Volume 21 Issue 8 - May 2016

CANARY PAGES

CANARY PAGES theWholeNote 2016/17 CANARY PAGES DIRECTORY LINDA HAWKINS, artistic director and general manager 519-371-1237 (home); 519-375-6789 (mobile) gbccmanager@gmail.com; lindamariehawkins@gmail.com www.gbcc.ca ● Grace Church on-the-Hill The Choirs of Grace Church on-the-Hill proudly embrace our excellent Anglican choral tradition, while looking towards the future for new music and proud traditions. Our choirs for both adults and children sing weekly from September to June. The Boys and Girls Choirs provide the ideal learning environment for young musicians, and we have funding available to subsidize the cost of music lessons for our children! Choristers of all ages develop lifelong friendships, self-esteem, and the joy of coming together for a shared goal. In the summer of 2016, we will be touring to cathedrals in Dublin and Oxford to sing daily services of Evensong and Choral Eucharist. We welcome new members (especially tenors and children!) every September. STEPHEN FRKETIC 416-488-7884 music@gracechurchonthehill.ca www.gracechurchonthehill.ca ● Grand Philharmonic Choir The Grand Philharmonic Choir, based in Kitchener, 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, 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. AMY DALE, administrator 519-578-6885 info@grandphilchoir.com www.grandphilchoir.com ● Harbourfront Chorus You are invited to join Harbourfront Chorus, a nonauditioned choir performing an eclectic repertoire for a diverse city. Under the direction of Josh Priess, we rehearse Tuesdays from 7:45pm tto 9:15pm in the Assembly Room of Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre (formerly Harbourfront Community Centre), located at the south-east corner of Queens Quay W. and Bathurst St. Our season runs September through May. All levels of experience are welcome. The 2016/17 season begins Tuesday, September 13, 2016. For information, please contact Dwight Griffin by phone or email. DWIGHT GRIFFIN 416-977-6448 dgriffin680@yahoo.ca ● Harmonia Hungarica Our semi-professional women’s chamber choir performs a range of repertoire from renaissance to contemporary Hungarian, mostly sacred, in Latin or Hungarian. Good sight-reading ability is required, familiarity with the Hungarian language is an asset. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings. Performances: Advent concert, Lenten adoration, spring concert. We also do Lyric Vigil at a bedside and funerals. We would welcome new members. ADEODATA CZINK 416-971-9754 adeodata@harmoniahungarica.ca www.harmoniahungarica.ca ●The Harmony Singers Under conductor Harvey Patterson, this dynamic 35-voice women’s chorus memorizes, stages and performs a sparkling repertoire of pop, show, folk and light classical music. Our accompanist is the renowned pianist Bruce Harvey. The group proudly presents “GOOD TIMES!” on May 27 and 28 at Martin Grove United Church, Etobicoke. Special Guest is Emma Burke-Kleinman, scholarship winner from Etobicoke School of the Arts. The Harmony Singers have performed for the charity L’Arche, sung the national anthems at a Blue Jays game and appeared in a music video with Down With Webster. There are a few openings for new members who will receive a warm welcome! Rehearsals are Monday evenings from September to June at Martin Grove United Church. HARVEY PATTERSON 416-239-5821 theharmonysingers@ca.inter.net www.harmonysingers.ca ● Hart House Chorus The Hart House Chorus is a 50-voice choir auditioned from musically talented students, faculty and alumni of the University of Toronto. Since its inception in 1972 as a reincarnation of the long-standing men’s Glee Club, the Chorus has maintained a reputation for the highest standard of performance locally, nationally and abroad. In 1993, the Chorus was a finalist in the Large Choir category of the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs and in 2002, it was featured in the University of Toronto’s first reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In addition to other engagements, the Chorus performs twice annually in the Great Hall at Hart House. The Hart House Chorus is active in the international choral community, having hosted choirs from the United States, Austria and Finland, and toured to various countries in Europe. Last November, the Hart House Chorus toured to Belgium to represent Canada in the 1000 Voices for Peace