Volume 24 Issue 8 - May 2019

CANARY PAGES

CANARY PAGES theWholeNote 2019/20 CANARY PAGES DIRECTORY ●Toronto ● Beaches Children’s and Youth Chorus TBCYC, founded in 2006 by artistic director Bronwen Low with drama instructor, Joanne Mitchell, has grown from a membership of 30 to over 150 children and youth (JK and up) from all over Scarborough and Toronto’s East End. TBCYC welcomes all, regardless of ability, offering a high quality musical and dramatic experience within a supportive, fun atmosphere. Each year, TBCYC choristers are involved in concerts and events throughout the city. In the spring, they perform a fully staged musical production at a professional theatre. The 2019 show is “Shrek Jr., the Musical” Past touring highlights include singing in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry and in the 2016 DCINY festival performance at Carnegie Hall. This July, they will perform at the Kennedy Center as part of the Serenade Choral Festival in Washington, D.C. BRONWEN LOW 416-698-9864 info@tbcyc.com www.tbcyc.com ●Toronto ● Chamber Choir Building on 50 years of concert performances, the Toronto Chamber Choir of around 40 skilled singers has held a prominent place in Canada’s early music scene since 1968. It specializes in renaissance and baroque repertoire, collaborating regularly with Toronto’s rich pool of period instrumentalists, but also with forays into other periods. Four concerts per season - two Saturday evening concerts and two Sunday afternoon “Kaffeemusik” presentations - explore the cultural context of our repertoire through narration, often with a special guest expert. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall with occasional Saturday “retreats.” Auditions for new volunteer members are held anytime by arrangement with the director, while auditions for our Toronto Chamber Consort section lead program are held in May. LUCAS HARRIS 416-763-1695 lucasharris@live.ca www.torontochamberchoir.ca ●Toronto ● Children’s Chorus The award-winning Toronto Children’s Chorus marks its 42nd season, and its 13th under artistic director Elise Bradley, this 2019/20 season. The chorus comprises a family of choirs: KinderNotes for children aged 3 to 6 (no audition required), four Training Choirs, Main Choir (four ensembles) and Toronto Youth Choir (aged 16 to 30). More than 400 choristers develop skills in vocal technique, sightsinging and music theory each year. Main Choir offers masterclasses and exceptional performance and recording opportunities, including with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The TCC offers KinderNotes and Training Choir programs in North York and Midtown. The Main Choir and Toronto Youth Choir rehearse at the Midtown location. BONNIE O’SULLIVAN 416-932-8666 x225 bonnie@torontochildrenschorus.com www.torontochildrenschorus.com ●Toronto ● Choral Society The Toronto Choral Society (TCS) was founded in 1845, to foster a positive musical environment that enables members to learn and develop both musical ability and choral repertoire. The TCS aims to be an integral part of the community of Toronto, presenting important works from the traditional choral repertoire and exploring the music of the many cultures that make up our community. The TCS has performed our last two Christmas Concerts to sold out audiences at Koerner Hall. The TCS rehearsals take place on Wednesday nights 7:30-9:30pm at Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave.. Our season (both rehearsals and performance) begins in September and continues until May, performing a minimum of 3 concerts a year. If you would like more information please go to our website. DEBBY NEILL BLYTH 416-499-3000 dblyth@sympatico.ca www.torontochoralsociety.org ●Toronto ● Classical Singers Toronto Classical Singers is the only choir in the country dedicated exclusively to the great choral/ orchestral repertoire. Now in its 28th season, the organization continues to celebrate and contribute to the glorious tradition of choral music with performances of Handel, Schubert and Vaughan-Williams over 2019/20. Known for its unique musical point-ofview and its diverse and high-quality programming, the choir features lesser-known and rarely performed pieces as well as the beloved vocal/orchestral repertoire. Led by founding conductor and artistic director Jurgen Petrenko, the choir has established a longstanding partnership with Talisker Players who accompany the choir in their presentations of the great choral masterpieces. Auditions are in early September. Please visit our website to learn more about us. KATHLEEN PAYNE 416-986-8749 info@torontoclassicalsingers.ca