From science fact in "Integral Man: Music and the Movies," to science fiction in the editor's opener; from World Fiddle Day at the Aga Khan Museum to three Canadians at the Cliburn; from wanting to sashay across the 401 to Chamberfest in Montreal to exploring the Continuum of Jumblies Theatre's 20-year commitment to the Community Play (there's a pun in there somewhere!).
CANARY PAGES Welcome to
CANARY PAGES Welcome to The WholeNote’s 15th annual Canary Pages, a directory of a wide range of Ontario choirs. The Canary Pages directory provides an opportunity for choirs to introduce themselves, in their own words, to individuals of all ages seeking choirs to sing in or to listen to, in every genre and at every level of skill and commitment. If you are new to the region, a lapsed chorister looking to start singing again, on the hunt for new musical challenges or thinking of taking the plunge for the very first time, this is a perfect place to start your search. The 123 choirs here include some that have been around for many decades, new groups on the scene, choruses of hundreds of voices, small and intimate chamber ensembles, children’s and youth choirs, groups of singers with workplace, worship or identity as their focus, choirs with socializing, community or high-level performance as their driving force – every colour of the choral rainbow is represented for you to browse in this print edition, and online at www.thewholenote.com/canary. ●●Achill Choral Society The Achill Choral Society began as a community choir in 1982, drawing members from an area northwest of Toronto. We gather Wednesday evenings to rehearse repertoire. Our membership is around 85 and we are a mixed, auditioned adult choir. Each Christmas and spring, we perform concerts in the churches and halls of our communities, including Alliston, Beeton, Bolton, Bradford, Caledon, Caledon East, Orangeville, Shelburne and Tottenham. We are led by A. Dale Wood. His lifelong musical career also includes directing the Georgetown Choral Society and Georgetown Children’s Chorus, as well as teaching lessons in piano, voice, organ and composition. Thanks to the commitment and vision of our director, the choir maintains an excellent standard of performance, attracting guest soloists and accompanists of the highest calibre. CATHERINE WILSON 416-254-2075 catherine@catherinemachry.com www.achill.ca ●●All Saints Kingsway Choir ALL SAINTS KINGSWAY CHOIR All Saints Kingsway Choir provides musical leadership at weekly Sunday morning Eucharists, Festival Evensongs, community outreach projects and concerts year-round. The choir is made up of paid section leads and volunteer participants and welcomes new singers throughout the year. Recent performances include Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, festal celebrations with the drumming ensemble Beyond Sound Empijah and the Michael Occhipinti Jazz Quartet, and Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s The Atonement, both with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. Jazz vespers and lunchtime organ recitals round out the regular musical offerings. New members are always welcome to the Music at All Saints Kingsway family. Come and be a part of a fantastic choral and instrumental creative community. BRAINERD BLYDEN-TAYLOR 416-233-1125 x5 music@allsaintskingsway.ca www.allsaintskingsway.ca theWholeNote 2017/18 CANARY PAGES DIRECTORY ●●Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto Led by conductor and artistic director Lydia Adams since 1985, the award-winning Amadeus Choir performs the best of choral music and premieres works of Canadian and international composers through a self-produced Toronto concert series, guest performances and special events. Through tours, recordings and radio broadcasts, the choir is known well beyond Toronto. The Amadeus Choir partners and collaborates with many professional performing arts organizations in the GTA. The choir also engages in educational and community outreach through choral workshops for students, music educators, composers and conductors. A part of Toronto’s arts community for 42 years, the choir includes members from all parts of the GTA. Annual auditions are held in May and June. Phone or email the choir office for information. C2
LYDIA ADAMS, CONDUCTOR & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SHAWN GRENKE, ACCOMPANIST & ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR 416-446-0188 info@amadeuschoir.com www.amadeuschoir.com ●●Annex Singers The Annex Singers of Toronto is a vibrant and accomplished community choir under the dynamic and creative leadership of artistic director Maria Case. Now in its 38th season, the choir performs three concerts annually, collaborating with a wide array of guest soloists and ensembles. Recent performances include Fauré’s Requiem, Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with the Talisker Players. The Annex Chamber Choir is a 24-voice ensemble formed from within the larger choir. The choir engages in community outreach, holds an autumn