Yuri Klaz

Yuri Klaz was born in Petrozavodsk, Russia, where he was a graduate of the music college and the conservatory of music. He received his Masters degree in conducting at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory. In 1982 he became an associate professor of choral and orchestral conducting at the Petrozavodsk Conservatory. In 1987 Mr. Klaz was appointed the artistic director and conductor of the Chamber Choir of the Karelian Art Centre in Petrozavodsk. Under his direction, the choir led an active concert life and participated in national (Russia) and international concert tours and competitions in Germany, Finland, Estonia, Ireland, and Norway, where the choir received numerous awards.

In 2000 Mr. Klaz came to Canada to become the Artistic Director of the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir. In 2003 he took on the same role with The Winnipeg Singers. Mr. Klaz has also served as Conductor of Church and Community Choirs – the First Mennonite Church Choir, and the Soli Deo Gloria Community Choir.