Volume 21 Issue 2 - October 2015

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BLUE PAGES 2015/16 organs in the world and chose it for several important Bach and Pre-Bach DECCA recordings. Gordon Mansell, president and artistic director 416-769-5224 1-877-769-5224 gdmansell@sympatico.ca glionnamansell.com ● Grace Church on-the-Hill There is no sound like the soaring tone of trebles, boys and girls, trained in the English cathedral tradition and singing in the superb acoustics of Grace Church on-the-Hill. The Choir of Gentlemen and Boys and the St. Cecilia Choir of Women and Girls sing the best choral repertoire (15th to 21st century) each week in worship, in concerts and on tour. Girls and boys aged five and up are welcome to participate. Prior musical training is not required for children. Scholarships and subsidies are available to promising students. There is no membership fee and children receive a small stipend for singing. Interested adult choir members should contact the directors of music. We look forward to hearing from you! Stephen Frketic, organist and choirmaster Sarah Hicks, conductor, St. Cecilia Women’s Choir music@gracechurchonthehill.ca gracechurchonthehill.ca ● Grand Philharmonic Choir The Grand Philharmonic Choir, based in Kitchener, Ontario, includes four choirs in one organization: an adult choir, a chamber adult choir, a youth choir and a children’s choir. We perform in large concert halls with audiences of more than 1,500 people, at free public gatherings and in small, intimate settings. Under the direction of Mark Vuorinen, it is our mandate to present choral repertoire of the highest standard, to share our love of music with the public through varied outreach programs and to provide music education to our members and enlightenment to our audiences. We are one of a few large choirs in Canada, outside the major metropolitan areas, with the resources and community support to deliver a full choral season with professional musicians. Mark Vuorinen, artistic director 519-578-6885 info@grandphilchoir.com grandphilchoir.com ● Grand River Chorus The Grand River Chorus of Brantford is a mixed voice concert choir presenting an annual fourconcert series of classical choral music, occasionally singing at community events and performing with other groups. It is a registered non-profit corporation supported through donations. The Grand Fête du Vin, an evening of wine and food, is the annual main fundraising event. Robert W. Phillips founded the chorus in 1999, envisioning one that would offer the community the major choral works of the great masters. Since then the choir has performed works by Handel, Bach, Haydn, Brahms, and Mendelssohn, as well as the music of more contemporary composers and other local composers. The Grand River Chorus produced its first CD, A Grand Christmas, participated in its first partnership venture with the Brantford Symphony Orchestra and presented its very first concert in Norfolk. The chorus has also toured in Europe. Today, under artistic director Richard Cunningham, the chorus exists as a vital part of the arts in the Brant-Brantford-Norfolk area. Continued choral excellence is the driving force behind the success of the Grand River Chorus. info@grandriverchorus.com grandriverchorus.com ● group of 27 What happens when you put a bunch of Canada’s top musicians in a room together and add some of the best music ever written: group of 27. Dubbed “Toronto’s All-Star Classical Band”, this supergroup lives for their thrilling live performances, creating unique experiences each and every time. Whether they’re romping through Stravinsky, wowing with Beethoven, or bringing a new Canadian piece to life, g27 gives everything they have in each moment with electrifying results. And there’s always a little something extra. Want the audience on stage with the performers? Done. Want an actor, dancer or even the audience to participate? Done. Want to see Toronto’s at-risk youth giving it their all side-byside with the professionals? Done. Want a worldclass experience that blows you away? Done and done. group of 27 – The Experience Orchestra. Eric Paetkau 416-323-1292 info@groupof27.com groupof27.com ● Gryphon Trio Recently celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Gryphon Trio has impressed international audiences and has firmly established itself as one of the world’s preeminent piano trios. With a repertoire that ranges from the traditional to the contemporary and from European classicism to modern-day multimedia, the Gryphons are committed to redefining chamber music for the 21st century. They tour regularly throughout North America and Europe, have released 17 recordings, commissioned over 75 new works, and regularly collaborate on projects that push the boundaries of chamber music. Honours include two Juno Awards for Classical Album of the Year, and the prestigious 2013 Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts from the Canada Council. The Gryphons frequently conduct masterclasses and workshops at universities and conservatories, and are Artists-in-Residence at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music and Trinity College. Gryphon cellist Roman Borys is Artistic Director of Ottawa’s Chamberfest. Annalee Patipatanakoon and Jamie Parker are the festival’s Artistic Advisors in addition to their responsibilities at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, where Mr. Parker is the Rupert E. Edwards Chair in Piano Performance and Ms. Patipatanakoon is Associate Professor of Violin. Sophie Vayro svayro@gryphontrio.com gryphontrio.com ● Hannaford Street Silver Band The Hannaford Street Silver Band is Canada’s award-winning professional brass band and resident company of Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Its mission is to honour the traditions of this art form and place it in a contemporary context with a unique, Canadian point of view. We actively facilitate innovative creative projects, collaborate with the best of Canada’s diverse artists and administer the Hannaford Youth Program. “Going Dutch,” on October 18, features Johan de Meij making his HSSB conducting debut with soloist Joe Alessi, Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic. The Orpheus Choir and Jackie Richardson join us for “Welcome Christmas” on December 15, in the beautiful acoustic of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. “German