retreat, and offers summer workshops with notable clinicians (check our website for details). Member dues are half-price for choristers 30 and under. We rehearse Monday evenings at St. Thomas’s Anglican Church, 383 Huron Street. Auditions: please contact our membership coordinator. JOANNE EIDINGER 416-458-4434 joeidinger@gmail.com www.annexsingers.com ●●Bach Chamber Youth Choir The Bach Chamber Youth Choir is an awardwinning SATB choir for boys with changed or changing voices and girls aged 16 years and up. The youth of BCYC develop their love of music and singing through enjoyable learning and performing experiences. As the senior level of the Bach Children’s Chorus, BCYC performs at two annual concerts at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Additional performances include a cabaret-style concert and a benefit concert. BCYC rehearses Sunday evenings on the Danforth, by Chester Station. BCYC has earned first place awards at national competitions. Interested youth are welcome to observe a Sunday evening rehearsal. Auditions are held in May for September entry. JANE GREENWOOD 416-431-0790 jgreenwood@bellnet.ca www.bachchildrenschorus.ca ●●Bach Children’s Chorus Bach Children’s Chorus is an award-winning organization of four treble-voice choirs and one mixed voice choir (Bach Chamber Youth Choir – see separate listing) for children and youth aged 5 and up. Training is offered in vocal technique, sightsinging and theory. This season BCC introduced a Preparatory Choir for younger children who want an introduction to choral singing and ear-training. BCC rehearses weekly in Scarborough, performs as a company-in-residence at the Toronto Centre for the Arts and appears regularly at Toronto events. Each choir participates in weekend festivals, workshops and concerts with other youth choirs and worldrenowned clinicians. BCC has released six CDs and has won provincial and national choral awards. Auditions are held in May for September entry. JANE GREENWOOD 416-431-0790 jgreenwood@bellnet.ca www.bachchildrenschorus.ca ●●Bach Elgar Choir The Bach Elgar Choir is Hamilton’s renowned concert choir and a leader in Canadian choral music. The ensemble performed its first concert in 1905 and has several firsts to its credit, including the North American premiere of Verdi’s Requiem. The BEC presents magnificent classical works for choir and orchestra, its cherished annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah and programs of varied vocal repertoire from opera to folksong. Featuring the very best Canadian talent in its roster of soloists and working together with top orchestras, including the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the BEC has a reputation for excellence. Interested singers from all sections are invited to join us under the leadership of our artistic director Alexander Cann. For an audition, please call 905-527-5995 or email bachelgar@gmail.com. ALEXANDER CANN 905-527-5995 bachelgar@gmail.com www.bachelgar.com ●●Bel Canto Singers Bel Canto Singers is an SATB community choir with singers of various ages and abilities directed by Linda Meyer and Michael Gomiega. Each week we meet to sing, laugh and grow. Members share a love of choral singing and enjoy the challenges of a widely varied repertoire, mixed with friendship and fun. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings at St. Nicholas Anglican Church in Scarborough. New members are welcome and we are especially looking to strengthen our tenor and bass sections. If you have ever wanted to participate in a group that values music, fun and fellowship please consider joining us. Auditions will take place in the first two weeks of September 2017 or January 2018, during our regular Tuesday night practices. YOLANDA 416-283-1402 juliapeck70@gmail.com www.belcantosingers.ca ●●Canadian Celtic Choir The Canadian Celtic Choir was founded in 1996 to sing and promote Celtic choral music. Since then the CCC has played many of Ontario’s most popular music festivals, and also has toured Hawaii, England and Scotland. In June 2017 the CCC will tour the Maritimes for 12 days. The CCC has opened for the Men of the Deeps, The Irish Descendants, John McDermott, Lighthouse, John Tesh, and others. In 2010 the CCC was inducted into the London Music Awards Hall of Fame. In 2015 the CCC won the Jack Richardson London Music Award for Most Popular Classical Choir. The choir is conducted by William W. Zadorsky and accompanied by Jean Willadsen. Our vocal coach and emcee is Paul Grambo. IAN DAVIES 519-319-5847 info@celticchoir.ca www.celticchoir.ca ●●Canadian Children’s Opera Company Celebrating its 50th season, the CCOC consists of six choruses for ages 3 to 19 and is the only permanent children’s opera company in Canada to regularly commission and produce operas for children. Opera is simply storytelling with music, and those are two things that kids and youth love! A unique experience, members receive unparalleled performance CANTABILE CHOIRS OF KINGSTON theWholeNote 2017/18 CANARY PAGES DIRECTORY C3
