Miles Canaday

Miles Canaday became Artistic Director of the Thomas Circle Singers after four years as Assistant Professor of Music at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, where he directed the Whitman Chorale and Chamber Singers and designed courses in conducting and American music. During his time at Whitman, these ensembles appeared at a College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) national conference, premiered works by Carlos Velez and Arianne Abela, and performed with the Walla Walla Symphony. Previously, Miles served as Visiting Director of Choirs at William & Mary, where he conducted over thirty performances on campus and on tour, including a premiere at commencement. As Assistant Conductor for the Eastman-Rochester Chorus, Miles conducted Duruflé’s Requiem and prepared the ensemble for a performance of Mozart’s Requiem with the Rochester Philharmonic. Before his work in western New York, he directed collegiate, church, and community ensembles across Colorado, including the Laudamus Chamber Chorale (Fort Collins) and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Choirs (Aurora).

Miles began singing as a treble in the Choir of Men and Boys at Christ Church Episcopal in Greenwich, CT at age nine, and studied voice, solfeggio, piano and music theory with Joseph Leniado-Chira. He has since continued to sing in professional ensembles, including the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine, Yale Schola Cantorum, St. Martin’s Chamber Choir (Denver), Colorado Bach Ensemble, and Voices (Rochester, NY).

Canaday holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with William Weinert and received the Walter Hagen Prize in Conducting. His critical edition of works by Renaissance composer Sebastián de Vivanco is forthcoming with A-R Editions. Miles completed a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Yale School of Music, studying with Marguerite Brooks and Jeffrey Douma. Miles graduated with a B.A. in music with honors from Harvard College, where he studied conducting with Jameson Marvin and Federico Cortese and was President of the Harvard Glee Club.

Photo credit: Brooks Canaday