About Brian

Brian Farrell is a Calgary educator, vocal coach and artistic mentor. He has built strong vocal and performing arts programs in Calgary schools: Crescent Heights High School, Sir Winston Churchill High School and Master’s Academy and College. As Artistic Director of REVV52 (formerly Calgary Choral), he has helped establish REVV52 as a unique Canadian entity that "pushes the boundaries of choral music".  Recent concerts celebrate the music of Motown, Ray Charles, contemporary Gospel, Pop, Soul, Blues, the Beatles, Beach Boys, great piano singer/songwriters, Meaghan Smith, Jimmy Rankin AND the music from Greenwich Village.  Revv52 performed in the world premiere oratorio through One Yellow Rabbit Theatre about homelessness" written by Onalea Gilbertson and composed by Marcel Bergmann.

Brian collaborates with Dr. Ben Hu who is professor and head of Division of Experimental Neurosciences, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Alberta Health Services - their work focuses on Parkinsonism and the brain.  Through this work, Brian directs a choir of Parkinson patients and their caregivers - the group participated in the  2010 Alberta Parkinson's Conference in Calgary.  At The Warehouse recording studio in Vancouver, Brian collaborated with producer Ashwin Sood (Nettwerk Management) to record the female vocal group Aliqua and worked as Musical Director in Theatre Calgary's production of OUR TOWN. He established "The Creative Class" in Calgary: a supportive and creative environment for artists to interact and learn more about the roots of music and the current music business. Brian is on the Board of Directors of ProArts, Calgary.

Brian has taught many successful arts professionals by encouraging strong connections between the arts, the marketplace and life. Session guests have included the casts of Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Grease, actresses Didi Conn and Allegra Fulton, actors Ted Dykstra, Richard Greenblatt, Jeff Lillico, Dudley Moore, managers Neil McGonigill and Ed Harris, musicians/songwriters: Jann Arden, Paul Brandt, Jason Carter, Lindsay Ell, Denis Grady, Bob Halligan, Kit Johnson, Anne Loree, Raghav Mathur, Sarah McLachlan, Steve Pineo, Pierce Pettis, Kalan Porter, Jimmy Rankin, Ashwin Sood, Meaghan Smith, Tim Williams, jazz singers Vivianne Cardinal and Janet Lawson, pianist Gloria Saarinen, raconteur Lister Sinclair, principal dancer Laura Graham, vocal coach Brett Manning and triple threat performer Sutton Foster.

Former students include: Ashwin Sood (producer, musician, principal talent scout with Nettwerk Music Group/Live Nation), Raghav Mathur (Mobo Award winner and major artist in India and Africa with 7 hit singles on the UK charts in 2004-09), Paul Brandt (most awarded Canadian country male artist in history), Kalan Porter (Canadian Idol winner), Lindsay Ell (new guitarist/singer/songwriter on the Canadian scene), Jeff Lillico (actor with Soulpepper, the Shaw and Stratford Festivals) and many others who have dedicated their lives to working in or promoting the musical arts.

Brian received his Bachelor of Musical Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Western Ontario. He also studied at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, The University of Western Michigan and completed his Master of Arts at San Diego State University.  Brian is included in the recent volume of "The World's Who's Who In Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment".

Brian is married to Susan who is a school administrator and financial planner. Their son, Ryan is a hockey playing violinist completing a Masters in Epidemiology at Ohio State University. Lauren, their daughter studies acting, singing and dancing at the University of Arizona.

Singer/songwriter Meaghan Smith and Brian backstage

Singer/songwriter Jimmy Rankin and Brian backstage