Brass,” on February 21st, features Canadian horn virtuoso Fergus McWilliam, a member of the Berlin Philharmonic, making his HSSB debut under the baton of James Gourlay. Our season concludes with Festival of Brass, April 15 to 17, showcasing Canadian trumpet virtuoso Stéphane Beaulac, member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and HSSB Principal Guest Conductor, Alain Trudel. Get into Brass! David Archer 416-366-7723 brass@hssb.ca hssb.ca ● Harmony Singers of Etobicoke The Harmony Singers of Etobicoke is a 35 voice women’s chorus that has been entertaining audiences since 1965. It presents concerts at Christmas and in the spring, and often performs at civic functions, private parties, hospitals and retirement homes. They have sung the national anthems at Blue Jays games and appeared in a video with the group Down With Webster. The conductor is arranger and composer Harvey Patterson, and the accompanist is the renowned B10 | theWholeNote 2015/16 PRESENTER PROFILES

professional pianist Bruce Harvey. This fall the Singers will join forces with The Queensmen in a concert entitled “Date Night”. It will take place on Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 in St. Paul’s United Church, Milton. On Sunday, December 13 at 3:00 p.m. the Singers will present their Christmas concert, “Sing A New Song”, in Humber Valley United Church. The Harmony Singers have limited openings for new members. To arrange a simple audition contact the conductor. Harvey Patterson 416-239-5821 jocelynandharvey@ca.inter.net harmonysingers.ca ● I FURIOSI Baroque Ensemble I FURIOSI Baroque Ensemble is one of the world’s most innovative Baroque ensembles, comprised of four of Canada’s leading early music specialists: soprano Gabrielle McLaughlin, violinists Aisslinn Nosky and Julia Wedman, and cellist/gambist Felix Deak. For over a decade and a half, I FURI- OSI’s Toronto concert series has been revitalising the face of early music in Canada, inspired by the practice of the Baroque era while invoking the “bizarre and unnatural” aesthetic both cherished and despised in its time. Thematic programming allows the performers to present Baroque music in a uniquely relevant way. This season’s concert dates: Friday, October 23, 2015 Saturday, January 9, 2016 Saturday, April 23, 2016 Friday, June 24, 2016 (All concerts are at 8pm at Calvin Presbyterian Church, Toronto) Gabrielle McLaughlin 416-536-2943 ifuriosi@ifuriosi.com ifuriosi.com ● International Resource Centre for Performing Artists The International Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA) is a forum for performing artists and their support personnel to come together as a community to exchange ideas, challenges, network and be mentored. Programs aid them to identify and reach their goals through various stages of their careers. The IRCPA Maureen Forrester Centre is proposed as a permanent home for artists in an incubator Community Hub. Membership is free. Sign up and/or donate using the phone number or website listed below. 416-362-1422 ircpa.net I FURIOSI BAROQUE ENSEMBLE ● Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario in Kingston ON, the new award-winning Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts brings together exceptional spaces and programs with a captivating sense of place to create a dynamic venue for Queen’s students and the Kingston community. This 90,000 square foot venue includes the 566-seat Concert Hall, 100-seat Studio Theatre, 92-seat Film Screening Room, Rehearsal Hall and Art & Media Lab. The Isabel was designed by Oslo/New Yorkbased firm Snøhetta and Ottawa’s N45, with acoustics and theatre design by ARUP and Theatre Projects Consultants. Anchored by a transformational gift to the Initiative Campaign from Drs. Alfred and Isabel Bader, the Isabel was inspired by the Baders’ love – of the arts, of Queen’s, and of each other – and is named in Isabel’s honour. Every season, the Isabel presents dynamic performance series - the Piano Series, Ensemble Series, Jazz Series, and Global Salon series - featuring the best artists in the world. The 2015/16 Season features phenomenal artists such as Angela Hewitt, Emanuel Ax, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Albert Schultz, Tomson Highway and Autorickshaw. Visit our website at theisabel.ca for information on these shows and more! Come explore with us! Tricia Baldwin 613-533-2424 boxoffice@theisabel.ca theisabel.ca ●Jeunesses Musicales Ontario Jeunesses Musicales Ontario (JMO) is a bilingual not-for-profit arts organization that fosters the careers of outstanding young professional musicians, and has enjoyed a presence in Ontario since 1979. JMO promotes the development of the arts in Ontario by touring some of Canada’s leading emerging artists across the province, including an all-inclusive opera production complete with surtitles, sets, costumes, and piano accompaniment. JMO’s concerts and workshops for young audiences feature professionally trained musicians performing in schools and community centres across Ontario. These concerts allow children and families the opportunity to discover the magic of live music. All performances are educational and theatrical in nature and offer exceptional musical encounters between performers and audience, presenting music of various cultures and eras. JMO is a provincial affiliate of Jeunesses Musicales Canada and a part of the Jeunesses Musicales International family, recognized by UNESCO as the largest youth music nongovernmental organization in the world! JMO concerts are available in English and French. Vanessa J Goymour, general manager and artistic advisor 416-536-8649 vgoymour@jmcanada.ca jmontario.ca ●John Laing Singers Founded in 1982 by John Laing, the JLS is a chamber choir of musicians from the Halton and Hamilton regions. Under the direction of Dr. Roger Bergs since 2011, the choir has continued to delight audiences with its diverse repertoire, and performs often in the community and on local television. Composer, conductor, organist and teacher Dr. Roger Bergs is an outstanding musician with a wide range of musical interests, awards and experience. A graduate of the Juilliard School of Music and the University of Toronto, Dr. Bergs also has over 20 years of experience as a church organist and music director, currently serving theWholeNote 2015/16 PRESENTER PROFILES | B11