Isabel Bernaus, Artistic Director

Isabel was born in Catalonia, Spain, and trained as a musician in Europe and North America. She obtained her Diploma in Willems Music Education in France, followed by the completion of her Master’s Degree in Music Education from Laval University in Quebec. Isabel studied conducting with Manel Cabero in Catalonia, Dr. James Jordan of Westminster College, Rider University, and with Noel Edison and the Elora Festival Singers. Her education and experience have established her as an accomplished and reputed conductor and music educator.

In Toronto, Isabel has conducted two community choirs (Common Thread: Community Chorus of Toronto and Settlement Community Choir) and a chamber choir (The Jubilate Singers). She has also taught music at Sheridan College and in the Haliburton School of The Arts of Fleming College. She has participated in several choir events and workshops as guest conductor, including CAMMAC, where she often brings her love for World music. She was awarded an honourable mention at The 2006 Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting, granted by the Ontario Arts Council.

Isabel speaks several languages and is familiar with classical and folk music traditions from many cultures. A strong believer that music should be accessible to everyone, she has conducted several choirs with a wide range of singing experiences as part of her lifelong involvement in community projects promoting education and music.

Susanne Maziarz, Assistant Conductor & Accompanist

Susanne enjoys the many facets of her musical life including pianist, composer, conductor, church musician, singer, and teacher. She is originally from Hamilton, Ont. where she completed the Applied Music Diploma at Mohawk College and her ARCT in piano performance. While working on her B.Mus in Composition at McGill University, she was commissioned to write a short piece for the OSM. Her studies brought her back to Ontario where she finished an MA in composition at York University. Since then she has been active as a dance accompanist at Pegasus Studios, Randolph Academy of the Arts, Ballet Jorgen, and George Brown College. She started the ‘Comfort Choir,’ that sings weekly at the bedsides of patients in the Palliative Care ward at Toronto East General Hospital. Her duo, Houndbelly, perform their original songs in local clubs. Susanne is the Music Director at Neighbourhood UU Congregation in Leslieville where she leads the choir, band, and monthly chant evenings.