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Volume 16 Issue 2 - October 2010

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  • Choir
  • Toronto
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Blue PagestheWholeNote Presenter Profiles | 2010-2011form to connect composers and performers with newaudiences.Alex Pauk, music director & conductorRandy Jackson, operations manager416-815-7887info@espritorchestra.comwww.espritorchestra.comEtobicoke Centennial ChoirEntering its 44th season, the Etobicoke CentennialChoir (ECC) enjoys innovative programming andcollaboration with other community arts groups.Featured repertoire includes classical and contemporaryworks, both sacred and secular. The NutifafaAfrikan Performance Ensemble and High ParkChoirs of Toronto join the ECC on December 4 for“Sacred Traditions”, an eclectic holiday concert featuringsacred music and dance from Africa, Jewish liturgicalsongs, Bach’s Christmas Cantata and traditionalChristmas carols. On April 2, “Luminous Days &Mysterious Nights” explores themes of light anddarkness in classical, folk, 20th century and popularsong, including Telemann’s Times of the Day, Dvorak’sSongs of Nature and the haunting work by Eric Whitacre,Lux Aurumque.The choir joins the Etobicoke CommunityConcert Band in June for “Last Night of theProms,” featuring traditional folk and patrioticmusic of the British Isles.Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 7:30-10pm at HumberValley United Church, Etobicoke. Interestedsingers are invited to attend a rehearsal. Membershipis by audition.Henry Renglich, music directorSusan LeTendre, choir president416-622-6923sletendre@pathcom.comwww.etobicokecentennialchoir.caEtobicoke Community Concert BandNow in its 16th season of scintillating performancesin the communities of Toronto West, the EtobicokeCommunity Concert Band thrills audiences with itsprogramming, magnificent sound and an impressiverange of community service. Committed to anintense and varied performance calendar, the ECCBcultivates a raft of outstanding Canadian talentthrough its four-part Concert Hall Subscription Series,presents a popular “al fresco” series of summerprogrammes and raises the roof on Big Band repertoirewith its spin-off ensemble, the Etobicoke SwingOrchestra. For 2010/11, the ECCB and music directorJohn Edward Liddle continue with more excitingprogramming: proudly hosting the Canadian BandAssociation weekend, culminating with a “BandingTogether” concert, creating seasonal sizzle witha lively “Choir of Angels” programme, bringing themusic of Las Vegas to the community with “VegasNights,” and wrapping up the four-part season with“Last Night at the Proms.” The Concert Band and BigBand will also lend great music to several charitableevents throughout the season, plus many intimateperformances by the band’s jazz combo, brass quintetand the Etobicoke Wind Quintet.Rob Hunter, presidentJohn Edward Liddle, music director416-410-1570info@eccb.cawww.eccb.caEtobicoke Philharmonic Choir2010/11 promises to be an exciting one. The EtobicokePhilharmonic celebrates its fiftieth anniversary seasonwith five entertaining concerts under new MaestroSabatino Vacca.The season opens October 15 with works byBrahms and Wagner, and guest soloist Conrad Chowin Wieniawski’s 2nd Violin Concerto. We featuretwo soloists from our own ranks; Peter Samuelson inMozart’s 3rd Horn concerto on November 17th andviolinist, David Rehner in “The Lark Ascending” byVaughan Williams on April 15th.The Christmas concert and silent auction December10 features tenor James Ciantar,performing traditionalseasonal selections, and cellist Rachel Mercerreturns for the February 25th concert to performTchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme.We’re having a very special 50th Anniversary galaevent on June 3. Keep the date open. We’ll provideyou with details throughout the season and inviteyou to join us for this very special event.EPO continues to promote the Etobicoke YouthStrings –providing opportunity for young stringplayers to perform as an ensemble and individually.Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra416-239-5665info@eporchestra.cawww.eporchestra.caEtobicoke Youth Strings, Shari Lundy,music director416-239-0523the.lundys@sympatico.caExultate Chamber SingersOver a 30-year history, the Exultate Chamber Singershave garnered praise from all quarters for sensitive,precise and seamless performances. The choirwas established in 1981 by conductor John Tuttle, andis enriched not only by the excellent musicianship ofits members but also by their varied academic andprofessional backgrounds. Together, they form a passionate,committed ensemble with a wide-rangingrepertoire, which was awarded the Healey WillanGrand Prize, for a third time at the 2004 CBC Competitionfor Amateur Choirs. Exultate’s fourth CD,All Around the Circle, features folk