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Volume 24 Issue 2 - October 2018

  • Text
  • October
  • Toronto
  • Arts
  • Choir
  • Jazz
  • Musical
  • Concerts
  • Performing
  • Orchestra
  • Theatre
Presenters, start your engines! With TIFF and "back-to-work" out of the way, the regular concert season rumbles to life, and, if our Editor's Opener can be trusted, "Seeking Synergies" seems to be the name of the game. Denise Williams' constantly evolving "Walk Together Children" touching down at the Toronto Centre for the Arts; the second annual Festival of Arabic Music and Arts expanding its range; a lesson in Jazz Survival with Steve Wallace; the 150 presenter and performer profiles in our 19th annual Blue Pages directory... this is an issue that is definitely more than the sum of its parts.

BLUE PAGES

BLUE PAGES 2018/19 SECTION I: PRESENTERS & PERFORMERS instrumentalists enjoy our Klezmer Ensemble, Daytime Ukulele classes, and Adult String Ensembles. Children can be registered for Preschool Suzuki Music Classes, Suzuki Tuesday group and enrichment classes, and Suzuki music/arts summer camp. We also offer Talks on Music, daytime concerts and Opera Appreciation lectures throughout the year. Home to the Al Green Theatre, a state-of-the-art venue with a grand piano, full stage and film screening capabilities, the MNjcc is perfect for arts and corporate events. Deanna Di Lello 416-924-6211 deannad@mnjcc.org www.mnjcc.org ●●Mississauga Festival Choir The Mississauga Festival Choir was founded in 1984 to honour the City of Mississauga’s 10th anniversary. It has been an integral part of the city’s arts scene ever since, providing exemplary music education and performances to the people of Mississauga. Founded by Dr. Lori-Anne Dolloff and led by David Ambrose since 2006, MFC is a true community choir open to all singers – no audition is necessary. MFC is proud of its strong community ties, and each season raises funds for neighbourhood charities through its Festival of Friends event, raising more than ,000 for many causes over the past 10 years and also represents the people of Mississauga internationally, having toured Scotland, Ireland, Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Prague. Jennifer Johnston 416-986-5537 choiradmin@mfchoir.com www.mfchoir.com ●●Mississauga Symphony Orchestra The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra is passionate about, and committed to, maintaining and continuing the tradition of classical symphonic music in Mississauga. We take pride in our designation as the best hybrid orchestra in Canada, a term that describes an orchestra with a mix of professional musicians and highly skilled amateurs. The use of local soloists, including members of the Mississauga Symphony Youth Orchestra and the winner of our annual Youth Concerto Competition, supports the development of local talent, which ensures continued interest in the wonderful art form that we hold dear. With the inclusion of the Mississauga Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2014, the organization has become the centre of classical music in Mississauga, built around the pillars of music education, performance, and entertainment. The MSO has grown significantly since its inception in 1972, and is now designated as one of Mississauga’s six pillars of arts, culture and heritage. Under the direction of Maestro Denis Mastromonaco since 2013, the MSO continues to offer entertaining and increasingly sophisticated programs from the classical and popular repertoires of symphonic music with a quality of programming that meets the highest artistic standards. Ryan Tobin 905-615-4405 info@mississaugasymphony.ca www.mississaugasymphony.ca ●●Mooredale Concerts Celebrating 30 Years! Great Music for All. For 29 years, a legion of music lovers of all ages has passed through our doors. In gratitude, we’re honoured to present a pre-eminent 30th season, which is fresh, bold, and deep. Our 2018-19 season showcases three string quartets, recognized as top-tier in their respective countries. We will present two Masters – Mozart and Beethoven – in their own concerts, and two more exotic music ensembles – a violin-viola-piano trio and a wind/piano quintet. The players: Calidore String Quartet, Dorian Wind