Blue PagestheWholeNote 2012/13 PRESENTER PROFILESaccompany the 1928 silent film classic, The Passionof Joan of Arc.Through our Sidgwick Scholars program,Orpheus provides invaluable opportunities foraspiring professional singers to gain experienceas soloists and section leaders.Orpheus is a vital and inclusive choralcommunity meeting Tuesday evenings at YorkminsterPark Baptist Church. Rehearsals are openand we welcome new singers.Robert Cooper, artistic directorGreg Rainville, associate conductorEdward Moroney, accompanistHelen Coxon, manager416-530-4428orpheuschoir@sympatico.cawww.orpheuschoirtoronto.com●●PAX CHRISTI CHORALEKnown for presenting rarely-heard choralmasterpieces, Pax Christi Chorale has a reputationfor passionate singing and performingdramatic masterworks with professional soloistsand orchestra. Their concerts bring peopletogether in a musical community withoutborders, in an artistic experience that deeplytouches performers and audiences alike.Under the artistic direction of Stephanie Martinsince 1997, the choir has performed ambitiousworks including Bach’s Mass in B minor, Handel’sIsrael in Egypt, Brahms’ Deutsches Requiemand, most recently, Elgar’s masterpiece The Kingdom,in Koerner Hall. In addition to their annualcommunity concert “The Children’s Messiah,”Pax Christi Chorale will present three concertsin 2012/13: Bach cantatas at Mirabilia (October),Rheinberger’s Der Stern von Bethlehem (December)and Handel’s powerful Solomon (April).The choir has a choral scholarship program,the Pax Christi Youth Choir, led by Jeff Newberry,and Pax Christi Chamber Choir. The choirrehearses on Monday nights in North York. Auditionsare held in May and August.Jennifer Collins, general managerjennifer.collins@paxchristichorale.orgDaniel Norman, assistantconductor and auditionsdaniel.norman@paxchristichorale.orgwww.paxchristichorale.org●●PENTHELIA SINGERSA vibrant ensemble of women, Penthelia Singersis committed to excellence in performing aculturally diverse and musically sophisticatedrepertoire spanning the Renaissance to the 21stcentury. Founded in 1997, the group is namedafter the ancient Egyptian priestess-musician,Penthelia. Entering its 16th season, the choir hasearned a reputation for presenting innovativeconcerts of four- to eight-part choral repertoirein a multitude of languages. Costumes, masks,inventive concert venues and unique programmingcreate an original and engaging concertexperience. The choir aims to demonstrate thediversity of choral music and to cross ethnic andcultural boundaries by reaching out to, and connectingwith, their community through music.Our major concerts for the 2012/13 seasonwill include “A Ceremony of Carols” (SundayDecember 9, 2012, 3pm) and “On Broadway” (SundayJune 9, 2013, 3pm). Penthelia Singers rehearseWednesdays from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at RosedalePresbyterian Church (129 Mt. Pleasant Rd.).Alice Malach, artistic director416-579-7464pentheliasingers@yahoo.cawww.penthelia.com●●PORT HOPE FRIENDS OF MUSICPort Hope Friends of Music is a non-profit, all-volunteerorganization dedicated to the promotionof classical music in Northumberland Countythrough the presentation of live performancesby internationally renowned artists, at affordableprices.Our 2011/12 season saw performances by ViaSalzburg, the Elmer Iseler Singers, SinfoniaToronto, Ang Li and Tafelmusik. This season (our38th) we will present the Toronto SymphonyOrchestra, Canadian Brass, Toronto Consort,TorQ Percussion Quartet, Duo Rendezvous,Suzie LeBlanc and the Stars of Tomorrow withIain Scott.All concerts are in Port Hope or Cobourgand a popular feature with our audiences isthe series of workshops, pre-concert chats andpost-concert receptions with the artists. TheFriends of Music audiences really get to knowthe performers.For all the details about our concert schedule,venues, artists, subscriptions and singleticket prices (–, free for children), visitour website.www.PortHopeFriendsofMusic.ca●●QUEEN OF PUDDINGS MUSIC THEATREFounded by musicians John Hess and Dáirine NíMheadhra, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre isdedicated to original Canadian opera creationand its aesthetic is a performer-based physicalsinging theatre.Spectacular company successes include BeatriceChancy by James Rolfe and George ElliottClarke, the first opera about Canadian slavery;The Midnight Court by Ana Sokolovic and PaulBentley (based on the famous Irish poem of thesame name), which went on tour to Covent Gardenin London; and Love Songs, a tour-de-forcefor solo female singer by Ana Sokolovic whichpremiered in 2008 and toured internationally.In June 2011 Queen of Puddings premieredAna Sokolovic’s electrifying new opera for sixfemale singers, SVADBA-WEDDING, to hugecritical acclaim. In February 2012, the companypremiered Beckett: Feck It!, in association withCanadian Stage, an invigorating evening ofmusic, theatre, and Irish