Volume 9 Issue 8 - May 2004

Next season includes

Next season includes Puccini's Messa di now numbering about 80 choristers. It appointment. Brule (at Banbury/York Mills) from Gloria; Garcia Lorca's Spanish gypsy has always enjoyed the reputation of melania.varcabet@utoronto.ca September to June, and a monthly songs by Castenuovo-Tedesco; and performing the best in choral music, Melania Varcabet: 905-417-2802 rehearsal is held on Saturday afternoon Finnish choral music. Good blend, pitch ranging from the most challenging of in the same area. Les voix du coeur and sight reading required. The next the classics to contemporary music. LACHAN JEWISH CHAMBER CHOIR presents two concerts a year and audition is Tuesday June 8. Under the direction of Conductor, Cantor Benjamin Z. Maissner created participates in community events three johnriddell@sympatico.ca Barbara McCann, the choir performs Lachan (meaning melody in Hebrew) I 0 or four times a year. Music reading John Riddell: 416-686-7607 three concerts a year. Most perfor- years ago with a group of enthusiastic ability is helpful. www.jubilatesingers.ca mances are held in Collier Street United Toronto-based musicians who shared a roll ande!@rogers.com Church, Barrie, with its fine acoustics love music. The choir's primary purpose Rolande McCarthy: 905-787-9872 JUST SINGERS CHAMBER CHOIR and excellent organ. Experienced was to showcase the best of Jewish Led by Dr. Adam Adler, this choir is open choristers can contact our Director to music, sung by the best of Toronto's LONDON PRO MUSICA to all without audition - music reading discuss membership and to arrange an voices. The choir is known inter- Led by Ken Fleet, conductor, this is ability is an .asset, but is not required. audition. Rehearsals are helcl every nationally for its musical virtuosity and London's oldest independent mixed- We aim to offer a supportive and fun Monday evening at Grttce United its comprehensive repertoire that spans voice choir with a current membership musical growth experience for our Church, Barrie. thousands of years and a variety of of 48 singers. It performs an extensive members, working within a mandate of barbmccann@rogers.com styles both popular and classical. range of classical music; including cooperation, democracy, and social Barbara McCann: 705-726-2095 Lachan has performed in Canada and works by Canadian composers, as well service. Just Singers performs a wide kingedwardchoir.org Europe, has appeared on TV and has as a varied popular repertoire. LPM range of repertoire, both liturgical and recently produced a CD. Size of the choir, presents an annual three-concert series, secular, ranging from Renaissance to KITCHENER-WATERLOO 30 volunteer singers. Location, Holy with an emphasis on collaborative the present. We rehearse Tuesdays, 7: 15- PHILHARMONIC CHOIR Blossom Temple 1950 Bathurst Street performances, and participates in 9:30 pm at All Saints' Anglican Church The Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Toronto. Anyone is eligible. Extensive several programs offered by Orchestra and Community Centre, SE corner of Choir was founded in 1883. In 1985 they Jewish repertoire. Entry is by audition. London Canada. There are additional Dundas and Sherbourne. There are established the Children's Choir, and in A good level of sighi-reading is expected. contracted and benefit performances, usually three concerts and three choral '98, the Youth Choir so the~e are now Key artistic personnel Cantor.Benjamin and occasional recording projects. evensongs between September and June, over 300 members. The Centre in the Z. Maissner. Lachan meets every Mon- Rehearsals are 7:15 - 9:45 pm each with some tours to venues in southern Square is the Phil's home for its annual day at 8-10.30 pm September to June. Monday night at Bishop Cronyn Ontario. For further information, email concert series. The choir has grown larryjacobs@rogers.com Memorial Church (Queens at William). adamadler@utoronto.ca. dramatically under the dynamic Laurence Jacobs: 4 Hi-425-1253 x 23 LPM invites experienced and motivated 647-222-5250 leadership of Conductor and Artistic www.lachan.org singers in all sections to audition: Time Director, Howard Dyck. He is well commitment: considerable. known to music lovers as the host of pgaudet@rogers.com Choral Concert and Saturday Afternoon Paul Gaudet: 519-672-6751 at the Opera on CBC Radio. He has www.londonpromusica.org KAMMERMUSIK TORONTO received numerous honours both LEASIDE UNITED CHURCH CHOIR Established in 1997 as The Millennium nationally and internationally and was This church choir, under director Singers, Kammermusik Toronto is a appointed to the Order of Canada in Sharon Beckstead, has four paid section not-for-profit chamber choir dedicated 2000, and was awarded the Queen's leads who help the choir sing an eclectic to promoting and performing eclectic Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. variety of anthems for Sunday worship MEGACITY CHORUS music. This SATE ensemble includes gcurrie@kwphilharmonic.com services and other choral events during An all-male a cappella group formed in between 25 and 30 singers who rehearse Gabriella Currie: 519-578-6885 the year. The choral highlight is the 1997 