Timothy Piper
Tim believes every child can learn to sing, when given the proper encouragement and training. Having more children singing in the community is one of his passions. He believes that when a child is singing, they are connecting with their core-self, they do better in school and they interact better with their community.
To keep young people engaged, Tim teaches a varied repertoire, keeping the music fun yet demanding. He teaches technique and sight-singing at all times, making them a natural part of the learning process. He loves the passion and energy that young people bring to music and believes that children and youth choirs can achieve the highest quality of excellence.
Tim has worked in music since he was a young child. He has a Bachelor of Music, an ARCT in Organ Performance and has been directing choirs since he was sixteen years old.
He specializes in children’s choirs. As well as directing Chorale Lyrica, he directs choirs at elementary schools in both Ottawa and Hull – Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Robert E. Wilson, and Charles H. Hulse. He is also Musical Director for the Western Quebec School Board’s MusicMakers event which brings together over 800 kids from across the region every spring for a joint musical presentation. Tim is also currently Musical Director at St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church in Ottawa, where he directs both an adult choir and a children’s choir.
In 2001, Tim went to work at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa where he founded and directed the Cathedral Girls’ Choir. He also served as Music Associate, accompanying the Men and Boys’ choir and sharing organist duties with his colleague Matthew Larkin.
Under his tenure, the Girls’ choir grew into a first-rate performing ensemble singing at all manner of Cathedral liturgies as well as concerts throughout the Ottawa region. They sang for many high-profile events including the Induction Ceremonies for our Governor General David Johnston, and in a private performance for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, upon her visit to Ottawa in 2010. The choir toured to Kingston, Montreal, Quebec City, Washington DC, and in August 2012, they took their music over the pond and sang at Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral in England as well as at the Menin Gate in Belgium.
As well as directing choirs, Tim has a passion for writing music of all kinds. He has written a number of musicals, including Bye Bye Bytown, which enjoyed successful runs at both Centrepointe Theatre and the Ottawa Little Theatre. He also loves to write for choirs, and occasionally to sing with his choristers during performances. Many of his choral pieces can be heard on the CDs recorded by the Cathedral Girls’ Choir.
Having lived in Gatineau for a number of years, and with four children of his own, Tim is keenly aware that there needs to be more singing opportunities for young people on this side of the river. He founded Chorale Lyrica to create a place of learning, creativity and choral excellence for the youth of this region.