Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

1953 in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Lydia Adams is a renowned Canadian conductor and choral music artist. She was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1953. Her passion for music began at a young age, and she started playing the piano when she was just five years old. Her parents were both music lovers, and they encouraged her to pursue her passion for music. Adams attended the University of Toronto, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. She then went on to study choral conducting at the University of Illinois, where she earned a Master of Music degree. She also studied at the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado. Adams began her career as a music teacher in the Toronto District School Board. She also worked as a church organist and choir director. In 1984, she founded the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto, which quickly became one of Canada's leading choral ensembles. Under Adams' leadership, the Amadeus Choir has performed with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The choir has also performed at major music festivals, including the Edinburgh International Festival, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, and the Festival of the Sound. Adams has also conducted many other choral ensembles, including the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and the Canadian Children's Opera Company. She has also conducted orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Adams has received many awards and honors for her contributions to music. In 2004, she was awarded the Order of Ontario, the province's highest honor. In 2013, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contributions to Canadian music. She has also received the Roy Thomson Hall Award for Artistic Leadership and the Toronto Arts Foundation's Muriel Sherrin Award for International Achievement in Music. Adams is also a respected music educator and has taught at the University of Toronto, the University of Western Ontario, and the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has also conducted workshops and masterclasses for choral conductors and singers across Canada and around the world. In addition to her work as a conductor and music educator, Adams is also a composer and arranger. She has written many choral works, including "The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass," which was commissioned by the Louisville Orchestra and premiered in 2008. She has also arranged many works for choir, including "O Canada," which is the Canadian national anthem. Adams' contributions to music have been recognized not only in Canada but also around the world. She is a respected and admired figure in the classical music world, and her work has inspired countless musicians and music lovers.

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