with a current membership of 50, once a week on the campus of the www.kwphilharmonic.com Festival of Lessons and Carols each this chorus has entertained all over University of Toronto. The choir performs December. Rehearsals are Thursdays, Ontario (including Hamilton Place, a wide range of music from medieval to KOMITAS CHOIR 7:30 - 9:30 pm, September through to Casino Rama and Mississauga Living modern in concerts held in December, Founded in 1973, the Komitas Choir has May. Sunday services are at 10:30 am Arts Centre) and has competed March and May/June each year. Auditions brought the music and traditions of and the choir sings September to June. Internationally placing 13th i.n the for all sections will be held in May 2004 Armenia to Canadian audiences. The sharon.beckstead@sympatico.ca World in 2003. Rehearsals take place for the fall term starting September 2004. repertoire includes Armenian folk and Sharon Beckstead: 416-425-1253 x 23 every Monday from 7:30 to 10:30 pm at Contact Artistic Director Keith Miiller by classical selections, as well as opera www.leaside.org Harmony Hall, 2 Gower Street, Toronto. e-mail for more information or to arrange choruses sung in Italian and French. Extra rehearsal may be necessary an audition. Under the direction of David Varjabed, LES VOIX DU COEUR around shows and competitions. keithmuller@rogers.com a renowned baritone, the choir has The choir was founded with the support Potential members do not have to read 416-778-1898 performed to great critical acclaim in of the Conseil des Eccles Fran~a ises de music but must pass an audition. www.kammermusiktoronto.com both Toronto and Montreal. la Communaute Urbaine de Toronto, and info@MegaCityChorus.com Members have the opportunity to learn celebrates its 10th anniversary this Jonathan Foster: 416-702-1112 vocal technique with David, a highly year. Les voix du coeur is the only www.MegaCityChorus.com KING EDWARD CHOIR skilled vocal teacher and voice French community choir in Toronto. It Since its inception in 1952, The King pedagogue. Rehearsals are on Tuesday is comprised of 35 members and a choir METROPOLITAN UNITED CHURCH Edward Choir of Barrie has become the and Friday at 25 Forest Manor Road PS. director, Manon Cote, . who are all area's largest mixed community choir, There are currently openings in all volunteers. Weekly rehear~als take place CHOIR AND FESTIVAL CHOIR categories (SATE). Call for audition on Wednesday nights at Ecole Etienne- The Church Choir is an auditioned choir 44 WWW. THEWHOLENOTE.COM M ay 1 - June 7 2004

of 32 with eight lead singers, rehearsing Thursday evenings, and singing Sunday mornings and on special occasions Sept-June. Repertoire is Medieval through 21st century, and singers must have some sight-singing ability. Currently a waiting list exists; contact the director late spring or early fall. The Festival Choir adds 10-15 additional singers to the core choir, and rehearses Sunday afternoons for six weeks prior to a Good Friday concert of music appropriate to the day. Past concerts featured sacred works by Bach, Mozart, Faure, Durufle, Gilles; Schuetz, Distler and others. Metropolitan United also has the following: Cherub Choir (ages 4-6), Metropolitan Choristers (7-11), Youth Choir (12 up), and Metropolitan Handbells. These groups are open to all. Dr. Patricia Wright, Director. palriciaw@melunited.org Patricia Wright: 416-363-0331 x26 www.metunited.org MILTON CHORISTERS The Milton Choristers celebrate their 35th anniversary with Songs for a Celebration! This group has been a vital component of the Milton commul)ity, providing the Halton region with excellence in choral music with a three concert series annually. We also participate regularly at various community events. The repertoire presented varies from the classical to contemporary and from the sacred to the secular. This season offers new and exciting opportunities to both singers and audiences. On May 30 join us for Out of the Ordinary, our 35th Anniversary Gala, a concert of operatic favourites, at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre. Rehearsals: Tuesday evenings 7:30-10:00 pm. inquiries@miltonchorislers.com Sonja van de Hoel: 905-876-3203 www.miltonchoristers.com MISSISSAUGA CHILDREN'S CHOIR Founded in 1981, the. Mississauga Children's Choir is a treble voiced choir of 120 children. Under the leadership of Music Director Thomas Bell, the MCC is dedicated to providing young singers with exceptional musical experiences through excellence in performance, education, touring and service to the community. Rehearsals are weekly in east May 1 - June 7 2004 Mississauga, Mondays -Training Chorus {ages 6-8) and Children's Chorus (aged 8 -12); Tuesdays- Youth Chorus (aged 12 - · 17). The MCC has an active schedule each NATHANIEL DETT CHORALE season of concerts, festivals, recordings, Brainerd Blyden-Taylor is Founder/ retreats and tours. Auditions are held Artistic Director of the Nathaniel Dell March and June by appointment. Information is available on our website. info@mississaugachildrens,choir.com Kathryn Brisley: 905-624-9704 www.mississaugachildrenschoir.com MISSISSAUGA CHORAL SOCIETY The Mississauga Choral Society was founded in 1975 by a group of enthusiastic amateur