COMMON THREAD: COMMUNITY CHORUS OF TORONTO Common Thread is a 70-voice nonaud it ioned choir conducted by Isabel Bernaus, promoting community and social justice through a repertoire based in multicultural folk music traditions. We welcome singers with a wide range of musical experience and cultural backgrounds. Rehearsals are Wednesdays 6:45-9:30pm at Cecil Community Centre (Spadina and College) September through May. Our season includes two small concerts plus two performances of a full-length concert at the end of May. Orientation and vocal placement sessions for those on our waiting list are held in March and June with intake of new members in September. ctchorus@interlog.com Angelina Mihaljcic: 416-410-5022 www.interlog.com/-ctchorus/ CoRO SAN MARCO Founded in 1995 by current artistic director Daniel Colla, the choir's 50 members share a love for folk, classical and operatic music, and participate in many concerts and festivals, averaging over ten concerts a year. They have performed at Roy Thomson Hall, at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, founded the annual multicultural choral festival Singing Together, and have performed with the Nova Amadeus Orchestra from Rome. With the Esprit Alliance Orchestra they premiered Albinoni's Magnificat and G. Pososcco's Ave Maria. Coro San Marco has two recordings: Va' pensiero I Longing Spirit, and songs of the Italian migration: Addio Patria Mia I Farewell My Homeland. colladaniel@hotmail.com www.corosanmarco.com COUNTERPOINT CHORALE In September 2001, a small group of singers gathered to develop the art of Eastern European, French and other traditional cultural song. The choir of 25 energetic and devoted singers performs three concerts a year in December, March/April and June. December performances feature the Counterpoint String Players. From its inception, Counterpoint Chorale has performed with special acclaim under its current founder and conductor, William Woloschuk. Entering its fourth season, Counterpoint continues to delight audiences with selections resonating from renaissance to contemporary, singing in a wide variety of foreign languages. Rehearsals are Tuesdays 6:45-9pm, downtown at St. Vlad's Institute, 620 Spadina at Harbord. counterpointchorale@hotmail.com William Woloschuk: 416-253-4674 www.counterpointchorale.com COUNTY TOWN SINGERS · CTS started as a small community choir to celebrate Canada's centennial year. Under the direction of Barbara Ouellette, we are still "singing for the love of it" 38 years later. We are a 60-70 voice auditioned choir with a varied repertoire: show tunes to spirituals, folk to classical. We hold two major concerts per year, December and May, and concerts at smaller venues such as nursing homes or· special functions like the final game of the Kia Cup Curling Championships in Whitby, Feb 2005. Rehearsals are Wednesdays 7:30-lOpm at the Whitby Seniors Centre. Auditions are the first three Wednesdays of September and January. DARBAZI jonesone@rogers.com Linda Jones: 905-668-0083 www.countytownsingers.com Darbazi is currently a ten-member Toronto-based vocal ensemble specializing in the richly varied harmonies of the Republic of Georgia, from the sublimely sacred to the uproariously secular. Formed in 1995, Darbazi has performed around southern.Ontario, in Montreal and in St John's. In October 2002, Darbazi was honoured to sing at the First International Symposium on Georgian Polyphony in Tbilisi, Georgia. A cappella or accompanied on traditional instruments, there are generally three vocal parts: two tenor voices and a baritone line (bani). We are active ly seeking bass/baritones. Formal vocal training not a prerequisite but be up for a challenge. Weekly rehearsals. DCAT CHORUS baniquest@sympatico.ca Ray Kinoshita: 416-917-8571 www.darbazi.com DCAT (D rum Corps Alumni Toronto) is a non-audition chorus consisting of more than sixty women and men, performing a broad repertoire of songs ranging from Broadway favourites to folk, from pop to traditional, all in six-part harmony. The chorus is under the professional direction of Mr. Ted Key and has been entertaining audiences for the past ten years. The chorus has a performance schedule of twelve to fifteen shows per year. Rehearsals are 7:30-lOpm Wednesday evenings at Estonian House, 958 Broadview Avenue, Toronto. Our goals are to provide a great activity for our members and wonderful performances for our audiences. johnnye@rogers.com nortonl@sympatico.ca John Jones: 416-291-2989 Linda Norton: 416-234-8138 www.dcatchorus.ca DURHAM CoMMUNITY CHOIR J.C. Coolen directs this mixedvoice community concert choir based at Durham College, University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa. As a non-audition choir, it welcomes all people 16 years of age and older who love and wish to sing, and aims to provide them with a joyous, educational and enjoyable