Nancy Ellen Telfer

Nancy Ellen Telfer, née Linsey, composer, choral clinician, teacher (b at Brampton, Ont 8 May 1950). After teaching music, drama and special education from 1972 to 1976, Telfer returned to the University of Western Ontario to study music. Since graduating with a B Mus in 1979 she has become one of Canada's most prolific composers, writing in a wide variety of genres. Best known for imaginative choral works in which illumination of the text is always paramount, she has also written for solo voice and various instrumental media. Many of her 300 compositions have been published and are widely performed. She has a knack for writing interesting, imaginative pedagogical compositions for young musicians.

Telfer is in demand as a choral clinician throughout the world. She has conducted many workshops on Canadian repertoire and contemporary choral performance. Her publications include the useful choral training manuals Successful Sight Singing (1992, 1993), Successful Warmups (1995, 1996), Singing in Tune (2002), Singing High Pitches with Ease (2002) and Successful Performing (2005). Several of these books have been translated into various languages.