Ivars Taurins

Equally at home conducting symphonic and choral repertoire, Ivars Taurins is the founding director of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, now celebrating its 43rd season. He was also founding member and violist of the Tafelmusik Orchestra for its first 23 years.

Principal Baroque Conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra from 2001-2011, Ivars Taurins also appears as guest director with orchestras and choirs across Canada, including the Edmonton, Victoria, Kitchener-Waterloo and Winnipeg Symphonies, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra London, Symphony Nova Scotia, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Pro Coro Canada, Winnipeg Singers, and Elora Festival Orchestra & Singers. Besides his regular appearances with Tafelmusik, other engagements include a return to Symphony Nova Scotia, and an invitation from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Australia, to direct their Messiah performances in December 2024.

He was director of the 2012 National Youth Choir, and has directed the Ontario and Nova Scotia Youth Choirs, and London, Calgary and Nova Scotia Youth Orchestras. A passionate lecturer and teacher, Ivars Taurins teaches orchestral conducting and directs the baroque string ensemble at the University of Toronto, and has been a guest teacher/conductor at universities across Canada.