music-making experience. In collaboration with professional guest musicians, it performs two concerts each year: Handel's Messiah in late November and a secular program in early May. In advance of each concert, weekly rehearsals occur Mondays, 7:30- 9:30pm, in Room C-113 of the Durham College UOIT Main Campus in north Oshawa. jccoolen@hotmail.com Carolyn Johnston: 905-668-0998 EAST YoRK CHOIR ' -· ·}· •· E The EYC, founded in 1988, performs repertoire from classical, folk/world, jazz and musical thea- tre genres. Larger works, such as Carmina Burana, the Mozart Req uiem and Handel's Messiah have been performed with orchestra or instrumental ensemble. The EYC's new artistic director is Jenny Crober, accompanist is Kristina Nojd. We perform two regular concerts, and two or more community concerts each season. Our upcoming concert, "Legends and Lore", will feature children's chorus, narration, and African percussion, Saturday, May 28. Next season includes Vivaldi's Gloria, and Messiah excerpts with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra. Rehearsals are Monday evenings, Leaside Presbyterian Church, 670 Eglinton, east ofBayview. eastyorkchoir@sympatico.ca Jenny Grober: 416-463-8225 www.eastyork.org/eychoir.html ECHO WOMEN'S CHOIR ECHO is a 70-voice community choir open to women from all walks of life. ECHO sings each Tuesday night at Holy Trinity (beside the Eaton Centre), performs at citywide grass-roots events, and holds December and May concerts. ECHO, a non-auditioned choir co-led by Becca Whitla and Alan Gasser, aims to build a strong, varied and vibrant culture and community through song. There is currently a waiting list. Repertoire includes music from village singing traditions around the world and newly-commissioned music. Membership fees and concert tickets are sliding scale. ECHO's spring concert, "Under the Apple Tree", is May 8 at 3pm at Holy Trinity. info@echowomenschoir.ca Becca Whitla: 416-588-9050 x3 www.echowomenschoir.ca ELMER ISELER SINGERS EIS is a twenty-voice professional chamber choir based in Toronto. Founded in 1979 by the late Dr. Elmer Iseler and now under the artistic direction of the acclaimed Lydia Adams, the Singers are known for their beauty of tone and wide interpretive range. They are highly valued for their contributions to master classes and workshops for schools and community choirs. The Singers are the professional UNARY PAGES WWW. THEWHOLENOTE.COM MAY 2005
Choir-In-Residence at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music. Annual auditions are held in April/ May (call 905-880-1889). Weekly rehearsals, a Toronto concert series, and touring and recording make the Elmer Iseler Singers one of Canada's most illustrious choral ensembles. info@elmeriselersingers.com Jessie lseler: 416-217-0537 www.elmeriselersingers.com ELORA FESTIVAL SINGERS The Elora Festival Singers, founded by Noel Edison in 1980, is the principal vocal ensemble for the Elora Festival. The 24-voice professional choir performs regularly in Elora and Toronto and choristers rehearse weekly near Guelph. The EFS is also the core of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Mendelssohn Singers. Next season will highlight the Singers touring western Canada and recording for NAXOS. info@elorafestivalsingers.org 519-846-0331 www.elorafestivalsingers.org ENSEMBLE TRYPTYCH CHAMBER CHOIR Ensemble TrypTych, a mixed choir of 30 singers, enters its fifth season in 2005/6 under the direction of Lenard Whiting, performing renaissance to contemporary music in 4 concerts a year, as well as joining TrypTych in their opera in-concert performances. The choir is open to all, and rehearses at North Central Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2737 Bayview Uust steps from the Bayview subway station), Tuesdays, September-May 7:30-9:30 pm. Repertoire includes oratorios, opera and smaller works, including 20th century composers. Auditions are by appointment throughout the year, but most take place at the beginning of the concert season. info@tryptych.org Lenard Whiting: 416-762-6077 www.tryptych.org ETOBICOKE CENTENNIAL CHOIR The 60-voice Etobicoke Centennial Choir is now in its 38th season of bringing the joy of choral music to our community. Under the skilled direction of Dr. Harris Loewen, the choir is continually challeged to pursue choral excellence. The three-concert season encompasses a varied repertoire of classical and contemporary works, both sacred and secular, and has included works written for the choir. Choristers share great camaraderie and welcome new singers. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays 7: 15-!0pm from September through May at Islington United Church. Interested singers are invited to attend a rehearsal. Membership is by audition. methornton@sympatico.ca Mary Thornton: 416-620-1855 www.etobicokesings.com ETOBICOKE YOUTH CHOIR Music director Louise Jardine, now in her I 1 th season, helps develop the musical skills of the 40-50 members of the choir (ages 7-17, male and female) by inspiring artistic performance and making music fun. Choristers gain self- discipline, selfconfidence, and self-reliance while sharing their talents. The choir performs contemporary, theatre, classical, and sacred repertoire. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings at Humbervale United Church, 1447 Royal York Road, from September to June, with two main concerts, various community performances, and a cabaret featuring individual choristers. Fall and Spring Workshop Weekends provide intensive rehearsing and bonding. Entry by simple audition in January and May. eyc.secretary@sympatico.ca George: 416-231-9120 . www.etobicokeyouthchoir.org ExuLTATE CHAMBER SINGERS Over a 24-year history, Exultate has garnered praise as a precise, passionate ensemble with a wide-ranging repertoire. Established by conductor John Tuttle, Exultate is enriched by the musicianship and varied backgrounds of its 22 members. Exultate's third CD, The Present Time, was released in 2001; their fourth will be released in 2005. In 2004, Exultate was awarded both the First Place Prize in the Chamber Choir category and the Healey Willan Grand Prize in the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. Exultate presents a four-concert subscription series in Toronto and makes guest appearances in various Ontario communities. Auditions are held as required to fill vacancies. exultate@on.aibn.com Alexandra D'arcy: 416-971-9229 www.exultate.on.ca FANSHAWE CHORUS LONDON/ GERALD FAGAN SINGERS Founded in 1979 by Gerald Fagan, artistic director, and Marlene Fagan, accompanist and general manager, FCL is a world-class, community-based ensemble of 110 with a sister organization, the Gerald Fagan Singers, a chamber choir of 28. Both are accompanied by the Concert Player Orchestra in a variety of concerts every year. Four CDs have been released recently, and the Chorus has twice earned a Lieutenant Governor's A ward for the Arts. Repertoire includes all the major choral works and more contemporary works with a particular focus on Canadian composers. Singers who audition to join must read music and assist in some aspect of the organization's operation. info@choruslondon .corn Marlene Fagan: 519-433-9650 www.choruslondon.com FORTE THE TORONTO MEN'S CHORUS Forte, founded in 1997, is a nonprofit, auditioned group of individuals dedicated to highlighting the talents of the gay community and building bridges to other communities through performance of a diverse repertoire of music and theatrical presentation. Under the musical direction of Edward Connell, the 30-member TTBB chorus mounts annual holiday and spring productions as well as performing at many community events. The choral season runs from the first week of September until after the annual Toronto Pride Week activities. Auditions are held in September and January. Rehearsals are held every Monday from 6:45- 9:30pm at St. Andrew's United Church, 117 Bloor Street East. forte-chorus@rogers.com Terry Thompson: 416-961-5708 www. forte-chorus.corn GEORGETOWN BACH CHORALE Started in 1999, this non-profit chamber choir has a membership of 16 voices·. Whilst emphasising J.S.Bach, other classical composers' works are performed as well. Concerts include four to five in the fall, Advent/Christmas, and spring concerts featuring choral and orchestral works, solo and instrumental items, and local and international artists. The choir performed in the Advent Festival in 2000 in Prague. Artistic director Ronald Greidanus has an established career as a concert pianist in Canada and abroad, and has performed for the Rachmaninoff Societies of England, USA, ana Austria, and given recitals in France, Germany and Spain. shuttleworthw@hotmail.com William Shuttleworth: 905-877-8321 GEORGIAN BAY CHILDREN'S CHOIR The Georgian Bay Children's Choir, conducted by Linda Hawkins, is a 35-voice community treble choir for children and youth ages 6-18, drawing its members from the southern Georgian Bay region of Ontario, with Owen Sound as the major centre. It was founded in 1986. There is a vocal assessment upon joining the choir. Georgian Bay Children's Choir concerts are held twice a year in December and May. In addition, the choir has numerous singing engagements in the community. Repertoire includes traditional, British. and Canadian contemporary, folksongs, spirituals and sacred. Fees vary according to choir level. Rehearsals are Mondays from September to June. info@gbcc.ca Margaret Blender 519 -371-4627 www.gbcc.ca GRACE CHURCH ON-THE-HILL CHOIRS For over 130 years, Grace Church has supported a quality music program for singers of all age groups and genders. Choristers perform some of the best of Anglican litur- MAY 2005 WWW. THEWHOLENOTE.COM CANARY PAGES
