Role

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Conductor  

 

Andrew McAnerney is a Canadian conductor, singer, and music educator who has made a significant impact on the classical music scene in Canada and beyond. Born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1973, McAnerney grew up in a musical family and began singing at a young age. He studied music at McGill University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in voice and choral conducting, and later pursued graduate studies in choral conducting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. McAnerney's career as a conductor began in earnest in the early 2000s, when he founded the vocal ensemble Capella Antica, which specializes in Renaissance and Baroque music. With Capella Antica, McAnerney has performed extensively throughout Canada and the United States, earning critical acclaim for his sensitive and nuanced interpretations of early music. In 2006, he was awarded the prestigious Healey Willan Grand Prize in Choral Conducting by the Canada Council for the Arts, which recognized his exceptional talent and promise as a conductor. In addition to his work with Capella Antica, McAnerney has served as the artistic director of several other prominent choral ensembles, including the Ottawa Bach Choir, the St. John's Choir of Elora, and the Montreal-based Ensemble Scholastica. With these groups, he has tackled a wide range of repertoire, from the sacred music of J.S. Bach to contemporary works by living composers. McAnerney is known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to draw out the best from his singers, whether they are seasoned professionals or amateur enthusiasts. One of McAnerney's most notable achievements as a conductor came in 2017, when he led the Ottawa Bach Choir in a performance of Bach's monumental Mass in B Minor. The concert, which was hailed as a triumph by critics and audiences alike, showcased McAnerney's skill at balancing the intricate counterpoint and complex harmonies of Bach's music with a sense of emotional depth and spiritual resonance. The performance was later released as a recording on the ATMA Classique label, further cementing McAnerney's reputation as one of Canada's leading interpreters of Bach's music. In addition to his work as a conductor, McAnerney is also an accomplished singer, with a rich baritone voice that has been praised for its warmth and clarity. He has performed as a soloist with many of Canada's leading orchestras and choirs, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Vancouver Chamber Choir. McAnerney's repertoire as a singer spans a wide range of styles and periods, from the medieval chants of Hildegard von Bingen to the contemporary works of Canadian composers such as R. Murray Schafer and Harry Somers. As an educator, McAnerney has taught at several universities and conservatories in Canada and the United States, including McGill University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is known for his engaging and inspiring teaching style, which emphasizes the importance of historical context, musical analysis, and expressive interpretation in the performance of classical music. Many of McAnerney's former students have gone on to successful careers as conductors, singers, and music educators in their own right. Throughout his career, McAnerney has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the classical music world.

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