Volume 21 Issue 2 - October 2015

BLUE PAGES

BLUE PAGES 2015/16 performers at every concert. It’s an exciting lineup for our 2015/16 season! Visit our website for complete concert details and online ticketing. Sue Payne 416-429-0007 spo@spo.ca spo.ca ● Show One Productions For over a decade, Svetlana Dvoretsky and Show One Productions have presented some of the world’s most sought after artists in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Many of the greatest symphony orchestras, ballet companies, and dance and theatre productions have also come to Canada under the Show One banner. In 2015-16, the company presents its most ambitious season yet at Koerner Hall, featuring world famous singers and instrumentalists: Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Sondra Radvanovsky, Mischa Maisky, Denis Matsuev, Igudesman and Joo and the two most talked about piano winners of the 2015 Tchaikovsky Competition – Lucas Debargue and Lukas Geniušas. Further compelling projects are continually added to the roster – check the website for details. Dvoretsky, whom the media has called “an icon in the making,” and “an intuitive impresario”, holds the Order of York Centre Award by the Government of Canada. 416-737-6785 showoneproductions.ca ● SINE NOMINE Ensemble for Medieval Music The talented, versatile singers and instrumentalists of SINE NOMINE are passionate about the music of the Middle Ages and about bringing it to life for modern audiences. Based in Toronto since 1991, the group has also performed in various other Ontario centres, as well as Alberta, Quebec, the Maritimes, the eastern USA and England. SINE NOMINE continues its third decade of inventive programming, blending vocal and instrumental music from medieval courts and churches with readings, drama and liturgical action to provide insight into the fascinating artistic and intellectual culture of the Middle Ages. Concerts take place on Fridays: December 18 (“In presepio: Medieval songs for the Christ-child”), February 26 (“Incendium amoris: Music from a mystical manuscript”), and April 29 (“De animalibus: A Medieval Musical Bestiary”), all at Saint Thomas’s Church, 383 Huron St., at 8pm. The ensemble’s recordings include an independent cassette, the CD-ROM The Art of the Chant (PBS/Jasmine) and the CD A Golden Treasury of Mediaeval Music (Saydisc/AmonRa). SINE NOMINE is ensemble-in-residence at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. Andrea Budgey Tickets: 416-978-8849 uofttix.ca Subscriptions: 416-638-9445 sinenominetoronto@gmail.com pims.ca/amici/sine-nomine ● Small World Music Society Established in 1997, Small World Music Society is a charitable organization that has earned a cherished place within Toronto’s cultural fabric, with a reputation as the city’s premier presenter of culturally diverse music. Committed to supporting local artists, fellow presenters, community groups and audiences, Small World uses music to foster understanding and build cultural bridges. Small World has presented over 600 concerts and workshops in venues across the Greater Toronto Area, ranging from prestigious concert halls, to outdoor festival stages, and even their own stage and community hub inside Artscape’s Youngspace facility on Shaw Street, the Small World Music Centre. The annual signature program is the Small World Music Festival, which runs for 10 days in late September. Since its debut in 2002, the festival has brought international and Canadian artists representing a global range of diversity to share their cultural heritage, introducing audiences to sounds old and new. Small World is truly “The Beat of the Globe in the Heart of Toronto.” Visit Small World’s website for upcoming concerts. Alan Davis 416-536-5439 info@smallworldmusic.com smallworldmusic.com ● Sony Centre for the Performing Arts The Sony Centre, Toronto’s first performing arts centre, has played a defining role in the cultural life of Toronto for more than 50 years. Today, Sony Centre’s mission is to unite the global citizens of Toronto through great artistic experiences. The Sony Centre presents year-round programming including concerts, musical theatre, family entertainment, comedy and dance. With in-house catering and many completely customizable spaces, Toronto’s iconic Sony Centre has also proven to be an ideal venue for product launches, town halls, holiday parties and fundraisers – it is truly where the world comes to play! 1-855-872-7669 info@sonycentre.ca sonycentre.ca ● Soundstreams Led by artistic director Lawrence Cherney and executive director Susan Worthington, Soundstreams is a Toronto-based music presenter that commissions, develops and showcases the work of contemporary Canadian composers and their international counterparts. These innovative collaborations are performed by the finest artists from Canada and around the world, and are presented in an annual concert series, in national and international tours and through a variety of education and outreach activities. To mark our 30th anniversary season in 2012/13, Soundstreams also launched SoundMakers, an innovative website and iPad app that invites music lovers to explore and create with Soundstreams’ commissioned works. In the 2015/16 season, we are pleased to present two exciting new collaborations with Canadian Stage and Massey Hall (the opera, Julie, and Steve Reich at 80, respectively), as well as Canadian soprano legend Adrianne Pieczonka, a celebration of the global accordion family, and a choral feast with Scottish composer/ conductor James MacMillan. Susan Worthington, executive director 416-504-1282 info@soundstreams.ca www.soundstreams.ca ● Southern Ontario Chapter of the Hymn Society Southern Ontario Chapter of the Hymn Society (SOCHS) is a non-denominational organization supporting congregational song and offering three events each season in the Barrie, Kitchener- Waterloo and Pickering triangle. Anyone interested in hymns and congregational song may join us or participate in our activities. John L. Bell and James Abbington have brought exciting songs to our gatherings. Internationally recognized hymn writers Mary Louise Bringle, Carl Daw, Michael Hawn and Brian Wren have also been guests. Sunday October 18, 2015 2:30-4:00, distinguished Canadian composer Ruth Watson Henderson will collaborate with David McKane, United Church pastor and hymn text writer, to illustrate the interplay of words and music in hymn creation. Saturday February 27, 2016, 9:30-3:30, renowned hymn writer, jazz musician and composer Dan Damon will lead a lecture-workshop on Justice in Hymnody at Emmanuel College Chapel, Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Sunday April 10, 2016, 2:30-4:00, well-known church musician and clinician Lydia Pedersen will present some of the findings of her extensive work with congregations creating their own hymn traditions. Donald Anderson 416-342-6034 info@sochs.org www.sochs.org ● St. Andrew’s Church St. Andrew’s Church is a dynamic historic congregation located at 73 Simcoe St., opposite Roy Thomson Hall. Founded in 1830, this Presbyterian church has a rich history of musical innovation and excellence. A professional eight-voice B20 | theWholeNote 2015/16 PRESENTER PROFILES

choir performs most Sundays at the 10:30 a.m. service, accompanied on a Karl Wilhelm tracker organ. The magnificent Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano further enhances worship services, along with the congregational choir. Music at St. Andrew’s, launched in 2011, presents affordably priced concerts with top-flight performers such as pianist Jamie Parker, Canadian opera stars Russell Braun and Monica Whicher and jazz pianist Oliver Jones. Our 2015-16 season will include “Voices of Peace, Dreams of Home”, a multimedia program commemorating WWII with Lenny Graf & his Orchestra (Oct 24) and “Mardi Gras 2016” with Ken Whiteley (Feb 6). Free Friday Noontime Recitals begin October 16 with University of Toronto music students and other performers. Winter lineup starts March 4. Superb acoustics, a convenient downtown location and large capacity seating make St. Andrew’s the perfect setting for a wide range of musical events. Daniel B. Bickle 416-593-5600 x231 info@standrewstoronto.org standrewstoronto.org ● St. Anne’s Anglican Church & Choir Continuing its long tradition of musical excellence, St. Anne’s presents a season of innovative performances that befits our stunning sacred space boasting religious artwork by the Group of Seven. Throughout the year, the Choir of St. Anne’s will join other professional and pre-professional musicians from across Toronto. Through our newly-instituted organ and choral scholarships, emerging artists will have the opportunity to gain practical experience. We are thrilled to welcome