Quintet, Artistic Directors Trio, The Heath Quartet, Christian Blackshaw, piano, and New Orford String Quartet. Six-concert subscriptions are 0/0 adult/senior and under age 30. Concerts are Sundays 3:15pm, Walter Hall (UofT) - general admission seating. MUSIC & TRUFFLES KIDS – Give your child their first taste of classical music! Artists featured in five of our six mainstage events will also perform a one-hour mini-concert for young people ages 6 to 11 and their parents, grandparents, friends at 1:15pm (no concert March 17th). Subscriptions and include a Lindt chocolate truffle for everyone at the end of each concert. Wonny Song (AD of Orford Music) is our artistic director. Christina Cavanagh 416-922-3714 x103 marketing@mooredaleconcerts.com www.mooredaleconcerts.com ●●Music at Metropolitan Music at Metropolitan presents a variety of concerts at Metropolitan United Church, featuring Metropolitan’s choir, soloists and guest artists. This season includes two events celebrating Metropolitan’s 200th anniversary: an organ recital by Dr. Ryan Jackson on Friday, October 19 at 7:30pm; and an anniversary arts event on Saturday, November 3 at 7pm. Other concerts include: Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and other works on March 9; the Bach Family and Improvisation on April 6; our annual Good Friday concert on April 19 featuring music (Baroque and Romantic) and poetry by Patricia Orr for Good Friday; “Barbara” French Cabaret on May 5; and Praise and Protest: Jazz, Blues and Gospel on May 25. Our special Christmas events include the Deck the Halls carol sing with the Metropolitan Silver Band and organ on December 9 at 1:30pm, and our Candlelight Carol Service on December 16 at 7 pm. Metropolitan houses the largest pipe organ in Canada and the oldest tuned carillon in North America. Please contact us for a concert brochure or for more information. Dr. Patricia Wright 416-363-0331 x26 patriciaw@metunited.org www.metunited.org ●●Music at St. Andrew’s Music at St. Andrew’s is a community outreach program of historic St. Andrew’s Church in downtown Toronto. This vibrant program was inspired by the church’s 2011 purchase of a Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano. We’re pleased to share this fine instrument with the greater community. The piano is featured extensively in our free Friday Noontime Recitals each fall and spring. Our sixth season launches October 5 with performances by U. of T. postgraduate music students and professionals. On Saturday, December 1 our historic, candle-lit church will provide an atmospheric setting for an evening of dramatic readings from A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens’ beloved tale will be brought to life by Michael Enright, host of CBC Radio’s The Sunday Edition, classical music expert Rick Phillips and other talented readers. Musical interludes and a gingerbread reception will complement the readings. Our annual Mardi Gras concert returns Friday, March 1, 2019 with an exuberant evening of beads, parades and authentic New Orleans jazz performed by Patrick Tevlin’s Magnolia Brass Band & Friends. Music at St. Andrew’s presents great music at affordable prices! Concerts take place at St. Andrew’s Church, 73 Simcoe St., Toronto. Dan Bickle 416-593-5600 x231 info@standrewstoronto.org www.standrewstoronto.org ●●Music Gallery The Music Gallery is Toronto’s Centre for Creative Music. We present and promote experimentation and innovation in all forms of music, and encourage cross-pollination between genres, disciplines and audiences. Since 1976, we have occupied a valued position within Toronto’s musical ecology presenting both internationally renowned contemporary music and a wide spectrum of local artists and projects. We are now located in the beautiful 918 Bathurst St. Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education. We present the X Avant Festival during October, Emergents (emerging artists) and Departures (off-site) series as well as unique main stage concert experiences throughout our season. We also partner with artists and arts organizations to co-present their work in our space, assisted by our highly experienced technical crew. Our season runs September through June with off-season events. B14 | theWholeNote 2018/19 PRESENTER PROFILES

