(Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic)

The Toronto Consort has named Daniel Taylor to the position of General and Artistic Director.

Taylor is a countertenor and renowned conductor who has led The Trinity Choir and the Theatre of Early Music. He became the first Canadian in history to sing and lead the orchestra and choir in a State Funeral. He is also a Professor of Opera, Voice, and Early Music, and the Director of Historical Performance at the University of Toronto.

“This is an extraordinary moment in the history of The Toronto Consort,” said Heather Turnbull, President of the Board, per an official press release. “Daniel Taylor is a beloved Canadian singer, a leading figure in the field of opera and early music, and noted by the CBC as Canada’s most prolific classical recording artist.”

Moreover, the organization also announced that Dame Emma Kirkby is the organization’s first-ever Honorary Patron.

“Dame Emma Kirkby is an iconic legendary soprano known for her clarity of text and message and for her guidance of a new generation of singers across the world. As co-curators of our season’s first concert, they will welcome a stunning roster of rising young artists alongside returning Consort members, ushering in a new era of early music in Toronto. Daniel and Emma are the perfect individuals to introduce our audiences to promising young voices, program sought-after guest artists active on today’s world stage, and program beautiful yet often neglected repertoire spanning from the 12th century to today,” noted Turnbull.