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Volume 24 Issue 7 - April 2019

  • Text
  • Choir
  • Performing
  • Musical
  • Quartet
  • Jazz
  • Symphony
  • Theatre
  • Arts
  • Toronto
  • April
Arraymusic, the Music Gallery and Native Women in the Arts join for a mini-festival celebrating the work of composer, performer and installation artist Raven Chacon; Music and Health looks at the role of Healing Arts Ontario in supporting concerts in care facilities; Kingston-based composer Marjan Mozetich's life and work are celebrated in film; "Forest Bathing" recontextualizes Schumann, Shostakovich and Hindemith; in Judy Loman's hands, the harp can sing; Mahler's Resurrection bursts the bounds of symphonic form; Ed Bickert, guitar master remembered. All this and more in our April issue, now online in flip-through here, and on stands commencing Friday March 29.

Matthew Emery and Jenny

Matthew Emery and Jenny Crober revisiting is the reason for the “II” added to the concert title – “Earth, Seas & Sky.” Joining the choir is vocalist Alana Bridgewater who has done the Missa Gaia on several occasions. “I’ve known about her a long time so it’s just a joy to finally be able to work with her,” says Crober. “We’re also doing three pieces by Paul Halley: Freedom Trilogy, Sound Over All Waters and The Rain Is Over and Gone. Alana will be really featured in some of these as well. There’s a moment in the third movement of the Missa Gaia, for example, the Beatitudes. It starts off slow and contemplative and by the end it’s a rocking gospel choir. Alana’s a powerhouse.” Spring workshop: At the end of March, the choir had its spring workshop with Andrew Balfour. (The choir has been learning his piece THE TORONTO CHORAL SOCIETY PRESENTS Ambe for their upcoming concert.) “The first time I heard the piece we were at Podium 2018 in Newfoundland,” says Crober. “It was being performed by Chronos Vocal Ensemble from Edmonton. It was so hypnotic and driving and compelling and powerful and beautifully sung. The minute it was done, I marked in my program ‘Do this!’” Crober approached Balfour later during that conference. She booked him for the VOCA spring clinic this year, so the choir would have a chance to workshop the song directly with Balfour. Going through the experience of Balfour’s thought process and listening to him give life and meaning to the music he’s written was important. Recently, the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA), of which Balfour is a part, released a statement on Indigenous Musical Sovereignty. The statement is an invitation to participate in the full experience of the music created by Indigenous peoples while simultaneously acknowledging that much of what has passed for Indigenous music or Indigenous themes by outsiders has been traumatizing. The statement asks hard questions of presenters who seek to perform Indigenous music: “to non-Indigenous composers who seek to tell ‘Indigenous-inspired’ works: be honest with yourself and ask why you feel compelled to tell this story and whether you are the right person to do so.” The statement acknowledges that there is a place for non- Indigenous musicians in partnership, but there is an added weight and depth of responsibility that Indigenous creators have to their communities. To do this work well, the IPAA says, “We seek to hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards of Indigenous community engagement, and request that our collaborators in the Canadian music community work to the same level of accountability.” For Crober, through the opportunity to learn directly from Balfour, the choir will have a better chance to bring life to his musical offering while respecting its Indigenous nature. See all of this in action in “Earth, Sea & Sky II” presented by VOCA Chorus of Toronto under artistic director Jenny Crober featuring guest TORONTO CLASSICAL SINGERS A WHIRLWIND TO HEAVEN DROUGHT, RAIN, FIRE, STORM AND EARTHQUAKE– IT’S NOT EASY BEING A PROPHET . MENDELSSOHN JURGEN PETRENKO, CONDUCTOR THE TALISKER PLAYERS LESLEY BOUZA, SOPRANO DANIELLE MACMILLAN, MEZZO ZACHARY RIOUX, TENOR MATTHEW ZADOW, BARITONE SARAH SCHMIDT-MCQUILLAN, SOPRANO, (THE YOUTH) SUNDAY MAY 5, 2019 4PM CHRIST CHURCH DEER PARK 1570 YONGE STREET AT HEATH TICKETS .00 BUY AT : torontoclassicalsingers.ca OR CALL: 416 444 7863 ELIJAH Advance Tickets TorontoChora/Society.org transcending tradition 32 | April 2019 thewholenote.com

artists Alana Bridgewater (vocalist); Colleen Allen (saxaphone); Shawn Grenke (organ); Roberto Occhipinti (bass); Mark Kelso (drums); and Juan Carlos Medrano (percussion). April 27, 7:30pm. Eastminster United Church, Toronto. CHORAL SCENE QUICK PICKS !! APR 17, 18 AND 20, 8PM: The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is joined by the Amadeus Choir and the Elmer Iseler Singers for the superlative Mahler Symphony No.2 “Resurrection.” A stunning masterpiece of choral music caps off this transformative symphony. Under the baton of Spanish conductor Juanjo Mena, the iconic organ of Roy Thomson Hall shall shake thee to thy bones with the full force and power of orchestra and choirs blended together in a way that only Mahler could. With three options to catch these performances, do it! Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto. !! APR 19, 7:30PM: The Grand Philharmonic Choir performs Bach’s St. Matthew Passion joined by the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra and a stellar line up of soloists: Isaiah Bell, Daniel Okulitch, Esteli Gomez and Allyson McHardy. Centre in the Square, Kitchener. ANNOUNCEMENT Andrew Balfour THE AMADEUS CHOIR OF GREATER TORONTO APPOINTS KATHLEEN ALLAN AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR Following 35 years under the leadership of Lydia Adams, the Amadeus Choir will welcome Kathleen Allan in the 2019-20 season. Originally from St. John’s, NL, Ms. Allan is in high demand as a conductor, composer, and soprano soloist. A recipient of the Sir Ernest MacMillan Prize in Choral Conducting, she is the Artistic Director of Canzona, Winnipeg’s professional Baroque Choir, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in both early and contemporary repertoire. The Amadeus Choir will hold auditions for all voice parts in May, 2019. For more information, email us at info@amadeuschoir.com or call our office at 416-446-0188 amadeuschoir.com Cheryll Chung !! APR 27, 4PM: Reaching Out Through Music presents “Spring Breezes.” ROTM provides free music education to children in the St. James Town community. Their hallmark is the Choral Program run by Cheryll Chung. Their Spring fundraising concert features Asitha Tennekoon. With a varied programme, this event will help ensure that the program can continue to provide accessible music education for future generations. Grace Church, Toronto, 383 Jarvis St. Follow Brian on Twitter @bfchang Send info/media/tips to choralscene@thewholenote.com. SACRED MUSIC FOR A SACRED SPACE Experience two rich choral traditions — French subtlety and the mystical traditions of Eastern Europe and Russia — in a contemplative program by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, conducted by David Fallis. Works by MESSIAEN, POULENC and MARTIN KODALY, RACHMANINOFF, PENDERECKI and SCHNITTKE. All in the visual and acoustic splendour of St. Anne’s — the “Group of Seven” church. Wednesday, April 17 Good Friday, April 19 7:30 pm St. Anne’s Anglican Church 270 Gladstone Ave Tickets , & VoxTix for patrons 30 & under RCM TICKETS 416-408-0208 or online tmchoir.org thewholenote.com April 2019 | 33

Volumes 26-29 (2020- )

Volumes 21-25 (2015-2020)

Volumes 16-20 (2010-2015)

Volumes 11-15 (2004-2010)

Volumes 6 - 10 (2000 - 2006)

Volumes 1-5 (1994-2000)