Internationally Acclaimed Choral Director to Host Free Choral Masterclass at Roberts Wesleyan University

Roberts Wesleyan University will present a free choral masterclass to the public on, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, at 6 p.m., featuring Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, the renowned founder, artistic director and conductor of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, a professional Afrocentric vocal ensemble from Toronto, Canada. Singers, choral conductors, music educators and anyone interested in choral music will find much to learn and enjoy during the class, which will be hosted in the Shewan Recital Hall on the Roberts Wesleyan University campus.

The class will consist of a brief lecture by Blyden-Taylor, after which he will coach two demonstration choirs: Roberts Wesleyan University’s premier student ensemble, The Roberts Chorale, and Resonanz, an outreach chamber choir of the Rochester Oratorio Society. At the conclusion of the masterclass, Blyden-Taylor will take questions from the audience.

Blyden-Taylor founded The Nathaniel Dett Chorale in 1998 after immigrating to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago and identifying a lack of professional representation for Afrocentric choral music in the country’s performing arts scene. Upon its founding, the Chorale became Canada’s first professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues. The group of 21 classically trained vocalists have shared the stage with internationally recognized artists such as Juno Award-winning jazz pianist Joe Sealy and have performed at global events honoring distinguished world leaders, including Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Throughout his accomplished career in music, Blyden-Taylor has conducted several university, youth and concert choirs, most notably concluding a 25-year tenure with The Orpheus Choir of Toronto. He also served as a member of the teaching faculty at several universities in Canada, including the University of Toronto and Queen’s University.

“Roberts Wesleyan is pleased to partner with several Rochester choral music organizations to bring Brainerd Blyden-Taylor to campus,” said Adam Potter, director of choral activities at Roberts Wesleyan University. “Our students had the privilege of singing under his baton a year ago and found the experience rewarding on many levels. We’re excited for him to share his wealth of knowledge and experiences with the Greater Rochester community in this format.”

The masterclass is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged in advance by calling the Rochester Oratorio Society at 585-473-2234. The event is made possible through a generous sponsorship from the Rochester Oratorio Society and additional support from the Greater Rochester Choral Consortium’s Roger Wilhelm Project Fund.

About Roberts Wesleyan University

Roberts Wesleyan University is New York’s leading university for character education. Committed to the development of the whole person, the institution is focused on student growth through Christ-centered education, transformational learning and service to others. With more than 1,600 students and a tradition of excellence since 1866, the university strives to inspire students to transform themselves and the world, and offers over 90 undergraduate, graduate and adult-degree completion programs taught by high-quality, supportive faculty. Roberts Wesleyan University also has two doctoral programs in clinical/school psychology and occupational therapy. Redhawks Athletics intercollegiate sports teams compete as members of NCAA Division II. For more information, visit roberts.edu/about.

About the Rochester Oratorio Society

Founded in 1945, the Rochester Oratorio Society is the region’s leading choral ensemble. The Oratorio Society has toured the world, commissioned and premiered major works and collaborated with the region’s finest vocalists, instrumentalists and ensembles. The organization produces four to six performances annually as well as the Rochester International Vocal Competition each spring. More information may be found at https://ROSsings.org or by calling (585) 743-2234.

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