Robert Cooper CM

One of Canada’s foremost choral musicians, Robert Cooper is also Artistic Director of the Orpheus Choir of Toronto and the Opera in Concert Chorus.  He has also taught for several years as a member of the Choral Department, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto.  Mr. Cooper has had the honour of conducting the National Youth Choir of Canada and conducted a Celebration of Canadian Choral Music at Carnegie Hall. As a superb choral trainer and conductor, Mr. Cooper also provided strong artistic leadership to the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir for 22 successful years, influencing over 2000 young adult singers.  

In addition to his work with choirs, Mr. Cooper has been involved with the presentation of more than 100 operas and has conducted symphony orchestras in Halifax, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Orchestra London, opera companies in Victoria, Ottawa and Winnipeg, Toronto Operetta Theatre and Opera in Concert.  Mr. Cooper has also guest conducted several Canadian choirs, as well as Newfoundland’s Festival 500, Parry Sound’s Festival of the Sound, the 2007 Ontario Youth Choir, and Ottawa’s Thirteen Strings.  Acknowledged as an innovative programmer, Mr. Cooper has initiated and premiered works by many Canadian and international composers.

This season Mr. Cooper was appointed artistic director for the inaugural season of the 80 voice professional BlackCreek Summer Music Festival Chorus, returns to Toronto Operetta Theatre for their production of HMS Pinafore, guest conducts Chorfest for the New Brunswick Choral Federation and the 2012 Intervarsity Choral Festival along with several clinician and adjudicating engagements.

Mr. Cooper left CBC Radio Two after 31 years as Executive Producer of Opera and Choral Music, bringing fine vocal and choral music to all of Canada.  He has served as President of both the Ontario Choral Federation and the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors, sat on the Board of Directors of Chorus America, and is currently on the Advisory Board of the International Federation of Choral Music.  Recently awarded the St. Catharines’ Trillium Arts Award, Robert Cooper is also the recipient of both an Honourary Doctorate from Brock University and the Order of Canada for his significant contribution to the Canadian choral community.