Choirs Ontario Presents Jessie Iseler with Presidents' Leadership Award
On August 30, at the Toronto concert of the Ontario Youth Choir, Choirs Ontario presented the 2009 President’s Leadership Award to Jessie Iseler for her remarkable career with the Elmer Iseler Singers. Having dedicated most of her professional life to the choir as its manager, Jessie Iseler has been the driving administrative force behind its tremendous success. With their strong national and international artistic presence, an impressive list of television and radio appearances, and over 50 recordings to their credit, the Elmer Iseler Singers are widely regarded as one of Canada’s finest choral ensembles. This reputation is in no small part due to the dedication and sheer hard work of Jessie Iseler.
Over the choir’s thirty year legacy, Jessie paved new roads in establishing Canada Council funding for choirs, and created a Canadian professional choir that toured the world. Through Jessie, and husband Elmer Iseler’s combined efforts, the choir set a model of performing, recording, commissioning and touring that inspired conductors throughout North America. Jessie’s dedication to the choir and to Canadian choral music inspired her to press for levels of funding for touring, commissioning and recording that were hitherto unknown by professional choirs in Canada. Together with artistic director Lydia Adams, the Elmer Iseler Singers continue to demonstrate artistic excellence while pursuing creative innovation. The choir recently completed a tour of Northern Ontario with several performances of the ground-breaking Cree opera Pimooteewin, by Tomson Highway and Melissa Hui.
The choir also has an impressive record of choral-educational initiatives. For over a decade, Jessie helped to administer the ensemble’s position as the professional Choir-In-Residence at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, through the Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting. The current success of the Get Music! Project that sponsors numerous symposia and workshops linking youth and the industry of sound recording is another example of their visionary arts education. Over the years the choir has engaged countless young Canadian vocal professionals, and launched many successful vocal careers.
Jessie’s passionate advocacy for choral music, and profound commitment to the Elmer Iseler Singers, continues to be a source of inspiration to Canada’s choral community. Congratulations, Jessie!
THE AWARD
Established
in 2001 to commemorate Choirs Ontario's 30th anniversary, this award recognizes individuals who, through
their support or engagement in choral music-making, have made an exceptional contribution to the promotion
and advancement of choral music in their communities.
The Award is presented biennially and alternates between those who support choral music - executive directors, administrators, volunteers, corporate sponsors, philanthropists, and those who are directly involved in the performance of choral music - singers, conductors, and accompanists. Candidates must have demonstrated an exceptional leadership role, vision and cultural activism and must be nominated by a Choirs Ontario member choir or individual member. In 2006, the award was granted to Mr. Robert Henderson in recognition of his timeless work for Chorus Niagara, as chorister, Board Member, President, and General Manager.
In 2010, the award will be presented to a choral music performer who through their work as a singer, conductor, or accompanist has made a significant contribution to the choral art in his or her community.
THE PROCESS
Candidates must be nominated by a Choirs Ontario member choir or individual member. Each nomination must consist of a completed application form supported by three letters of recommendation and a written submission of not more than three pages outlining the candidate's contribution to the choral art. Complete the attached application form and send it along with supporting documentation to: Presidents' Leadership Award, Choirs Ontario, 330 Walmer Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2Y4. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2009.
The Award is juried by a panel of Choirs Ontario past presidents who are appointed by the Choirs Ontario Board of Directors.
ELIGIBILITY
Nominees must be residents of Ontario who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and advanced the role of choral music in their community for a minimum of five years.
THE PRESENTATION
The recipient receives an engraved plaque and a Choirs Ontario honorary lifetime membership at a recognition ceremony to be held at one of the Ontario Youth Choir 2009 concerts in Ottawa, Kingston, and Toronto, August 2009.
THE APPLICATION
The current application for the Presidents' Leadership Award can be downloaded here.PRESIDENTS' LEADERSHIP AWARD 2006
To learn more about the 2006 award, visit the 2006 Presidents' Leadership Award web page.