Brainerd Blyden-Taylor

Founder & Artistic Director

“Fill the cup that clears today of past regrets and future fears.”

- Omar Khayyam

Born: Trinidad & Tobago
In Canada since: 1973

Brainerd Blyden-Taylor is the founder, Artistic Director and conductor of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Canada's first professional chamber choir dedicated to the creation and performance of Afrocentric music of all styles. Born in Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Blyden-Taylor immigrated to Canada in 1973. He founded The Chorale in 1998, in response to a musical void in Canada; there had never before been a professional ensemble dedicated to the dissemination of Afrocentric choral music. The response that The Chorale has received in Canada and the United States since its inception has certainly given credence to Mr. Blyden-Taylor's vision.

Mr. Blyden-Taylor works frequently as a guest conductor, having appeared with organizations such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, the Hannaford Street Silver Band, Nova Scotia Youth Choir, Ontario Youth Choir and the New Brunswick Choral Federation Youth Sing. He has recently completed a 25-year tenure with The Orpheus Choir of Toronto, and he has also worked as a conductor, artistic director and artistic advisor for the Nova Scotia Mass Choir and the Algoma Festival Choir.

Mr. Blyden-Taylor has been a member of the teaching staff at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. He is also a Master Teacher with the Toronto Board of Education, coaching teachers and students in conducting and choral technique. In constant demand as a clinician, adjudicator and lecturer, past engagements have included the Conference on Black Musics in Canada - York University, Toronto; Canadian Rocky Mountain Festival - Banff, Alberta; Tempo 2003 Manitoba Music Conference; Minister's Conference & Organist and Choir Director's Guild Workshop - Hampton University, Virginia; Festival 500, Newfoundland; Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival; National Association of Negro Musicians Conference - Detroit, Michigan; and Manitoba Choirfest.

In addition, Mr. Blyden-Taylor is an active church musician, currently serving as Music Director of St. Timothy's Anglican Church, North Toronto. He has also been an artistic advisor to the Roots Festival in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario.