Consort Members 2023–24

Anna Kwiatkowska, soprano

Anna Kwiatkowska is a soprano and violist, originally from Poland. After graduating from the Music Academy in Lodz, Poland, where she received a MMus in viola and in vocal and acting performance, she continued her education at the University of California in Los Angeles, CA (UCLA, Faculty of Opera Performance).

Ms. Kwiatkowska’s operatic roles include Tytania in Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream (UCLA), Rosina in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Seviglia, Despina in Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Sandrina in La Cecchina by Piccinni (Musiakademie Rheinsberg).

Apart from her work as a soloist, Ms. Kwiatkowska has always had a strong interest in choral singing. From early childhood she regularly participated in choral courses in Poland and abroad (Landesakademie Ochsenhausen) and performed in professional settings (Philharmonic in Lodz, Poland, Grand Theatre in Lodz, Poland).

In 2008, as a member of Wroclaw Philharmonic choir, she had the privilege of joining the famous Gabrieli Consort and Players ensemble, directed by Paul McCreesh. The concert tour with Gabrieli included performances at Salle Pleyel in Paris, Barbican Centre and Albert Hall in London (BBC Proms festival).

In Canada, Ms. Kwiatkowska has appeared with Opera Atelier, the Gryphon Trio, the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, the Toronto Chamber Choir, and St. James Cathedral Choir. Ms. Kwiatkowska is also a passionate teacher. Since coming to Canada in 2009, she has been giving instruction in voice, violin and viola, successfully preparing children and youth for various auditions, exams, and performances.

Lynne Featherstone, mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano Lynn Featherstone was raised in Cambridge, Ontario, where she started piano lessons at age six, beginning a life-long pursuit in musicianship — as a choral singer, soloist, conductor, and teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Studies and a Masters of Music Education from the University of Toronto.

Lynn has sung with numerous choirs and churches across the GTA as lead/soloist. She has been an alto with the Elmer Iseler Singers since 2017, and is also alto lead at Fairlawn Avenue United Church under the direction of Eleanor Daley.

Formerly Associate Conductor of the Bach Children’s Chorus, Lynn currently teaches choral music at the Toronto Waldorf School in Thornhill, where she is thrilled to work with young singers across elementary, middle school, and high school ages.

Sharang Sharma, tenor

Sharang Sharma received his education at Western University (BMus Voice) and read historical musicology at Oriel College, University of Oxford. He subsequently worked as Choral Music Director at Huron University in London. While lay clerk at The Queen’s College in Oxford, Sharang sang with numerous UK-based ensembles including Academy of Ancient Music and Instruments of Time and Truth. He has built his choral and operatic repertoire through performances with The Strand Consort, Fount & Origin, Spectra Ensemble, King’s College London Chapel Choir, and various choral societies in the UK; and with Elmer Iseler Singers, Soundstreams Choir 21, Kammerchor London, Chor Amica, and Western University Opera in Canada. Sharang is a Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute alumnus (2018, 2019, and 2023) and teaches at The Canadian Renaissance Music Summer Schools. He is thrilled to join the Toronto Chamber Choir for this wonderful program of Leonarda!

Shane Hanson, tenor

Canadian countertenor/tenor Shane Hanson has performed with the Theatre of Early Music, Vancouver Bach Choir, Okanagan Symphony, UBC Opera Ensemble, Kamloops Symphony, Against the Grain Theatre, Chilliwack Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, and Early Music Vancouver. Most recent engagements include alto soloist in the Pergolesi Stabat Mater with the Kamloops Symphony and various Bach Cantatas with Daniel Taylor’s Theatre of Early Music in Toronto.

Although he has mostly performed concert works, he is also very accomplished on the operatic stage. Notable roles include Britten’s Oberon, Handel’s Guilio Cesare, and Gluck’s Orfeo. When off the stage, Shane enjoys discovering late eighteenth century opera arias and creating piano reductions of them to then record or perform. His most notable collection of reductions includes select alto arias of Anfossi, Jomelli, and Myslivecek.

Shane holds a bachelor's degree in opera performance from the University of British Columbia. Through the guidance of Nancy Hermiston, Dale Throness, and Daniel Taylor, Shane continues to master his craft and find a deep passion for all forms of music.

Paul Oros, bass

Hailing from Toronto, bass Paul Oros nurtured his vocal talents at St. Michael’s Choir School and the Royal Conservatory of Music, with early performing forays with the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir and Ontario Youth Choir. He’s delighted to return to the Toronto Chamber Choir this season.

Regarded for his burnished tone and nuanced interpretations, Paul’s appeared with the Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet of Canada, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, Opera Atelier, The Theatre of Early Music, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Opera in Concert, Opera Hamilton, Toronto Operetta Theatre, The Assembly of Voices, Orpheus Choir of Toronto, Bach Consort, Nota Bene Baroque Singers, and Soundstreams Choir 21. Guest soloist appearances include the medieval ensemble Sine Nomine, Pax Christi Chorale, Toronto Chamber Choir, Toronto Consort, and the Grand Philharmonic Chamber Singers. In addition to several critically acclaimed recordings with Tafelmusik, the Toronto Consort, and the Ottawa Bach Choir, he can also be heard on the soundtracks to the television series The Tudors and The Borgias.

Paul regards music as a key component in the synthesis that fuels his passions for the visual arts, literature, history, architecture and dance, where each discipline reflects, influences and informs the experiences of the others. When these elements come together, it can make for an intensely satisfying and enriching experience. Performance highlights include High Mass at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice; opening night of Opera Atelier's Don Giovanni at the New National Theatre in Tokyo; a celebrated new production of Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer with the Canadian Opera Company; and appearances with the Ottawa Bach Choir during Bachfest at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig.

David Yung, bass

Toronto-based baritone David Yung is pleased to have the opportunity to perform with the Toronto Chamber Choir again this season. He has served as a longtime member of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Mendelssohn Singers, as well as previously with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, with whom he has toured extensively throughout Canada and the US. He has been a member of or has performed with the Aspirare Vocal Collective, the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Elora Festival Singers, Soundstreams' Choir 21, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, Amadeus Choir, Arcady, Opera Atelier, Tallis Choir, Etobicoke Centennial Choir, and the Black Creek Festival Chorus. David has worked in musical styles from the medieval to contemporary, and has even sung back-up vocals for Roger Hodgson (Supertramp). He is an experienced church and synagogue musician, currently serving as a bass lead at St. Thomas's Anglican Church and Holy Blossom Temple, and sings regularly with the National Catholic Broadcasting Council as a Daily Mass Cantor. David completed his undergraduate degree at Western University, studying voice with Dr. Darryl Edwards.

Consort Members from previous seasons