Canadian award for Elise Bradley
2 May 2025
Our hearty congratulations to Elise Bradley MNZM on being awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal by the Canadian government for her outstanding leadership as Artistic Director of the Toronto Children’s Chorus from 2007-2021.
Canada’s King Charles III Coronation Medal celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the country or achieved accomplishments that brought credit to Canada. Under Elise’s leadership, the Toronto Children’s Chorus toured globally, garnering international acclaim. She nurtured numerous young voices and left an inspiring legacy of excellence. Elise’s medal recognises her exceptional work in choral music and education and acknowledges her contribution to the cultural enrichment of Canada. Elise was awarded a MNZM honour in January 2018 for her equivalent contribution to choral music in Aotearoa.
The Toronto Children’s Chorus website praises Elise as being “a passionate musician, award-winning conductor, and internationally respected educator who has dedicated her career to the study of the choral arts. She has encouraged countless young people, through participation in choirs, to develop not only their musical abilities, but also their self-confidence and a life-long love of music.”
Since returning to New Zealand, Elise has co-founded the New Zealand Children’s Choral Academy with Dr Karen Grylls and has become the Music Director of the Hamilton Civic Choir, the Co-Director of the Aotearoa Academy Choir with Rowan Johnston and the director of several school choirs.
Elises’s skills as an educator are a welcome resource to the ACD and NZCF. She contributed to the recent Singing for Lifelong Wellbeing project (funded through a grant from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage) as both a mentor to young conductors and to primary teachers.
Elise is giving a workshop in Palmerston North on Saturday 10 May, from 10:00am-1:00pm called Singing for Life and there are still places available. This is a great opportunity to learn from a clinician with extensive experience in working with voices of all ages. Click here for more information.