Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff
The Edmonton choral community would not be where it is today without Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff. Since 1981, he has served as a mentor to students and professionals alike, and has taken his directorial talents to prominent local, national and international stages, helping curate a strong community of choral talent across all ages in and around the city of Edmonton.
Dr. Ratzlaff’s formal post-secondary teaching career spanned nearly four decades at the University of Alberta, where he co-founded and later directed both the Masters and doctoral Choral Conducting programs, and directed the award-winning University of Alberta Madrigal Singers. His graduate teaching helped develop the talents and foster the passions of local choral conductors. He’s so prolific in his work that as of fall 2021, every choral director at Edmonton’s post-secondary institutions was a product of his graduate program. His alumni can be found across Canada and also span the globe, from the Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary, to The Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, Netherlands, and The University of New Hampshire in Durham, USA.
As an advocate for choir at every age, Dr. Ratzlaff has made an effort to include young musicians in his works and provide experiences that were previously thought unattainable to children’s and youth choirs. During his time as conductor of the Madrigal Singers and the Richard Eaton Singers, Dr. Ratzlaff consistently programmed music which required the participation of young singers to create opportunities for previously unexposed groups to gain access to valuable experiences and revenue streams.
Beyond the choral community, Dr. Ratzlaff intentionally searched for and created collaborative opportunities with other arts organizations, having worked with groups like the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Alberta Baroque Ensemble, Edmonton Ballet, and other choirs from across Canada. He has also commissioned and premiered numerous choral works by Canadian composers.
His achievements and his impact on the local, and broader choral communities have not gone unnoticed. Dr. Ratzlaff was awarded The Queen Elizabeth II Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals for his contributions to his community and to Canada. He was named to the City of Edmonton Arts & Culture Hall of Fame, the Alberta Order of Excellence, and was inducted as a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Ratzlaff was named as a member of the Order of Canada in 2004.
Colleagues, alumni, and friends speak to his encouragement, humour, and passion, and to the lasting legacy he has left on the choral community in Edmonton and beyond. Please join Concordia University of Edmonton in congratulating Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff on his honorary degree and his many lasting accomplishments.