Welcome"There is an inexplicable joy in raising one's arms and, through a simple gesture,receiving a response of the heart from the hearts of many, a response that comes througha wash of beautiful choral sound. This sound, which requires no gadgets, no electricalamplification, which is as basic as we are human, continues to bring a joy that no wealthcould ever buy. "Henriette Blom, Georgian Bay Concert ChoirWelcome to the Canary Pages 2008, WholeNote's 6th annual choral directory! This year'sdirectory includes over 150 choirs, mainly from Southern and Southwestern Ontario-children's choirs, chamber choirs, community choirs, church choirs, non-auditionedchoirs- there's something here for every age, skill level, and type of music. We invite youto join one of the many flocks of Ontario choristers singing across the province.Choirs are listed alphabetically. Each choir profile includes a 100-word description ofthe choir or choral organization, followed by contact information. The directory is usefulfor choral fans of all sorts: if you are a potential chorister ( or already singing but lookingfor something with different challenges and opportunities), it gives you informationabout sign-up and/or audition procedures for each choir; if you are a concertgoer, it givesyou general information on the repertoire of your favourite choirs and choir websiteinformation so you can keep informed of concerts as upcoming seasons are announced.We at WholeNote believe that a choir can make a meaningful difference in the lives of itssingers and its audience. The simple act of singing is a joyous experience, as is listening tovoices raised in song. Both are as easy as ABC with the Canary Pages and our monthlyconcert listings as your guide. One of the most vibrant choral scenes in the country isright here at your fingertips!This is our invitation to you to consider getting involved in a choral community. If youhave a choral background and want a committed choral experience, if you like to sing andthink it would be fun to raise your voice with others, or if you are looking for a musicalvolunteer experience, your life will undoubtedly be enriched by the act of joining a choir. Soread on, and take the next step!May is a great time to shop for choirs- many choral groups hold concerts during thismonth. If you're thinking of joining a certain choir and would like to hear them in action, orare looking for a unique concert experience, please check our listings and advertisementsfor choral concerts in your area.The inspiring words at the top of this introduction are from the conductor of a choiractually not profiled in this May directory because the choir only came to our attentionafter the directory was safely "to bed". For other choirs that missed the spring sailing, all isnot lost. The Canary Pages is maintained and updated year round on our website atwww.thewholenote.com. For information on how to register, see the last page of thisdirectory.WholeNote CANARY PAGES WWW. THEWHOLENOTE.COM M AY 2008
ACHILL CHORAL SOCIETYACS, founded in 1982 by philanthropistMr. Mayer, has grownfrom 40 members to 85 memberswith 12 founding members still active.We are a community choralgroup of accomplished auditionedamateur signers that delights audiencesin Alliston, Beeton, Bolton,Caledon, Orangeville, Shelburneand Tottenham. Under foundingDirector Dale A. Wood, the choirhas developed an extensive repertoirefrom classical to contemporarymusic. Highlights include toursto England, Holland and Ireland.Rehearsals: Wednesday eveningsin Hockley Village. Auditionsare held twice annually. This May,we celebrate our 25th Anniversarywith performances of Mozart'sMass in C Minor and have a reunionfor former members on May 9.Tom Jones, President905-880-2667 or 416-399-8616www.achill.caALEXANDER SINGERS ANDPLAYERSWe started in 1987 as a summerchoir and under the enthusiastic directionof Angela Hawaleshka haveevolved to enjoy near-professionalstatus. Indeed, many members havegone on to successful professionalcareers. Under a strong educationalmandate, members grow in theirability to sing a wide variety of musicalstyles, from Masses and opera,to spirituals, carols and Hebrewsongs. Our highly acclaimed springproductions have included MerryWidow, Die Fledermaus, Fiddler onthe Roof, Most Happy Fella andG&S operettas. Rehearsals start inSeptember for our December concerts.All are welcome to join ourFestival Choir.Angela Hawaleshka 416-324-1259hawaleshka@sympatico.cawww.alexandersingers.comAu THE K.ING's VOICESAll the King's Voices is a semi-professionalmixed-voice choir thatperforms a variety of music fromclassical to contemporary. Theyhave performed at Roy ThomsonHall, Glenn Gould Studio, TorontoCentre for the Performing Arts andM AY 2008Black Creek Pioneer Village, andwere featured on CBC Radio,JAZZFM and City TV. The choir haspresented several great classicalworks with Mooredale Orchestraand Talisker Players and for SymphonyOrchestra of Canada. Theyhave also performed with sopranoMeasha Brueggergosman, tenorBen Heppner and jazz singer SalomeBey. Their 2008-09 Season includes"Cathedral Carols", "Great Chorusesfrom Oratorios" and a" l 5th AnniversaryGala Cabaret".David J. King, Music