festival, which commemorated 100 years since the start of World War I. TONNY HUANG 647-823-1680 tonnyc.huang@outlook.com www.harthouse.ca/chorus ● Healey Willan Singers The Healey Willan Singers will celebrate its tenth anniversary season this fall. The choir was originally formed as a youth choir to celebrate Dr. Willan’s 125th anniversary in 2005. Since 2007, the choir has reinvented itself into a women’s ensemble and it is fast becoming one of the finest women’s ensembles in the city. Rehearsals run from September to April, with one concert in late November/early December and the other one in mid-April. The choir performs repertoire from Gregorian chants to contemporary works, especially music by women and Canadian composers. Auditions are held throughout the year. RON CHEUNG 416-519-0528 healeywillansingers@yahoo.com www.healeywillansingers.com ● Hillcrest Village Choir Since 2003, this SATB non-auditioned teaching choir has enabled amateur singers to improve their singing technique and performance skills in full choir, small-group and solo settings. In an open and engaging atmosphere, members enjoy an eclectic repertoire that evolves with the interests of the membership. The director/conductor, Ben D’Cunha, trains members in vocal technique, sightreading, theory and improvisation, and writes the arrangements for the choir. Choir rehearsals are held September to June on Tuesdays, 7pm to 9pm, with sectionals on Mondays, 7pm to 9pm. Registration for the 2016/17 season starts June 1. Each year the HVC does a composer study where members are invited to learn solos by a particular composer. In the 2016/17 season we will be studying the music of Jimmy Van Heusen. BEN D’CUNHA hillcrestvillagechoir@gmail.com ● Islington United Church Choirs The extensive and active music program at Islington, under the direction of Dr. John Derksen and assisted by many talented and committed musicians including two music associates, includes the Junior (grades 1 to 6), Youth (grades 7 to 12), and Senior choirs, along with two handbell choirs, chimes, string and brass ensembles. Supported by a magnificent Schoenstein organ and grand piano, music rings through the neo-Gothic sanctuary for two morning services each Sunday and numerous special services, events and concerts. The accomplished Senior choir, with 25 to 30 talented singers enriched by section leaders, is attentive to musical detail and expressiveness to enhance worship, singing renaissance to 21st century, a cappella to orchestral accompaniment, spirituals to Bach cantatas. JOHN DERKSEN 416-239-1131 x26 john@islingtonunited.org www.islingtonunited.org C8

●The John Laing Singers The JLS is a renowned Hamilton-based chamber choir founded in 1982 by John Laing. Over the past 32 years, the group has performed throughout Canada, the USA and Europe. Since 2011, under the artistic direction of Dr. Roger Bergs, the JLS has been developing a new vision for its subscription series, which includes three concerts each year: Pre-Christmas, Mid- Winter and Spring. While its current repertoire still includes the great chamber choir classics, there is a fresh energy to JLS concerts in which performers and audience take equal delight in their encounters with amazing new and lesser-known pieces. JLS concerts feature excellent instrumentalists, outstanding program notes and lively conductor’s comments, all of which provide a concert experience that is both educational and delightful. Experienced singers with good musical skills and a sense of adventure are welcome to inquire about joining us at any time. PUBLICITY DIRECTOR 905-628-5238 info@johnlaingsingers.com www.johnlaingsingers.com ● Jubilate Singers The Jubilate Singers is an auditioned, mixed choir of about 30 singers under the direction of Isabel Bernaus. We specialize in eclectic international music reflecting the cultural diversity of Toronto. Recent concerts have highlighted music from Latin America, Spain and Catalonia, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia, as well as selections from the Canadian and American choral repertoire. Our 2016/17 season will include Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols plus seasonal music from around the world; a program of African and African-inspired music; and an all-Canadian program for the sesquicentennial year. We rehearse on Tuesday nights near Yonge and Lawrence. Interested singers are encouraged