Carol Woodward Ratzlaff, Artistic Director and Founder of VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto
Carol is a singer, teacher, and conductor dedicated to inspiring and training young people. She holds a M.Mus. in vocal performance from the University of British Columbia, an Hon.B.Mus. in Performance from the University of Western Ontario, an A.R.C.T. in voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music, and a B.Ed. from the University of Toronto.
Carol began her musical career as a member of the Elmer Iseler Singers and the professional core of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, both under the direction of the late Dr. Elmer Iseler. She later became a member of the Elora Festival Singers under the direction of Noel Edison. Since then, she has appeared as a soloist with the Toronto Consort, the Arbor Oak Trio, the Pax Christi Chorale and the Toronto Chamber Choir, as well as with many fine church choirs.
In her work with young people, Carol has taught music in public and private schools, at both the elementary and secondary levels. She is presently the Vocal Music Teacher at North Toronto C.I. in the TDSB. She has been engaged as a Vocal Coach for young soloists by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus (under John Tuttle), and has prepared choirs for professional appearances with the National Ballet of Canada and the TSO. In 2000, Carol founded VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto, comprised of a team of some of Toronto’s finest musicians and singers who strive for both musical excellence and social inclusion, where mentoring relationships are paramount, and where regular touring is an essential component of musical growth.
Brad Ratzlaff, Associate Artistic Director/Accompanist
Brad is currently the Music Director and Organist at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church. He is on the teaching faculty of the University of Toronto and is Artistic Director of the Hart House Chorus. Brad has twice been the recipient of the Elmer Iseler Fellowship in choral conducting and holds a M.Mus in Performance (Conducting) at the University of Toronto along with associate degrees from the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Royal Canadian College of Organists.
Brad is a former member of the bass section of several professional choirs, including the Concertgebuow Choir of Amsterdam, the Elora Festival Singers, and the Elmer Iseler Singers. Brad has studied voice with Gary Relyea, piano with Ruth Watson Henderson, and choral conducting with Jon Washburn, Leonard Ratzlaff, the late Elmer Iseler, Doreen Rao and Helmuth Rilling.
Susan Suchard, Preparatory Chorus Conductor
Susan is an active soprano soloist, choral singer, teacher, conductor and arts administrator. In the spring of 2010, she completed a MMus in Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Toronto. Susan is pleased to teach a growing number of students in her private voice studio. As a conductor, she has worked with the preparatory chorus of the VIVA Youth Singers of Toronto since its inception and initiated a choral program at Adam Beck Junior Public School in the Beaches. For Tapestry New Opera, Susan was assistant conductor for Sanctuary Song and conducted the Northern Ontario school tour of Elijah’s Kite. She is a member of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and has sung with the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Elora Festival Singers, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and as a chorister for Canadian Opera Company and Opera Atelier. Susan is an intern in the Leadership Legacy Program at Tapestry New Opera this year.
Laura Menard, Junior Chorus Conductor
Laura Menard, conductor of Junior Chorus, has held many roles during her twelve years with VIVA!, including Chorister, Teaching Assistant, General Manager, and Choir Director for The Nutcracker with the National Ballet of Canada. Laura holds an Hon. B.A. and B.Ed. from the University of Toronto, and received the Don Wright Scholarship in Music Education for choral music from OISE in 2007. Laura currently teaches music, English, and Classics at Humberside C.I. in High Park.
Janessa Lafleur, ECS Chorus Conductor
Janessa Lafleur is a multi-faceted musician passionate about music-making in collaborative settings. Having taught music in schools overseas and in Canada, Janessa brings to her work a keen awareness of the diverse needs of others and seeks to use music-making to appreciate and celebrate that diversity.
Her formal musical training at The University of Western Ontario (B.Mus.) and education training in the Artists-in-Community Education Program at Queen’s University (B.Ed.) has inspired Janessa to facilitate inclusive musical experiences for everyone, regardless of ability. She also spends her summers working at inclusive camp programs both in the GTA and in Muskoka. Informed by the El Sistema methods of music education, Janessa’s passion for young people and for community transformation has taken her across the country to explore how music creates and sustains communities.
Janessa currently teaches Music and English at Greenwood College School and spends her free time creating new music and playing old favourites with friends in homes and venues around the GTA.