Jacobus Kloppers, an accomplished organist and musicologist, earned his advanced degrees in music from Potchefstroom University and the University of South Africa (UNISA), where he won the prestigious UNISA Overseas Scholarship combined with a German Exchange Scholarship. His doctoral research at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Germany focused on Bach's organ music performance.

Academic Career

Kloppers held professorial roles at the University of the Free State in South Africa and later at The King's University in Edmonton, Canada. He was also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta. His international organ recitals include performances in South Africa, Canada, Germany, and Austria.

Church Leadership and Juried Competitions

He has served as organist and choir director at various churches including the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa and St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Edmonton. Kloppers has been a jury member for numerous music awards, including the University of South Africa scholarships, the SABC Music Prize in South Africa, and the Johann Strauss Scholarship competitions in Canada.

Contributions and Legacy

Kloppers has significantly contributed to organ education and performance through his involvement in building and consulting projects for 23 new organs, and his roles on committees like the Organ Advisory Committee for the Winspear Centre in Edmonton. His editorial work includes revisions to the Afrikaans Hymnal and the organ syllabus for the Western Board of Music in Canada. Kloppers’ compositions and academic work have left a substantial legacy in the field of church music and organ performance.

Recently, the low voices of Pro Coro have had the honour of participating in a special project with Axios Men’s Ensemble: The Ukrainian War Requiem. Pro Coro Canada's Managing & Artistic Director Michael Zaugg and Grammy-nominated Composer Benedict Sheehan talked about the Ukrainian War Requiem world premiere performances, which happened on April 13 & 14, on the Morning Show on CBC Radio One, Edmonton.

The Edmonton Youth Choir performs a diverse range of music, encompassing everything from classic to contemporary pieces across various genres and cultural backgrounds. Resound provides a space for young musicians in Edmonton to experience and share the joys of making music with peers who are at a similar point in their lives, while also fostering their choral skills.

Watch Resound with the Edmonton Youth Choir and Pro Coro Canada in "Sing Into the Silence" on April 27th from 7:30 to 9:30 PM at All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral, Edmonton. The concert will also be livestreamed on ProCoroTV.