McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Montreal Elgar Choir Fonds
Fonds
60 cm of textual records and photographs
The Montreal Elgar Choir was incorporated in 1924 through the amalgamation of the Elgar Women's Choir (founded in 1921) and the Apollo Glee Club, directed by Berkeley E. Chadwick. Chadwick, organist at the Erskine-American Church and music teacher at a number of private schools, became the new choir's first director. He was succeeded in 1951 by Gifford Mitchell, lecturer (1957, 1963-1965) and Assistant Professor (1966-1969) of music at McGill and music supervisor for the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal. Since 1969, the choir has been directed by Graham Knott (1969-1972) and Brock McElheran (1972-). Maureen Forrester made her professional debut in 1951 with the Choir, performing Elgar's "The Music Makers".
The records of the Elgar Choir comprise the Choir's charter; minutes, (together with annual statements, membership lists, and some correspondence) for 1923-1924, 1931-1941, 1952-1976, files of correspondence, 1923-1926, 1971-1976, membership lists, including lists for the Elgar Women's Choir and the Apollo Glee Club, 1920-1923, a complete run of programmes, again including those of the two founding choirs, 1919-1969 and photographs, 1966, 1970, 1977.
Originals, Copies, Printed Materials and Photographs