Volume 10 Issue 8 - May 2005

Sir Simon Rattle in

Sir Simon Rattle in Birmingham; borough. large vocal ensemble, maintaining che CD is now available on EM! brucesnell@rogers.com a tradition, since 1894, of repertoire Classics. Bruce Snell: 416-284-2647 from early Baroque to premieres of The TCC (Main Chorus and four commissioned works. With the Elora Festival Singers as its profes­ Training Choirs) presents an annual Subscription Series; the Chamber Choir and Choral Scholars, sub­ The Toronto Classical Singers are own series and appears with the TORONTO CLASSICAL SINGERS sional core. the TMC presents its sections of the Main Chorus, 100 people who love the choral/orchestral classics. Each season we Noel Edison, the TMC's 2005-2006 TSO. Under the artistic direction of perform additional concerts and record. The Chorus also offers a present three concerts featuring season includes Carmina Burana, West End Training Choir for children in grades 3-6. ers orchestra. Our conductor is the Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Faure guest soloists and the Talisker Play­ St. Jolin Passion, Messiah, info@torontochildrenschorus .corn CBC's Jurgen Petrenko. who brings and Durufle Requiems and more! heatherwocx:t@torontochildrenschorus.com an infectious enthusiasm to the proceedings. In the past twelve years, Yorkminster Park Baptist Church Rehearsals are Monday evenings at Heather Wood: 416-932-8666 x223 Margaret Lam: 416-932-8666 x221 we have presented major works by, from 7-9:30pm. Auditions are June www.torontochildrenschorus.com among others, Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Gounod, Saint-Saens, and· admin@tmchoir.org and September. Vaughan Williams. We rehearse Kimber Jonah: 416-598-0422 x24 TORONTO CHORAL SOCIETY Monday evenings 7:30-9:30pm, www.tmchoir.org COMMUNITY CHOIR September through April at Christ Church Deer Park (Yonge Street, The Toronto Choral Society was two blocks north of St. Clair). We TORONTO MENDELSSOHN founded in 1845. The 120-member welcome new members. To set up community choir is a non-auditioned YOUTH CHOIR an audition or for ticket information, choral group dedicated to enhancing the community by providing an Choir, founded in 1977, provides The Toronto Mendelssohn Youth please contact us. opportunity for enthusiastic choristers to perform contemporary and Jane Petrenko: 416-443-1490 nities for young singers aged 15-23 torontoclassicalsingers@sympatico.ca training and performance opportu­ traditional repertoire for Toronto www.torontoclassicalsingers.org from diverse backgrounds. Annually, the TMYC presents a three­ audiences. The choir is currently working on their upcoming concert concert subscription series and appears at least once with the Toronto "Missa Gaia". This will be performed Wednesday, June I, 2005 Started in 1925 by immigrant nee­ Mendelssohn Choir. Past highlights TORONTO JEWISH FOLK CHOIR al Eastminster United Church, 310 dle-trade workers, the SATB 'Chamber choir continues to perform bealy in 1997 to rave reviews, joining have included a performance in It­ Danforth Ave., (west of the Chescer subway station) at 7:30pm. The loved Yiddish folk songs, excerpts the TMC in July 1998 at the National choir rehearses once a week on from the classics on Jewish themes, Arts Centre for the opening of Festival Canada, performing in the ro­ Wednesday evenings at Eastminster contemporary music in Yiddish, United Church. We are currently Hebrew, Judeo-Spanish, Russian tunda of Ottawa's Parliament Buildings in spring 2004, and the release accepting openings for first sopranos, tenors and basses. tures. Its annual spring concert fea­ of a recording of seasonal music and English, and music of other cul­ Deborah Micucci: 416-410-3509 tures excellent guests-this year the under the direction of composer/ www.torontochoralsociety.org Toronto Mandolin Orchestra is performing with the choir at. the Leah are Tuesday evenings 7-9:30pm. conductor John Rutter. Rehearsals Posluns Theatre on June 5. The sea- Auditions for the 2005-2006 season TORONTO CHORISTERS son includes Chanukah and other will begin in June. concerts around Toronto and the tmyc@tmchoir.org James Maben direqs this non- annual Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Linda Morana: 416-598-0422 x27 auditioned 100-voice choir which is Commemoration. Rehearsals are www.tmchoir.org no completing its 12th season. It Wednesdays 7:30-!0pm at the consists mostly of retired employees from Boards of Education in the Winchevsky Centre, 585 Cranbrooke Avenue (Bathurst-Law- TORONTO NORTHERN LIGHTS CHORUS Toronto area. Repertoire is light rence). This talented group of singers has and varied, from classical to modern. Rehearsals are on Thursdays tjfolkchoir@sympatico.ca represented Ontario at the Barbershop Harmony Society Internation­ Alexander Veprinskya: 416-593-0750 at !pm at Wilkinson Public School www.winchevskycentre.org al Championship each year from October through May. Because