therapy program at Runnymede Chronic Care Hospital.

Conductor: Kelly Galbraith

Cantores Celestes is one of the few women’s choirs in Toronto, Canada. The choir was founded in 1989. The ensemble began as a group of eight women who wanted to sing interesting thematic choral programs and develop concerts that involved participation from other art forms. These concerts have included exhibits from local visual artists, readings from Toronto authors, dramatic presentations, period costumes and a variety of multimedia presentations.

The members of Cantores Celestes believe in giving back to the community and have donated over $25,000 to local charities. The choir actively performs at various religious services and musical celebrations in the Greater Toronto Area. We are a not-for-profit, non-professional (only as far as wages are concerned - not referring to quality!) group who perform for the love of singing! From our beginnings as an eight-woman choir we have grown into a 40-voice ensemble, representing women of all ages and from all walks of life.

Cantores Celestes does not rely on government grants to subsidize its activities. Audience attendance and corporate sponsors are truly responsible for the continuing success of this highly trained and enthusiastic choir. The cost of admission is a small price to pay to ensure that inspirational music continues to be an integral part of community life.

Cantores Celestes has appeared on both CBC Radio One and Radio 2, as well as CBC’s commercially released video, Clyde Gilmour: a Celebration in Words and Music .They have recorded music for three films and have released six CDs: Wassail!, Bright Shining as the Sun, Love's Pure Light, The Circle Never Ends, Wake Up in the Moonlight Singing -- and Women of Light, their 6th recording, which marks their 20th anniversary. Cantores was one of the invited choirs participating in Newfoundland's Festival 500, a festival that brings together choirs from around the world.

They performed in St. Andrews, Fredericton and Saint John in July 2008 with terrific musicians from the communities. Cantores Celestes toured western Ontario in June 2009. They have been invited to be the opening act at Barrie’s 2010 Colours of Music Festival.

Kelly Galbraith, conductor

Choral music has always been a passion of Cantores Celestes director Kelly Galbraith. Since childhood she has not only sung in choirs but, as a student in high school, was music director and organist at a local church in Saint John. While a student at Mount Allison she had opportunities to conduct the Mt. A Women's Choir, and it was that experience that shaped her quest to discover the greatest beauty that choral music offers.

Her work life has been closely connected to CBC Radio. She began her career as music consultant for CBC International Relations and from that position gained experience as producer for Choral Concert and Saturday Afternoon at the Opera; she also organized the CBC Choral Competition for Amateur Choirs. Kelly was the senior producer for the classical music program, Music & Company, and she produced a special radio day celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Life and Times of Thomas Tallis. When CBC Radio began to broadcast on Sirius, Kelly was involved in its development. Besides conducting Cantores Celestes, the choir she founded over 20 years ago, she has been the conductor of the mixed-voice Manulife Financial Choir for 18 years and is the first-ever conductor of the CBC Complaints Choir. Kelly loves broadcasting and is currently a freelance producer, working for CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two as well as Sirius. For the last eight years or so she has also been the programmer for CBC Classical Music Galaxie channels Opera Plus and Classic Masters. Kelly is music director of Royal York Road United Church, Toronto. She is also a member of New Music Canada, CARAS, SOCAN, The East Coast Music Association, Choirs Ontario, The Musicians Union and the RCCO. One of Kelly's joys is taking her dogs Lucy and Porter every week for the Pet Therapy program at Runnymede Chronic Care Hospital.