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
We have a great season ahead of us, and I urge you to buy your subscription now. I'd like to share an anecdote that tells you just how much the choristers themselves care about this choir.

Last season we sang Verdi's Requiem with Ian Sadler accompanying magnificently on the organ. But at first, there was no money to hire brass players. I mentioned this to the choir at rehearsal one Wednesday evening, as we practiced the famous "Tuba Mirum" section. As I left the rehearsal, a chorister handed me a cheque for $1,000. Within 24 hours, three other singers had pledged $2,200. I reluctantly sent the choir an email saying "Stop!" But this didn't prevent the students in the choir from baking treats and selling them at choir practice - another $200. And so both choir and audience were thrilled to hear brass in the performance.

I think a lot about what a privilege it is to lead a choir that cares so much--a choir that believes that "Good is not good enough" and aims instead for excellence, and digs deep to make it happen.

Syd Birrell, Artistic Director, Peterborough Singers
2011