Blue PagestheWholeNote 2011-2012 PRESENTER PROFILESdancer Adwoa Badoe and Celtic musicians LorettoReid and Sharlene Wallace.We were broadcast on CBC Radio’s Vinyl Café inJanuary, 2009.On Saturday December 3, 7:30pm, at EastminsterUnited Church, our 25th Anniversary concert willfeature our first commissioned work (by StephenHatfield) as well as several other Canadian selections.Guests will include: EYC founder StephaniePiercey-Beames, soprano; Les Allt, flute/tin whistle;Ray Dillard, percussion and Charlie Roby, guitar. Wewill be featuring Paul Winter’s Missa Gaia in June, 2012.We rehearse Monday evenings at EastminsterUnited Church (Chester subway).Jenny Crober, artistic director andconductor416-463-8225www.eastyorkchoir.ca●●EGLINTON ST. GEORGE’SUNITED CHURCHThe choir of Eglinton St. George’s United Church is amixed-voice ensemble of 50, with eight professionalsingers. It anchors a music programme of high qualityand exuberant eclecticism.The choir prepares wide-ranging, beautiful musicfor weekly Sunday worship (10:30am) and enrichesthe programme through events such as “Lessons andCarols for Advent” (November 28) and “Lessons andCarols for Christmas” (December 18). Our programmealso includes larger masterpieces such as a singalongMessiah with the Trillium Brass and Britten’sCeremony of Carols with harp. We enjoy “A Jazz Lent,”on Sundays, February 26 to April 1, featuring someof Canada’s greatest jazz artists. One of our supportersremarked, “I simply have to show up to find outwhat delight you have prepared this time!”Our ministry is characterized by hard work, a joyfulspirit and excellence. We always extend a warmwelcome to new members.Fred Graham, interim music director416-481-1141 x340fred@esgunited.orgwww.esgunited.org●●ELMER ISELER SINGERSThe memorable 20-voice Elmer Iseler Singers, ledby artistic director and conductor Lydia Adams, entersits 33rd season in 2011/12. This fully-professionalchoral ensemble has built an enviable reputationthrough concerts, broadcasts and recordings throughoutCanada, the United States and internationally, performingrepertoire that spans 500 years with a specialfocus on Canadian composers.Touring is a major component of the Elmer IselerSingers’ activities. In addition, they self-present afive-concert Toronto series and are featured frequentlyat various concerts, workshops, symposiumsand festivals.Annual auditions are held each April or May. Theinnovative GET MUSIC! Outreach and LeadershipInitiative for secondary school students, communitychoirs and conductors provides workshops andaudio/video recording mentorship culminating inshared performances.The international launch on the ECM Record Labelof Peter A. Togni’s Lamentations of Jeremiah, featuringbass clarinet virtuoso Jeff Reilly, represents a significantmade-in-Canada work on the ECM Record label.The biography Elmer Iseler: Choral Visionary by WalterPitman (Dundurn Press, 2008) continues to be an artsin Canada bestseller.Lydia Adams, conductor and artistic directorJessie Iseler, general manager416-217-0537info@elmeriselersingers.comwww.elmeriselersingers.com●●ELORA FESTIVAL SINGERSThe Elora Festival Singers (EFS), a Grammy- andJUNO-nominated chamber choir, was founded in1980 by Noel Edison as principal choral ensemble ofthe Elora Festival. In 1992, the Elora Festival Singerswas incorporated as a separate organization to manageits year-round activities. Since 1997, the choir hasbeen the core of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir andthe Toronto Mendelssohn Singers and is the choralensemble-in-residence of the Elora Festival. Throughregular concerts and recordings, EFS has establisheda reputation as one of the finest chamber choirs inCanada and beyond, contributing to the musical lifeof the community and reaching an international stage.With 12 releases on the Naxos label, the EFS isknown for its rich, warm sound and clarity of texture.The choir is renowned for its diverse styles, forits commitment to Canadian repertoire and for its collaborationswith other Canadian artists.Auditions for the Elora Festival Singers are heldeach January.519-846-0331; 1-888-747-7550auditions@elorafestival.comwww.elorafestival.com●●ENSEMBLE VIVANTFounded by pianist Catherine