About Our Artistic Director
Sydney Birrell, F.R.C.O, G.R.S.M., A.R.C.M. is the founder and conductor of the Peterborough Singers, as well as organist at Lakefield College School. Syd was born in Sarnia, Ontario, and began his career as a young chorister at St. George's Anglican Church, Montreal. He studied at the Royal School of Church Music in London, England, and the Royal College of Music, winning a Sawyer Prize in Organ performance. Returning to Canada in 1975, he took the post of organist and choirmaster at St. John's Anglican Church in Peterborough until 1984. Syd performs regularly and has given organ recitals across Canada and in Mexico and the USA. Outside of music, Syd is well known in Canadian paediatric cancer research circles for his work in raising awareness and funds to find a cure for neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, through the James Birrell Fund for Neuroblastoma Research at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. Syd is also a published writer and an inspirational speaker for the National Speaker's Bureau.

From Our Artistic Director
Last year in this column I talked about a young woman whose life was turned around by joining the Peterborough Singers and who moved on to the University of Toronto on full scholarship. She continues to do well. This year I want to tell you about another young singer from our choir, Adam Bishop. During his teenage years, he sang with the Singers. At Queen’s, he briefly studied medicine, but after participating in the spring opera, he made the switch to music. Adam graduated from Queen’s with a Bachelor of Music and moved on to the world famous Glenn Gould School in Toronto, which provides talented young musicians with the skills and attributes necessary for professional success.

Over the years part of the vision of the Peterborough Singers has been to look for promising young Canadian talent to include in our concert series, and we have seen many go on to fame. Daniel Taylor, Brett Polegato, and Measha Bruggergosman are just a few who appeared with us before hitting the big times. I have the same confidence in Adam Bishop, and it has been a great pleasure to slot Adam into many of our performances. I will let Adam have the last word:
"I would like to express my complete gratitude to the Peterborough Singers for their continued support of my career. In such a highly competitive profession, strong support like this can make a world of difference. The experiences I've had working with the Singers have been incredibly valuable for my musical education, and I look forward to future collaborations."

Sydney Birrell
2009