Henry Renglich, artistic director
Artistic Director of Etobicoke Centennial Choir since 2008, Henry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a pianist, composer and music pedagogue to his role.
Henry holds an Honours BA in Music Theory and Piano Performance and a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from McGill University, along with a Bachelor of Education degree from York University. While in Montreal, his keyboard talent and improvisational skills were in demand at Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Linda Rabin Danse Moderne. He composed a variety of musical and theatrical works, including a cabaret for The National Theatre School, and was Musical Director for the Piggery Theatre in North Hatley, Quebec.
Henry taught music theory at McGill University and the University of Waterloo, where he was active as a chamber musician, accompanist and coach to young pianists. He has coached and accompanied vocalists in many genres, ranging from classical and opera to contemporary music and musical theatre. His opera experience includes serving as accompanist for Toronto Opera Repertoire and Coro Verdi, and as chorus director for Opera Hamilton.
Henry has composed a number of choral arrangements for Etobicoke Centennial Choir during his tenure. Most recently, he composed choral parts to accompany three world music pieces by guitarist Anton Apostolov and his Balkania Ensemble for ECC’s June 2019 concert.
An experienced music pedagogue who believes strongly in quality music education for young children, Henry’s children’s choirs have won numerous awards and been chosen for professional theatrical productions. He currently teaches music at Unionville Montessori School, where he directs choirs and musical theatre productions.
Carl Steinhauser, collaborative accompanist
Carl began studying the piano at age four and earned his ARCT in Piano Performance in 2008. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Honors) in Music Theory and Composition from the Western University, where he studied piano with Gwen Beamish and composition with Peter Paul Koprowski and Paul Frehner.
Carl has been ECC’s accompanist since 2012. His exceptional keyboard skills and collaborative focus are a tremendous asset to both the conductor and singers. In addition to his work with ECC, Carl is an accompanist for the Mississauga Festival Choir and the organist at Runnymede United Church. He does frequent collaborative work with the Toronto District School Board and Etobicoke School of the Arts.
Karen MacLeod, soprano section lead
Karen MacLeod is a lyric soprano experienced in choral, small ensemble, jazz and celtic repertoire. She studied piano and voice at Northwestern University, jazz harmony at Mohawk College, and Celtic finger style guitar with Tony McManus. She studies voice privately with Laura Pudwell (Toronto, Newberry, and Blue Heron Consorts) and passed the Royal Conservatory of Music ARCT exam in Voice Performance in 2018. She is an award-winning Irish and Scottish Gaelic singer, and has taught for Theatre Aquarius, Riverside Celtic College, and Irish Real Life Festival.
Karen is privileged to have worked with various choral conductors including Mark Vuorinen, Patrick Murray, Charlene Pauls, Sir James MacMillan, and Robert Hollingsworth. Karen has spent three seasons with the Canadian Renaissance Music Summer School at Western University, studying polyphony and chant with European and Canadian experts, and has collaborated on crossover projects with Earl McCluskie and Chestnut Hall Productions.
Currently singing with the Tallis Choir of Toronto, she is a sought-after section lead. Karen is delighted to be with the Etobicoke Centennial Choir for the spring 2023 concerts!
Érika Wood, soprano section lead (leave of absence)
Érika Wood is a musician and educator from Toronto, ON. Érika is thrilled to be back with the Etobicoke Centennial Choir in their 2022-2023 season.
She is a BMus graduate from the University of Toronto, and holds a B.Ed. from Queen’s University through the Artist in the Community program. She performs with various choirs, notably the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Forest Grove United Church, as well as various other choral ensembles in the GTA. She has been a featured soloist with the Cantabile Choirs of Kingston and the Kingston Chamber Choir. Alongside her love for choral music, she is a country & bluegrass singer in Toronto’s up and coming bluegrass band Duke Street Turnaround.
Outside of music, Érika enjoys nature, kayaking, and sharing donuts with friends and family.
Mélissa Danis, alto section lead
Mélissa Danis is a French-Canadian lyric soprano who recently completed a fellowship program as Vocal Scholar at The Royal Conservatory of Music – Glenn Gould School under the guidance of Adrienne Pieczonka and Elizabeth McDonald.
In 2021, she graduated with her Master Degree from The University of Toronto’s Opera School. In May 2019, she graduated with honors from The Glenn Gould School with her Bachelor in Voice Performance.
Miss Danis’ recent performances with the Glenn Gould School includes Danica in Svadba (Sokolovic) and Almirena in Handel’s opera Rinaldo. In addition, her performances with U of T Opera consist of Micaëla in La Tragédie de Carmen (Bizet), A Little Nacht Music where she performed Mimi in the quartet Addio dolce svegliare alla mattina (Puccini), Maria Bertram in Mansfield Park (Dove) and Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart).
Over the years, Miss Danis has developed a profound love for musical theater as well as cabaret.
Lauren Halász, alto section lead
Ottawa native Lauren Halász is a mezzo-soprano, director, and singer/songwriter based in Toronto.
Lauren has been featured as an emerging artist with both Tapestry Opera and Against the Grain Theatre. They have also been seen in oratorio around the Greater Toronto Area, most notably as the Alto soloist in Mozart’s Solemn Vespers and Haydn’s Mass in G Major with the Mississauga Choral Society, as well as Handel’s Messiah with both Music Niagara and Arcady. Favourite Opera credits include Annio in La Clemenza di Tito, Cherubino with Le Nozze di Figaro, and Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte.
Lauren made their directorial debut in 2020 with a filmed production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel for Fuse, an art’s collective based in Kitchener, Ontario. More recently, Lauren directed Medusa’s Children, a hybrid opera film, with OperaQ, and co-directed A Good Haunting Vol. 2 with Good Mess Opera Theatre.
Equally passionate about contemporary music, Lauren is the lead vocalist and songwriter for independent folk band, “Lo & the High Road”, and maintains a private studio of singers of all levels singing a wide variety of music.
Lauren holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice Performance from Western University, and an Advanced Certificate in Performance from the University of Toronto.
David Finneran, tenor section lead
David attended St. Michael’s Choir School through elementary and high school. His enjoyment of many music genres moved him to learn guitar, drums and organ as well as piano. David completed a Bachelor of Music degree at Carleton University, where he focused on classical piano performance and composition, along with studying jazz theory and music history. While in Ottawa, he further developed his vocal skills as a member of the Canadian Centennial Choir, Carleton University Choir and The Capital Vox Choir, a jazz choir led by Elise Letourneau.
David also sings at St. John’s United Church in Oakville. He teaches private music lessons in piano, guitar and music theory at D&D Music, an Oakville-based music business which he co-owns with his wife, Daniella Theresia.
Eugene Polyansky, baritone section lead
Eugene’s interest in music began in his teenage years, when he played the guitar and sang in rock and pop bands. He sang in church choirs and went on to study composition, electronic music, musical arrangement and conducting.
Eugene studied music pedagogy at the Conservatorio “Giuseppe Verdi” di Milano. While in Milan, he collaborated with professional ensembles and orchestras, including artists of the Teatro alla Scala. He has performed and toured in Europe with globally-recognized conductors.
Eugene joined Etobicoke Centennial Choir as baritone lead in November 2022. In addition to performing, Eugene provides voice teaching and diction coaching for children and adults in both classical and contemporary music genres.