Our Story

The Chorus

The Greater Canton Men's Chorus was created and organized in 1992 by Mr. Bill Hamilton - who also served as director and conductor of the chorus for the next 15 years. Bill's inspiration for the chorus came after several trips to Wales where he studied and developed a passion for the choral music style of the Welsh male singers.

Since then, the Greater Canton Men's Chorus has been performing traditional sounds of the old world along with a varied repertoire of classic patriotic and broadway show tunes.

From its inception, the goal of the Greater Canton Men's Chorus has been to attain the highest standards of choral excellence, while encouraging the love and appreciation for such music among its audiences. The persistence of this vision has allowed the group to grow and prosper with a bright outlook for the future.

Our Founder

Before organizing the Greater Canton Men's Chorus, the late Bill Hamilton spent 35 years teaching and conducting music - beginning as Director of Choral Music and Drama at the former Glenwood High School in Canton followed by 22 years as Associate Professor of Music at Kent State University, Stark Campus. He also conducted the Canton Civic Opera for 22 years as well as various church choirs in the Stark county area.

With a Bachelor of Music Degree from Heidelberg College and a Master of Education Degree from Kent State University, Bill was an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and served as an adjudicator for many national and international competitions.

Bill retired from the Directorship of the Greater Canton Men's Chorus during the summer of 2006 to travel and spend more time with his wife, Nancy. Not long afterward, on 1/15/07, the chorus and the surrounding community was shocked to learn of Bill's passing.

The Greater Canton Men's Chorus has lost not only a good friend, but a real pioneer of vocal music in the Stark County community and beyond. However, Bill's legacy is firmly in place as the Greater Canton Men's Chorus continues his tradition of "Singing for the Joy of the Song."

Our Director

Mr. John C. Hayward is the second director in the 16-year history of the Greater Canton Men's Chorus and comes to The Chorus with an extensive music background. A graduate of the former Lincoln High School in Canton, Ohio, he began his music education early as a member of the school choir. As a youth, he attended the Columbus Boy Choir School, now the American Boy Choir in Princeton, New Jersey.

After earning a BME Degree from Westminster Choir College, he continued to broaden his education at graduate schools of Eastern Kentucky University, Kent State University, and the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He also studied choral music and directing with Robert Page and Robert Shaw.

Now in his 39th year in public education, Mr. Hayward has served as Vocal Music and Drama Instructor at schools in Canton and North Canton, Ohio, and Woodbridge, Virginia. Presently, he is employed as the Choir and Drama Director at Northwest High School (Puffenberger Hall for the Performing Arts) in Canal Fulton, Ohio. He also serves as Director of Music at the Community Christian Church in North Canton, Ohio, and as Director of the Arian Gesangverein, German-American Choir of Louisville, Ohio.

Oher credits include: Past Director of the Washington Saengerbund, Washington, D.C.; past Opera Stage Director with the Canton Symphony in Canton, Ohio; past Director of the Canton Civic Opera in Canton, Ohio; past Assistant Director and soloist with the U.S. Army Field Band Soldiers' Chorus of Washington, D.C., and other accomplishments too numerous to mention.

Mr. Hayward's energy and dedication to his work continue to bring out the very best choral music in the GCMC. Needless to say, he is an accomplished musician second to none, and we're honored to have him as Director and Conductor of the Greater Canton Men's Chorus.