Canadian Composer & Conductor

ABOUT

KAI

Kai Leung holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, where he studied voice and composition. He is the Artistic Director of the Modern Sound Collective, where he conducts ConcreamusDatsuzoku, Sehnsucht, and Frisson. He also serves as the Associate Conductor with the Orpheus Choir of Toronto and as the Assistant Conductor and Composer in Residence at St. Clements Church. Kai sings baritone with the TMSingers and the Schola Cantorum of St. Basil’s Catholic Church. Kai is also the conductor and choir manager of the Toronto Festival Singers, the professional synagogue choir at the Song Shul.

Kai is the 2020 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 2019 Arthur Plettner Scholarship, the 2019 Richard I Thorman Award, and the 2018 Lloyd Bradshaw Prize.

During his undergraduate years, Kai studied composition with Roger Bergs. His works have been performed around Canada and internationally by the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Resonance Youth Choir, Jokolo, Mississauga Tranzzit, Concreamus, the Apex High School “Rose Singers”, the Vancouver Youth Choir, the Oakville choir for Children and Youth, and the Orpheus Choir of Toronto. Kai is the winner of the 2023 Debbie Fleming prize for choral composition, presented by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.

 

Modern Sound Collective

Modern Sound Collective aims to foster a nurturing community that inspires young artists through accessible opportunities for growth and collaboration, and to share their love of contemporary choral music through sincere and passionate performances. The organization consists of five choirs, who focus on rehearsing and performing exceptional choral music to a high standard, as well as building friendships within the choir community and providing a stellar musical education for their members.

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,” and the new music choir, “Concreamus.” He took over Artistic Directorship of the organization in 2020.

Concreamus is a 40 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 25 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.

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/.

Orpheus Choir of Toronto

The Orpheus Choir of Toronto is one of Toronto’s most distinguished, innovative, and important ensembles. They constantly provide a fresh, rich choral sound, and tackle contemporary repertoire that advances the Canadian Choral idiom.

Kai has been a singer/section leader with the Orpheus Choir for 7 years, and since the fall of 2020 has served as their associate conductor.

Orpheus has commissioned and premiered 5 of Kai’s choral works and 2 of his choral arrangements, including:

Some of these works are available for purchase through the store