the choir is so large, women since 1998, bringing home Silver medals in 200 I, 2002, 2003 and wishing to join the choir will be plced on a waiting list, but men will TORONTO MENDELSSOHN CHOIR 2004. The repertoire of the Toronto Northern Lights Chorus ranges be accepted immediately. This The TMC family has three choirs: years' annual spring concert takes The TMC, The Mendelssohn Singers and Toronto Mendelssohn Youth vocal jazz to doo-wop, and from from barbershop to Broadway, place on Wednesday, May 18th, 7 .30 pm, at Sir John A. Macdonald Choir. The 160-voice volunteer Gershwin to the Beatles. Open Collegiate, Pharmacy Ave., Scar- TMC is Canada's world-renowned rehearsals are held on Monday evenings at St George's Anglican Church, 5350 Yonge Street, halfway between the North York Centre and Finch subway stations. TNL is an auditioned chorus, but all music is learned with learning tapes. John Tonus: 416-512-2090 www.northernlightschorus.com TORONTO PoucE AssocIATION MALE CHORUS The Toronto Police Association Male Chorus was founded in 1966 to entertain by singing in four-part harmony for citizens' groups and at police and civic functions throughout the GTA, thus forging bonds between the police service and the community. The membership is comprised of active and retired police officers, and police-supportive male community members who share an enjoyment of male choral music. The repertoire consists of sacred and secular selections including show tunes, folk, pop, country, and classics. The chorus rehearses most Monday evenings from 7:30-9:30pm at the Toronto Police Association Building, 180 Yorkland Boulevard and performs an average of three shows per month. tpamc@hotmail .corn hmccarthy@sympatico.ca Harry McCarthy: 416-923-4525 416-496-0461 www.torontopoliceassn.ca/ malechorus.html TORONTO SWEDISH SINGERS The Toronto Swedish Singers perform in Swedish and English under the direction of Lloyd Thompson, who also arranges much of the choir's repertoire. The choir presents annual spring and Christmas concerts, participates in Swedish cultural events, and serves as the resident choir for the Swedish Lutheran Church in Toronto for major celebrations. Membership is open to anyone interested in Swedish culture who enjoys choral singing and preferably has some facility with Swedish. Ability to read music is desirable but not essential. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from September to June at Agricola Lutheran Church, Yonge and York Mills. UNARV PAGES WWW. THEWHOLENOTE.COM MAY 2005

play88@sympatico.ca Lloyd Thompson: 416-229-4489 www.tsfs.ca TORONTO WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIR The choir was founded in 1995 to kindle the tradition of four-part Welsh male voice singing. Under the leadership of director David Low, associate director Lenard Whiting, and accompanist Kathryn Tremills, the choir has grown to an ensemble of 60 men from many ethnic backgrounds, performing approximately ten concerts a year. Membership requires an elemental audition, and an ear for, and a love of, choral music. Repertoire includes: opera choruses, folk songs, show tunes, spirituals, and traditional Welsh music. Practices are held Wednesdays 7: 15-!0pm, September to June at Dewi Sant Welsh United Church, at Yonge/Lawrence. president@twmvc.com 416-410-2254 www.twmvc.com UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO AT ScARBOROUGH CoNCERT CHOIR UTSCC is a 40-voice auditioned choir open to students, faculty and guests. Auditions are the first week of classes each term. The choir meets Wednesdays from 5-7pm in the new Arts Administration Building AA330 (The Music Studio) at the college located at 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough (located at Hwy 401 and Morningside). Repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the present. Performances take place on campus and in the greater GT A from September through April. The choir will participate in the Helmut Rilling Bach Festival in October and collaborate with Ensemble TrypTych and the St. James' Cathedral Singers in performing Bach's St. John Passion. lwhiting@utsc.utoronto.ca Lenard Whiting: 416 762 6077 www.utsc.utoronto.ca UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO GOSPEL CHOIR Founded February 1995 during MAY 2005 Black History month, UTGC's weekly rehearsals soon became a meeting place for students interested in singing praises to the Lord, and a refuge for those looking for an empowering environment. UTGC has participated in an Annual Gospel Festival in Barbados, in Stockholm, Sweden, and for 7 years in "The Colours of Christmas" as guest of top international recording artists such as Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, and Jon Secada. N.ever forgetting their purpose, the choir continues to sing at numerous churches, corporate and campus events. Lisa Toussaint directs the choir's repertoire of Christian contemporary, traditional gospel, praise and worship, and