About the Victoria Scholars

The Victoria Scholars Men’s Choral Ensemble was founded in 1993 by graduates of Toronto’s St. Michael’s Choir School and takes its name from Tomas Luis de Victoria, an outstanding Spanish composer of the Renaissance period whose music is renowned for its deep spirituality and emotional expressiveness. The essence of the Scholars’ music is an emphasis on the clarity and balance of sound so characteristic of Renaissance music, which the ensemble presents through the unique sonority of male voices, and applies to a repertoire encompassing works from various eras; contemporary pieces in a variety of styles; and newly commissioned works.

Past winners of the Canada Council Healey Willan Grand Prize in the CBC Radio National Competition for Amateur Choirs, the Victoria Scholars has completed successful tours nationally and internationally, makes frequent appearances as special guest with other artists and performing arts organizations from Toronto and abroad, and has produced its own five widely acclaimed recordings – including John Edward Ronan‘s Tenebrae.

The mandate of the Victoria Scholars is to promote, develop and advance the performance of male voice choral music and the choristers, organists, soloists, composers, and other instrumentalists and/or performers of such music by:

Presenting performances and creating recordings that entertain, educate, and increase public appreciation and awareness of the beauty and wealth of sacred and secular music for male voice chorus in all periods of music;
Commissioning new works by Canadian composers as funding permits and highlighting Canadian compositions and arrangements of music in our concerts;
Providing performance opportunities for aspiring singers.

Each year, the Victoria Scholars present a 2-3 concert series in Toronto. They have appeared as guests of other performing arts organizations in Toronto, and present occasional concerts in other southern Ontario cities (Barrie, Brantford, Kingston, Markham, Port Hope, Niagara Falls, and upcoming in Hamilton, Dec. 2025). The Scholars have also completed successful tours nationally (Vancouver and Halifax) and internationally (the United States and the Bahamas).

The Victoria Scholars have had the pleasure of performing with a variety of international vocal soloists such as Russell Braun, Measha Brueggergosman, Norine Burgess, Michael Colvin, Richard Margison, Robert Pomakov, Sondra Radvanovsky, Catherine Robbin, Michael Schade, Janice Taylor, James Westman, and Monica Whicher. They have also appeared with local and international arts organizations such as the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Elora Festival Singers, the Kyiv Chamber Choir, the Swedish Men’s Choir Orphei Drängar, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Along with appearing on recordings by Loreena McKennitt and Mary Lou Fallis, the Scholars have released 5 of their own well-received recordings:

Christmas with the Victoria Scholars: Carols and Lullabies from around the world
John Edward Ronan’s Tenebrae
Distant Voices: A collection of works by Canadian composers and arrangers
O Night Divine
Songs of Love Sacred & Profane

CDs are always available for purchase at our concerts.

Meet our Choir Members
for the 2025-2026 Season

Tenor I
Martin Gomes
Justin Hatulan
Damien Macedo
Alex Rojik

Tenor II
Rick Bernasiewicz
Jacob Brożyna
Mark McCallen
Jeremy Tingle

Baritone
Andrejas Allgeier
Kevin Bonnici
Michael Vidoni

Bass
Michael Evans*
Jaan Medri
Sean Nix
Chris Pacitti*
William White
Nathan Yankech

*leave of absence