Blue PagestheWholeNote 2012/13 PRESENTER PROFILESon January 13, 2013. Vesnivka will join DudarykToronto Boys Choir on March 23, 2013, for a concertof Lenten music, including Pergolesi’sStabat Mater. Vesnivka ends its concert seasonon April 14, 2013, with a concert featuring themusic of Mykola Lysenko, the “Father of UkrainianMusic.” Vesnivka also sings at Christmas andEaster Liturgies on January 7, 2013, and May 5,2013, at Toronto’s St. Nicholas Ukrainian CatholicChurch.Halyna Kvitka Kondracki, artistic directorNykola Parzei, administrator416-763-2197nykola@vesnivka.comwww.vesnivka.com●●VIA SALZBURGInternationally acclaimed violinist MayumiSeiler directs and leads the Via Salzburg ChamberEnsemble in presenting a rich and diverseseries of performances which explore bothclassical traditions and exciting new works byCanadian composers. With an emphasis on repertoirefor strings, Via Salzburg combines someof Toronto’s top professional musicians and finestemerging talent into a group that plays toconsistent critical acclaim. The addition of prestigiousmusicians from diverse genres of worldmusic and an imaginative blending of art formsensures that the Via Salzburg concert experienceis unparalleled.Via Salzburg returns to the very heart ofthe chamber music experience by embracingthe intimate space at our beautiful venue, theRosedale United Church. Now in its 14th season,Via Salzburg continues to transport the audiencein exciting directions as the music movesfrom Vienna to China and on to the sultry heatof Argentina.Subscriptions and single tickets to our fiveconcerts available are through our website. Singletickets: –; subscriptions: 0–5.416-972-9193info@viasalzburg.comwww.viasalzburg.com●●VICTORIA SCHOLARSThe namesake of the Victoria Scholars, TomásLuis de Victoria, was an outstanding renaissancecomposer whose music is renowned for its spiritualityand emotional expressiveness. The VictoriaScholars bring the clarity and balance of soundso characteristic of renaissance music to all theirrepertoire, encompassing medieval plainchantand works from the baroque, classical, romanticand contemporary eras as well as newly-commissionedworks.Past winners of the Healey Willan Grand Prizein the CBC Radio National Competition for AmateurChoirs, the Victoria Scholars have performedwith many exceptional arts organizations(including the Toronto Symphony Orchestraand the Kiev Chamber Choir) and vocal soloists(including Michael Schade, Russell Braun,Sondra Radvanovsky and Norine Burgess). Theyhave toured nationally and internationally, havethree widely acclaimed recordings and are heardregularly on CBC Radio 2 and Classical 96.3 FM.The 2012/13 concert series includes “WelcomeYule” (December 21 and 23), “The FrenchConnection” (March 3) and “Bach, Beethoven,Brahms ... and the Boys” (June 2).We welcome interested singers at our auditionsevery September and January.Jerzy Cichocki, music director416-761-7776info@victoriascholars.cawww.victoriascholars.ca●●VILLAGE VOICESVillage Voices is a non-profit, adult mixed-voicecommunity choir of over 70 voices, now in its24th season. Under the direction of Joan Andrews,the choir provides fellowship for its membersand produces a high standard of achievementin all types and eras of choral music: classical,sacred and secular. Rehearsals are on Wednesdaynights in Unionville.Village Voices raises its artistic level andexpands its repertoire through vocal workshopsand by including professional guest soloists andinstrumentalists. The choir performs at variousvenues in Markham and the surrounding area.It continues to honour its mandate to the communityby entertaining at local retirement andgroup homes.Village Voices will perform their Christmasconcert, “Gloria,” on December 1 and Handel’sMessiah on December 15 as guests of the KindredSpirits Orchestra. The spring concert on May 4will celebrate Celtic traditions.Joan Andrews, conductor andartistic directorRobert Graham, accompanistMarg Clark, membership information905-472-6435marg.clarke39@yahoo.ca●●VISUAL & PERFORMINGARTS NEWMARKETVisual and Performing Arts Newmarket wasorganized in 1988 with the aim of bringingtogether arts lovers and campaigning for aperforming arts facility. In 1997, VPAN was ableto take advantage of a new state-of-the-art theatrein Newmarket and created “Three For TheShow,” a three concert series of classical musicon Sunday afternoons during the winter months.Most recent artists appearing include JaninaFialkowska, the Gryphon Trio, Joel Quarrington,Rivka Golani, Andre Laplante, Quartetto Gelato,Toronto Children’s Chorus, Elmer Iseler Singers,Bach Children’s Chorus and Mary Lou Fallis.12 years ago, VPAN added a popular fourth concert,“Young Artists’ Showcase.” In 2012/13 VPANcelebrates its 16th season with the PendereckiString Quartet on November 11, 2012, BernadeneBlaha and Kevin Fitz-Gerald (piano duo) onMarch 3, 2013, and the Grand Philharmonic Choirwith TorQ Percussion Quartet on April 28, 2013.Concerts take place Sundays at 2pm at thefully accessible Newmarket Theatre, 505 PickeringCres., with ample free parking. Subscriptionsare (adults), (seniors) and (students).Box Office: 905-953-5122www.newmarkettheatre.caJudy Craig905-895-8713; art_judycraig@rogers.comwww.vpan.ca●●VIVA! YOUTH SINGERS OF TORONTOLeading innovators in choral education, VIVA!Youth Singers of Toronto is a vibrant choralorganization for children and youth aged 4 to25. 