Kayla McGee 416-204-1080 kayla@musicgallery.org www.musicgallery.org ●●Music Toronto “...The chamber music recital is not just alive, it’s kicking.” (Musicaltoronto.org) A legacy organization in classical music, Music Toronto presents the world’s best chamber ensembles and pianists. Twelve concerts we are proud to present. We are calling it Canada 151. And what a lineup! Superstar pianist Marc-André Hamelin; the St. Lawrence Quartet with baritone Tyler Duncan; Ensemble Made in Canada; Louise Bessette: Quebec’s remarkable new music pianist; the Gryphon Trio; the Lafayette and Saguenay (formerly Alcan) Quartets playing octets; Marc-André Hamelin (again!) playing Dvorak with the legendary Juilliard Quartet. Cuban jazz great Hilario Durán with Roberto Occhipinti, bass and Mark Kelso, drums - and Annalee Patipatanakoon, violin, and Roman Borys, cello, of the Gryphon Trio. But we also pride ourselves on our international artists. Renowned UK pianist Danny Driver, and three débuts: the young Finnish pianist Juho Pohjonen; the rising star French Van Kuijk Quartet; and the established Israeli-American Ariel Quartet. Great music of five centuries, artists new and familiar: only the best, only at Music Toronto. You can’t afford to miss music this good! Box Office 416-366-7723 www.music-toronto.com ●●Nathaniel Dett Chorale The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is a 21-voice SATB professional choir based in Toronto, dedicated to performing Afrocentric music of all genres, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues. Founded by artistic director Dr. D. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor in 1998, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada’s premier performer of Afrocentric composers and a touchstone for the education of audiences and communities regarding the full spectrum of Afrocentric choral music. The mission of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale is to build bridges of understanding, appreciation and acceptance between communities of people through the medium of music. The Chorale has a Toronto concert season, tours extensively each season and has released several CDs and DVDs. The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is artist-in-residence at the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas at York University. Membership is by audition. The 2018-19 season marks the 20th anniversary of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale. Celebrations will include a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of R. Nathaniel Dett’s death; a world premiere by composer-in-residence, Dr. Stephen Newby - Seattle Pacific University; and MISSISSAUGA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA the launch of a composition competition. D. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor 416-736-2100 x33068 info@nathanieldettchorale.org www.nathanieldettchorale.org ●●New Music Concerts New Music Concerts’ 48th season begins, on Saturday October 6, with Linda Bouchard’s intriguing multi-media work Murderous Little World featuring the Bellows and Brass ensemble and video by Yan Breuleux and Frédéric St- Hilaire,. November 11 sees the tenth iteration of the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal’s Generation project with young composers James O’Callaghan, Thierry Tidrow, Patrick Giguère and Sophie Dupuis, followed on December 2 by a tribute to arts philanthropist Michael Koerner, featuring Ben Heppner. On January 25, “A Portrait of Toshio Hosokawa” provides the final event of the University of Toronto New Music Festival, and on February 24 German pianist Moritz Ernst presents a survey of 20th and 21st century keyboard music in a non-subscription fundraising event. On April 28, New Music Concerts remembers two cherished friends, Gilles Tremblay and Pierre Boulez, in a concert featuring pianist Louise Bessette and contralto Patricia Green. The season concludes with “Iridescence” featuring virtuosic works by three Canadians, Ana Sokolović, Samuel Andreyev and Matthias McIntire. Robert Aitken, founding artistic director David Olds, general manager 416-961-9594 nmc@interlog.com www.newmusicconcerts.com ●●newchoir newchoir is Toronto’s first adult rock choir performing with a rock band. Our 130-voice choir sings SATB arrangements of well-known rock and pop songs from the last 50 years. A special Canadian guest artist is featured at our spring concert (at Koerner Hall) each season, with the choir singing back-up harmonies. Caroline Suri 647-203-3408 carolinesuri@rogers.com www.newchoir.ca ●●Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation marks its 25th anniversary this season under the continuing leadership of artistic director Eric Robertson. Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation has presented a rich variety of concerts for Toronto audiences, including its popular weekly recital series, as well as international groups such as King’s College Cambridge Choir, Clare College Singers and St. John’s College Choir. It has also featured Canadian artists including John Neville, Erica Goodman, Colin Fox, John McDermott, Sharlene Wallace, Anne Lindsay, the True North Brass, the Gryphon Trio, Christine Duncan’s Element Choir, and percussion ensemble NEXUS. Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation is also involved in the City Carol Sing, a large annual charity event that raises money for food banks across Canada. Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing the best in inspirational arts programming. It is governed by an elected volunteer board of directors and operates with the assistance of advisors from a variety of backgrounds, including event management, promotions, finance and business. Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation, in cooperation with Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, begins its 2018/19 season. Colleen Burns 416-241-1298 9sparrows.arts@gmail.com www.9sparrowsarts.org theWholeNote 2018/19 PRESENTER PROFILES | B15

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