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BLUE PAGES 2020/21 SECTION I: PRESENTERS & PERFORMERS 2020/21 season, the TMC will be under the artistic leadership of Simon Rivard who was appointed Associate Conductor in July. TMC is designing a 2020/21 season that will include virtual choir performances, digital programs and artistic collaborations. Programming will begin online with the hope of adding in-person elements as health and safety regulations permit. Fall 2020 programs in development include a Thanksgiving program with guest curator Suba Sankaran, a Remembrance Day program with guest curator Andrew Balfour, and the TMC’s annual celebration of Christmas music in December, “Festival of Carols.” Visit the TMC’s website for updates on 2020/21 programs and to access online programs and virtual choir pieces created during Spring 2020. Anne Longmore 416-598-0422 marketing@tmchoir.org www.tmchoir.org www.facebook.com/TMChoir www.twitter.com/TMChoir ● Toronto Symphony Orchestra One of Canada’s most respected arts organizations, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a vital role in the city’s dynamic cultural life for 98 years. Music director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 92-musician Orchestra. The TSO is committed to serving local and national communities through vibrant performances, extensive educational activities, and impactful community relationships. It has a notable recording and broadcast history and has been celebrated internationally during its many tours. Toronto’s iconic Roy Thomson Hall is the TSO’s home, drawing patrons from around the world. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s name remains synonymous with musical versatility and growth, and artistic distinction. Jessica Rashotte 416-593-1285 contactus@tso.ca www.tso.ca www.facebook.com/ torontosymphonyorchestra twitter.com/TorontoSymphony ●●● Trio Arkel Trio Arkel is a chamber music ensemble presenting classical music in the heart of Toronto. Leading musicians Marie Bérard and Winona Zelenka collaborate with renowned guest artists in three eclectic programs each season, performing both favourites and lesser-known works in concerts that fascinate and delight. Winona Zelenka 416-409-6824 trioarkel@gmail.com trioarkel.com www.facebook.com/TrioArkel twitter.com/TrioArkel ● University of Toronto Faculty of Music Established in 1918, U of T Music is Canada’s leading comprehensive institution for higher education in music and is a growing global presence in musical training, interdisciplinary research, and digital media content development. Home to a diverse and dynamic community of scholars, performers, composers, and educators, U of T Music offers a supportive community in one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic cities. We provide a superb learning environment, an internationally renowned teaching faculty, multiple performance halls, and an outstanding music library collection. With degrees and diplomas available in numerous areas of study, our array of courses and programs provides our 900 students an exceptional opportunity to explore various fields within music. Don McLean, dean and professor 416-978-3750 www.music.utoronto.ca www.facebook.com/UofTMusic twitter.com/UofTMusic ● VOCA Chorus of Toronto The VOCA Chorus of Toronto, a dynamic, auditioned ensemble under the leadership of artistic director Jenny Crober, performs a broad range of repertoire in collaboration with a variety of superb guest artists. VOCA’s season consists of concerts, cabaret fundraisers, community performances and workshops. Our talented, versatile accompanist is Elizabeth Acker. Several remarkable artists have joined VOCA as guest clinicians, including composer Ola Gjeilo, conductor Ivars Taurins and jazz musician Dylan Bell. Our Fall 2020 season will feature a wide array of online sessions presented by our artistic staff (including six professional leads), which will include vocal technique, yoga, vocal/body work, musicianship skills, score study, sectionals, interviews with composers and guest artists - and more. We are thrilled to be invited to perform as part of Roy Thomson Hall’s Annual Choir and Organ Series, where we will present a world premiere by renowned Cree composer Andrew Balfour. We hope to be able to present this event and another “Star Songs” concert, both featuring guests Shawn Grenke, organ; Colleen Allen, sax; and Jamie Drake, percussion in Spring 2021. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings (when in-person, at Eastminster United). Jenny Crober 416-931-8224 crober.best@gmail.com www.vocachorus.ca www.facebook.com/vocachorus twitter.com/VOCAChorus WHO’S WHO at thewholenote.com? Visit thewholenote.com and look for “Who’s Who” at the top right-hand corner of our home page. You’ll find a drop-down menu for all our directories. • THE BLUE PAGES ANNUAL DIRECTORY OF MUSIC MAKERS | updates are ongoing Oct - Dec 2020; • SPECIAL FOCUS: SUMMER MUSIC EDUCATION | updating Feb & Mar 2021; • ANNUAL CANARY PAGES CHORAL DIRECTORY | updating from Sept 2020; • GREEN PAGES SUMMER MUSIC GUIDE | updating in 2021 The WholeNote’s useful and interesting directories include profiles for a diverse crosssection of our music community. If you’re interested in joining one or more directories, please contact Karen at karen@thewholenote. 42 | theWholeNote 2020/21 PRESENTER PROFILES