2012/13 marks VIVA!’s 13th season as a downtown,non-profit group of choirs whose missionis to provide children and youth with artisticallyexcellent musical opportunities in a supportive,inclusive environment. Founded by Carol WoodwardRatzlaff in response to widespread cuts toschool arts programs, VIVA!’s diverse programmingfeatures age-appropriate choral trainingthrough weekly instruction in vocal technique,regular private vocal instruction and comprehensivetheory. Through a valuable mentoringprogram, young singers learn from universityand high school students. VIVA!’s unique InclusionProgram provides specialized support foryouth with disabilities in all choirs. Our 2012/13season includes performances of Benjamin Britten’schildren’s opera Noye’s Fludde (November 22to 25), performances with the National Balletof Canada’s Nutcracker throughout December,“Carols by Candlelight” at Trinity-St. Paul’s onDecember 16, a rollicking animal-themed concerton January 26, our annual Gala Event in Apriland, finally, Canadian composer Dean Burry’sopera A Medieval Bestiary on June 2.416-788-8482www.vivayouthsingers.com●●VOCA CHORUSThe VOCA Chorus of Toronto (formerly The EastYork Choir), founded in 1986, is a mixed-voice,auditioned ensemble performing eclecticrepertoire, including several premiers ofarrangements by our artistic director, JennyCrober, in collaboration with other artists. Ourseason consists of two concerts and performancesat benefits and community events. Ourvery talented, versatile accompanist is ElizabethAcker.VOCA guest artists have included some ofCanada’s finest performers: Talisker Playersorchestra; Latin band Cassava; guitarists MichaelOcchipinti, Charlie Roby; bassists Rob Clutton,Louis Simão; singers Jennie Such, Alexander Dobson;percussionists Ray Dillard, Nick Coulter,Andy Morris, Larry Graves, Fulé Badoe; storyteller/dancerAdwoa Badoe; Celtic musiciansLoretto Reid, Sharlene Wallace, Rose Bolton. Wewere broadcast on CBC Radio’s Vinyl Café in January,2009.Our concert on Saturday, December 15, 7:30pm(Eastminster United Church) will include selectionsby Tallis, Lauridsen, Hatfield, Whitacre,Fjellheim, and the haunting Frobisher Bay byGuelph singer/songwriter James Gordon. Guests:Mary-Elizabeth Brown, violin; Daniel Rubinoff,soprano saxophone; Ray Dillard, percussion;Charlie Roby, guitar.We rehearse Monday evenings at EastminsterUnited Church (Chester subway).Jenny Crober, artistic director:416-463-8225www.vocachorus.ca;www.vocachorus.ca/contact● ● VOICEBOXVoicebox — Opera in Concert is a Canadiancompany dedicated to Canadian artists andinnovative programming. Defying traditionaloperatic presentation, our performances relyonly on the power and beauty of the humanvoice accompanied by orchestra or piano.Rossini’s Armida opens the 39th season onNovember 25. Expect vocal fireworks from singers
Raphaelle Paquette, Edgar Ermesto Ramirez,Michael Ciufo and Christopher Mayell, with pianist/directorMichael Rose. The season continuesFebruary 3 with Handel’s Orlando, featuringCanadian countertenor David Trudgen in thetitle role, with Kevin Mallon, the Aradia Ensembleand Virginia Hatfield. Join us February 13 forthe “Alumni Bash,” a celebration of Opera in Concert’smost notable alumni, in the ChampagneBallroom at Novotel. Special guests include IsabelBayradkarian, Ben Heppner, Jean Stilwell andRichard Margison. The season closes March 24with Massenet’s Thaïs. Laura Whalen and JamesWestman star in this erotic tale of sensualityand obsession. Pianist Raisa Nakhmanovich ismusic directorRobert Cooper leads OIC’s renowned chorus,and Iain Scott hosts the pre-show chat “TheBackgrounder.” Performances are held at theSt. Lawrence Centre.Guillermo Silva-Marin, general director416-922-2147Box Office: 416-366-7723; 1-800-708-6754guillermo@operainconcert.comwww.operainconcert.com●●WINDERMERE STRING QUARTETThe Windermere String Quartet was formedin the spring of 2005 to perform the music ofMozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and theircontemporaries on period instruments. TheQuartet is known for its