www.torontoclassicalsingers.ca ●Toronto ● Mass Choir The Toronto Mass Choir is a Juno award-winning Gospel Choir made up of singers representing a crosssection of cultures and evangelical churches from across the GTA. The Toronto Mass Choir incorporates contemporary gospel, traditional gospel and Caribbean music influences and released 12 albums including their most recent release, “By Special Request.” Led by artistic director, Karen Burke, TMC travels extensively both in Canada and internationally, performing original and beloved Gospel favourites in guest performances and several self-produced concert events. The Toronto Mass Choir also actively engages in educational and community outreach. Regular rehearsals are held on Friday nights and auditions are held periodically. Please email the choir office for more information. KAREN BURKE 905-794-1139 info@tmc.ca www.tmc.ca ●Toronto ● Mendelssohn Choir The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir celebrates its 125th anniversary with a gala concert in October under interim conductor David Fallis. The TMC has long been recognized for its grand symphonic sound, and for the clarity and precision of its interpretation of some of the greatest sacred and secular music ever composed. The 120-voice choir includes a professional core, auditioned volunteers, and apprentices (aged 17 to 22). The TMC performs over 20 concerts annually, including major choral works, “Festival of Carols”, and “Sacred Music for a Sacred Space” on Good Friday. It also performs regularly with the TSO, including annual performances of Messiah. The TMC is currently conducting an international search for a new artistic director - only the 8th in the organization’s 125-year history. ADMINISTRATOR 416-598-0422 admin@tmchoir.org www.tmchoir.org ●Toronto ● Summer Music Chamber Choir The Chamber Choir is a chance to refresh vocal skills and study inspiring works of choral literature in the intimacy of a chamber vocal ensemble. Spend a week singing and rehearsing with acclaimed choral conductor, virtuoso recorder player and composer, Matthias Maute. Aside from daily choir rehearsals, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy sectionals with various vocal coaches. Repertoire: Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor (excerpts); Abendlied by Rheinberger; José Maurício Nunes Garcia: Matinas do Apóstolo São Pedro; Juan García de Zéspedes: Convida Dates: July 29 to August 3. Must be over 18 years of age. Tuition includes daily lunch and a ticket to all TSM Festival Concerts July 29 to August 3. Cost: 0 plus HST. Apply now on our website link. JENNIFER MAK 647-430-5699 x111 jennifer@torontosummermusic.com www.torontosummermusic.com/ community-academy ●Toronto ● Welsh Male Voice Choir The Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir (TWMVC) was established in 1995 when its founding member and first president, Gwyn Roberts, gathered together a group of like-minded individuals of Welsh heritage, who sought to kindle the spirit of traditional Welsh male voice singing in their adopted country. The C14

TWMVC proudly draws on the great Welsh tradition of singing hymns and songs; born of the mountains and valleys of Wales. At the same time, it emphasizes a multicultural context in its broad repertoire, which also includes spirituals; operatic arias, Canadian folk songs as well as Broadway show tunes and contemporary music. Our blend of traditional and contemporary music, all sung off book in accordance with tradition, appeals to a broad audience. We are always looking for new members to join our choir! ALAN SADEGURSKY 647-389-8084 alansadegursky@yahoo.ca www.welshchoir.ca ●●Upper Canada Choristers The Upper Canada Choristers is a mixed-voice community choir with a diverse membership that interweaves fun with the commitment to musical excellence and vibrant community service. Performances feature collaborations with international choirs, local children’s choirs, and professional instrumentalists and singers. Cantemos is an auditioned a cappella latin ensemble within UCC. Led by artistic director Laurie Evan Fraser, the choirs perform three diverse choral programs annually. Weekly rehearsals for the Main Choir are Monday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at Grace Church on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd. Cantemos rehearses on Saturday mornings from 10:30am to 12:30pm at 2 Romar Cres. The choirs sing up to 20 concerts annually in a variety of community venues. LAURIE EVAN FRASER 416-256-0510 info@uppercanadachoristers.org www.uppercanadachoristers.org ●●Uxbridge