Vancouver Bach Choir

Leslie Dala, Music Director

This is Leslie Dala's first season as Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir. He is also Music Director and Conductor of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, Chorus Director and Associate Conductor of Vancouver Opera and Principal Conductor of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. Equally at home with symphonic, opera, choral and contemporary works, Leslie is steadily in demand across Canada. During his tenure with the Prince George symphony Orchestra, he has conducted many first performances of important works from the 20th Century as well as several premieres of newly commissioned works.

He has assisted in over fifty main stage productions with Vancouver Opera, conducting the company premiere production of Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera in 2004 and Verdi's Rigoletto in 2009. He has also collaborated with the UBC Opera Ensemble for six seasons in productions of Cosi fan tutte, La Boheme, Die Fledermaus, Don Giovanni, the Magic Flute and HMS Pinafore, and with Bard on the Beach for the popular opera evenings.

Recently, he conducted Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle with members of the Vancouver Opera Chorus and four outstanding young Canadian soloists. In 2008, he was the cover conductor for the North American Premiere of Kaija Saariaho's opera Adriana Mater at the prestigious Santa Fe Opera Festival as well as serving as music staff on Verdi's Falstaff and working with the Apprentice Artists programme. Returning to Santa Fe in 2009 he was cover conductor for Gluck's Alceste starring soprano Christine Brewer and was on the music staff for L'Elisir d'Amore. This summer, 2010, he is returning to Santa Fe.

Leslie has previously held the positions of Music Director of Les Jeunes Voix du Rhin in Strasbourg (2001/02) and the Opera as Theatre programme at the Banff Centre (2001-04). He has worked with the Canadain Opera Company, Edmonton Opera, Soundstreams Canada, Tapestry New Works Toronto, Vancouver New Music and the Okanagan Vocal Arts Festival. He has also been the Artistic Director of the Little Chamber Music Series That Could and the conductor of the Helikon Ensemble. An avid performer of contemporary music, Leslie has recorded three dramatic works by Canadian composer Harry Somers, including the recently-released Death of Enkidu starring tenor David Pomeroy for Centrediscs. He has conducted the Canadian premiere of two major works of American composer Steve Reich in Toronto and has worked with virtually all the leading contemporary music ensembles in Vancouver, including the Hard Rubber Orchestra, Standing Wave and the Turning Point Ensemble.

Amber Salladin, Assistant Conductor

Amber Salladin was appointed Accompanist of the Vancouver Bach Choir in January of 2005 and Assistant Conductor in July 2010. She graduated from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in 2000 and from the University of Southern California with a Masters of Music (Choral Music) in 2004. She was also a lecturer and interim director of choral activities at Whittier College before moving to Vancouver. Amber is an active church musician and teaches choir and voice at Arts Umbrella. She directs the Chorales as part of the Vancouver Bach Children and Youth Project.

Stephen Smith, Accompanist

Stephen Smith grew up in rural Nova Scotia, where he sang and played the piano from an early age. After initial studies in his home province in both piano and organ, he attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. While there he participated in national and international competitions, and won numerous awards and distinctions. Since 1990, Stephen has lived in Vancouver, obtaining his doctoral degree in piano performance from the University of British Columbia as a student of Jane Coop, and contributing to the musical life of the city as a performer, teacher, lecturer, adjudicator, conductor, and composer. Stephen was Assistant Conductor of the Bach Choir from 2000 until June 2010. Currently, in addition to his work as accompanist of the Vancouver Bach Choir, Stephen accompanies Elektra Women's Choir and the Vancouver Men's Chorus, and directs the male-voice ensemble Synergy.

Marisa Gaetanne, Music Director, Vancouver Bach Children's Chorus and Youth Choirs

Marisa Gaetanne has been involved in the Children and Youth Choirs since 1990. She was appointed Music Director in July 2009. Known for her beautiful coloratura voice and vivacious personality, Marisa has sung professionally for more than 20 years. She holds a BA in Music and Italian and a Masters in Music, Voice Performance, from the University of British Columbia and has taught voice there for the past 20 years. She has been Head of Voice at Vancouver Community College since 2001. Marisa was a winner in the Metropolitan auditions and studied and performed professionally in London, New York and Italy. She has also studied and taught Kodaly and Orff techniques for young children, is a popular adjudicator, and gives workshops on vocal technique throughout the province. She has conducted the British Columbia Choral Federation's summer day camp, Choral Stage, for many years.