GRAMMY® Award winner Jeff Tyzik is one of America’s most innovative and sought-after pops conductors. Tyzik is recognized for his brilliant arrangements, original programming, and engaging rapport with audiences of all ages. Tyzik holds The Dot and Paul Mason Principal Pops Conductor’s Podium at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and also serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Oregon Symphony, and The Florida Orchestra. This season, Tyzik will celebrate his 31st season as Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO).  

Frequently invited as a guest conductor, Tyzik has appeared with the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, Milwaukee Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. In May 2007, the Harmonia Mundi label released his recording of works by Gershwin with pianist Jon Nakamatsu and the RPO, which stayed in the top 10 on the Billboard classical chart for over three months. Alex Ross of The New Yorker called it “one of the snappiest Gershwin discs in years.”  

Committed to performing music of all genres, Tyzik has collaborated with such diverse artists as Megan Hilty, Chris Botti, Matthew Morrison, Wynonna Judd, Tony Bennett, Art Garfunkel, Dawn Upshaw, Marilyn Horne, Arturo Sandoval, The Chieftains, Mark O’Connor, Doc Severinsen, and John Pizzarelli. He has created numerous original programs that include the greatest music, from jazz and classical to Motown, Broadway, film, dance, Latin, and swing. Tyzik holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music. 

In addition to his talents as a pianist, percussionist, and actor, Denzal Sinclaire is one of Canada’s most popular jazz vocalists and is ranked among the finest jazz singers of his generation. From the moment he steps on stage, he seems to naturally and effortlessly evoke a profound emotional interaction with his audience, touching the listener with his passionate and sincere delivery and the purity of the message in every song he sings.

Sinclaire is a multiple JUNO Award nominee, a recipient of the 2004 National Jazz Award for Best Album, a four-time consecutive recipient of the Jazz Report Magazine Award for Male Jazz Vocalist, and France’s 2007 Choc Jazzman Award.  

From his early days as a canny interpreter of Nat King Cole’s mentholated crooning, he’s grown into one of the most distinctive and individualistic singers anywhere. He has graced the stages of numerous concert halls and festivals around the world, and appeared on several TV shows, including Canada’s Bravo TV, Canada AM, Nashville Now, and Ireland’s The Late Late Show. As a former member of UK soul artist Jamie Lidell’s band, Sinclaire has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Manu Katché’s show in France, One Shot Not. Additional television and film credits include appearances in the new Battlestar Galactica TV series and Being Julia, starring Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons.

Sinclaire has recorded three albums for Universal Music—I Found Love, Denzal Sinclaire, and My One and Only Love. 

Etobicoke School of the Arts (ESA) has been Canada’s premier arts-focused high school for more than 40 years, teaching young artists in music, music theatre, dance, drama, visual arts, and film. The ESA Chorus is conducted by David Ambrose and comprises Grade 9–12 music-theatre students, including members of its award-winning ensembles, Splash, Chamber Choir, WoCo, and Jamme. Many graduates of the program have gone on to careers in music and music theatre, performing with such illustrious organizations as the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, the Canadian Opera Company, and The Metropolitan Opera, and in major TV and film roles.