Director416-225-2255king44@sympatico.cawww.allthekingsvoices.caAMADEUS CHOIRFounded 33 years ago, the AmadeusChoir is the JOO-voice, semiprofessionalchoir-in-residence atthe Toronto Centre for theArts. During Artistic DirectorLydiaAdams's 23 years as conductor,the Choir has become one ofCanada's preeminent choral groups.The Choir rehearses Tuesday eveningsin the Church of The Ascension,33 Overland Drive, DonMills. Membership is by audition,held in May/June each year. The2008/09 season features the Choir'sannual four-concert series featuringworks by Benjamin Britten,Howard Cable, Eleanor Daley, RuthWatson Henderson, Carl Orff andJohn Rutter, as well as J.S. Bach'smagnificent St. John Passion. TheChoir's season also includes singleperformances, run-outs and recordingsessions.amachoir@idirect.comwww.amadeuschoir.comANNEX SINGERS OF TORONTOThe Annex Singers of Toronto is avibrant community choir with areputation for performing an exciting,eclectic repertoire with spiritand sophistication. This 55-voicegroup has flourished under the abledirection and inventive programmingof Maria Case, conductor andcomposer. We present formal concertsin December and early spring,a light-hearted, themed cabaret atthe end of May, and we do communityappearances. Rehearsals areweekly, Mondays at 7:30 pm atSt. Thomas's Anglican Church Hall,383 Huron St., beginning the secondMonday in September. Newmembers with vocal experience arewelcome in September.Richard Partington 416-968-77 4 7Margaret.rice@sympatico.caAVANT! CHAMBER SINGERSThis new 30-voice auditioned ensemblerehearses and performs inthe heart of St. Catharines. Our focusis the classic chamber choir repertory,including both accompaniedand a cappella works, from theRenaissance to the present, and wealso explore the works of Niagaracomposers. Currently, we rehearseon Monday evenings from Septemberthrough May, and prepare twoprograms per season. The ensembleis under the direction of HarrisLoewen and accompanied by LesleyKingham.Dr. Harris Loewen 905-984-6625hloewen@brocku.caBACH CHILDREN'S CHORUS ANDBACH CHAMBER YouTH CHOIRBCC is an auditioned choir of 180singers, founded in 1987 by ArtisticDirector Linda Beaupre, an awardwinningToronto conductor and clinician.BCC has four choirs-threetreble choirs for ages 6---16 and anSATB choir for changed voices andgirls aged 16 and up. All choirs rehearseweekly in east Scarborough,perform as a Company-in-Residenceat the Toronto Centre for theArts, and appear regularly at Torontoevents. Each choir participates inweekend festivals, workshops andconcerts with other youth choirs andworld-renowned clinicians. BCChas released five solo CDs and haswon provincial and national choralawards.Jane Greenwood 416-431 -0790bachchildrenschorus@bellnet.cawww.bachorus.orgBACH ELGAR CHOIR OFHAMILTONThe Bach Elgar Choir is the leadingsymphonic choir in the Hamilton/Burlington region and the secondoldestchoral organization in Canada.The I 00-voice choir has performedmany premieres includingVerdi's Requiem, Henry Gorecki'sMiserere and Ruth Watson Henderson's The Magic of God's World.The choir presents a four-concertseason of classical and contemporaryrepertoire with orchestral accompanimentand outstanding Canadiansoloists. The 103-year-oldBach Elgar Choir is celebrating aWWW. THEWHOLENOTE.COMjoyful renaissance with its inspiringconductor, Howard Dyck, and looksforward to an exciting future.Debra Seeley 905-527-5995bachelgar@bellnet.cawww.bachelgar.comBACH FESTIVAL SINGERSA multi-generational ensemble ofaccomplished musicians dedicatedto choral singing as a source ofmusical inspiration, communitymakingand social action. With distinctiverepertoire conducted byArtistic Director Doreen Rao, theBach Festival Singers will serve asa chamber choir for the TorontoBach Festival under PrincipalGuest Conductor Helmuth Rilling,as a symphonic chorus for selectedperformances with the TSO (includingperfonnances during the fall2008 Toronto Bach Festival) andin concert collaborations at theUniversity of Toronto. Membershipis awarded by audition. RehearsalsMonday evenings at theFaculty of Music.Office of Choral Programs,Faculty of Music, U of T 416-978-0463choral.music@utoronto.caBELL'ARTE SINGERSThe Bell' Arte Singers enter their21 st season in 2008-2009, with newMusic Director Dr. Margot Rejskind.Dr. Rej skind serves on thefaculty of the Royal Conservatoryof Music in Toronto, where she isa member of the Choral and VoiceFaculties. Dr. Rejskind has directedchoirs of all types, in both theUS and Canada; currently she directsStouffville-based The Men ofNote and also serves as Choir Directorat Melvi lle PresbyterianChurch in West Hill. The Bell'ArteSingers' season will include concertsat Christ Church Deer Parkon November 29, 2008, February28, 2009 and May 2, 2009.www.bellartesingers.caBRAMPTON FESTIVAL YOUTH CHOIRFor singers between the ages of 4-8 and 8- 15. Under the direction ofArtistic Director Robert Hennig, weoffer Brampton youth diverse musicalexperiences in the context ofchoral excellence. Rehearsals: 6:30-8 pm Tuesdays, with performancesin Brampton and surrounding areas,singing music in many styles andgenres. Choristers receive instructionin basic music history, theory,WholeNote CANARY PAGES
