Described as “innovative, expressive, and dynamic,” Elroy Friesen is Director of Choral Studies at the University of Manitoba where he conducts numerous choirs, and teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting and music education.

Elroy and his wife Heidi are raising their family of four children in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

He is the Founder and past Artistic Director of Prairie Voices and has held positions of Artistic Director of the Mennonite Community Orchestra, Director of Choirs at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Urbana, and Director of the University Chorus in Champaign, Illinois. He is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout Canada, the United States, and Northern Europe.

• Canzona and Musik Barock - Judas Maccabaeus, Handel (Guest conductor)
• Canzona and Musik Barock -  Missa Votiva, Zelenka (Guest conductor - upcoming performance)
• Unisong Festival with National Arts Centre Orchestra - Ottawa (guest conductor)
• Numerous national collaborations with Soundstreams Canada (Toronto)
• University of Manitoba Singers - Requiem, Mozart
• University of Manitoba Singers - Messiah, Handel
• Founder and Past Artistic Director of Prairie Voices
• Founder and Director of Winnipeg Soloists Choir
• Frequent performer for WSO New Music Festival and CBC
• Recent Choral Performance Tours:
  
  • Iceland
  • Sweden/Finland
  • Paraguay/ Argentina

His award-winning ensembles tour nationally and internationally, and are frequently recorded and broadcasted by the CBC. They enjoy collaborating with many outstanding local and national arts organizations, including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, Canzona, WSO New Music Festival, Soundstreams Canada, Groundswell, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Musik Barock Ensemble, and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.

• University of Manitoba Faculty of Music Endowment Fund
• Sweden/Finland Performance Tour
• Saskatoon ACCC Podium Tour
• Mozart Requiem Project
• Foundation for Choral Music in Manitoba
• Rautavaara's Vigilia concert
• Women's Chorus Festival
• DMA Study Support
• Prairie Voices Start-up Grant
• Manitoba Arts Council
• Commission Grants Michael Matthews, Sid Robinovitch, Bruce Carlson
• Canada Council for the Arts
• Collaborative Touring Project Grant with Soundstreams, Canada
• National Graduate Studies Award 2005
• Rh Award, Creative Works Category 2013

Recently publishing his research on the choral music of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, Elroy continues to pursue his passion of study and performance of new Nordic repertoire – especially new Canadian works.

• Founder and Artistic Director of Nordika, a new chamber vocal ensemble specializing in performance of Nordic choral repertoire and new Canadian works
• The Choral Works of Einojuhani Rautavaara
• Lyric Diction of Nordic Languages

Director of Choral Studies
Musical Education
Graduate Choral Conducting
Undergraduate Conducting
Choral Repertoire
Choral Techniques
fikamusik
University of Manitoba Singers
University of Manitoba Women's Chorus
Cantata Singers

Committees:

• Graduate Committee
• Ensemble Committee
• Curriculum Committee
• Education Committee