Chamber Choir The Uxbridge Chamber Choir is an amateur SATB choir under the direction of founding conductor Tom Baker. Since 1983, the choir has brought unique performances of the great choral masterpieces, from the Renaissance to modernity, to the rural community of Uxbridge and the surrounding area. Together our enthusiastic singers develop and express their musical talents, often collaborating with local professional vocalists and instrumentalists. Recent performances include Tedesco’s Romancero Gitano, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass, Mozart’s Requiem, Monteverdi’s Vespers, Bach’s St. John Passion and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Faure’s Requiem and Durufle’s Requiem. Membership is by a non-threatening screening process at the first rehearsal. Rehearsals are Monday nights, September to May in Uxbridge. MARG CUNNINGHAM 905-642-2096 uxbridgechamberchoir@gmail.com www.uxbridgechamberchoir.ca ●●Vesnivka Choir Vesnivka Choir was established in 1965 by founding artistic director Halyna Kvitka Kondracki. This awardwinning women’s ensemble has delighted audiences around the world with its rich repertoire of Ukrainian liturgical, classical, contemporary and traditional folk music. The choir’s regular concert season comprises three major concerts, one of which is its ever-popular annual Christmas concert. Vesnivka, together with its partner the Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir (TUMCC), are often accompanied by professional soloists and chamber ensembles of area musicians. Vesnivka also sings at Christmas and Easter Liturgies. Singers are welcome; rehearsals on Tuesdays, 7:30pm to 9:30pm (4 Bellwoods Ave., Toronto). Male singers are welcome to join TUMCC; rehearsals on Mondays, 7:30pm to 9pm (2445 Bloor St. W., Toronto). NYKOLA PARZEI 416-246-9880 nykola@vesnivka.com www.vesnivka.com ●●Victoria College Choir The Victoria College Choir has been a fixture of the Vic community since the move to Toronto from Cobourg in 1892. Though it has seen many different forms and incarnations over the past century, musical life at Vic has been consistently dominated by the chorus. The present Vic Chorus was established in 1991 as a non-audition, community-wide chamber choir open to students, faculty, alumni, and staff. Our concerts are held regularly in the gothic setting of the Victoria College Chapel. Often involving various guest artists, these concerts present a wide range of choral musical selections, from classical to contemporary, global, operetta and more! We rehearse in the Goldring Student Building at Victoria College on Tuesdays starting at 5:15pm. TAYLOR SULLIVAN 416-585-4521 t.sullivan.vicchorus@gmail.com www.vicchorus.com ●●Victoria Scholars Men’s Choral Ensemble A past winner of the Canada Council Healey Willan Grand Prize, CBC Radio National Competition for Amateur Choirs, and one of Canada’s finest male choral ensembles, the Victoria Scholars treat audiences to a wide range of music, from Medieval plainchant and works from the baroque, renaissance and romantic eras through to contemporary and newly commissioned works from some of Canada’s best-known composers. Along with an annual three-concert series in Toronto, the Scholars have toured nationally and internationally, perform regularly with international vocal soloists, and have released five acclaimed recordings, including most recently in January 2016, Songs of Love. If you are an experienced musician with excellent sight reading abilities and would like to join us for the upcoming season, please contact us today. JERZY CICHOCKI 416-761-7776 info@victoriascholars.ca www.victoriascholars.ca ●●Village Voices Village Voices, a diverse, mixed-voice 70-voice community choir based in Markham, entered its 30th season in September 2018. Directed by Oksana Vignan, the choir presents two major concerts annually and sings at seniors’ residences and special community events, performing repertoire from the classics to contemporary music. Village Voices has collaborated with other Ontario choirs and as guest artists of instrumental ensembles such as the Markham Concert Band and the Kindred Spirits Orchestra. The choir’s musical skills are honed regularly through special workshops with outstanding choral musicians. “Joy of Singing” (May 4, 2019) is Village Voices’ 30th anniversary concert and features an eclectic repertoire, from the swing of “Moonglow” to the tenderness of “The Ground,” by Ola Gjeilo. ELLEN DOWSWELL 905-763-4172 info@villagevoiceschoir.com www.villagevoices.ca TORONTO CLASSICAL SINGERS theWholeNote 2019/20 CANARY PAGES DIRECTORY C15