songs from acrossCanada and was launched at the first performance ofExultate’s 25th anniversary season in October 2005.Exultate presents a four-concert subscription seriesin Toronto and makes guest appearances in variousOntario communities. Auditions are held as requiredto fill vacancies in the fixed-membership group.This season will be the last with John Tuttle at thehelm.John Tuttle, conductorElana Harte, operations manager416-971-9229exultate@exultate.netwww.exultate.netForte – The Toronto Men’s ChorusForte-The Toronto Men’s Chorus is an auditioned30-voice men’s choir under the leadership of EdwardConnell, one of Canada’s finest choral directors. Itsmembership is drawn primarily from Toronto’s talentedand diverse gay community.Forte, in thirteen successful seasons, has establishedan impressive reputation in Toronto andacross Canada, capping its eleventh and thirteenthseasons by being named a national finalist in theNational Choral Competition for Amateur Choirs.Forte’s unique sound is due in no small part to thesophisticated custom arrangements we create ourselvesfor all our performances.Forte’s fourteenth season will begin with “FourStrong Winds – Songs for a Canadian Winter” on SaturdayDecember 11, at Metropolitan United Churchin Toronto. In spring 2011, we will be recording a selftitledCD which will be released at a special pair ofperformances in June. Auditions are in Septemberand January. Rehearsals are every Monday from 6:45to 9:30pm at St. Andrew’s United Church, 117 BloorSt. E.Stuart Watson, president647-834-3358info@forte-chorus.comwww.forte-chorus.comGallery 345Gallery 345 has become one of the go-to small concertvenues in Toronto’s west end for classical, contemporaryclassical, jazz, world and cabaret performance.There is seating for 125 in the 2,500 square footspace on the first floor of a century-old loft building.The curved wood ceilings have given the space awonderful warm and lively acoustic that has broughtjoy to both performers and audiences for severalyears. The gallery has two excellent concert grandpianos, a 7’ Steinway and a 9’ Baldwin, which havebecome the focus for many great pianists in Torontoand in Canada. The eclectic mix of past and futureperformances by soloists and small ensemblescan be found at www.gallery345.com/performances.Always interested in being surprised; please contactEdward Epstein at gallery345@gmail.com if you areinterested in performing at the gallery. The gallery isalso available for rent for special events including recordingsessions.345 Sorauren Avenuewww.gallery345.com416-822-9781Gallery Players of NiagaraThe Gallery Players of Niagara have been presentingclassical chamber concerts in the Niagara Region for16 years. We are a pool of 15 performers, and each seasoninvite guests to join us. We perform on both periodand modern instruments, and to date have producedand recorded three CDs. The first was StringQuartets Op. 1 by Joseph Leopold Eybler (1765-1846), thesecond, Canadian Oboe Quartets, featuring four worksfor oboe and string trio, all commissioned by the GalleryPlayers. The third features the Eybler Quartetwith guest clarinetist Jane Booth. Each season fromOctober to May we perform six concerts in Niagara.These concerts are often repeated in Toronto andSouthern Ontario. This season’s performers includeMargaret Gay (cello), Patrick Jordan (viola), AlisonMelville (recorders), Julie Baumgartel (violin), DeborahBraun (harp), David Braun (violin), Douglas Miller(flute), Laura Pudwell (voice), Lucas Harris (lute),Elizabeth Chitty (videographer), Michele Jacot(clarinet), Christie Goodwin (oboe), Zoltan Kalman(clarinet), Timothy Lockwood (French horn), ChristianSharpe (bassoon), and Ensemble Polaris.905-468-1525www.galleryplayers.caGeorgetown Bach ChoraleUnder the direction of Ron Greidanus, the GeorgetownBach Chorale offers a unique combination ofchoral, orchestral, and solo works performed in thebeautiful churches of the Halton Hills region andin the intimate setting of a private home. This auditionedensemble of 20 choristers specializes in Baroquerepertoire accompanied by musicians playingperiod instruments, but also explores music fromother eras. The start of the 2010-11 season is an exquisitemulti-course meal featuring a programme ofjazz classics accompanied by a jazz trio. Novemberbrings a full musical and spiritual experience in St.Elias Church with works by Charpentier, Vivaldi,and Bach. The always popular Christmas concertsfeature Felix Deak as he accompanies the Choraleon his 16th century viola da gamba. February findsus in the Croatian Church performing Pärt, Bruckner,and others. “The Gypsy” is an in-house concertin March with Ron Greidanus and violinist EdwinHuizinga performing Cesar Franck’s monumental Sonatain A Major. The season concludes with Bach’s Massin B Minor when the Chorale is the first choir to performin the new Holy Cross Church.

