Short Bio: 73 words
Dr. Morna Edmundson is one of Canada’s best-known and beloved choral conductors. Her commitment to excellence and advocacy garnered her the Order of Canada as well as an honourary doctorate from the University of British Columbia. Based in Vancouver, Morna is the Artistic Director of the mixed choir, EnChor. Her 38 years of groundbreaking and visionary leadership of the adult treble choir, Elektra, led to 17 celebrated CDs and over 120 commissioned works.
Medium Bio: 166 words
Dr. Morna Edmundson, CM, is one of Canada’s best-known and beloved choral conductors. Based in Vancouver, she is the Artistic Director of the mixed choir, EnChor. Her 38 years of groundbreaking and visionary leadership of the adult treble choir, Elektra, led to 17 celebrated CDs and over 120 commissioned works from established and emerging composers. Passionate since childhood about choral singing, Morna obtained degrees and diplomas in vocal music in Vancouver and Bellingham, WA. Her formal conducting studies began at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Stockholm, Sweden under the renowned Eric Ericson. She adjudicates frequently in North America and Asia, has conducted state and provincial honour choirs and community choir festivals, leads workshops with youth and adult choirs, and advocates for and mentors the next generation of choral professionals. Her accomplishments have been recognized with many awards including a Vancouver YWCA Woman of Distinction Award (2011), a Doctor of Letters honoris causa from the University of British Columbia (2023), and the Order of Canada (2024).
Long Bio: 385 words
Dr. Morna Edmundson, CM, is one of Canada’s best-known and beloved choral conductors. Based in Vancouver, she is the Artistic Director of the auditioned SATB choir, EnChor. Morna is known around the world as a pioneer, advocate, and resource for women’s / adult treble choral singing. Her 38 years of groundbreaking and visionary leadership of Elektra (formerly Elektra Women’s Choir) led to 17 celebrated CDs and over 120 commissioned works from established and emerging composers. The Repertoire section of elektra.ca is a living online resource for other conductors, featuring all music Elektra has sung since 1987.
Morna is known as a strong advocate for the Canadian choral music scene, taking a keen interest in the development of other choirs of all voicings, presenting at conferences, and mentoring the next generation. Her strong network of composers and conductors helps Canada’s choral industry to thrive. Passionate since childhood about choral singing, Morna earned a B. Mus. from the University of British Columbia. Her formal conducting studies began at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Stockholm, Sweden under the renowned Eric Ericson. Returning to Canada, she then earned an M. Mus in choral conducting from Western Washington University. She adjudicates frequently in North America and Asia, has conducted state and provincial honour choirs and community choir festivals, leads workshops with youth and adult choirs.
Morna is an energetic and respected choral community-builder, advocating for and mentoring the next generation of choral professionals. She served on the board of Chorus America for nine years. From 2021-2025, she served as President of Choral Canada, the National Arts Service Organization for the choral and group singing arts sector and community in Canada. She curates a series of Canadian compositions and arrangements for accomplished treble choirs at Cypress Choral Music. Morna’s accomplishments have been recognized with the BC Choral Federation’s Healey Willan Award (2000), a BC Community Achievement Award (2009), YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, Arts and Culture category (2011), and UBC Alumni Builder Award (2017). In 2020, Morna was inducted into CBC Radio’s In Concert Classical Music Hall of Fame. In 2021, she guest hosted an episode of CBC’s This is My Music. In 2023, she was awarded a Doctor of Letters honoris causa from the University of British Columbia and in 2024 was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.