A Four-Generation Harmony: How the Tusz Family Keeps Huntsville Singing
HUNTSVILLE, ON — If you happen to walk past a rehearsal of the Huntsville Community Choir, you will hear a beautiful blend of voices. But if you listen closely between the songs, you might just hear the soft cooing of its newest—and youngest—member.
For the choir’s passionate and highly talented Director, Louis Tusz, music has always been a way to bring people together. This year, however, the choir has truly become a family affair. The group is currently celebrating an incredible legacy of local music-making that now spans four generations
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A Lifelong Dedication to the Score
Louis Tusz’s musical roots run deep. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, he studied voice under Peter Wall and Ginette Duplessis, and honed his choral techniques with Deral Johnson. In 1988, he brought that wealth of knowledge to Huntsville High School, launching a teaching career that inspired countless students through instrumental music, vocals, and audio recording.
His impact on the local arts scene amplified in 1989. With the support of Marion Haggart and the Muskoka Musical Arts Society, Louis founded the Huntsville Community Choir. That very same year, he picked up the string bass for the Trillium Dixie Jazz Band, cementing his place as a pillar of Huntsville's cultural landscape.
Even in retirement, Louis refuses to slow down. He continues to collaborate between communities and across genres, recently conducting Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Whispering River Orchestra. This fall, he is taking the musical helm of the acclaimed Canadian musical Come From Away—a powerful story about the profound generosity of Newfoundlanders in Gander during the tragedy of 9/11.
The Legacy Continues on the Risers
While Louis holds the baton, his family helps fill the risers. His mother, Bette Tusz, is a dedicated member of the choir, singing alongside Louis’s daughter, Claire, and her husband, Graham.
But the most heartwarming chapter of this story began just recently. Claire gave birth to a baby boy, Adrian. Rather than taking a hiatus from the music they love, Claire and Graham have made Adrian a regular fixture at weekly choir practices. Choir members lovingly joke that while baby Adrian currently sings soprano, everyone expects his vocal range may change in the future.
A Gift to the Community
For over three decades, Louis Tusz has taught Huntsville how to sing in harmony. Now, watching his mother, his daughter, his son-in-law, and his newborn grandson share the same rehearsal space, that harmony feels complete. It is a rare and beautiful thing to see a family legacy thrive so vibrantly in the local arts scene.
As the 70+ members of the Huntsville Community Choir prepare for their upcoming Christmas season and concerts on December 12,13, the community won't just be witnessing a concert—they will be witnessing the enduring heartbeat of a musical family.