madness that juxtaposesshorter plays of Samuel Beckett withcontemporary classical music from outstandingIrish composers inspired by his appreciationfor the absurd.SVADBA-WEDDING will be touring in Europeand Canada in 2012/13.Claire Speed, General Manager416-203-4149info@queenofpuddingsmusictheatre.comwww.queenofpuddingsmusictheatre.com●●REACHING OUT THROUGH MUSICThe St. James Town Children’s Choir has been providinga choral singing experience and its relatedsocial benefits to children aged 7 to 13 in Toronto’sethnically diverse community of St. JamesTown for over five years. The choir is directed byDeborah Griffin, a vocal music specialist whotaught for the Toronto District School Board for22 years. Deborah has directed award-winningchoirs and produced many children’s musicals.The St. James Town Children’s Choir is partof the Reaching Out Through Music organization,which also offers individual lessons invoice, piano, guitar, violin and recorder. ReachingOut Through Music believes in the powerof the musical experience for both its intrinsicbenefits and as a tool for fostering cooperationand a sense of identity.In the 2012/13 season, the St. James Town Children’sChoir will perform at concerts and presentthe musical play Compose Yourself.St. James Town Children’s ChoirSJTCC@bell.net.Reaching Out Through Musicinfo@reachingoutthroughmusic.orgwww.reachingoutthroughmusic.org●●ROSE THEATRE BRAMPTONThe Rose Theatre Brampton presents the 2012/13season! From intimate theatre to internationallyacclaimed stage spectacles, classical balletto stand-up comedy, concerts of all genres tofamily entertainment, there’s something tosuit all tastes. An eclectic blend of commercialand well-known acts complements a variety oflesser-known yet dynamic performances and thebright stars of tomorrow. Highlight performancesinclude Arlo Guthrie, Aszure Barton andArtists, the Midtown Men, Jane Bunnett, GeorgeCanyon, Mummenschanz, the Taj Mahal Trio,the Full Monty, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, VocaPeople, The Intergalactic Nemesis, RAIN, BoyzII Men, The Mikado and Pavlo. New this season,all the Studio Two jazz, comedy and theatreperformances in the intimate 120-capacity secondaryhall have been included in the regularsubscription offering. Subscribers can save upto 25% just by purchasing three or more shows!There are over 40 shows to choose from andparking is always free on show nights. For fullseason information and subscriptions, visit ourwebsite. Experience it live!Sasha Romasco,programmer, theatre marketing905-793-8490sasha.romasco@brampton.cawww.rosetheatre.ca● ● ROY THOMSON HALL2012/13 welcomes reigning virtuoso of the violin,Itzhak Perlman, when he takes the stageat Roy Thomson Hall for a solo recital, and theVienna Philharmonic Orchestra returns withconductor Franz Welser-Möst. Roy Thomson Hallpresents the second year of “Canadian Voices,” aseries of four vocal recitals at Glenn Gould Studiofeaturing the finest young singers our countryhas fostered (this season welcoming PhillipAddis, David Pomeroy, Wallis Giunta, and AllysonMcHardy). Roy Thomson Hall opens its doorsfor the 16th season of free “Noon Hour Choirand Organ Concerts” and National GeographicLive returns with a new season of outstandingpresentations from explorers, photographers,filmmakers and scientists. Other highlightsinclude Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, the Tenors,the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Barra MacNeils in“An East Coast Christmas” and Pink Martini with
the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The Corporationof Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall is aregistered charitable not-for-profit organization.Stephen McGrath416-593-4822 x318stephen.mcgrath@rth-mh.comBox Office: 416-872-4255www.roythomson.com●●ROYAL CANADIAN COLLEGEOF ORGANISTSAt the national level, the RCCO (Royal CanadianCollege of Organists) offers opportunities forprofessional certification, publishes the magazineOrgan Canada/Orgue Canada, publishes newcompositions for organ and/or choir and organizesannual conventions.RCCO Toronto is a community in the GTA forprofessional and amateur organists, churchand synagogue musicians, choral conductors,organ builders and others who value the “Kingof Instruments.”RCCO Toronto offers an extensive programof recitals, workshops, masterclasses and more.In 2012/13, we will be offering Organ Skills workshopsopen to anyone with keyboard skills andan interest in the organ. Our annual free Halloweenconcert, “Phantoms of the Organ,” willtake place October 26 at 10pm at MetropolitanUnited Church. During the March break, we willoffer an exciting event for children: “Pipes, Pedals,and Pizza!” Visiting performers will presentrecitals and workshops in November and May.For details on all events, please visit our website:www.rccotoronto.caElisa Mangina, president, 416-766-0320Hazel Ogilvie, membership