Choir Alberta Staff

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Brendan Lord, DMus | Executive Director
brendan@choiralberta.ca

Brendan Lord holds a Bachelor of Arts (Music) degree from Augustana University College, and Master and Doctor of Music degrees in Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta.  While studying for the Doctor of Music degree, Dr. Lord was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Fellowship, and a University of Alberta President’s Award.  His thesis, entitled Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of the Year and Other Works for Chorus and Keyboard, was awarded Choral Canada’s 2014 national award for Outstanding Thesis or Dissertation.  His principal conducting teachers have included Dr. Marc A. Hafso, Dr. Robert de Frece, Dr. Debra Cairns, and Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff. 
 
Dr. Lord is recognized for his unique blend of artistic and administrative abilities, and works frequently in both capacities.  As administrator, he is Executive Director of the Choir Alberta where, under his leadership, the organization has grown into the largest provincial choral organization in Canada.  Dr. Lord was also the Producer for Podium 2016, Canada’s national choral festival and conference, which took Edmonton in May 2016.  Artistically, Dr. Lord has worked with choirs of varying ages and abilities including the Sherwood Park Festival Singers, the Edmonton Public School Board’s All-City Children’s Choir, and Sangkor Women’s Ensemble.  Since 2006, he has been a regular Sessional Instructor at the University of Alberta where he has taught courses in the areas of conducting, music theory, and musicianship.

Mackenzie Reurink | Program Coordinator
mackenzie@choiralberta.ca

Spencer Kryzanowski, BMus | Administrative Assistant
spencer@choiralberta.ca

Spencer Kryzanowski is an active pianist, collaborative artist, and Administrative Assistant for Choir Alberta. He holds a Bachelor of Music in piano performance (‘15 Distinction) from the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta in Camrose. His principal instructors were Dr. Milton Schlosser and Inna Luzanac.

Spencer is in demand as an instrumental, vocal/opera, and choral collaborator in Edmonton and around Alberta. His performance highlights include the Alberta premiere of Rodney Sharman’s The Garden for speaking pianist (2015), assisting as répétiteur for Opera NUOVA’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin (2017), and the Alberta premiere of Timothy Corlis’ Missa Pax with Edmonton’s Accord Ensemble (2017).  Currently, Spencer is the pianist and assistant conductor for the Accord Ensemble (under the direction of Dr. Sara Brooks) and a studio pianist/coach for the flute and voice divisions at the University of Alberta. In his spare time, Spencer can be found practicing yoga, exploring the Canadian Rockies, and mixing up a craft cocktail.