Our Director
Since moving to Montreal in 2004, Swiss-native Michael Zaugg has distinguished himself as an innovative and versatile conductor on the Canadian choral scene. Active as Artistic Director, Guest Conductor, pedagogue and clinician, Michael Zaugg brings a wealth of experience and creativity to his work.
As newly appointed Artistic Director of the St Lawrence Choir of Montreal as well as Guest Chorus Master of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Michael Zaugg has already prepared both groups for performances with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Kent Nagano and with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie under Paavo Järvi.
As Artistic Director of the Cantata Singers of Ottawa, Michael Zaugg creates and conducts their innovative concert series in addition to preparing the choir’s regular appearances with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, under guest conductors such as Franz-Paul Decker, David Lockington, Trevor Pinnock and Helmuth Rilling.
In 2006 Michael Zaugg founded Voces Boreales, a 20-voice group specialized in contemporary a cappella music. The Montreal ensemble has already appeared in the NAC eXpressions Music Series, the Montreal International Bach-Academy and been featured on CBC Radio 2. Michael also leads La Ceilagh, a chamber choir of current and former McGill music students pursuing careers in performance and teaching.
Throughout Europe, Michael Zaugg has conducted choirs of international standing, including the Mikaeli Chamber Choir, the Adolf Fredriks Girls' Choir, and the Vocal Ensemble of the Royal College of Music (all Sweden), as well as Grex Vocalis (Norway) and Ensemble Orlando, (Switzerland). He has worked with the Danish National Youth Choir and the Academic Chamber Choir of Ljubljana (Slovenia) at the Bramstrup Performing Arts Festival in Denmark, and with the International Choir of the Zimriya Festival in Israel. Closer to his home, he was Chorus Master of the Swiss Oratorio Choir Regiochor for five years before moving abroad. In 2000 Michael Zaugg founded World Voices, a chamber choir comprised of professional singers from over 20 countries. He led this prize-winning ensemble in performance tours of Switzerland, Italy, and Spain.
Michael Zaugg was the first Swiss conductor to be accepted to the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, Sweden, in its prestigious post-graduate Diploma for Professional Choir Conducting. Within this unique program, where only one or two students are accepted per year, Michael Zaugg worked weekly with singersfrom the Swedish Radio Choir and the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir. Under the tutelage of Professor Anders Eby, he performed a cappella works of the 20th and 21st centuries each month. Other conducting teachers include Professor Thüring Bräm, and Professor Frieder Bernius.
An accomplished tenor, Michael Zaugg has toured Europe and Asia with professional groups including the Swiss Chamber Choir, the Chamber Choir of Europe, the World Chamber Choir and the Stockholm Chamber Choir. He has contributed his voice to numerous recordings under world-renowned conductors such as Robert Sund (S), Frieder Bernius (D), Tonu Kaljuste (EST) and Simon Rattle (GB).
A passionate pedagogue, Michael Zaugg is strongly committed to his work not only with choirs but also with other conductors. He teaches privately and has given numerous Master classes on conducting and rehearsal technique. Michael’s students, coming from diverse choral backgrounds, appreciate a hands-on approach when working with his ensembles.