Volume 24 Issue 2 - October 2018

BLUE PAGES

BLUE PAGES 2018/19 SECTION I: PRESENTERS & PERFORMERS Ken Hall 416-366-0467 info@canadianchildrensopera.com www.canadianchildrensopera.com ●●Canadian Music Centre The Canadian Music Centre is the catalyst that connects you to the ever-evolving world of Canadian musical creation through performance, education and promotion. Join us for a series of concerts in the historic and beautiful Chalmer’s Performance Space. The 2018-2019 CMC Presents series has been curated by Toronto-based composer and winner of the 2011 CMC Emerging Composer Award Nick Storring. The season will include performances by cellist Elinor Frey, the Thin Edge New Music Collective, Alex Samaras, and more, highlighting Canadian musical creations. Tickets are only - and include a reception. Join us! Natasha Bood 416-961-6601 x202 nbood@musiccentre.ca www.musiccentre.ca ●●Canadian Opera Company Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company (COC) is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America, and maintains an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. The COC’s 2018/19 mainstage season includes: Eugene Onegin, Hadrian (world première), Elektra, Così fan tutte, La Bohème and Otello. The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, hailed internationally as one of the finest in the world. The company enjoys a loyal audience support-base and one of the highest attendance and subscription rates in North America. The COC is an active participant in the cultural community by presenting an annual series of free concerts and a wide array of education and outreach events, encouraging the creation of operatic works and fostering the training and development of young Canadian artists through its renowned Ensemble Studio program. A not-for-profit organization since 1950, the COC is considered one of the best opera companies in the world. Alexander Neef, general director Box Office: 416-363-8231 info@coc.ca www.coc.ca ●●Canadian Sinfonietta Founded in 1998, the Canadian Sinfonietta (CS) is a chamber orchestra led by artistic director and founder, Tak-Ng Lai, in partnership with concertmaster Joyce Lai. The orchestra is comprised of 14 to 25 professional musicians who perform as a large ensemble at the Glenn Gould Studio (250 Front St. W) and the Markham Free Methodist Church (22 Esna Park Dr., Markham), and as a small ensemble at the Heliconian Hall (35 Hazelton Ave). The mission of CS is to reintroduce live chamber music to the growing GTA communities, producing a new generation of concert-goers by presenting concerts that are traditional with a twist. The programs are innovative and often feature interdisciplinary artistic presentations, multicultural music and non-western instruments, and highlight diverse Canadian artists. CS is a community-conscious group and plays an active role, through partnership with local community organizations, in promoting the appreciation of music across various cultures; mentoring young artists, and using music as a language to engage and link people of all ages and status within the community. CS believes that “chamber music is for everyone.” Joyce Lai 647-813-8859 canadiansinfonietta@gmail.com www.canadiansinfonietta.com ●●Cantemus Singers Cantemus Singers was established in 2008 by our conductor, Michael Erdman, to help expand Toronto’s exposure to and appreciation of Renaissance and early Baroque secular vocal music. Our 12-voice a cappella ensemble focuses mainly on the interesting and evocative madrigals, lieder, chansons and villancicos of the 16th century. We also perform religious works, often the five-to-eight-part compositions less often heard by Toronto audiences. Our 2018/19 season begins November 24 and 25, as we perform Christmas music from Spain, including Flecha’s charming ensalada “La Bomba.” Our March program, “Fair Oriana” explores the cult of Queen Elizabeth, featuring works by Morley, Tallis and Byrd. In May, our spring concerts focus on the music of the German princely courts with works by di Lasso, Praetorius and Schütz. Performances are at Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square – Eaton Centre) and at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church (70 Silver Birch Ave. at Queen St. E.). Check out our website for times. Michael Erdman, conductor 416-578-6602 cantemus.ca@gmail.com www.cantemus.ca ●●Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is a volunteer community orchestra that has been based in Scarborough since 1986. The orchestra presents seven concerts each season including a subscription series of five concerts. Led by artistic director Norman Reintamm, this season we will bring to life some of the greatest musical masterpieces, such as Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, introduce you to some of Canada’s rising stars, including the YOU Dance Apprentices from the National Ballet of Canada, and present a variety of local area artists such as Robert Horvath and the Payadora Tango Ensemble. It is with great pleasure that we welcome back the YOU Dance Apprentices from the National Ballet of Canada for a thrilling evening of ballet as well as David Diston, tenor, and Cristina Pisani, soprano, the winners of the 2018 Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra Clifford Poole Vocal Competition. We will also perform the world premiere of a new work by young Estonian-Canadian composer Erik Kreem. Looking for an orchestra to play in? Send your inquiries to us at info@cathedralbluffs.com. Peggy Wong 416-879-5566 www.cathedralbluffs.com ●The ● Cellar Singers The Cellar Singers is a 40-voice mixed choir based in Orillia. For fifty years, the choir has delighted audiences in Simcoe and Muskoka with choral masterpieces grand and intimate. Under the direction of gifted choral specialist Mitchell Pady, the choir presents 4 main concerts each season. Rehearsals are open to all and are held Wednesday evenings, 7:15pm, at St. James Anglican Church, Orillia. Rebecca Campbell 708-718-4124 info@thecellarsingers.com www.thecellarsingers.com ●●Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto The plan to build a Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto was first started in 1988. CCC has been a multicultural hub for diverse ethnicity in Greater Toronto Area since it came into operation in 1998. Besides operating programs and classes to serve the diverse needs of the community, and events to enrich the cultural and artistic mosaic, in 2017 alone, the CCC’s broadbased programs and events impacted and benefited over 150,000 people from youth to senior and from local to international. 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of CCC, and our Toronto Piano & Violin Competition 2019 will take place from February 21 to February 28, 2019, bringing into focus our ongoing work to provide a platform to discover and recognize talent, to highlight musical growth and experience, to provide inspiration for people of all nationalities and cultures, and to bring Toronto and Canada onto the World Stage. Check cccmusicfestival.com for more information. Cindy Guo 416-292-9293 ext-229 info@cccgt.org www.cccgt.org B6 | theWholeNote 2018/19 PRESENTER PROFILES

