Elora Festival Singers conductor placed on leave following sexual misconduct accusations

Noel Edison, the artistic director and conductor of the Elora Festival Singers and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC) has been placed on a “personal leave of absence” in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct.

A statement released by the boards of directors of both the Elora Festival Singers and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, says several allegations of misconduct involving Edison have been brought to attention, which has sparked an investigation by a third party organization.

They say the news has left them in “shock, disbelief and sadness” and led them to make tough decisions while balancing obligations for all the parties involved including Edison, the complainants and choristers with the Elora Singers and TMC.

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The statement says that the board had recently received letters of complaint regarding Edison’s conduct, and those complaints were immediately reviewed prompting the leave of absence and an investigation.

Both organizations say they will not be commenting publicly on the situation until the investigation has been completed to ensure the “utmost integrity” of the investigation, and at that point will take upon themselves to review the information made available.

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Edison is a Wilfrid-Laurier graduate and founded the Elora Singers before he was appointed as conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir in 1997. He’s received Grammy nominations and was made a member of the Order of Ontario in 2009.

They’re also asking anyone with further information regarding this situation to contact TMC chair Maureen Palmer or TMC vice-chair Cathy Conforzi, in confidence, through email at  chair@tmchoir.org