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A new ensemble bursts on the scene...
Sonus is a new low-voice choir based in Hamilton, Ontario, led by Artistic Director Greg Rainville.
We have a passion for good music, great friends, and fulfilling experiences.
As a new ensemble we're looking to make our mark with the presentation of inspiring choral music at a high level, while creating unique collaborative opportunities for our performers, audiences, and community.
Sonus is the newest chapter of the previously named Canadian Men's Chorus, based in Toronto. The CMC was founded in 2010 with a mission to redefine tenor-bass choral music and secure its place within Canada's choral landscape. An amazing 12-year run culminated in a final performance at the Podium Choral Conference national festival in May 2022, presenting an all-Canadian program to a global audience.
Sonus will continue to build upon this mission with a renewed focus of bringing life to the best low-voice repertoire available. Our mandate places additional priority on Canadian works, and as major supporters of emerging composers Sonus will regularly commission and premiere new works. We've commissioned and premiered over 50 new Canadian works to date!
Ultimately our goal is to create an environment which enables each person to learn, be challenged, and be fulfilled by meaningful musical memories surrounded by collaborative and supportive partners in song!
Meet Artistic Director Greg Rainville
As a major advocate of the creation of new and unique Canadian music, Greg is a dynamic conductor, vocal coach and music educator with an extensive traditional and contemporary classical repertoire. He has worked with concert choirs, church choirs, live theatre, and vocal students across Canada and beyond.
Greg is a sought-after guest conductor for many ensembles and is often called upon to lead master classes and workshops. As Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Canadian Men’s Chorus (now Sonus Voices), Greg champions the creation of new Canadian choral music. Founded in 2010, the ensemble has commissioned and premiered over 50 new Canadian choral works. They've performed at the Podium National Choral Conference, Stratford Summer Music Festival, CentreSpace for the Arts in London, Ontario, and the Muskoka Concert Association, and premiered new works with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra. With the Canadian Men’s Chorus, Greg has been recorded as part of Aaron Jensen's album titled From Sea to Sea. Greg is a past Assistant Conductor of the Orpheus Choir of Toronto (Robert Cooper), during which he made his Roy Thomson Hall (Toronto) debut. As guest conductor for the Area All-State NYSSMA Conference in 2015, he had the privilege of directing the top 100 high-school voices in Western New York. In the summer of 2016, Greg conducted the Canadian Ambassador Choir during their Australia tour as part of the United Nations Choral Festival “Rhythms of One World”. Greg is a graduate of the Crane School of Music and the University of Toronto, where he received his Masters in Conducting. He is a two-time recipient of the Elmer Iseler Fellowship in Conducting.