ABOUT THE MUSIC JURY

Erkki Pohjola (b. 1931), member of a famous family of musicians and one of the
best-known choir masters in Finland, has done revolutionary work in developing
child and youth choir activities and musical education in general. As principal of the
Espoo College of Music, writer of textbooks and choir master he has had decisive
influence on the upbringing of a whole new generation of young musicians in
Finland.

Erkki Pohjola has been choirmaster of the Tapiola Choir since its inception in
1963. Originally an ordinary school choir of the Tapiola Secondary School, it has
developed into a world-famous children’s and youngsters’ choir, a trail-blazer in the
world of music.

Erkki Pohjola

Robert Cooper, who has had a distinguished career in the field of choral music, is
an executive producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, in charge of
choral concert and opera programming.

Mr. Cooper was appointed conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir in
1978. He received a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the
University of Western Ontario, where he conducted the Faculty of Music Concert
Choir. Mr. Cooper was also a recipient of both the Leslie Bell Scholarship for choral
conducting and a Canada Council grant enabling him to continue his studies in
Detmold and Stuttgardt, under Helmuth Rilling, in West Germany. He has also
studied with Robert Shaw and Robert Page in the United States.