Staff
Richard Sparks
Artistic Director & Principal Conductor
Richard Sparks is now in his eleventh season as Artistic Director of Pro Coro Canada, and under his direction the choir has experienced notable artistic growth. Repertoire has ranged from major works such as Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 with a stellar cast and period instruments to Bach's Mass in B Minor and the Requiems of Mozart, Faure, and Durufle. He has also led premieres by Canadian composers Allan Bevan, John Estacio, Allan Gilliland, Robin John King, Laurie Radford and Trent Worthington. Pro Coro Canada has also toured to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and is regularly heard on CBC Radio.
Sparks was formerly Director of Choral Activities and conductor of the Choir of the West at Pacific Lutheran University from 1983-2001 and was founder and conductor of the Seattle-based Choral Arts, which he conducted from 1993-2006.
Dr. Sparks has started as of the fall 2009 a full time job as Professor of Music at the University of North Texas, where he conducts the Chamber Choir and Collegium Singers and teaches a variety of academic courses.
The Alberta Choral Federation recently presented Sparks with the Richard S. Eaton Award of Distinction, in recognition of "exemplary service to choral music in the province of Alberta."
Keep up with Richard Sparks' ideas and activities on his blog
Richard Sparks - Music, Conducting, Choirs