Ivars Taurins conducts symphonic and choral repertoire with equal expertise. Founding director of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, he was also violist of the Tafelmusik Orchestra for its first 23 years. Under his direction, the choir has been praised for its clarity, nuance and brilliance.
 
Principal Baroque Conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra from 2001-2011, Ivars Taurins also appears as guest director with orchestras and choirs across Canada, including the symphonies of Edmonton, Victoria and Kitchener-Waterloo, Orchestra London, Symphony Nova Scotia, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Thirteen Strings (Ottawa), Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Pro Coro Canada, Winnipeg Singers, and Elora Festival Orchestra & Singers. He was director of the 2000 and 2009 Ontario Youth Choirs, the 2003 Nova Scotia Youth Choir, the 2004 Alberta University & College Choir, and guest director of the London, Calgary and Nova Scotia Youth Orchestras. He has been appointed director of the 2012 National Youth Choir.

 

A passionate lecturer and teacher, Ivars Taurins teaches orchestral conducting and directs the early music ensembles at the University of Toronto, and has been a guest teacher/conductor at the Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec, University of Western Ontario, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Queen’s University in Kingston, and the Glenn Gould Professional School. Ivars Taurins is director of the vocal/choral programme at the annual Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute.

Ivars was nominated for a 2011 Gemini Award for his performance as George Frederic Handel in Sing-Along Messiah, filmed by 90th Parallel Productions for Bravo! television.