Barrie Concerts & Georgian Music

Zimfira Poloz is globally recognized as an expert in choral artistry for young voices.

She has been decorated with numerous awards, including Honoured Representative of Education of Kazakhstan, Hamilton’s VIP Award, and the Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting (Ontario Arts Council). Recent adjudication and guest conductor highlights include: Europa Cantat (France, 2018), 1st International Choral Alberto Grau Composition Competition (Venezuela, 2017), America Cantat (Bahamas, 2016), and World Choir Games (China 2010, Cincinnati 2012, Latvia 2014, Russia 2016).

Zimfira established her musical credentials in Kazakhstan, serving as founder and principal of the nation’s first choir school. Upon her arrival in Canada, Zimfira found a home with Toronto Children’s Chorus, St. Michael’s Choir School, and eventually as Artistic Director of Hamilton Children’s Choir and Young Voices Toronto.

In 2018, Zimfira celebrates her 15th anniversary as the Artistic Director of Hamilton Children’s Choir (HCC). Under Zimfira’s direction, the choir has transformed into one of the most acclaimed youth choral programs in the world, including appearances across North America, Europe and Asia (“Podium” Choral Canada Conference 2012 and 2018, ACDA National Conference 2017, America Cantat XIII 2016, Polyfollia 2014, IFCM World Symposium 2014, 1st Xinghai International Choral Competition 2013, Euroradio Choral Competition 2009).

Zimfira teaches in the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. As of 2017, her curated Canadian choral collection can be found with Cypress Choral Music: The Zimfira Collection.

Hamilton Children’s Choir consistently dazzles audiences with flexible and focused choral tone, masterful interpretations of challenging repertoire, and a captivating, authentic stage presence. Celebrating 44 years of choral singing, the Hamilton Children’s Choir (HCC) family has grown to include six choral groups and more than 200 young singers from ages 3 to 18.

HCC’s touring ensemble, Ilumini, has collaborated with other singers and shared their passion for choral music with audiences across North America, Europe, and Asia. Recent tour highlights include: Choral Canada Conference, Podium (Newfoundland, 2018), ACDA National Conference (Minneapolis, 2017), America Cantat XIII (Bahamas, 2016), ICFM World Symposium 2014 (South Korea, 2014), Polyfollia (France, 2014), and Grand Prize, 1st Xinghai Prize International Choral Competition (China, 2013).

In addition to gaining international acclaim, Ilumini is an active part of the thriving local arts community. Within Ontario, HCC is proud to represent Hamilton at many high-profile events such as the Pan Am Games Closing Ceremony (Toronto, 2015) and Luminato Festival (Apocalypsis, Toronto, 2015). Ilumini is a frequent guest of many arts ensembles in the Greater Hamilton Community, appearing regularly with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Burlington Millenium Orchestra, and annually at the award-winning Supercrawl festival.

Described as "an incredibly musical percussionist" and as having an "impeccable sense of time and feel", Jamie Drake is a Toronto-based percussionist, drummer and composer. He received his MMus from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and is completing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Toronto with Dr. Russell Hartenberger and Dr. Aiyun Huang. His solo and chamber performances have included premieres by Christos Hatzis, Nicole Lizée and John Luther Adams. As a member of TorQ Percussion Quartet, he has performed numerous concerts, workshops and educational shows across Canada, the United States and Europe. A busy freelance percussionist, he has performed with Evelyn Glennie, NEXUS, Soundstreams, Amici, Niagara Symphony, Aradia Ensemble, and many others. He recently he served as interim percussion instructor at Acadia University, and as a composer, percussion consultant, and performer for the second season of the CBC television show “Canada’s Smartest Person”. He released his first solo percussion album, "Night", in July 2014.

Laura Pin has worked extensively as a collaborative pianist, playing with many talented soloists and choirs including Maureen Forrester, Amabile Youth Singers, Vox Nouveau, and The Faculty of Music Singers (Western). She completed music studies at the Banff School of Fine Arts and Western University where she studied with Arthur Rowe and was awarded the Alumni Gold Medal. She also holds an Associate of Music in piano performance from the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music.

Based in Hamilton, Laura divides her time between playing for The Harlequin Singers, The Ambassadors Christian Male Choir and HCC’s Illumini and Esplori choirs as well as working as a studio accompanist at both McMaster University and Redeemer College. She also provides music as cantor and keyboardist for several churches in the Hamilton Diocese and as an occasional orchestral player with Kitchener Waterloo Symphony and Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.