Deborah Bradley, Artistic Director
MFYC was founded in 1997 by Deborah Bradley in answer to the community’s need for choral music education opportunities for young people of all ages and background.
Dr. Deborah Bradley completed her Ph. D. at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. Her doctoral thesis was based upon her work with MFYC and investigated the ways young people’s involvement in world music contributes to their sense of identity and community, helping them to develop a broader multicultural understanding. Dr. Bradley earned both an M. Mus. (Education) and a B. Mus. from the University of Toronto. In addition, she holds the Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto diploma in Organ Performance, and the Artist-Teacher diploma from the Choral Music Experience Institute in Arvika, Sweden. From 1997 to 2005 she taught in the Music Education department of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto.
From 2006-2010, Dr. Bradley was Assistant Professor in Music Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Deborah Bradley returned to resume the position of Artistic Director for the Mississauga Festival Youth Choir in 2010. In addition to her work with MFYC, she teaches at the University of Toronto, and is Director of Music Ministries at St. John’s United Church in Oakville, ON.
Svetlana Kotliarenko, Accompanist
Svetlana Kotliarenko is a graduate of the Kiev State Conservatory (Ukraine), where she was a piano major. She was the 1982 First Prize Winner of the All Ukraine Piano Competition. While in the Ukraine, she performed as both soloist and accompanist, and was a coach for the Kiev State Opera and Ballet. In addition to her work with the MFYC, Svetlana serves as Music Director for Runnymede Presbyterian Church in Toronto. She is active as a free-lance accompanist, and teaches piano in a private studio. The MFYC is privileged to have had Svetlana as its accompanist since its inception in 1997.
