Director of Music
Michael Bloss continues a distinguished tradition of pastoral music ministry with the recent appointment to Glenview Presbyterian Church. For over 30 years he has served at such places as St. James’ Cathedral in Toronto, First (Park) Congregational Church, Grand Rapids, MI and Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto. In each of his tenures he has worked tirelessly around animating and encouraging the congregation’s song as well as bringing the Word to life in musical representation.
His philosophy around church music is that it be an intrinsic element of the church community. It is a unique character not duplicated anywhere else. Music in worship strives to connect that life of language found in the Word through musical expression to the emotions. Ultimately, musical worship is a ministry which involves people of all ages and abilities in singing a “joyful noise to the Lord”. In this way musical worship is seen to be transformative in the lives of Christians in any faith community.
An international prizewinner, Michael's solo career has included solo venues in Europe, Japan, and throughout Canada, including appearances in the USA at the Cadet Chapel, West Point, the Cleveland Museum of Art, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Detroit and Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church. In addition, Mr. Bloss has been featured on CBC Radio and Television, National Public Radio and Swiss Radio. With the ensemble HornPipes, he partners with trumpeter Pamela Smitter-Baker in music for trumpet and organ.
Increasingly, he is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician in organ, piano and choral music at music festivals and workshops across the country. He has also assisted congregations in the discernment of their desire for musical renewal in worship. Diocesan conferences have also benefitted from his sharing of resource and practical solutions and possibilities.
Michael also indulges in his other passion of aviation through his work as a flight instructor and pilot at Toronto Airways, Buttonville Municipal Airport, Toronto.
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