Gordon D. Mansell - Executive Producer, Artistic Director

Gordon Mansell is Music Director, composer and titular organist at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Toronto, Canada. In 2012, he also formed the touring and concert choir, MOSAIC Canadian Vocal Ensemble, based at Our Lady of Sorrows. Mr. Mansell is also Ontario, Canada, dealer for the world’s largest organ builder, Allen Organ Company. 

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Alison Riseley-Clark

Alison Riseley-Clark, a native of New Zealand, moved to Canada in 1981 and completed a Masters degree in Organ Performance at McGill University in Montreal. During her studies, Alison competed in international organ competitions in Chartres (France), Bruges (Belgium), Manchester (England), and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Alison was one of about 10 females in a group of 75 competitors.  Alison has also recorded for Radio New Zealand and the CBC. 

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Andrew Adair

Andrew Adair is Director of Music and Organist at Toronto’s historic Church of St. Mary Magdalene. He previously served as Associate Director of Music at St. James’s Cathedral, Toronto, and as Assistant Organist at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. At St. James’s Cathedral he contributed regularly to the recital series, playing well over 100 programmes. Andrew studied at the University of Toronto with University Organist John Tuttle, and has additionally received tuition from a number of international sources. 

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David Ruler

David Ruler served Lutheran and Presbyterian Parishes in Ohio and Pennsylvania for over 30 years in full-time and part time or substitute capacities as director of music, organist, choir director, and recitalist. He consulted for various organ installations and is past Dean of the York, PA American Guild of Organists. David’s educational credentials include a Bachelor in Music Education from Susquehanna University, a Masters of Sacred Music from Wittenberg University, and post-graduate study in Handbells and Choral Music at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ.

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Hanné Becker

Hanné Becker is an organist and soprano with a particular passion for sacred music. Hanné commenced her organ studies with John Tuttle in Toronto. She graduated in 2014 from the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto in the Bachelor of Music (Organ Performance) program with Honors. At present she is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Organ Performance specializing in Early Music with Wolfgang Zerer at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland. 

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J. Thomas D. Gonder

J. Thomas D. Gonder, born in Cayuga, Ontario in 1971, exhibited musical gifts at an extremely early age. He spent most of his life in London, Ontario, his family having relocated there in 1981. Immediately becoming involved in the musical life of St. Paul’s Cathedral, he spent many years there as a chorister, Organ Scholar, Assistant Organist, and Organist and Master of the Choristers. Thomas quickly rose to the forefront of the Canadian Organ scene as one of its brightest young performers shortly after his public debut at the age of 15 under the tutelage of D. Mervyn Games. His teachers, mentors and greatest influences also include David Palmer, Ian Sadler, William S.J. McArton, Catherine Crozier, Simon Preston, Gerald Bales, Naji Hakim and David Briggs.

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Mark Himmelman

A native of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Mark Himmelman began playing the organ at the young age of seven years and by age eight had played his first church service. At age eleven Mark began studies in piano and organ under David Zwicker. His teachers have also included Allen Wayte, F. Alan Ressor and John Vandertuin. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of Prince Edward Island. 

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Quirino Di Giulio

Quirino Di Giulio is Organist and Music Director at All Saints Anglican Church in King City. He holds diplomas in Organ Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto and Trinity College of London and has taken Master Classes with. L.F. Tagliavini,C. Stembridge and Guy Bovet at McGill University.

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Sarah Svendsen

Past laureate of the Royal Canadian College of Organist’s (RCCO) National Organ Playing Competition, organist Sarah Svendsen is a recent graduate of the Yale School of Music and co-founder of/performer in Organized Crime Duo. Sarah specializes in the performance of Canadian organ works and most recently (2014) performed the English debut of the work “Voices” by Canadian/Scottish composer, Eric Robertson. Sarah had her American concertizing debut at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Concert Series on February 13, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following which composer and organist, Jeff Donnelly, commented on public media, “A recital this evening [which] can only be described as sublime.” Sarah will make her symphonic debut later this September with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra playing the Joseph Jongen Organ Concerto. 

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Shawn Grenke

Shawn is Artistic Director of the Woodstock Fanshawe Singers. He has served as Music Director and Organist at the Anglican Church of All Saints Kingsway and is presently the Director of Music at Eglinton St.George’s United Church in Toronto. He is Accompanist for the Amadeus Choir of Toronto under the direction of Lydia Adams, Accompanist to the Elmer Iseler Singers of Toronto and Artistic Director of the 90 member Burlington Seniors’ Centre Choir. Mr.Grenke is also the past Assistant Conductor/Accompanist of the internationally famed Hamilton Children’s Choir where he served for 9 exciting years. 

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Simon Walker

SIMON WALKER is Director of Music at St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Oakville, and Accompanist to Pax Christie Chorale. In addition to this he is Artistic Director of the ’Celebration of the Arts’ concert series in Oakville, and is also in regular demand freelance as an accompanist, teacher and conductor.

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Thomas Fitches

Thomas Fitches received his training in Oshawa, Toronto and Croydon, England, at the Royal School of Church Music.  His teachers have been George Rapley, Alan Reesor and Douglas Bodle.  From 1965 to 1973 he was the Assistant Organist at the Anglican Church of St. Simon the Apostle in Toronto.  During this time, he became familiar with the tonal aspect of pipe organ building.  He has voiced many instruments in the Toronto area (including St. James’ Cathedral) for Alan T. Jackson of Casavant Freres.

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