ORGANIST

JOHN GUZIK

John began, from grass roots in rural Saskatchewan, as a pianist studying in the nearest city North Battleford. Eventually he moved to the capital to complete a degree at the University of Regina in Piano and Organ. He worked with various groups throughout Saskatchewan both as a pianist and also as a developing conductor. From there he moved to Montreal to pursue a Masters degree in choral conducting at McGill University, studying with renowned conductors Iwan Edwards, Julian Wachner, and Robert Ingari. He has also studied with Tafelmusik in Toronto and has worked at the Berkshire Choral Festival in Massachusetts with conductors Craig Jessop (Mormon Tabernacle Choir), Joseph Colaneri (Metropolitan Opera, New York) and Nicholas Cleobury (Oxford Bach Choir, England). Presently he is occupied as the Organist and Musical Director of Westmount Park United Church, Auxiliary Organist at St. Patrick’s Basilica, professional singer in the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Chorus and is employed as a sessional instructor at McGill. He has performed numerous organ concerts, some of which have been broadcast on CBC and also has been a guest performer for the Royal Canadian College of Organists. He is the founder of the early music group Contrepunktus and the director of the Choeur Milton-Parc and the Montreal German Choir.

SOLOISTS

LOUISE YARD

Montreal born soprano and teacher Louise Yard received her voice training from Huguette Tourangeau and Barry Thompson. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music from Concordia University. Professionally, she has sung for many years with an extensive repertoire of music in classical and more contemporary style in English, French, Italian, German, Russian, Polish and Portuguese. She has sung in other venues in Eastern Canada and is currently singing as a guest soloist in various concerts in Montreal. As well, she has been teaching privately the belconto technique for the past twenty years.