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The Czech-Canadian bass-baritone and choral conductor, John Holland, obtained his Bachelor degree in Music from the University of Windsor (1996-2000); his Artist Diploma in Performance, Voice and Opera from Western University (2000-2001); his Master's degree in Music Performance, General from from Western University 92002-2005); and his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Musicology and Ethnomusicology from York University (2011-2018). His scholarship is focused on the study of Czech Opera, Art Song, and Choral Works. His book, The Lost Tradition of Dvořák's Operas: Myth, Music, and Nationalism was published in 2023 through Lexington Books.; Research on Czech opera, specifically the operas of Dvorak.
John Holland has embarked on a diverse career of opera, oratorio, and art song. In 2020, he won a JUNO award for a recording of George Frideric Handel's Dixit Dominus. His Operatic credits include Figaro in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Leporello in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in Prague, Kecal in The Bartered Bride, Purkrabi in Dvořák’s Jakobín, and recently as Belcore in L’Elisir d’amore. He is a frequent performer with The Mississauga Symphony, and also with Opera York. He has also performed at Bachfest Leipzig (2014, 2022), San Marco in Venice, and has shared the stage with the likes of Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Rene Pape, and Lorin Maazel. Recent recordings include Bass Soloist for a CD recording of J.S. Bach's Motets, and G.F. Handel's Dixit Dominus, both on the ATMA Classique label.
On the podium, John Holland is currently the Artistic Director of both the Toronto Classical Singers (since June 2025) and Chorus York (since June 2024), and has been the longtime music director at Blessed Trinity Parish (since January 2014). He has also conducted the choirs at York University, the Ontario Youth Choir, the West Elgin Choral Society, and other choirs around Ontario.
In 2024, John Holland co-produced the Year of Czech Music Opera Fest. He is the founder of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music (2014), and a contract faculty member at York University. At Avenue Road Music and Performance Academy, he is the Director of Fundraising and Community Programming (since May 2024), spearheading such initiatives as the Music for Life adult music courses.
John is very excited to begin his tenure with the Toronto Classical Singers. He looks forward to growing the choir, preserving the tradition of the ensemble, and introducing new repertoire within the styles in idioms in which the choir sings. He currently lives in Toronto, Ontario. |