to sit in on a rehearsal before deciding to join. A welcoming, friendly experience for committed singers! PAULINE MCKENZIE 416-223-7690 paulinemckenzie@rogers.com www.jubilatesingers.ca ● Kingsway Children’s Choir & Drum Ensemble / Kingsway Chamber Singers Venturing outside the bounds of traditional choir training, the Kingsway Children’s Choir & Drum Ensemble is a unique, liberating choral experience for children aged 7 and up. Directed by a professional music educator with extensive choral conducting experience, the choir explores a vast repertoire spanning world music, folk songs and classic choral works. Weekly rehearsals at the Kingsway Conservatory of Music are an invigorating musical workout encompassing voice and body warm-ups, vocal technique, singing skills and drum circle (each chorister receives an African Djembe drum to keep). For more experienced singers, the Kingsway Chamber Singers offers an enriched, multi-part, challenging choral experience. Throughout a 30-week season, both choirs take their music to various stages including festivals, recitals and corporate and community events. SHARON BURLACOFF 416-234-0121 sharonkcm@bellnet.ca www.kingswayconservatory.ca ● Lawrence Park Community Church Choir Lawrence Park Community Church Choir sings weekly at Sunday worship services from September through June, with Thursday evening rehearsals. With 25 members, including a professional quartet, the choir presents special musical offerings at Christmas and during Holy Week, and is featured annually in Lawrence Park’s “Fridays @ 8” concert series. On May 6 at 8pm the choir will sing in a Hymn Festival along with the North York Temple Band in a tribute to Welsh tenor Glyn Evans. On November 11 at 8pm organist David Briggs will present an organ recital with a Remembrance Day theme. The choir has commissioned a number of anthems from composers including Bob Chilcott, Ruth Watson Henderson and Paul Halley. CD recordings include Awake, My Soul, and Sing, Peace for a New Millennium, Christmas CD Beauty, Peace and Joy and the recently recorded Lawrence Park Sings! All are available through the church office. In addition there is a youth music program on Sundays with Kenny Kirkwood, and the Lawrence Park Handbell Ringers who rehearse on Friday mornings. MARK TOEWS 416-489-1551 mark@lawrenceparkchurch.ca www.lawrenceparkchurch.ca ● Leaside United Church Chancel Choir Under the direction of Sharon L. Beckstead, the Chancel Choir of Leaside United Church presents an eclectic mix of music for weekly services of worship from September to June. The annual “Lessons and Carols” presentation is a highlight for the Leaside community. Other special presentations during the year may include hymn festivals and/or secular presentations. SHARON L. BECKSTEAD 416-425-1253 sharon.beckstead@sympatico.ca www.leasideunited.org ● Lyrica Chamber Choir of Barrie Founded in 2000 by the late Natalyia Gurin and directed since 2005 by Steve Winfield, Lyrica Chamber Choir of Barrie strives to present eclectic and evocative programs of excellent choral chamber music. The 34 singers of Lyrica demonstrate a strong desire to present artistically varied choral programs with a high degree of musicianship to the community of Barrie and surrounding area. Recent highlights include performances of Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit de Noel, Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and Ola Gjeilo’s Dark Night of the Soul. Professional soloists and instrumental musicians regularly join Lyrica for performances. Our accompanist, Brent Mayhew, enhances the choir’s performances with extraordinary skill and sensitivity. STEVE WINFIELD 705-722-0271 steve.winfield@sympatico.ca www.lyricachoir.ca ● Masterworks of Oakville Chorus & Orchestra We are a community-based group, dedicated to performing the great works of the Western classical tradition, particularly sacred works for choir and orchestra. We have a strong commitment to artistic excellence and are proud to preserve and continue a great musical tradition. Masterworks is an extraordinary community group, with a chorus of over 100 voices and a commitment to performing the most challenging choral works. Masterworks exists with the enthusiasm of its choristers and orchestra players, which is the hallmark of its performances. Please join GEORGETOWN CHORAL SOCIETY theWholeNote 2016/17 CANARY PAGES DIRECTORY C9