BLUE PAGES 2020/21 SECTION II: ARTS SERVICES BLUE PAGES SECTION II: ARTS SERVICES ● Concerts in Care Ontario Since 2006, Concerts in Care Ontario has presented programming that makes a significant impact in a range of seniors’ care communities across Ontario. Anchored at the intersection of artistic excellence and research about music and the brain, we curate series of turnkey concerts in seniors’ facilities, performed by topcalibre professional musicians. Concerts in Care Ontario knows that music can unlock the healing power to transform. Our concerts provide a focal point for building bridges between elders, caregivers and loved ones, while engaging powerful emotions which can activate memory and improve mood for seniors in care who may be isolated and withdrawn. As soon as Ontario went into lockdown in mid- March, we immediately transformed our musical services into digital musical content in two distinct forms to connect with seniors effectively: Live 30-min concert videos that bring specially trained professional musicians to thousands of isolated seniors through high quality productions framed in an informal and personal approach. Interactive Zoom Concert Calls including highest quality performances, plus live Q&As and conversations with the musicians. And Music Outside plus Concertmobile with Tapestry Opera. Debra Chandler or Brenton Chan 416-571-6170 debra@concertsincareontario.com www.concertsincareontario.com www.facebook.com/healthartsontario twitter.com/ConcertsinCare ● Linda Litwack Publicity Having begun her career as a summer reporter on the Winnipeg Tribune, arts publicist Linda Litwack is a long-practised matchmaker between artists and the media. Her services include various forms of writing and editing - from media releases and bios to radio spots, online postings and CD booklets - working with designers, photographers and other professionals, and, of course, liaising with the media. In addition to media, music and other contact lists, she maintains a list of friends, usually offering discounts for special events. Since leaving CBC Publicity (20 years in radio and three in TV), she has collaborated with numerous creative people on intriguing projects, mostly in classical music but also in theatre, TV documentaries, books and the visual arts. Longtime clients have included Show One Productions, pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico, soprano Denise Williams, and the Upper Canada Choristers. Linda ran the historic Toronto Jewish Folk Choir for several years, and chaired its Program Committee. She is also a board member of the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists. Linda Litwack 416-782-7837 lalitwack@rogers.com www.linkedin.com/in/lindalitwack-15371320 www.facebook.com/linda.litwack twitter.com/LindaLitwack ● Rebecca Davis Public Relations Rebecca Davis Public Relations provides publicity, media and communications services to musicians, arts organizations and record labels, specializing in classical, jazz and other niche genres. From offices in New York and Florida, RDPR brings a respected and enthusiastic voice, in-depth musical knowledge and broad promotional expertise to help artists achieve meaningful and impactful visibility in mainstream and specialist press. Rebecca brings more than two decades of experience working with musicians, arts organizations and the world’s leading major and independent record labels. She has implemented successful media campaigns for A-list pianists, violinists, singers, composers and vocal and instrumental ensembles. Clients have included Renée Fleming, Jonas Kaufmann, Giancarlo Guerrero and the Nashville Symphony, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Calidore String Quartet, Yuja Wang, Eric Whitacre and Cantus. Rebecca was led to a career in classical music publicity through her experience as a classically trained soprano and currently performs with the St. Petersburg Opera in Florida. Rebecca Davis 347-432-8832 rebecca@rebeccadavispr.com rebeccadavispr.com/ www.facebook.com/RebeccaDavisPR twitter.com/rebeccapdavis ● SPEAK Music PR SPEAK Music is a Canadian publicity and promotions company based in Toronto, Ontario. Our mission is to help discover new musical talent and reconnect established artists with the ever-changing Canadian media landscape. We specialize in genres from folk to indie, world music to jazz, country and blues to pop, and everything in between. SPEAK Music has been providing encouragement and professional support to performing musicians, independent record labels, distributors, festivals, not-for-profit organizations, and music charities since March 2003. SPEAK Music provides press releases, album servicing, consulting, media training, reviews, features, interviews, premieres, non-commercial radio, and tour press. We want your music to be heard by as many media and music tastemakers as possible. Director Beverly Kreller has extensive media and artist relations, publicity, special event, and production experience, with strong communications and writing skills, and is highly motivated, enthusiastic, and results-oriented. She was the publicist and artistic director of the Winterfolk Festival for the past 12 years and began her own successful SPEAK Music Be Kind Festival in January, 2020. She also performs with her duo, HOTCHA! Beverly Kreller 416-922-3620 bev@speak-music.com www.speak-music.com www.facebook.com/beverly.kreller www.twitter.com/speakmusicpr Updated online at thewholenote.com/blue theWholeNote 2020/21 PRESENTER PROFILES | 43
