History
The Canadian Celtic Choir is a London-based SATB choir that was founded in 1996 by Dan Surman, BFA (Specialized Honours Music), B.Ed, to sing and promote Celtic choral music and culture. The Choir has built a solid reputation as one of the most in demand choirs in Southern Ontario. The Canadian Celtic Choir’s repertoire features songs from Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, and the Canadian Maritimes ranging from the traditional (including a few songs sung in Irish and Scots Gaelic) to the more contemporary.
We are led by conductor Paul Grambo (appointed March 2020). Prior to his appointment as conductor, Paul has also served as our voice coach, emcee, and alternate conductor. In addition to leading the CCC, Paul is a member of the Grammy-winning and Juno-nominated Elora Festival Singers, Artistic Director of London Pro Musica Choir, and has his own voice studio. We wish to thank William “Bill” Zadorsky who retired as our conductor in March 2020 after 10 years of inspirational leadership. Stephen Holowitz is our new accompanist who joined us after Jean Willadsen retired at the beginning of the 2022-23 Season.
CCC – Conductors
Dan Surman, BFA (Specialized Honours Music), B.Ed – January 1996 to August 2008
Andrew Keegan Mackriell, Royal Irish Academy of Music (Lecturer), LL.B. Hons – September 2008 to December 2009
Bill Zadorsky, B.Mus, M.Ed – January 2010 to March 2020
Paul Grambo, B.Mus, M.Mus – March 2020 to present
CCC – Accompanists
Judith McCrea, B.Mus, Diploma Collaborative Piano – January 1996 to May 1998
Stephanie Burgoyne, ARCT, ARCCO, MSc, PhD – Sept 1998 to April 1999
Grace Yip, B.Mus, M.Mus, B.Ed – May 1999 to December 2009
Jean Willadsen, ARCT, A.Mus, BA – January 2010 to November 2022
Stephen Holowitz, B.Mus - November 2022 to the present
The Canadian Celtic Choir has performed both nationally and internationally including: Pier 21 in Halifax, Canada Summer Games, Windsor Celtic Festival, Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, Owen Sound Celtic Festival, Fergus Highland Games, Home County Music & Art Festival (London), Canterbury Folk Festival (Ingersoll), Fieldcote Summer Music Series (Ancaster), Lighthouse Theatre (Port Dover), the opening of the Wolf Performance Hall (London, Ontario), Brantford Music Club at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts (Brantford, Ontario), Women’s Canadian Club (London, Ontario) and several times with Orchestra London Canada (now London Symphonia). The CCC has opened for the Men of The Deeps, The Irish Descendants, John McDermott, Lighthouse, and John Tesh.
In March 2007, the Canadian Celtic Choir was honoured to be the first choral group to be selected from outside of the Ottawa area to sing at a National Ceremony of Remembrance for the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge Service at the National War Memorial in Ottawa (it was broadcast on nationally on CBC television/radio & CTV).
In March 2008, the Choir travelled to Maui, Hawaii for our first international tour. In July 2014, the choir toured Scotland and England for 10 days singing in historic venues such as Stirling Castle, St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, the Robert Burns Museum in Ayr, and at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare is buried. In June of 2017, the choir toured the Canadian Maritimes with stops in Moncton, Norton, Charlottetown, Cornwall, Baddeck and Halifax (where we sang the National Anthem for the Citizenship Ceremonies at Pier 21 on Canada Day). Unfortunately, our scheduled tour of Ireland for summer 2020 had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. We look forward to the time when we will be able to tour again.
The choir won the Best Classical Vocal Group category of the London Music Awards in both 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2010 the CCC was inducted into the London Music Awards Hall of Fame. In August 2010 we were honoured as the Mayor’s Featured Community Organization by Pillar Non-Profit Network. In 2012 we were nominated for the Most Popular Classical Choir at the 2012 Forest City London Music Awards and won the award in 2015.
The CCC has released five CDs, Here’s To Song (2001), Christmas Remembered (2004) and We Rise Again (2007) which are all out of print. The two most recent CDs are: A Celtic Noel (2013), and Celtic Inspiration (2014) and are available for purchase from our website and at our concerts.
The CCC has produced a series of videos that are available for all to enjoy on our YouTube channel and can also be viewed through our website and Facebook page.
The Canadian Celtic Choir is a registered non-profit organization based in London, Ontario.