Yuri Klaz – Biography

Artistic Director Yuri Klaz earned his MA and postgraduate degrees in choral conducting at the Leningrad Conservatory and was Professor at the Petrozavodsk State Conservatory in Russia. In 1995, President Boris Yeltsin bestowed upon him the title of "Honoured Artist of Russia". In 1987 Mr. Klaz was appointed the artistic director and conductor of the Karelian Art Centre in Petrozavodsk. The ensemble participated in national and international concert tours and competitions in Germany, Finland, Estonia, Ireland and Norway under Mr. Klaz's leadership, and received numerous awards.

Mr. Klaz came to Winnipeg in February 2000 to become the Artistic Director and conductor of the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir. He quickly became a leader in Winnipeg's choral community. In April of 2003, Mr. Klaz was appointed the artistic director and conductor of the Winnipeg Singers. He also directs the First Mennonite Church Choir, the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue Choir, and the University of Winnipeg Student Choir. In March 2005, Mr. Klaz was a guest conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. The Winnipeg Free Press described his performance as "among the best of the WSO concert season. He led an emotional and dynamic production of powerful music."

Mr Klaz has attended four world Symposia on choral music, and toured the northern United States in February 2002 giving conductor seminars. He also teaches at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts.

UPCOMING CONCERTS      

Sounds of Nature
Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 3:00pm
Westworth United Church
Grosvenor and Lanark
With special guests: Donna Laube (piano) and Xiao-Nan Wang (flute)

Programme: With nature as the interlocking theme, the programme will depict how composers depict nature in music. Repertoire will include Due North (Stephen Chatman), Nocturnes (Lundvik) and Leek's Ngana and much more.

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2009 - 2010 Brochure (PDF)