Luminis Choir

The Luminis Choir, led by Artistic Director Danil Biba and Assistant Director Elena Shlenskiy, is a spirited acapella choir based in Toronto, Canada. Since the group's inception in 2022 and through the midst of the pandemic, it has been bringing singers together, adapting to the challenges of the situation by various means. The group has grown quickly into a close-knit circle of friends, helping each other and spreading love and support to the community when it needed it the most. They are known for experimenting with different genres, musical styles and daring collaborations with talented local artists.

Having graduated with honours from the Music Academy in Minsk, Belarus, with a Choir Conductor’s Diploma, Artistic Director Danil Biba has gone on to pursue his career in conducting, playing piano and organ, and composing his own arrangements for choir. With a Bachelor's degree from Minsk Conservatory of Music, Belarus, and a Master's degree from Dresden University, Germany, Danil is an accomplished musician, proficient in many genres. In addition to major teaching and conducting engagements in Belarus, Germany and Canada, Danil is also a concert pianist and co-founder of the Trio Classic Hassiba.

His dedication, accomplishment and passion for music is equaled by that of Assistant Director and Choirmaster Elena Shlenskiy. Elena is a professional musician holding a Bachelor's Degree in Musicology and Music Education from the Belarusian State Academy of Music. Since coming to Canada in 1997, she continues to work in the music field as a private piano teacher, accompanist, music theorist and history instructor, arranger of vocal and choir scores, and organizer and manager of musical events and festivals.

The Luminis Choir is proud to have achieved significant milestones, having organized numerous concerts, fundraising drives, festivals, and private and local events. As the official choir of the International Peace Festival (IPF), Luminis opens the festival every September 21 on the International Day of Peace and performs IPF’s Peace Anthem We are One (We are the Rainbow), specifically composed for the IPF by renowned composer and music genius John Cameron, along with several other selections.

As Music Ambassador for IPF’s Music For Peace International (Choral Music Wing), the Luminus Choir is dedicated to music diplomacy as a particular form of cultural diplomacy immersed in a universal language that breaks down language barriers and cultural differences, promoting cooperation, understanding and mutual respect among peoples, communities and nations, and thus contributing to a culture of peace.