Wilson, EnsembleVivant, “Canada’s Chamber Music Treasure” (TorontoStar), has dazzled audiences world wide with imaginative,innovative, unique, genre diverse programming,both in concert and on their many recordings,since the group’s inception in the 1980s. A pioneeramong piano trios, Ensemble Vivant has garnered accoladesinternationally from critics, peers and audiencesfrom the classical and jazz worlds. Their 2011recording, Homage to Astor Piazzolla (Opening Day), featuresbrilliant arrangements written for EnsembleVivant by Piazzolla expert Julien Labro and jazz greatRick Wilkins. Often expanding from a trio to a quartetor larger, the musicians of Ensemble Vivant are ofthe highest calibre.Rave reviews for Homage to Astor Piazzolla:“… a truly beautiful CD.” — Don Thompson.“… wonderful playing …” — Rick Wilkins.“… these musicians capture the passion as well as theverve … Wilson’s piano gives this music unerring driveand plenty of sparkle.” — John Terauds, Toronto Star.“To my heart, your rendition of Oblivion is the mosttouching I have ever heard: Bravo!” — Francois Pare,Radio-Classique, Montreal.Catherine Wilson416-465-8856cwpianist@me.comwww.ensemblevivant.com●●ESPRIT ORCHESTRAThe Esprit Orchestra is Canada’s only full-sized orchestradevoted exclusively to performing, promotingand commissioning contemporary classical music.Founded by music director and celebrated conductorAlex Pauk, Esprit is now in its 29th season. Withinnovative programming, Esprit aims to stimulate,enlighten and engage music lovers of all ages. Espritalso gives audience members a rare opportunity toexplore the best contemporary orchestral music andthe newest Canadian talent. Esprit takes the stage atKoerner Hall in the Royal Conservatory for the entire2011/12 season — an inspired and acoustically superbsetting for experiencing an Esprit performance.Among Esprit’s activities are the Creative Sparksoutreach project, Toward a Living Art EducationProgramme and national and international touring.Esprit has been the recipient of three LieutenantGovernor’s Arts Awards, the Jean A. ChalmersNational Music Award, the Vida Peene Awardand the SOCAN Award for Imaginative OrchestralProgramming. Esprit’s annual New Wave ComposersFestival celebrates young Canadian artists, providinga platform to connect composers and performerswith new audiences.Alex Pauk, music director and conductorElena Koneva, operations manager416-815-7887info@espritorchestra.comwww.espritorchestra.com●●ETOBICOKE CENTENNIAL CHOIRFounded in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s centennial,the Etobicoke Centennial Choir (ECC) has a proudtradition of choral excellence. Under the leadershipof Henry Renglich, the choir enjoys innovative programmingand collaboration with other arts groups.A three-concert season includes both classical andcontemporary repertoire.Our season begins on December 3 with “ChristmasTraditions,” a classic Christmas celebration featuringMessiah excerpts and Christmas carols. The ECC thenhosts a Messiah Sing-Along on December 11.An open rehearsal featuring a Mozart Requiem “Singa-thon”will be held on January 28, 2012, in anticipationof a March 31 performance of the Mozart Requiemand Poulenc Gloria.On June 2, “Comedy Tonight” will take on a lightertone as the choir playfully explores music with asense of humour!Weekly rehearsals are held Tuesdays from 7:30pmto 10pm at Humber Valley United Church, Etobicoke.Interested singers are invited to attend a rehearsal.Membership is by audition.Henry Renglich, music directorLindsay Dodge, choir president416-779-2258info@etobicokecentennialchoir.cawww.etobicokecentennialchoir.ca●●ETOBICOKE COMMUNITYCONCERT BANDBuilding on its many years of scintillating performancesin the communities of Toronto West, theEtobicoke Community Concert Band thrills audienceswith its programming, magnificent sound andimpressive range of community service. Committedto an intense and varied performance calendar, theECCB cultivates a raft of outstanding Canadian talentthrough its four-part Concert Hall SubscriptionSeries, presents a popular “al fresco” series of summerprogrammes and raises the roof on big band repertoirewith its spin-off ensemble, the Etobicoke SwingOrchestra. For 