Bruce More Founder and Conductor  1994 – 2009

An internationally acclaimed choral conductor, Bruce More was for 35 years a major contributor to the musical life of Victoria. While studying for his Doctorate in Voice Performance and Conducting at Yale University in the late 60s, he conducted the first Yale University Women’s Chorus in addition to 4 other ensembles. In 1968/69 he was a visiting guest conductor at Vassar College.  Returning to his native B.C. in 1970, he founded the Music Department of Malaspina College and the summer choral programme of the Courtenay Youth Music Camp. Following his appointment to the School of Music at the University of Victoria in 1973 he was founding President of the Vancouver Island Opera Society (now Pacific Opera). For 16 years, he conducted the Victoria Choral Society, with whom he frequently guest conducted the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. He was President of the UVic Faculty Association for 3 years and from 1991-1993 represented university faculty from B.C. to the Provincial and Federal governments as President of CUFA/BC. In 1994 he founded the 70 voice Prima Choir, a UVic ensemble, and from 1973 to 2010 he conducted the UVic Chamber Singers throughout the world (138 cities in 33 countries). In 2006 he received the Herbert Drost award for his lifetime service to choral music in BC.

Wade Noble  Conductor  2000 – 2001; Fall 2005; 2009-2013, Assistan Conductor – 1994-98

Wade Noble has lived in Victoria since 1987 and holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Victoria.  He is active as a conductor, instructor, clinician and baritone soloist throughout Vancouver Island.  He has conducted Camosun College Singers, Nanaimo’s Malaspina Choir, Prima Choir (a community choir for students based at the University of Victoria), (the Vancouver Island Chamber Choir, an award-winning choir), and he travels to Sooke weekly to conduct the Sooke Philharmonic Chorus (and sometimes the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra).

Yariv Aloni  Guest Conductor (Victoria Chamber Orchestra)  1997- 2011

Yariv Aloni has received praise for conducting “impassioned, inspiring” and “magnificently right” interpretations of major orchestral and choral repertoire. Reviewers also describe him as “a musician of considerable insight and impeccable taste”. He is currently the music director of the Galiano Ensemble of Victoria , the Victoria Chamber Orchestra and the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, and his guest appearances include the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, the West Coast Symphony in Vancouver, the Civic Orchestra of Victoria, The Victoria Choral Society and Prima Youth Choir.

Born on a kibbutz in Israel, Yariv Aloni began studying the violin at the age of eight and turned to the viola when he was sixteen. He studied viola with David Chen at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, Daniel Benyamini, principal violist of the Israel Philharmonic and Michael Tree and the Guarneri String Quartet. With an emphasis on chamber music he also studied at the Jerusalem Music Centre with distinguished visiting faculty from around the world including Isaac Stern, the Amadeus and the Guarneri String Quartets, and many others.  He studied conducting under the tutelage of the Hungarian conductor János Sándor, former music director of the Budapest State Opera, the Györ Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Pécs.

Accompanists

Julian Greenwood, Danielle Marcinek, Jonathan Yee, Nina Horvath, Alex MacArthur, Braden Young

Voice Coaches 1994 – 95

Ian Bullen, Wade Noble