spirituals. info@utgc.org UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO CHOIRS ' Rehearsals are on Thursday nights from 7:30-9:30pm. University Settlement Children's. Choir began in September of 2003. This fun group meets Mondays from 5: 15-6:30pm. The choir, for ages 8-13 with unchanged voices, is led by Teodora Georgieva in singing songs from a wide variety of musical styles. Both choirs are non-auditioned and no experience is necessary. They perform several times a year at different venues but rehearse at University Settlement, 23 Grange Rd., Toronto. usrc_anne_yardley@on.aibn.com Anne Yardley: 416-598-3444 x243 416-614-4872 UPPER CANADA CHILDREN'S www.utgc.org CHORUS The University of Waterloo Music Department invites all students, faculty, staff and community members to join any of its three choirs. All groups present at least one concert during the term, begin rehearsals the first week of the fall and winter terms, and rehearse in the Conrad Grebel University College Chapel on campus. Rehearsal and performance attendance is mandatory. The 30-voice Chamber Choir, under Richard Cunningham, meets Tuesday and Thursday, 4-5:30pm. The larger University Choir, under Gordon Burnett, meets Tuesday 7- !0pm. The 35-voice Chapel Choir, under Leonard Enns, meets Monday 3:30-5pm and Wednesday 3:30-5:30pm and participates in chapel services (Wednesday 4:30- 5:30pm). music@uwaterloo.ca Stacey VanderMeer: 519-885-0220 x226 www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca/academic/ undergrad/music/ensembles.shtml UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT CoMMUNITY CHom AND CHILDREN' s CHOIR The 30-men:iber adult mixed-voice University Settlement Community Choir started 6 years ago. Conductor Teodora Georgieva leads the choir in a wide variety of repertoire from madrigals to show tunes. WWW. THEWHOLENOTE.COM www.usrc.ca The UCC, under musical director Brian Rawlins, provides the York region with a world-class children's chorus. Comprised of 120 singers ages 6-17, the UCC program includes concerts, workshops, retreats and tours. Rehearsals are weekly: Choir IH meets Mondays 6:30-9pm, Choir II meets Tuesdays 6-8pm, Choir I rehearses Mondays 4:45-6pm, and Chamber Chorus meets selected Thursdays and Saturdays. Highlights from 2005 include a fundraising dinner gala with Robert Pilon, "The Spirit of Christmas" at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, Canadian and Irish Folksongs with Colm Wilkinson (TCA) and a tour of Eastern Canada. Auditions are held April through July. mrawlins@uppercanadachorus.com 416-733-0615 www.uppercanadachorus.com UPPER CANADA CHOIDSTERS The Upper Canada Choristers is a non-auditioned SATB community choir of about 50 voices, under the direction of Laurie Evan Fraser. Now in its 12th season, the choir is a vibrant, growing organization with a commitment to excellence. Weekly Monday rehearsals are 7:30-9:30pm at the Salvation Army Community Church (Eglinton Avenue just east of Yonge). The choir prepares and performs two programmes a year in two public concerts. We then take the programmes to community venues such as hos- pitals, nursing homes, seniors' residences, schools, and churches. The diversity of our choir is reflected in a wide range of choral repertoire. Laurie Evan Fraser: 416-256-0510 www.chorister.org UXBRIDGE CHAMBER CHOIR The Uxbridge Chamber Choir, cofounded by director Thomas Baker and Anne Mizen Baker, had its debut on January 28, 1984. Last year, the choir celebrated a very successful 20th anniversary reunion, reprising A Medieval Bestiary, a commissioned work by R. Murray Schafer, with an augmented choir of former members. Major works in the repertoire are Carmina Burana, Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's Creation and a wide range of classical and contemporary music. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings 7:30- !0pm with three concerts each season. The choir will perform J. S. Bach's Mass in B Minor with orchestra on Saturday, May 14, at 8pm at Trinity United, Uxbridge. canrainet@sympatico.ca Hilary Balmer: 905-852-2676 www.uxbridgechamberchoir.ca VESNIVKA CHOIR Founding director Halyna Kvitka Kondracki established Vesnivka Choir in 1 . 965. This award-winning 40-member women's ensemble has delighted audiences around the world with its rich repertoire of Ukrainian liturgical, classical, contemporary and traditional folk music. The choir is often accompanied by professional soloists and a chamber ensemble of area musicians. There are three major concerts per season, as well as Christmas and Easter Liturgies. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings 7-9:30pm at 4 Bellwoods Ave., Toronto, commencing September 2005. Contact the artistic director for auditions. Male singers are welcome to audition for :rhe Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir, an ensemble formed in partnership with Vesnivka. nykola@vesnivka.com 416-763-2197 www.vesnivka.com CANARY PAGES