2011/12, the ECCB and music directorJohn Edward Liddle continue with fresh new programming:a jazz tour, “From Rags to Rich’s,” fromragtime roots through smiling Dixieland to the richsound of swing; “You Better Watch Out!” for the bestof nice, never naughty, for the holidays; “To Infinityand Beyond”; and the driving beat and close harmoniesof “Motown Madness.” The concert band and bigband will also lend great music to several charitableevents throughout the season, plus many intimateperformances by the band’s jazz combo, brass quintetand the Etobicoke Wind Quintet.Rob Hunter, presidentJohn Edward Liddle, music director416-410-1570info@eccb.cawww.eccb.ca● ● ETOBICOKE PHILHARMONICORCHESTRAThe Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra welcomesyou to their 51st season of live classical music in thecommunity. This season our 50+ piece orchestra willpresent six symphonic concerts under the direction
of Sabatino Vacca. Our musicians include professionalsand high calibre adult and student communitymusicians.Our programs this season offer you world renownedsoloists, a mass choir for our special concert“In Rembrance,” pre-concert chats and our everpopular Christmas Concert and Silent Auction. Majorsymphonic works, overtures and concertos are featuredat each concert, including the Verdi Messe daRequiem, Brahms Piano Concerto No.1, Elgar Cello Concerto,Beethoven “Eroica” Symphony, Debussy Prelude and, atour culminating performance in June 2012, the BerliozSymphonie Fantastique.Advanced players interested in joining us are welcometo apply for membership in the EPO. Contactour personnel manager.Young string players may be interested in theEtobicoke Youth Strings, which provides opportunitiesfor young string players to perform as an ensembleand individually. Visit our web site for programdetails. See you at the symphony!Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestrageneral information416-239-5665; info@eporchestra.caJudy Gargaro, personnel manager416-232-2275; jgargaro@quickemail.comwww.eporchestra.caEtobicoke Youth StringsShari Lundy, music director416-239-0523; eys@eporchestra.ca;shari.lundy@gmail.com●●EXULTATE CHAMBER SINGERSOver a 31 year history, the Exultate Chamber Singershas garnered praise from all quarters for sensitive,precise and seamless performances. The choir was establishedin 1981 by conductor John Tuttle and is enrichednot only by the excellent musicianship of itsmembers but also by their varied academic and professionalbackgrounds. Together, they form a passionate,committed ensemble with a wide-ranging repertoirewhich was awarded the Healey Willan Grand Prizefor a third time at the 2004 CBC Competition forAmateur Choirs. Exultate’s fourth CD, All Around theCircle, features folk songs from across Canada and waslaunched at the first performance of Exultate’s 25thanniversary season in October 2005. Exultate presentsa four-concert subscription series in Torontoand makes guest appearances in various Ontario communities.Auditions are held as required to fill vacanciesin the fixed-membership group.This season will be the first with Karen Gryllsas conductor.Karen Grylls, conductorElana Harte, operations manager416-971-9229exultate@exultate.netwww.exultate.net●●GALLERY PLAYERS OF NIAGARAThe Gallery Players of Niagara has been presentingclassical chamber concerts in the Niagara Regionfor 17 years. We are a pool of 15 performers and eachseason invite guests to join us. We perform on bothperiod and modern instruments and to date have producedand recorded three CDs. The first was StringQuartets Op.1 by Joseph Leopold Eybler (1765-1846). Thesecond, Canadian Oboe Quartets, features four worksfor oboe and string trio, all commissioned by theGallery Players, and the third CD features the EyblerQuartet with guest clarinetist Jane Booth. Each seasonfrom September to May we perform six concerts inNiagara. These concerts are often repeated in Torontoand Southern Ontario.This season’s performers include Margaret Gay(cello), Aisslinn Nosky (violin), Julie Wedman (violin),GALLERY PLAYERS OF NIAGARA, EYBLER QUARTETPatrick Jordan (viola), Douglas Miller (flute), DavidLouie (piano), Karin Di Bella (piano), Julie Baumgartel(violin), Deborah Braun (harp), Guy