Choral Director, University Professor of Singing, and Countertenor Daniel John Taylor has been awarded the inaugural National Medal of Music.

Established in 2023, the distinction is Canada’s highest honor in the Arts. Per an official press statement, “it will be awarded every year to two outstanding leaders who have had a major and positive influence on the cultural life and climate of the nation. The award recognizes exceptional achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Those honoured have made remarkable contributions that have lifted the spirits and enriched the lives of others, and have made a compassionate, meaningful difference to this country through acts of kindness, courage and heartfelt conviction.”

The other recipient this year is political icon Ed Broadbent.

Taylor has appeared with such organizations as the Teatro Colón, Les Arts Florissants, the Metropolitan Opera, the Glyndebourne Festival, Rome Opera, San Francisco Opera, the Welsh Opera, Opéra de Montréal, the Canadian Opera Company, Israel Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic,  and VOCES8, among many others. He is the founding artistic director and conductor of the Theater of Early Music and The Trinity Choir. He was previously praised as “Canada’s finest Countertenor” by the Globe and Mail.