Artistic Director
Ross trained at the University of Calgary, the Banff School of Fine Arts, the University of Toronto and Acadia University. His multi-faceted career has included opera, musical theatre, choral direction, voice instruction, composition, arts administration and event production.
Since arriving in Nova Scotia, Ross founded the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir, and lead the Cantabile Singers of Truro, for 15 years. During that time, he established the Cantabile Boys Choir and the Spotlight Musical Theatre program. More recently has been a leader for the Nova Scotia Youth Choir, a Nova Scotia Choral Federation high school/college youth choir program. Ross is a guest clinician, conductor and adjudicator for numerous choral camps, workshops, festivals and clinics throughout the Maritimes.
As a vocalist, Ross’s versatile singing style has been heard in performance with opera companies and symphony orchestras across Canada. In Nova Scotia, his appearances with Symphony Nova Scotia have included “Madama Butterfly”, “HMS Pinafore”, “The Gondoliers”, and Bach’s beautiful cantatas “Ich habe genung” and the “Coffee Cantata”. He is a featured soloist with the “Rhapsody
Quintet” on their first CD, “The Melody Lingers On”.
A musical theatre enthusiast, Ross was a key part of the creative team for Wolfville’s long-running Christmas Show, “Fezziwig’s Family Christmas Frolic” serving as composer and musical director. Other composing credits include the musicals “Belinda the Bicycle Witch” and “Lost and Found”, co-written with his sister, Shelley Thompson, both of which were presented by Theatre Antigonish. As musical director, he has worked with Festival Antigonish, Spotlight Musical Theatre in Truro, and the Wolfville Fezziwig Society.
During Ross’s 20 year public school teaching carrer, he was the recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2002.
Now enjoying retirement with his wife Helen, he performs occasionally, leads workshops, and is active coaching young singers.