Bannerman (narrator),David Braun (violin), Eric Mahar (guitar),Penner MacKay (percussion), Christie Goodwin(oboe), Zoltan Kalman (clarinet), Timothy Lockwood(French horn) and Christian Sharpe (bassoon).905-468-1525www.galleryplayers.ca●●GEORGETOWN BACH CHORALESince its inception in 2000, the Georgetown BachChorale has been enthralling audiences in the HaltonHills area with outstanding choral concerts. TheChorale consists of approximately 20 singers devotedlargely to the performance of baroque music. Weare committed to musical excellence and are recognizedby many acclaimed musicians as a very discerninggroup with outstanding and authentic sound.In October the Chorale again departs from its usualstyle to offer a jazz/pop concert accompanied by abeautifully prepared and served multi-course dinner.November brings four performances of Handel’sMessiah for which the Chorale is now well known.Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without house concertsoffering delicious food, opulent decorationsand, of course, historic seasonal music and readings.Winter and spring bring a piano recital accompaniedby warm and hearty soups, an a cappella presentationat the Croatian Centre and Mozart’s Requiemto cap the season for our second appearance at thenew Holy Cross Church.We look forward to sharing with you our wonderfulseason of music.Ron Greidanus905-873-9909ronaldgreidanus@hotmail.comwww.georgetownbachchorale.com●●GLIONNA MANSELL CORPORATIONGlionna Mansell Corporation is a music marketingagency, supporter of emerging artistic talent, concertproducer (ORGANIX) and the exclusive Ontariodealer of world famous Allen digital and digital-pipeorgans. With close to 100,000 installations worldwide,Allen organs have become the most respectedand recognized brand in the organ building industry.Whether in a concert hall, school or church, thereis only one instrument able to produce a sound aselemental, eternal and exuberant as the celebrationit accompanies, and that is the magnificent organ, the“King of Instruments.” The majestic sound of organmusic is a sound that sweeps through the audienceor congregation in a wave of symphonic power. It isa sound that is felt right down through the soles ofthe feet and into the depths of the heart. It is a soundthat equals the spirit of worship, the excitement ofthe celebration and the intensity of emotion. It is thesound of an Allen organ.Gordon Mansell, president and artistic director.416-769-5224, 1-877-769-5224www.glionnamansell.com●●GRACE CHURCH ON-THE-HILLThere is no sound like the soaring tone oftrebles — boys and girls — trained in the British cathedraltradition and singing in the superb acousticsof Grace Church. The Choir of Gentlemen and Boysand the St. Cecilia Choir of Women and Girls sing thebest of British and Canadian repertoire each week inservice, in annual concerts and on tour. Girls andboys are accepted upon voice check when they readEnglish well, usually ages seven and up. Prior musicaltraining is an asset but not required for boys andgirls. Adults must read music. We have no upper agelimit and no membership fee (we actually give thekids choir pay!) — just a love of sacred music and areal commitment to strive for excellence.416-488-7884 x117gracemusic@gracechurchonthehill.cawww.gracechurchonthehill.ca● ● GRAND PHILHARMONIC CHOIRThe Grand Philharmonic Choir, with more than 100singers, is one of Canada’s most well-known and admiredlarge choirs, with a long history of presentingbeloved classics and innovative works to its audience.Founded in 1922, the choir grew from the strongGerman and Mennonite tradition of choral music inthis community. The GPC regularly presents its ownseason at Kitchener’s Centre in the Square to criticalacclaim. Last season, the choir was heard by morethan 10,000 audience members.2011/12 is the second season with artistic directorMark Vuorinen. Vuorinen continues the GPC’s traditionof superb choral music with a mix of belovedclassics and new masterworks. The holiday favouriteHandel’s Messiah, the ever powerful Brahms Requiemand Bach’s St. Matthew Passion will be among the piecesperformed in the upcoming season. Don’t miss a singleconcert!519-578-6885theWholeNote 2011-2012 PRESENTER PROFILES
