Grand River Chorus Artistic Team
Grand River Chorus is led by a gifted, professionally trained artistic team that guides the choir’s musical selections, leads them in rehearsals, and directs their concert performances.
Artistic Director
Ron Ka Ming Cheung, M. Mus.
Ron graduated from University of Toronto with a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting and with a Bachelor of Music in Education from McMaster University. An experienced choral singer, he has performed with the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir, the Bach- Elgar Choir, the McMaster University Choir, the 1990 National Youth Choir, and from 1991-1996, he was also a member of the world-renowned Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Ron has also served as the tenor section leader with Westdale United Church Choir in Hamilton, as well as with the Choir of Grace Church on-the-Hill in Toronto. In 1996 and 2002 Ron attended master classes with the Vancouver Chamber Choir under the direction of Maestro Jon Washburn, at the Annual National Conductor’s Symposium. In 1998, Mr. Cheung was selected as a participant in the conducting master class at the Oregon Bach Festival, under the tutelage of Maestro Helmuth Rilling. In 2001, Mr. Cheung attended master class with the great English choral conductor, Sir David Willcocks, and once again with Bach’s specialist Maestro Helmuth Rilling. In 2011, Ron participated in the conducting workshop with master-teacher Richard Nace at the Ontario Vocal Festival Symposium. And in 2018, Ron attended the Chorus America Conducting Academy in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the summer of 2014, Ron directed Chorus Canadiana, a branch of the Yip’s Children’s Choir (Canada) to Salzburg, Vienna and Prague as part of the Rhapsody! International Choir Festival, with resounding success. And in 2015, the children were invited to participate at the Golden Gate International Choral Festival in San Francisco. In addition to the Grand River Chorus, Ron is also the founder/artistic director/conductor of Voices Chamber Choir and the Healey Willan Singers in Toronto, and the artistic director/conductor of the Yip’s Children’s Senior and Youth Choir (Canada) in Markham. Ron has also been employed as conductor of various choirs, including the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir. In addition, Ron has conducted different orchestras and ensembles in performance with his choirs such as the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, Counterpoint Orchestra, the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Brass Conspiracy, and other instrumental ensembles. Ron also teaches voice and music theory at the Pro Music Conservatory of Music in Markham.
Accompanist
Ann-Marie MacDairmid
Ann-Marie is a brilliant organist and the primary accompanist for Grand River Chorus. She has been with GRC since it was founded in 1999.
She graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Music degree from the University of Western Ontario in organ performance.
Her talents stretch beyond her role with GRC–Ann-Marie is an accomplished pianist, percussionist and choral conductor and serves as Director of Music at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kitchener, Director and Accompanist for Shoreline Chorus in Owen Sound, and director of Queen Street Singers. She prepares her programs in a wide variety of musical genres including Baroque, Classical, Spiritual, Gospel, Big Band, Jazz and Blues, Folk, African, Broadway, Movie and Canadian music.
Ann-Marie teaches music lessons locally and freelances as a piano accompanist and organist throughout Southwestern Ontario.
