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The Melos Choral Ensemble

David Cameron, Music Director

Founded in 1984 by Music Director David Cameron as an ensemble of sixteen singers, Melos expanded in 2000 to become The Melos Choral Ensemble, a mixed-voice choir of 40-50 members. Melos performs four concerts per year, which take place at city churches or at one of the two Kingston cathedrals. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings, from September to May, at MacCallum Hall, Chalmers United Church, and membership is by audition.

Melos' repertoire ranges widely over the choral music of six centuries (masses, madrigals, motets, anthems, part songs, and contemporary compositions). Performances include music sung a cappella, and music accompanied by piano, organ and various instrumental ensembles. Qualified singers sometimes have opportunities to perform solo parts.

In the annual Good Friday Concert of Chalmers Church, Melos combines with the Choir of Chalmers to perform a major choral work with guest soloists and orchestra. The roster of featured compositions includes Bach's B Minor Mass and the Requiems of Mozart, Brahms and Fauré. Melos regularly revisits Handel's Messiah in the December holiday season, and at this time of year it has presented more unusual repertoire by composers such as Lully and Charpentier. Under the auspices of Music West, Melos has also participated in a staged production of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

An informal Valentine's Day concert-fundraiser, jointly organized by members of Melos and Chalmers Church Choir, showcases singers and instrumentalists from both choirs who volunteer their talents - individually or in groups - to perform light music. This is invariably accompanied by rich desserts, all presented in a café-style setting.