NICHOLAS ALLEN
A native Calgarian, Nicholas Allen endeavoured into a life of music at an early age. He has been playing the piano as well as singing in choirs for the last 18 years, including two years with the prestigious Vienna Boys Choir. He earned a degree in Music Education from the University of Victoria, where he studied voice with tenor Benjamin Butterfield, and sang with both the university's Chamber Singers and Vocal Jazz ensembles.
As a baritone soloist, Nicholas performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in the Matthew Halls completion of J.S. Bach's St. Mark Passion (2017), in Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem with Knox Presbyterian Church and Christ Church Elbow Park (2016), with the Calgary Bach Society (2014), with Calgary-based VoiceScapes (2009), and various orchestras across Vancouver Island. He sings professionally at Knox Presbyterian Church and as the Bass Section Principal for the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus. When he's not performing on stage, Nicholas works as a teacher with the Calgary Separate School District.
AARON BARTHOLOMEW
Aaron is thrilled to be a part of Luminous Voices, singing with friends new and old. He is originally from the UK and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Lethbridge. He is the bass lead at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer and sometimes sings with a few of the awesome opera companies in town. When he isn't making music with others he works in print and design, and is a big sports fan. Thanks to Tim and LV for the memories!
PAUL GRINDLAY
I feel fortunate to have been blessed with a unique bass voice. Perhaps I can take credit for the “ten thousand hours” of practice and commitment spent getting to know my instrument, but mostly I am indebted to the many amazing teachers, mentors, conductors and colleagues who have inspired and supported me on my musical journey, including my parents and grandparents, my wife, my brothers and so many others.
I have enjoyed a quarter century of professional performances on three continents with such groups as the Vienna Chamber Opera,Opera Atelier, Calgary Opera, American Bach Soloists, Carmel Bach Festival, Tafelmusik, Toronto Consort, Studio de MusiqueAncienne de Montreal, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra,VoiceScapes, Luminous Voices, Pro Coro Canada and many others. I also recorded for NAXOS, Toccata Classics and Marquis, when CDs were the go-to music medium.
I was appointed Artistic Director of the Calgary Boys’ Choir in 2004 and continue today as the organization prepares to celebrate its 45th anniversary. Many of those amazing lads are now taller than me and some already sing better than I do. I also direct the choir at Knox Presbyterian Church and I am on the vocal faculty at Mount Royal Conservatory of Music. When not immersed in music, I am most likely to be found enjoying time with my family, fly fishing, hiking, biking, swimming, cooking or writing poetry.
BRYAN HRYCIW
Bryan Hryciw, a founding member of Luminous Voices, has been involved in music since the age of five. Educated on violin and viola, he played with string ensembles and orchestras until graduation. He also performed with choral and concert band programs throughout high school and university. Bryan began a percussion career as a performer in 1996, joined the music staff at the Stampede Show Band in 2001, and was the percussion caption head and arranger from 2006 until 2010. Bryan sings with the award-winning Spiritus Chamber Choir, and collaborates regularly with Il Sono Men's Vocal Ensemble, The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer Choir and VoiceScapes.
Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science (Calgary) and works as a software developer.
DAVe LATOS
Dave Latos has been an avid musician for many years. He began singing in choir at age 6 and hasn’t stopped since, and he also spent a few years with a trombone along the way. He just about went to university for engineering, but ended up seeing the light and choosing music instead. His Bachelor of Music degree was obtained from the University of Saskatchewan, where he studied voice with Janice Paterson and Garry Gable and performed with the Greystone Singers and Musical Theatre Ensemble. Since returning to Calgary, Dave has sung with various choirs in the area, including the Festival Chorus, the Bow Valley Chorus, and the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus. In addition to Luminous Voices, he also sings currently with Spiritus Chamber Choir and Il Sono Men’s Vocal Ensemble.
Another element of Dave’s musical life is composition, which he studied at the University of Calgary. While he has written music in many styles and for many instruments, his current compositional activities centre on the writing and arranging of choral and vocal music of various genres (everything from original pieces in the classical realm to Boney M), a reflection of his lifelong love of singing.
Jordan Van Biert
Jordan Van Biert caught the choral music bug as an undergraduate student at The King's University (Edmonton) as a student of Timothy Shantz. Thereafter, he gained a decade of experience with ensembles including with the U of A Madrigal Singers, National Youth Choir of Canada, Canadian Chamber Choir, and Pro Coro Canada, and then became a founding member of Luminous Voices in 2012. He is a choral conductor and organization-builder based in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory, where he directs and conducts Chronos Vocal Ensemble, Vocal Alchemy and Ante Meridiem. Hobbies include golf (the pursuit of which is conveniently limited to outside the choir season), sustainable building and permaculture gardening. New music on the playlist? While lately he has been primarily reviewing and editing choral recordings, he is also currently pursuing projects involving Indigenous collaborators, and has been broadening his horizons listening to powwow ensembles including Young Spirit and Northern Cree.