Big names like Neil Young, Drake, Michael Buble, Arcade Fire and Justin Bieber lead the list of Canadian acts nominated for Grammy Awards this year.
But also included in the prestigious list are the Elora Festival Singers and their conductor, Noel Edison, who are nominated for best small ensemble performance for their take on Eric Whitacre’s Choral Music.
“It’s a nice little nod – it’s great,” Edison said last week from Halifax, where he is conducting Symphony Nova Scotia in two performances of Messiah. “One doesn’t go into the business waiting for a Grammy, but it’s certainly an honour … it’s a perk.”
Edison, 52, is a Toronto native who co-founded the Elora Festival in 1979 and, one year later, the Elora Festival Singers as its choir-in-residence. In 1992, the Elora Festival Singers was incorporated as a separate organization to manage its year-round activities.
Also the conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Edison has in the past received a Juno nomination and last year he was inducted to the Order of Ontario.
But this is the first Grammy nomination for either Edison or the Elora Festival Singers.
“This one just happened to resonate with the judges, I guess,” Edison said humbly. “It’s all very flattering. It’s nice to be looked over rather than overlooked.”
Edison has received tickets to the February awards presentation, but he’s unsure of his plans – and he certainly isn’t counting on a win.
“It’s an impressive group we’re up against,” he said, noting the Elora Festival Singers are the only North American ensemble in the category.
Those familiar with choral music know two fellow nominees, The Sixteen and The Tallis Scholars, are intimidating opponents indeed.
Kevin Bradshaw, who works with the festival’s fundraising and marketing department and who has spent time as a member of the singers, says he regularly listens to the music of those ensembles because they are amazing.
“For an outside group to say ‘you belong in that category,’ is just great,” Bradshaw said.
Jurgen Petrenko, general manager of the Elora Festival Singers, agreed.
“These are just international superstars in this genre,” he said. “It’s a great honour to be included on this list. It’s a tribute to how far we’ve come under Noel’s direction.”
Edison decided to record Choral Music due to his familiarity with Whitacre’s compositions and his admiration of the music. The album was recorded over three sessions in April 2009 at St. John the Evangelist church in Elora.
Both Edison and the 22 singers, who were joined on the album by a pianist and percussionist, were very happy with the recording. Reviews were positive and the choir’s record label, Naxos, reported strong sales, but everyone involved was still shocked to see their names among the Grammy nominees announced earlier this month.
“It was a big surprise,” said Bradshaw. “Everyone’s really thrilled to be nominated.”
Petrenko noted the Elora Festival Singers category is the 104th – out of 109 – listed on the Grammy website, so the award will likely be presented in a ceremony prior to the prime-time special on Feb. 13.
“This is not going to be right after Justin Bieber,” Petrenko joked of the Canadian pop sensation, who is nominated for best new artist, along with fellow Canadian Drake, and also for best pop vocal album.
But that certainly doesn’t diminish the honour for the Elora Festival Singers. Plus, as Edison notes, it can’t hurt to have a few more Canadian nominees.
“It’s good we have another Canadian there to help Justin Bieber along,” Edison said with a laugh.
For more information visit elorafestival.com or naxos.com.
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There is also a local connection of sorts to another Canadian Grammy nominee.
Tim Kingsbury, who plays guitar, bass and occasionally keyboards with Arcade Fire, spent his early years living in and around Guelph, allegedly including Guelph-Eramosa. He later moved to Montreal, where the band was formed.
Arcade Fire and their album The Suburbs will face off against heavyweights Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Lady Antebellum in the album of the year category – arguably the biggest music award of the year. The Suburbs is also nominated for best alternative music album.
