Victor Cheng

Victor Cheng is a Canadian conductor, baritone, and music educator. He is the Managing Director and Lead Vocal Teacher at TADA (Theatre Arts & Dance Academy), where he leads the competition program and mentors students in voice and musical theatre. Under his mentorship, students have distinguished themselves at regional competitions, earning Platinum and Gold standings, numerous podium finishes, and advancement to the provincial level for Musical Theatre. He also serves as Director of the Junior Musical Theatre Troupe and Musical Director of the Senior Musical Theatre Troupe.

Artistic Leadership

Victor is the founder and Artistic Director of the Toronto Vocal Ensemble and serves as Chorus Master of the Toronto Festival Singers. His previous artistic leadership appointments include Kor Cava (Oslo), Pavlova (Oslo), Young Voices Toronto, the Oakville Choirs for Children and Youth, Toronto Voice Lab, and the Mississauga Summer Chorale, which he founded in 2015. As a freelance conductor, he has led ensembles including the NFM Choir in Poland, Mysteries of the Macabre in Oslo, and the Toronto Lyric Opera Centre.

Education & International Experience

Victor holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he studied under Professor Grete Pedersen, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto. During his studies, he participated in conducting masterclasses with internationally renowned conductors and ensembles including the Swedish Radio Choir, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Ensemble Esquisses, Kammerkoret Ø, the Norwegian National Opera Chorus, and the Norwegian Soloists' Choir. He served as Assistant Conductor of the Norwegian Soloists' Choir from 2022 to 2024 and was a finalist in the Towards Polyphony International Choral Conducting Competition.

Teaching & Educational Philosophy

Victor's teaching philosophy is rooted in developing both technical excellence and artistic confidence, equipping students with the skills to discover their own voice and communicate authentically through music. He believes that exceptional performers are shaped through a balance of disciplined technique, deep musical understanding, and artistic intuition. By combining a thorough technical foundation with creativity, curiosity, and personal expression, Victor helps students become well-rounded, versatile musicians capable of performing with both precision and authenticity. His experience spans private instruction, youth choirs, musical theatre, and large ensemble leadership.

Professional Performance

Alongside his conducting career, Victor is an active professional baritone and ensemble singer. He has performed with professional ensembles including the Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Cantemus, the Toronto Oratory, St. Basil's Schola Cantorum, Elmer Iseler Singers, and the Toronto Festival Singers. He also appears as a featured soloist on Human/Nature with Kammerkoret Nova, the internationally award-winning Norwegian chamber choir. Additional performance credits include Cirque du Soleil and The Rolling Stones.

Awards & Recognition

Victor's work has been recognized through numerous awards and scholarships, including finalist in the Towards Polyphony International Choral Conducting Competition, the Ken Fleet Choral Scholarship, and the James T. Chestnutt Scholarship in Conducting and Voice.