The Junction Trio as St. Anne’s ensemble-in-residence! Over the past five seasons, The Junction Trio has presented colourful chamber music, ingeniously incorporating meditative improvisation and a wide range of guest artists. Their programming pushes the boundaries of classical music and performance art. Each year, the St. Anne’s Music and Drama Society (MADS) presents one of the operettas of Gilbert & Sullivan. Founded in 1964, MADS has a fall season of rehearsals leading up to January and February performances. This season, MADS presents Iolanthe. For more information or to participate in our music program, please contact us! John-Luke Addison, director of music 416-536-3160 music@saintanne.ca saintanne.ca ● St. Jude’s Celebration of the Arts The St. Jude’s Celebration of the Arts concert series is a community outreach program of St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Oakville. The series was established in 1991 by John Laing to present fine SINE NOMINE ENSEMBLE FOR MEDIEVAL MUSIC music in the intimate and spiritual surroundings of the church and to celebrate the glory of God’s gift of creative and artistic expression. The splendid acoustics enhance the performances of musicians from near and far. The concert series operates on a not-for-profit, self-sustaining basis while making high calibre artistry generally accessible in the local community. Low ticket prices are made possible by the generosity of our patrons and sponsors. Season twenty five begins in October, 2015, with the Larkin Singers directed by Matthew Larkin. Stephanie Martin will direct Schola Magdalena in January, 2016, followed by the Talisker Players quartet in April with Whitney O’Hearn, soprano and Bud Roach, tenor. The series concludes in May, 2016 with St. Jude’s Senior Choir, directed by Simon Walker. The concerts are performed at St. Jude’s Anglican Church, 160 William Street, Oakville. Telephone 905-844-3972. Simon Walker 647-241- 2803 info@oakvilleconcerts.com OakvilleConcerts.com ● St. Michael’s Choir School Founded more than seventy five years ago, by Monsignor John Edward Ronan, St. Michael’s Choir School has served the Archdiocese of Toronto by educating and training musicians who sing at St. Michael’s Cathedral. The school is unique – offering an enriched academic programme for boys from Grades 3-12, with extended French instruction, as well as a lively ministry of sacred music. Choirs from SMCS perform annually on tour and at many local concerts and events. From September to June, the choirs sing weekly Masses at St. Michael’s Cathedral. Auditions are held annually between January and March. 416-397-6367 musicoffice@smcs.on.ca smcs.on.ca ● St. Olave’s Anglican Church St. Olave’s, Swansea, is an Anglican church in the Prayer Book tradition, with Communion or Morning Prayer services (sung Sundays at 10:30am), Evensong (for festivals) and extras at Christmas and Easter. It’s noted for a fine organ and excellent acoustics, making it home for performing groups like the Windermere String Quartet. Choral Evensongs (on certain Sundays at 4pm) are followed by afternoon tea and a music event, as listed in The WholeNote: visiting choirs leading the service, illustrated music talks or recitals by guest singers, solo musicians, instrumental ensembles or our Arts Guild. Sung Evensongs (various weekdays at 6pm) are followed by supper and talks on travel, history, applied religion, etc. We’ve recently hired a new director of music, John Stephenson, who is continuing our campaign to expand our choir. Anglican services include much singing (hymns, canticles, psalms, anthems), so we need a strong choir to lead the congregation. Rehearsals are Thursdays, 7:30pm to 9pm, with a warm-up Sundays at 10am. Call to ask about paid positions, or come to a rehearsal to see what it’s all about. Singers are also welcome to join us at sung Evensongs. Judy Beal, church secretary 416-769-5686 stolaves@stolaves.ca stolaves.ca ● St. Philip’s Anglican Church For nearly two centuries St. Philip’s Anglican Church has offered spirit-filled celebrations and compassionate ministry to the Etobicoke-Weston community. Now our beautiful and historic church welcomes you to enjoy Jazz Vespers on Sunday afternoons with the best jazz musicians in the city. Rev. Allan Budzin 416-247-5181 allan.budzin@stphilips.net stphilips.net theWholeNote 2015/16 PRESENTER PROFILES | B21