David Wilson (B.Mus, M.Mus) is a Singer, Conductor, Voice Coach, and certified Yoga Instructor. He has been singing in choirs and as a soloist for over 20 years. As a conductor he has served as the Artistic Director of the Calgary Renaissance Singers & Players, Debut Opera Society, the Edmonton Recorder Orchestra, and Vocal Alchemy. In 2005 he served as Music Director of the Sherwood Park Festival Players production of “My Fair Lady”. He also founded the professional Chamber Choir SPIRITUS, with whom he won a 1999 InternationalContemporary A cappella Recording Award for their first CD "Crossing Bridges". He has also been the Associate Conductor of the Da Camera Singers, Kokopelli, and the Richard Eaton Singers. In October of 2004, David was invited to Évora, Portugal, for the VII International Workshop of the Évora Cathedral Music School to present his Master's Thesis, "Manuel Cardoso of Portugal; A Cadential Study". A yoga practitioner since 1993, Mr. Wilson has dedicated himself to the creation of Office Yoga, and Body, Breath & Voice Integrative Therapy. BBVIT is a unique wholistic therapy that incorporates yoga, breath therapy, cognitive behavioral elements, vocal entrainment and cellular-memory work.In addition to his busy vocal studio, the 2007-'08 season includes the Artistic Directorship of the Edmonton Recorder Orchestra, and the Conducting of "The Mikado" with the Sherard Musical Theatre Society.
Conducting Positions 2008) The Mikado, Sherard Theatre, Conductor 2005-'06) Vocal Alchemy, Artistic Director 2004-'05) Camera Singers, Associate Director 2004) Robertson Wesley United Church, Director of Music 2003-'04) Richard Eaton Singers, Associate Director 2002-cont) Edmonton Recorder Orchestra, Artistic Director 2001-'02) Kokopelli Youth Choir Edmonton, Assistant Director 1995-2001) SPIRITUS Chamber Choir & Performing Arts Ensemble Founder, Artistic Director 1991-2001) Calgary Renaissance Singers & Players - Artistic Director 1993-'95) Debut Opera Society Musical Director 1991-'92) St. Boniface Catholic Church, Director of Music 1988-1990) Christ Church Youth Choir, Director of Music
Awards 2003) Province of Alberta Graduate Scholarship 2000) SPIRITUS Semi-Finalist, CBC National Choral Competition 2000 1999) Alberta Choral Federation Con Spirito Award 1999) "Best Classical Selection" - 1999 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award SPIRITUS "Crossing Bridges" 1985)Award of Outstanding Merit - WCHS Music Dept 1981) Calgary Boys Choir "Outstanding Chorister"
Commercial Recordings 2001) SPIRITUS CD "Never the Same River Twice" 1998) SPIRITUS CD "Crossing Bridges" 1995) C.R.S.P. 25th Anniversary CD "The Spirit of Musick"
Presentations/Papers 2004) Invitation to Symposium: Escola de Musica de Se de Evora, Evora, Portugal. Thesis Presentation. 2002) Association of Canadian Choral Conductors, Toronto "Breath and the Voice: Effortless Mastery" 2001) Alberta Music Conference, Edmonton "Breathing and Yoga for Singers and Conductors"
Publishings 2005) Yoga Bridge Magazine Vol.5, Issue 2: "The Authentic Voice". 2003) Canadian Voice Care Foundation Vol 7, Issue 2: "Yoga and Breath for Musicians" 2002) Music Alberta Magazine: pts 1&2. vol 3 #3, vol 4 #1. "Yoga and Breath for Musicians" 1999) Quires (Alberta Choral Federation): Review of CD; Trobairitz: Seasons of Love and Song
Conducting Invitations /Vocal Clinics 2007) Opera Nuova Vocal Arts Festival, Yoga Instructor and Breath/Voice Lessons 2007-con't) Kokopelli Youth Choir Vocal Coach 2007) NATS (Edmonton chapter) Vocal Workshop 2006) ARIA Presentation on Vocal Technique 2005) Drayton Valley Vocal Teachers Association 2004) Cantilon Childrens Choir 2004) Workshops for the Alberta College Vocal Program 2002-'05) Workshops for the University of Alberta Vocal Program 2002-'04) EKOS Chamber Choir Vocal Coach 2002-'04) Edmonton Vocal Minority 2002) Sine Nomine Chamber Choir 2001-'04) Riverview Collegiate High School, Saskatchewan 2003) Voicescapes Calgary: Messiah 2002-04) Edmonton Recorder Orchestra. 2002) Voicescapes Calgary: Messiah. 2002) University of Winnipeg Singers, Winnipeg. 2001) MusiCamrose: Intermediate Choir 2001) Concordia Concert Choir, Edmonton 2001) "Knox Presbyterian presents" 1998-2001) University of Calgary Concert Choir 1991-2005) Fifty-five clinics in fifteen High Schools in North America 1996-2005) Forty-nine clinics with Churches and Community Choirs throughout Alberta 1996) "Thanksgiving in Song" C.I.O.F., with Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, Foothills Brass 1996) "Carmina Burana" with Calgary Philharmonic Chorus
Educational Institution Hirings 2004-'08) Concordia High School: Choral and Vocal Program 2000-'01) Calgary Boys Choir: Vocal Coach 2000) Banff Centre for the Arts: Voice, Breath & Yoga for Musicians 2000) University of Calgary Drama Dept: Voice, Breath & Yoga for Actors 500 2000) University of Calgary General Studies Dept: Acoustic Ecology 301 1998) University of Calgary Music Dept: Advanced Choral Techniques 401
Adjudication Positions 2007) Crowsnest Pass Music Festival (Vocal/Choral) 2004) Drayton Valley Music Festival (Vocal) 2001) Sherwood Park Music Festival (Choral) 1999) Drumheller Music Festival (Choral) 1998) Lacombe Music Festival (Choral)
Media: Articles / Interviews / Airplay 1998) CBC Radio Two (National); "The Music Room" (1 hour devoted to SPIRITUS and its Director) 1995-01) Numerous articles in the Calgary Herald, Fast Forward and Synchronicity magazine. 1998) CD reviewed in Alberta Choral Federation magazine "Quires". 1995-'01) CBC One; has been recorded for "Our Music" on twelve occasions since 1995) CKUA; four interviews, CJSW; two hour long specials on SPIRITUS.
Made up of Heather Henderson, Soprano, and David Wilson, Baritone, the Yuletide Carollers have been a staple for Alberta Audiences since 1993. The continue to appear each year at the Hotel Kananaskis for their "Festival of Christmas", bringing cheer to the young and young and heart.
Spiritus Chamber Choir's mandate as Calgary's professional chamber choir and performing arts ensemble is twofold: to maintain a highly skilled choir, dedicated to performing the vast amount of quality repertoire from around the world; and to provide an arena for the support and integration of all genres of the creative arts in Calgary. In their concerts, Spiritus combines traditional choral music with contemporary world folk styles and complementary instrumental performers.
The above CD "Crossing Bridges", won an International Acappella recording award for it's first track, Os justi, by Anton Bruckner. Included is music by Victoria, Gesualdo, spirituals, and special guests playing bodran, Celtic Harp, Chinese double-toned flute, and African drumming.
Their second CD, "Never the Same River Twice", carries on the tradition of the first.
