Canadian Composer & Conductor
ABOUT
KAI
Kai Leung (He/Him) is a passionate choral conductor, composer, and singer. He is the Artistic Director of the Modern Sound Collective, a choral organization that provides youth and young adult musicians with accessible opportunities for growth and collaboration. He is also the Artistic Director of Oakville Choral, a dynamic non-audition community choir, promoting choral singing and music appreciation to the communities of Halton and beyond. He sings baritone with Silver Thread, the Toronto Mendelssohn choir and TMSingers, and the Schola Cantorum of St. Basil’s Catholic Parish.
Kai holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, where he studied voice and composition. His choral works have been performed by the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Avanti Chamber Singers, Junges Vokalensemble, the Vancouver Youth Choir, Jokolo, the Orpheus Choir of Toronto, and many other choral groups around Canada, the United States, and Europe. Kai is the winner of the 2026 Ruth Watson Henderson Composition Competition and the 2023 Debbie Fleming prize for choral composition, presented by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.
Kai is the recipient of the prestigious William and Phyllis Waters Graduating Award from the University of Toronto Faculty of Music. This award is presented each year to one graduating student from any stream who is deemed to have the greatest potential to make an important contribution to the field of Music. Kai has also been awarded the Arthur Plettner Scholarship, the Richard I Thorman Award, and the Lloyd Bradshaw Prize. In 2023 and 2025, Kai was a nominee of the Leslie Bell prize, an award that supports choral conductors in furthering their professional careers and enhancing their choral conducting abilities.
Modern Sound Collective
Kai has been involved with MSC since their inaugural year in 2014, and is the founder of the 100 voice concert choir, “Frisson,” the Young Adult choir “Datsuzoku,” the new music choir, “Concreamus,” and the professional choir “Silver Thread.” He took over Artistic Directorship of the organization in 2020, and became Executive director in 2022.
Concreamus is a 32 voice group dedicated to innovation in the choral arts and the creation and performance of excellent new works by young composers. The group is made up of singers, students, composers, and educators from around the GTA. To date, the choir has premiered over 45 choral works by emerging composers, and have collaborated with various musical organisations, including appearing in concert with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Green Room Music Collective, Sinfonietta Aionia, at SING! Festival Toronto, and at several concerts as part of the University of Toronto’s Composer Concert series.
Datsuzoku is a high-level, social, fun choral experience for young adults. We provide a platform for young adult singers to explore their artistic potential and hone their vocal and choral skills, and encourage singers and audiences alike to embrace the spirit of innovation and creativity. Datsuzoku’s mission is centred around three principles of overall philosophy and programming. First, we strive to open a space for love, both by connecting a community of like minded people and by allowing them to authentically and fully express their passion in meaningful ways. Second, we aim to program music that will push the boundaries of expectation and understanding of choral music, both to develop our skills and to present fresh perspectives to audiences. Finally, we hope that through our rehearsals, concerts, and engagement with the choral community in the GTA and beyond, we will leave a positive and lasting impact on people, communities, and the world.
Modern Sound Collective is a registered charity. If you would like to support them in their mission of providing excellent music making opportunities for young musicians, please reach out to Kai through the contact form or visit https://www.modernsoundcollective.ca/donation/.