●●Chorus Niagara Worth the drive to Niagara! Chorus Niagara, The Power of 100, is Niagara’s premier 100-voice ensemble. Conducted by artistic director Robert Cooper, Chorus Niagara has been entertaining and enlightening audiences for over 55 years. Chorus Niagara performs traditional choral masterpieces, modern and seldom-heard works, as well as new commissions, and provides a showcase for emerging Canadian talent. Attracting singers of all ages with the Chorus Niagara Children’s Choir (CNCC conductor Amanda Nelli), Side-by- Side High School Chorale, and Robert Cooper Choral Scholars program, and nurturing emerging talent with our new Apprentice Conductor program, CN provides opportunities for everyone to experience the joy of live choral performance. Our thrilling 56th season begins with a humanist requiem, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem; followed by festive favourite and choral classic, Handel’s Messiah. Chorus Niagara will then perform King David, “the best oratorio you’ve never heard!” and wrap up the season performing the live choral soundtrack to the enchanting 1924 silent film, Peter Pan. All concerts are performed at the stunning new FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in revitalized downtown St.Catharines. Experience The Power of 100! Diana McAdorey 905-934-5575 diana_mcadorey@yahoo.ca www.chorusniagara.org ●●Christ Church Deer Park Music plays a very important part at this busy Anglican parish church. Music for services is led by the organist and choir director. The Choir of Christ Church Deer Park is an auditioned, mixedvoice choir that rehearses Thursday evenings and sings Sunday mornings and on special occasions from September to June. Christ Church has hosted its “Jazz Vespers” for over 15 years. At 4:30pm every second Sunday from September to June, this service offers a chance for reflection, prayers for our community and music by Toronto’s finest jazz musicians. With its Yonge St. location (at Heath St. near the St. Clair TTC station), fine acoustics, full modern facilities, flexible staging, Steinway grand piano, three manual tracker organ and seating for 450, Christ Church is an increasingly popular venue for concert presenters during the year. Matthew Otto 416-920-5211 x28 motto@christchurchdeerpark.org www.thereslifehere.org CHORUS NIAGARA ●● Church of St. Mary Magdalene Steeped in musical heritage and assisted by a generous acoustic, St. Mary Magdalene offers a music program strongly rooted in the tradition established by Healey Willan. Every Sunday at the 11am Solemn Mass, the Gallery Choir sings a mass and motet from the west gallery, while the Ritual Choir sings the Gregorian propers from the east end. Both choirs rehearse on Thursdays. At the 9:30am Sung Mass, the SMM Singers sing a motet and lead congregational singing. Membership is informal: rehearsals are at 9:00am directly before the service; regular attendance is not mandatory. One Sunday per month at 4:30pm, the meditative Solemn Evensong and Benediction is sung, preceded by an organ recital at 4:00pm. For information, please contact the director of music, Andrew Adair. Andrew Adair 416-531-7955 andrew.timothy.adair@gmail.com www.stmarymagdalene.ca ●●Confluence (formerly Toronto Masque Theatre) Confluence is a new interdisciplinary, crosscultural multimedia project that continues the warm and wide-ranging programming of Toronto Masque Theatre with many new twists. Confluence – “an act or process of merging” – will be a company of diverse creative artists dedicated to intimate, thought-provoking, entertaining and moving presentations with a focus on: • Cabarets curated by a wide cross-section of Toronto’s leading musicians; • Anniversary programs celebrating important figures in music; • Salons and lectures on a wide variety of musical topics; • Commissions of new works by Canadian creative artists; • Special programs of rarely-performed sacred and spiritual music; • The launch of a new podcast series, entitled “Confluence: The Podcast” on and about music to be housed on the brand-new Confluence website (activated on September 16). Artistic producer Larry Beckwith has been ably assisted in planning this new mandate by a whole host of outstanding and diverse figures from Toronto’s amazing music scene. The launch of Confluence was on Sunday, September 16, featuring performances by Suba Sankaran, Andrew Forde, Cole Alvis, Patricia O’Callaghan and many more. The season continues with five more programs. Larry Beckwith 416-410-4561 larrybeckwith@sympatico.ca www.confluenceconcerts.ca ●●Cor Unum Ensemble Cor Unum Ensemble (kɔr unum: one heart) is one of Toronto’s newest early music ensembles, comprised of emerging professionals interested in vocal and instrumental collaboration within the early music repertoire. Founded in 2016 by Joel Allison and artistic director Ruth Denton, CUE performed its début concert to a full house at Trinity College Chapel, performing J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion with guest artistic director Adrian Butterfield. Our second season included a “choose-your-own-adventure” story-telling concert called “The Choice,” a concert of early Italian instrumental and vocal music, and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. We are frequent guest artists in the Hamilton Hammer Baroque series and also present private house concerts. CUE strives to create performance opportunities for young artists passionate about early music, and foster growth as individual artists. Our process is intentionally collaborative, valuing the collective experience our artists possess, theWholeNote 2018/19 PRESENTER PROFILES | B7