Tickets available in downtown Georgetown atFoodstuffs (905-877-6569), at The Freckled Lion (905-873-1213), or online.www.georgetownbachchorale.comGlionna Mansell CorporationGlionna Mansell Corporation is a music marketingagency, concert producer and the exclusive Ontariodealer of world famous Allen digital and digital-pipeorgans. With over 80,000 installations worldwide,Allen organs have become the most respected andrecognized brand in the organ building industry.Whether in a concert hall, school or a church,there is only one instrument equal to producinga sound as elemental, eternal, and exuberant as itscelebration and that is the magnificent organ… the“King of Instruments”. The majestic sound of organmusic is a sound that sweeps through the audienceor congregation in a wave of symphonic power. It is asound that is felt right down through the soles of thefeet and into the depths of one’s heart. It is a soundthat equals the spirit of worship, the excitement ofthe celebration and the intensity of emotion. It is thesound of an Allen organ. Available from Gordon Mansell,president and artistic director.416-769-5224, 1-877-769-5224www.glionnamansell.comGrand Philharmonic ChoirThe Grand Philharmonic Choir, with more than 100singers, is one of Canada’s most well-known and admiredlarge choirs, with a long history of presentingbeloved classics and innovative works to its audience.Founded in 1922, the Choir grew out of a strongGerman and Mennonite tradition of choral music inthis community. It regularly presents its own seasonat Kitchener’s Centre in the Square, to critical acclaim.Last season, the choir was heard by more than10,000 audience members.The 2010-2011 “Season of the Grand PhilharmonicChoir” is the premier season of artistic director MarkVuorinen. Vuorinen continues the GPC’s tradition ofsuperb choral music with a mix of beloved classicsand new masterworks. The holiday favourite Handel’sMessiah, Canadian composer John Burge’s Declarationabout the United Nations Declaration of Rights andBach’s St. John Passion will be among the pieces performedin the upcoming season. Don’t miss a singleconcert!519-578-6885info@grandphilchoir.comwww.grandphilchoir.comGrand River ChorusThe Grand River Chorus, an auditioned SATB communitychorus founded in 1999, seeks every opportunityto raise the profile of choral music under theleadership of artistic director Richard Cunningham.The 2010-11 musical season begins with an excitingcelebration of the 400th anniversary of the compositionof Monteverdi’s Vespers October 30. On December8, we accompany John McDermott at theSanderson Centre and partner with the Guelph SymphonyOrchestra’s “Christmas Choral Fantasy” December12. On December 19, the Chorus presents ourever popular “Handel’s Singalong Messiah.” March27 brings the calming notes of Ein Deutsches Requiemby Brahms. Don’t miss the season finale: “Songs forSpringtime,” including Paul Halley’s Missa Gaia presentedJune 4 at St. James in Simcoe and June 5 at St.Pius, Brantford.Recognized as a leading force in our community,the Grand River Chorus is comprised of more than 70voices and continues to grow. Rehearsals are held onMonday evenings. We welcome new voices.Richard Cunningham, artistic director519-841-9708ctenor@rogers.comLaureen Maurizio, media & marketing519-770-0478grandriverchorus@rogers.comwww.grandriverchorus.comGryphon TrioSince coming together in Toronto in 1993, the GryphonTrio has firmly established itself as a world-leadingpiano trio. With a repertoire that ranges fromthe traditional to the contemporary and from Europeanclassicism to New World jazz and popular song,the Gryphons are committed to redefining chambermusic for the 21st century.As one of Canada’s pre-eminent chamber ensembles,the Gryphon Trio tours extensively throughoutNorth America and Europe to venues large and small,and their eleven recordings on the Analekta Label arean encyclopedia of works for the genre. The Trio hascommissioned over 50 new works for piano trio andfrequently collaborates on special projects, and theirmultimedia production of composer Christos Hatzis’epic music theatre work Constantinople has been producedacross Canada, the