secretary905-881-7266www.rccotoronto.ca●●ROYAL CONSERVATORYAt the Royal Conservatory, performance andlearning go hand-in-hand as entertainmentand education are integrated to provide enrichingexperiences.The Royal Conservatory, an internationalleader in music and arts education, plays acentral role in developing creative minds andcohesive communities through the translationof neuroscientific research into practical methodswhich meet the learning, health and socialdevelopment needs of Canadians. The RoyalConservatory offers a wide range of educationalprograms designed to meet the creative needsof Canadians at all levels of musical trainingand at all stages of their lives.Each concert season, the Royal Conservatoryassembles a wide array of artists, performing avariety of musical genres. There are more than 70classical, jazz, world music and pop concerts tochoose from! Experience performances by internationalartists in the magnificent new KoernerHall and by the internationally acclaimed facultyand gifted students in the intimate MazzoleniConcert Hall in historic Ihnatowycz Hall, bothlocated in the TELUS Centre for Performanceand Learning.Listen, experience and learn — we are sure youwill be inspired!Box Office: 416-408-0208www.rcmusic.caORPHEUS CHOIR●●SCARAMELLAFrom its beginnings in 2005, Scaramella’s focushas been one of innovation and revitalization,which distinguishes it from other early musicensembles in Canada and abroad, and its periodinstrument chamber music presentationsare staged in a way that surprises and delights.For 2012/13, Scaramella’s over-arching themeis one of technology and innovation. The firstprogram centres on music in which composersrequired their players to find new techniquesin order to depict or imitate specific animals.The second showcases cutting edge technologyin the form of four spectacular antique viols(made by master English luthiers of the 16thand 17th centuries). And the final performanceis Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 cinematic masterpiece,The Passion of Joan of Arc, accompanied bya newly composed score performed by electricviolone and amplified viola da gamba.Tickets available at the door, or for advancepurchase by downloading the order form fromthe website.December 1, 2012: “Lions and Tigers and Bears,Oh My!”February 9, 2013: “Hartes Ease.”April 4, 2013: “The Passion of Joan of Arc.”Joëlle Morton, artistic director416-760-8610info@scaramella.cawww.scaramella.ca●●SCARBOROUGH CONCERT BANDFounded in 1972 by Paul Dunn and DavidBourque, we are a community based group thatperforms several concerts yearly. Venues this seasoninclude St. Dunstan of Canterbury AnglicanChurch, Scarborough Bluffs United Church, PortUnion Community Centre, Scarborough CivicCentre and seniors’ residences in Scarborough.We are not professional musicians but ratheran eclectic, growing membership (up to 45) ofall ages and genders, brought together by ourlove of music.If you’re seeking a group of musicians to playwith regularly, you’ll find the band a satisfyingexperience. Fees are 0 per year. The ensemblecurrently has openings for trumpet, Frenchhorn, tuba, tenor sax and baritone.Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings, Septemberto July, at Winston Churchill Collegiate inScarborough. Conductor Denis Mastromonacohas made a significant contribution to theband, and our future looks very bright! The SCBbrings quality music while maintaining the communityband tradition. Repertoire includes lightclassical, marches, movie favourites and contemporarypieces.A registered charity, SCB is a member of theCanadian Band Association and acknowledgesthe support of the Trillium Foundation.Brian Rose, president905-683-9867info@scband.cawww.scband.ca●●SCARBOROUGH PHILHARMONICORCHESTRANow in its 33rd season, the ScarboroughPhilharmonic Orchestra continues to offerinnovative programming at affordable prices.A high-quality community and training orchestrawith a professional core, we present oldfavourites and hidden gems of the traditionalrepertoire alongside engaging new works byCanadian composers.The Scarborough Philharmonic is led by musicdirector Ronald Royer, who will be joined on thepodium by guest conductors Howard Cable, GeoffreyButler and Sheldon Bair. Our concerts willshowcase the 120-voice Toronto Choral Society,the intimate North 44° Ensemble choir, five emergingsoloists from our Young Artist MentoringProgram, pianist David McCartney and fatherand-sontrumpeters Barton and Steven Woomert.Our 2012/13 season features two concertsfor full orchestra (“Trumpets to the Fore!” onOctober 13 and “Romantic Masters” on May 11),two for orchestra with guest choir (“FestiveMusic from Around the World” on December 1and “Last Night at the Proms” on April 6), and twochamber concerts (“Warm Sounds for a Winter’sEve” on February 23 and “Rising Stars” on May 25).416-429-0007spo@spo.cawww.spo.catheWholeNote 2012/13 PRESENTER PROFILES