dynamic performancesand distinctive approach to well-known andrarely-heard repertoire as well as its regular commissionsof new works. The Windermere StringQuartet’s concert series takes place in the warmacoustic and intimate atmosphere of St. Olave’sAnglican Church in Toronto’s west end and concertsfrom the series have been recorded forbroadcast by CBC Radio.The quartet’s first CD, The Golden Age of StringQuartets, was released in the 2011/12 season tocritical acclaim. In addition to its own concertseries, the quartet has also performed at theToronto Music Garden, Nuit Blanche, MusicallySpeaking, Stratford Chamber Music, theLake MacDonald Music Centre and Music at PortMilford, and is regularly appointed as Quartetin-Residenceat summer festivals.416-769-0952info@windermerestringquartet.comwww.windermerestringquartet.com●●WOMEN’S MUSICAL CLUB OF TORONTOThrough its “Music in the Afternoon” concertseries, the 115-year-old Women’s Musical Clubof Toronto presents chamber music concertsfeaturing musicians on the threshold of internationalrecognition as well as established artistsand ensembles.Concerts are held Thursday afternoons,1:30pm, at Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building,80 Queens Park, with the 115th anniversaryconcert to take place May 2, 2013, at Koerner Hall,TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, 273Bloor St. W. (1:30pm).Artists for the 115th anniversary season(2012/13) are: Paul Lewis, piano, in his Torontodebut (Thursday October18); Duo Concertante(Thursday November 29); the Duke Piano Trio(Thursday February 14); Tippett Quartet intheir Canadian debut (Thursday March 28); andWINDERMERE STRING QUARTETviolinist James Ehnes, baritone Russell Braun andpianist Carolyn Maule at Koerner Hall with thepremiere of a new work by John Estacio, commissionedby WMCT.Member/subscriber benefits include “TuningYour Mind,” a free pre-concert lecture series presentedin partnership with the Faculty of Music,University of Toronto, on a topic related to theday’s concert.Susan Corrigan, arts administrator416-923-7052wmct@wmct.on.cawww.wmct.on.ca●●WYCHWOOD CLARINET CHOIRThe Wychwood Clarinet Choir is the creation ofMichele Jacot, a professional musician, teacherand clarinet specialist. The members of the choirinclude some of Michele’s students, advancedmusicians and other professionals who share alove of music making, friendship and fun. Thegroup rehearses weekly and performs on a regularbasis in Toronto’s St. Clair and Wychwood area.The choir is a place for clarinet players of allages and stages to play musically together, providingthe opportunity for each player to playany part, as well as extending general musicalknowledge and clarinet technique. We embracethe ideal of “music for life” and are committed tosharing our musical experience in educationalsettings and in the wider community.The choir encourages advanced high schoolstudents to perform with us on a regular basis,where they can benefit from the mentoring andmusical experience of the older performers. Currently,the ages of WCC members range from 16to 91 years old!wychwoodclarinetchoir@yahoo.cawww.wychwoodclarinetchoir.cawww.michelejacot.com●●YORK UNIVERSITYDEPARTMENT OF MUSICYork University’s Department of Music showcasesits resident talent in more than 100 publicevents each season. An annual highlight is theFaculty Concert Series, this year spotlightingjazz bassist Al Henderson, percussionist TrichySankaran, pianist Dorothy de Val and jazz drummerBarry Elmes. Classical chamber concerts andperformances by the York U Concert and ChamberChoirs are offered alongside cutting-edgeelectroacoustic explorations and original worksby student composers. The annual world musicfestival celebrates diverse global traditions, fromCaribbean and Middle Eastern music to WestAfrican drums, flamenco guitar and Chineseorchestra. Each term concludes with performancesby the York U Symphony Orchestra, GospelChoir and Wind Symphony, and a four-day jazzfestival featuring small ensembles, jazz choirsand jazz orchestra. Professional masterclassesare open to observers.The Music at Midday series offers free lunchtimeperformances, often featuring guest artists.Other concerts are held on weekday eveningsand occasional weekends. Performances takeplace in the Tribute Communities Recital Hallor the informal setting of the Martin FamilyLounge in the Accolade East Building at York’sKeele campus.Dr. Louise Wrazen, chairWilliam Thomas, associate chairMichael Coghlan,graduate program directorJudy Karacs,events and promotions coordinatormusicprg@yorku.ca416-736-5186Box Office: 416-736-5888www.yorku.ca/perform/boxofficewww.yorku.ca/finearts/musicUpdated online atthewholenote.comtheWholeNote 2012/13 PRESENTER PROFILES
