Terry Hurrell
Director Emeritus
With the passing of Terry Hurrell in June of 2025, Nova Scotia lost a giant of the musical community. When Terry Hurrell founded Nova Voce in 2004, it was only the latest in a career of musical innovation and choral direction.
After training as a music educator in England, Terry, together with his wife Stephanie, came to Nova Scotia in 1967, where he became deeply involved in the music scene. An educator, innovator, music director, composer, actor and vocalist, there is hardly a choir in Halifax and Queen’s counties that hasn’t felt his influence.
In addition to being the co-founder of Nova Voce, Terry was the founding music director of such diverse groups as the Lockeport Male Choir, Liverpool Boys’ Choir, Halifax Boys Honour Choir, Queens County Community Choir, Nova Scotia Youth Chamber Choir, and two church handbell choirs. He was a past president and honorary life member of N.S. Music Educators’ Association, a vice-president and board member of N.S. Choral Federation, a member of The Contemporary Art Society of Nova Scotia and Dartmouth Visual Arts Society.
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Terry was a choir member and served on several committees at St. Matthew’s United Church. He has also sung with The Halifax Camerata Singers, Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus and has directed Seton Cantata Choir and the Jubilate Singers.
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Terry led Nova Voce from its founding in January 2004 until his retirement in December 2010. During his seven-year tenure with Nova Voce, he grew the choir from its infancy to performing at Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa (2005), successfully auditioning for and performing at Festival 500 in St. John’s NL (2007), appearing at Podium in Sackville NB (2008) and releasing its first two CDs in 2007 and 2010. He composed and arranged many pieces of music for the choir, both before and after his retirement, and continued to work with the choir as Director Emeritus until very recently.After the death of his wife Stephanie in 2024, Terry moved to a retirement home and promptly formed a choir, recruiting singers and an accompanist from amongst the residents there. Before his death, they were scheduled to do a tour performing at other retirement residences.Terry had a direct and personal impact on so many people, from young people who learned choral singing from him, singers who had their first solo under his direction, choirs that he coached to perform at their very best, and colleagues who appreciated his teamwork and mentorship. Through it all, his sense of humour and his absolute passion for music shone.As Pamela Burton, conductor of the Halifax Boys Honour Choir (HBHC) which Terry funded in 1985, said, “Though Terry is no longer with us, his legacy of kindness, leadership, and passion for music will continue to inspire. He and Stephanie will always hold a special place in our hearts.”In Terry’s honor a new Talent Trust Award has been created and will be awarded later this year for the first time.Rest in peace, Terry, and rise singing in glory!​