United States and the UK.Deeply committed to the education of the nextgeneration of audiences and performers alike, theGryphons conduct masterclasses and workshops atuniversities and conservatories across North America,and are artists-in-residence at the University ofToronto’s Faculty of Music.www.gryphontrio.comdschotzko@gryphontrio.com416-596-7568Hamilton Children’s ChoirCelebrating 35 years, the award-winning HamiltonChildren’s Choir is known for performances goingfar beyond technical excellence, while dazzlingaudiences with a focused sound, brilliant repertoireand captivating stage presence.Under the guidance of world renowned ZimfiraPoloz and a talented artistic team, the HCC offers aunique opportunity to learn and grow, through thestudy of choral music with a variety of different choirprogrammess, to approximately 150 young singersranging in ages from 4 to 20 years that live in Hamiltonand surrounding areas.Our performances give us the opportunity toshare our gift of song with others and our musicalstandards enable us to offer a programme that helpscontribute to the world-class arts community foundin the greater city of Hamilton and surroundingareas.Vocal skills and abilities are developed throughthe use of choir camp/retreats, rehearsals (in Hamilton),workshops, performances and tours (local, national& international). By participating in these activities,choristers are able to experience the joys ofsinging, teamwork, musical understanding and artisticexpression.Tricia Le Clair, general manager905-527-1618www.hamiltonchildrenschoir.comHannaford Street Silver BandThe Hannaford Street Silver Band is Canada’s awardwinningprofessional brass band and resident companyof Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.Its mission is to honour the traditions of this art formand at the same time place it in a contemporary contextwith a unique Canadian point of view.The HSSB has redefined what a brass band is capableof doing by facilitating innovative creative projectsand collaborating with the very best of Canada’sand the world’s diverse cultures and outstanding artists.The HSSB’s 27th eclectic season opens on November7 featuring special guest euphonium superstarChoirs all togethersearch thewholenote.com/blueDavid Childs with Alain Trudel conducting. The seasoncontinues with more brilliant brass concerts onDecember 13 & 14, January 23, February 12, April 17and May 8.Curtis Metcalf, artistic directorAlain Trudel, principal guest conductorRaymond Tizzard, executive directorDavid Archer, company manager416-425-2874Tickets www.stlc.comhssb@interlog.comwww.hssb.caHarbourfront CentreFor more than 30 years, Harbourfront Centre hasbeen on the cutting edge of all that is current and creative.We continue to bring together the best in bothCanadian culture and the rich mosaic of culturesfrom around the world. A non-profit charitable organization,we attract more than 12 million visits annuallyto our 10 acres of revitalized waterfront land.Harbourfront Centre presents over 4,000events each year and works with more than 450 communitygroups. A leader in local and internationalmusic presentations, Harbourfront Centre has offeredaudiences their first taste of various kinds ofmusic. Our summer festival season, in particular, featuresmusic from different cultures within weekendfestivals. We also programme the City of Toronto’snearby Toronto Music Garden with classical musicconcerts outdoors all summer long, in a setting inspiredby Bach. Harbourfront Centre’s excitingdance series NextSteps celebrates its 5th season thisyear with an incredible range of home-grown choreographythat brings together an astonishing breadthof dance companies in Toronto. Our many venues arealso popular rental facilities for musical acts.416-973-4000info@harbourfrontcentre.comharbourfrontcentre.comHigh Park Choirs of TorontoUnder artistic director Zimfira Poloz, the childrenof the High Park Choirs work together to create abeautiful, shimmering sound. We offer four skillsbaseddivisions for children ages 5-18: Piccolo Choir,etobicoke centennial choirtheWholeNote Presenter Profiles | 2010-2011

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