Stratford Concert Choir’s new artistic director excited for upcoming season

Stratford Concert Choir’s new artistic director, Alexander Cann, brings a well-rounded wealth of experience to develop the choir to new heights.

The Stratford Concert Choir’s new artistic director, Alexander Cann, has programmed an auspicious season of concerts sure to delight the audience. The 2025/26 season features four concerts that collaborate with other arts communities for a fullness that enhances the experience.

Cann is a well-rounded conductor, musician and teacher that brings a wealth of choral experience to the position of artistic director. He started playing piano at the age of five and attended Royal St. George’s College, a choir school in Toronto, at 11.

“It had a boys’ choir so that was really where I was exposed to choir music. I studied choral music at McGill University and that’s where I came into contact with Iwan Edwards. He was a great choral conductor and pedagogue and he conducted choirs at McGill and taught conducting, so I was lucky enough to learn from him,” said Cann.

He then did a master’s degree in Choral music at McGill, which is one of the few opportunities to learn at that level. Being able to conduct opera, symphony, choirs and now his own choirs brings a wealth of experience to Stratford.

“It involves ordinary people in the choir and because of this it links people to classical music, and you can engage with audiences and singers. You’re making a connection about the necessity and the power for that music for the people. Audiences respond and the singers respond as you guide them in their own journey. You learn from them much more than they learn from you. Iwan Edwards really opened my eyes to that,” said Cann.

His vision is to serve the composer and their vision and that requires a certain standard where the ensemble can effectively serve the composer’s vision. He believes in doing good concerts that have merit, so excellence is important. There is the joy of it as well.

“In my work it is important that people are comfortable and happy enjoying it. That has a big impact on the performance and that ability to achieve artistic heights which brings people along for new experiences, more difficult music and creative ideas. So that’s really important generating that sense of fun and joy in rehearsal and performances, and also focus,” said Cann.

The program for this season is ambitious with collaboration with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra and other soloists. This year, to Cann, the outstanding event will be Mozart’s Requiem, as this is to him a bucket list piece.

“If you have not seen the Mozart Requiem, then you must come and hear us perform it with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra. This is one of the great pieces of literature of all time. Audiences have loved it since it was first written as it speaks to some pretty elemental truths about ourselves as human beings and choirs love singing it because it’s so brilliant. It was written at the height of Mozart’s power, just before he died. It’s a big deal for Stratford, this is the full orchestration with the full symphony and top-notch soloists which will be fine indeed,” said Cann.

The first concert is A Canadian Christmas on Nov. 29 and is choir focused, showing the community who they are in their own right. It is familiar Christmas material arranged by Canadians. It also includes readings that are taken from archives and letters that feature Canada at Christmas time from the early 18th century to today. It focuses on how Canadians lived and the experiences they had. It is a storytelling event.

Second will be Handel’s Messiah with the Orchestra on Dec. 13 and 14.

“This is the biggest Messiah the choir has put on in a long time. It’s hard to be able to put together a big production in Stratford and the only reason we can do it is because it is a co-production with the symphony. They have so graciously agreed to do this because they know that it is a draw. People want their annual Messiah so we’re going to do it bigger and better than ever before,” said Cann.

The third concert is Mozart Requiem on March 21 and finally, something unlike Stratford has experienced before, is Sing Opperetta on May 23.

“This is a show which will feature excerpts of lighthearted stage works pulled from European, American and British stages, focusing on the choir and three soloists. It is an opportunity to hear this up close in a more intimate venue other than say on an opera stage, and it’s great fun, it’s high comedy and it’s very light-hearted and it’s lots of laughs,” said Cann. “It’s outright satire and silliness.”

With such an appetite for the arts in Stratford, Cann intends to develop a premier choir and audience outreach.

“Come and hear us, It’s all about enjoyment. Our season is pretty uncomplicated and enjoyable, which is what choral music ought to be,” said Cann.

For more information and for tickets to the concerts, visit stratfordconcertchoir.org.