Susan Michaels
With her music degree from the University of Toronto in 1976, as well as her A.R.C.T. on the euphonium and trombone, Susan Michaels started her career as a high school music teacher (1977-1987) in what was formerly known as the Scarborough and North York Boards of Education. As an award-winning educator and conductor, Mrs. Michaels became Director of the Scarborough Wind Ensemble, an all-city, elite high school band which toured throughout Canada and the U.S.
Susan is also a vocalist and was a first soprano of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir from 1980-1997 and performed with the Toronto Symphony countless times at Roy Thompson Hall, Massey Hall, and Carnegie Hall.
As the Founder and Director of the highly acclaimed Renanim Youth Singers from 1999 to 2013, among other highlights, Susan took the choir to Israel on two performance tours, performed for the Emissary of the Pope on the 50-year anniversary of Nostre Aetate, recorded course material from grades 1 to 8 for Jewish educators globally, and recorded two albums which included their award-winning song Adonai Roi, which was used in a documentary. As a certified teacher, Susan took great pride in being able to grant high school music credits to kids whose schools didn’t offer music in their curriculums and many of her former students have gone on to obtain degrees and have become professional musicians.
Susan is eager to get back to conducting the choir once the pandemic is over!! In the meantime, you can see some of our past concert performances on our YouTube Channel.