HUGH VAN PELT
FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
HUGH VAN PELT Hugh Van Pelt is the founding artistic director of Choral Connection with experience encompassing both choral and orchestral conducting.
Prior to his current involvement with Choral Connection, Mr. Van Pelt directed the St. Thomas Youth Choir. Throughout his tenure with this organization he prepared five European Tours spanning nine countries. He has conducted choirs in many of Europe’s most famous cathedrals including Westminster Abby, St Paul’s Cathedral, Cologne Cathedral and Coventry Cathedral. Highlights of these tours include conducting at the International Shrewsbury festival, the Rastaat Festival in Baden, Germany and the Bray Jazz Festival in Ireland. Hugh also collaborated with other choirs including the Trelawnd Male Choir in Rhyl, Wales and the Chor des Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium, Germany.
Past tenor solo engagements include performances of Bach’s Magnificat with the Gerald Fagan Singers, Mozart’s Requiem with the London Singers, Mozart’s Mass in C, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria (with Choral Connection), Schubert’s Mass in G with the Elgin Choral Society and Jenkin’s The Armed Man: Mass for Peace with Fanshawe Chorus London. Hugh has had the pleasure of performing Handel’s Messiah with a number of organizations, most recently with Arcady, the Gerald Fagan Singers, Fanshawe Chorus London, Karen Schuessler Singers, Clarion Symphony and the International Symphony in Sarnia and Port Huron. Internationally, Hugh has performed Schubert’s Mass in G with the Theodor Heuss Gymnasium Chor in Esselingen, Germany and Mozart’s Mass in C as part of the International Shrewsbury Festival. A personal highlight included the Brittish Isles’ premiere of Boccherini’s Gloria
LUCY VAN PELT
ACCOMPANIST
LUCY VAN PELT is a pianist and pedagogue who is not only interested in a wide range of music, but truly values collaborating with choirs, vocal soloists and instrumentalists. She enjoys performing chamber music and her playing is often noted for its luxurious tone and artistic presentation. Her musical passions encompass a wide range of genres and her enthusiasm and energy is directed at her ever expanding studio of piano students as well as her freelance work as accompanist and coach. She enjoys the theoretical components of music and often shares her ideas with those interested in analyzing and composing music. Her mentors have included John Pountney, Wayne Carroll, and Sonya Behrens. She is a graduate from the University of Western Ontario earning a Bachelor Degree in Piano Performance with Honours. She has also been awarded an Associate and a Licentiate Degree from Trinity College in London, England. She is grateful to be collaborating with Hugh Van Pelt, Artistic Director of Choral Connection, and has been the accompanist since the choir originated in 2003.