Musical Direction
Isabel Bernaus, Conductor
Born in Catalonia (Spain) and trained as a musician in both Europe and America, Isabel Bernaus is an accomplished conductor and music educator. She studied conducting and piano in Barcelona, as well as music education in Catalonia, France, and Quebec, where she attained a Master’s Degree in Music Education at Laval University. More recently, she pursued choral studies with Dr. James Jordan of Westminister College at Rider University.
Since moving to Toronto in 1999, Isabel has become conductor of two community choirs – Common Thread and Settlement Community Choir, and a chamber choir – The Jubilate Singers. She also teaches music at Sheridan College and Haliburton School of the Arts at Fleming College. Isabel has participated in several choir events as a guest conductor, taught various music disciplines, and complemented her career with vocal, composition, and arranging studies.
Isabel speaks several languages and is familiar with classical and folk music traditions from many cultures. A strong believer that music should be accessible to everyone, she has conducted choirs with a wide range of singing experiences as part of her lifelong involvement in community projects promoting education and music.
Lynn McMurray, Assistant Conductor
Lynn McMurray was born in Cambridge, Ontario, and began her music studies as a pianist at the age of 6. She later discovered her love of choral music throughout her experiences with the Kitchener-based Kodaly Choir, as well as her highschool choral ensembles. Now in her fourth year at the University of Toronto, Lynn is majoring in Music Education, and has studied voice with Peter Barnes and Jo-Anne Bentley. She has studied conducting at the University with Lori-Anne Dolloff, Ivars Taurins of Tafelmusik, as well as Dr. Doreen Rao, Elmer Iseler Chair of Conducting for the University of Toronto. Lynn is hoping to continue her education in choral music as both conductor and singer, and is excited to be working with Common Thread for the first time this coming season.
Eran Rozenszajn, Accompaniast
Eran Rozenszajn was born in Israel and began his pianistic studies at age six. He later pursued classical guitar, cello and double bass and occasionally conducted his high school orchestra. He recently completed his ARCT in piano performance and a Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto, where he studied piano under Andrew Markow. He was a member of the MacMillan Singers and Victoria College Chorus, and also studied conducting with Prof. Lori-Anne Dolloff, Ivars Taurins and Dr. Doreen Rao. Eran has received master classes in solo and collaborative works from pianists such as Dr. Jamie Parker, Lydia Wong, Marietta Orlov, Henri-Paul Sicsic, Boris Lysenko and Andrew Burashko. He is the winner of several local and provincial Kiwanis festivals and semi-finalist at the 2004 Julia Crane International Piano Competition. He is glad to become a part of the Common Thread community in this exciting upcoming season