Talisker Players is unique in Ontario as an ensemble of musicians dedicated to collaborating with singers. Our roots are in the choral tradition — the group was originally created specifically to accompany choirs — and we remain dedicated to this glorious repertoire. We maintain a busy schedule of engagements with choirs of all sizes throughout southern Ontario, in music ranging from baroque to contemporary, sacred and secular.

I have had the great pleasure of working with the Talisker Players from their very beginnings. I continue to be impressed by both their professionalism and their enthusiasm. What is particularly wonderful is their sensitivity to the human voice." - Jurgen Petrenko, Artistic Director and Conductor, Toronto Classical Singers

The Talisker Players combine a passion for for the vocal/instrumental tradition with expertise in the latest developments in early-music performance and twentieth-century techniques. The ensemble is flexible in size. The number of players changes with each engagement, depending on the repertoire, and also on the budget of the choir.

Our members are professional musicians with a wide variety of experience. They play with many other ensembles, such as the Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet of Canada orchestras, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony, and the Toronto Symphony. Most are also active chamber musicians. Most perform on both modern and period instruments. Over the years, the ensemble has earned an enviable reputation for sensitive and polished choral accompanying in a wide variety of styles. We understand issues of balance, blend and colour. Whatever the size and configuration, we always sound like an ensemble, never a pick-up group.

Each time we invite the Talisker Players to join us they simply do the most splendid job of accompanying our choir ... always a joy to listen to .... seriously good musicians." - Chorister, Peterborough Singers

Talisker Players is the only instrumental group I’ve worked with that breathes with the singers. ... Sensitive, flexible and polished playing." - Ian Grundy, Director and Conductor, VocalPoint