Tim Elia began his musical education with eleven years at St. Michael’s Choir School in Toronto, where he studied under many fine teachers, among them John Arpin, Victor Togni, Charles Peaker, Talivaldis Kenins, Mgr. J.E. Ronan and Rev. T. Barrett Armstrong. He has been teaching choirs of students and adults for over 35 years. As a performer he made his first TV appearances in 1971; his recordings have been broadcast and sold in both Canada and the States, and he has composed and arranged both pop and sacred music from the sixties to the present. He has lectured in Gregorian Chant and Gospel Music for St. Michael’s College Continuing Education Department at the University of Toronto. He has arranged OXFORD CHURCHMUSIC programs in England, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic every year since 1994. He lives in Warkworth, 2 hours east of Toronto Ontario.

Roger Simmonds is a composer, teacher and choir director. As a composer, Roger has written for television, the stage and for choirs. He has now had four operas performed and at present is working on two more which will be performed by the Stanton St John Opera Company, a new venture, which incorporates young professional singers with a community based production company. As a teacher he works with A-Level students and advanced Piano Students. In his years as a music teacher at Wheatley Park School he directed several choirs including a successful School Madrigal Choir which toured all over the world. He is at present directing a small choir of 16 voices called Musica Viva. He lives in Wheatley, just outside of Oxford.

Mary Elia is not a conductor but looks after all the logistics of the trip, including accommodations, side-trips, and any of the motley travel details one can think of. She brings a lifetime of travel experience and 25 years of organizing Oxford Churchmusic to the table. She shares her love of good food, fine wine, art, music and gardening with each group. She is also sounding-board and sometime nurse (unqualified!!) to our participants. She organizes occasional morning excursions for the non-singers or FROGS (Friends of Great Singers) who join us on these trips.