musicians al the University of Toronto's Erin dale College campus. Under the artistic direction of Chrys A. Bentley for the past 27 years, the Society has blossomed into a wellrespected, semi-professional ensemble of over 70 auditioned voices. The Mississauga Choral Society rehearses every Tuesday evening (7: 15-10: 15 pm) in Port Credit from September lo June and presents at least three concerts each year at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. The 2003-2004 season marks the choir's 29th season of choral music-making. For an audition appointment, call 905-278-7059 or visit our website. mcs@misschorsoc.com Linda Zutis: 905-278-7059 www.misschorsoc.com MISSISSAUGA FESTIVAL YOUTH CHOIR The MFYC, Deborah Bradley, Artistic Director, is open by audition to youth ages 9 - 19, treble and changed voices. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday nights September to June. The 75- member choir offers a developmental program for beginning singers ages 9 - 11, intermediate to advanced singers ages 12- 19, and chamber choir, a 16 voice advanced ensemble. Our diverse repertoire includes classical, contemporary, jazz, and gospel, with special emphasis on world music. Tuition assistance is available to students with financial need. Plans for the 2004-2005 season include a cultural exchange tour to Santiago de Cuba. info@mississaugachildrenschoir.com Deborah Bradley: 905-276-5732 www.mississaugachildrenschoir.com _(MttUitf Cfiora[ Celebration Chorale, Canada's first professional choral group created with an expressed mandate to perform Afrocentric music both in its Toronto home and on lour. The Chorale is comprised of 21 classically trained musicians and provides a forum for promoting public awareness of, and interest in, original works of Afrocentric composers, past, present and future. The Chorale is involved in developing an active musical commissioning program, curriculum for use in schools, lectures, demonstrations and master classes. Auditions by appointment only; one piece each of classical, jazz and gospel/ r&b. Sight reading necessary. info@nathanieldettchorale.org Alexa Venus White-Hawley: 416-340~ 7000, www.nathanieldettchorale.org NORFOLK NOTE-ABLES We are in our 8th year and presently have 20 auditioned singers from ages 11 - 18. We rehearse weekly for one and a half hours. We sing mostly locally for community events, schools and nursing homes. We have been to the Ottawa Tulip festival and will be visiting Toroljto and the Randolph Academy on May 7. This year we have initiated a training choir from ages 8-10 which rehearses for 3/4 of an hour weekly. We recently participated in the Norfolk Musical Arts Festival and won Overall Best Choir of the year. Rehearsals take place at First· Baptist Church in Simcoe, Ontario. irvinmg@kwic.com Marianna Irvin: 519-426-1865 NORTH 44° ENSEMBLE North 44° Ensemble was founded in the year 2000 by Artistic Director Geoffrey Butler. An affiliate of the Toronto Choral s'ociety, the ensemble consists of 22 auditioned members who are dedicated to excellence and eclecticism in choral music. North 44° is currently featured on the Juno nominated CD The Children of Lir by Loretto Reid. African Rhythms, our upcoming concert in May, 2004, features a selection of sounds and tales special engagements. North 44° rehearses once a week, on Tuesday evenings in the Toronto core. info@north44ensemble.org Deborah Micucci: 905 764-5140 www.north44ensemble.org NORTH METRO CHORUS North Metro Chorus is a vibrant group of approximately 180 women who sing 4-part harmony a cappella. As a show chorus, we have performed al major venues in Canada and the USA. As a member of Sweet Adelines International, we compete regularly and have been international champions three limes. Our repertoire includes popular show tunes, inspirational music as well as traditional barbershop songs. Our director, June Dale, winner of the Ontario Choral Federation's award for outstanding achievement, has been our director for 30 years. North Metro rehearses Wednesdays from 7:30 - 10.00 pm at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Cathedral, 76 Overlea Blvd. Toronto · Audition requirements are available upon request. carry@sympatico.ca Carol Archer: 416-495-7 436 www.northmetrochorus.com NORTHUMBERLAND ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR Now in its 26th season, the Northumberland Orchestra & Choir, comprising 60 members, is the County's first purveyor of orchestral and choral music. The NOC is a community organization with members of all ages and from all walks of life that have in common a love of making music. Our accomplished Music Director and Conductor is Maestro Matthew Jaskiewicz. We invite fellow choristers and musicians to join us. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings for the choir and Wednesday evenings for the orchestra, at Trinity United Church in Cobourg, from Labour Day until the end of May. Choir members need some experience singing in a choir along with the ability to read music. norchestra@sympatico.ca Patrick Dillon: 905-342-9295 www.norchestra.ca from Africa. Performances include two OAKHAM HOUSE CHOIR major concerts per year, as well as Oakham House Choir offers you the , WWW.THEWHOLENOTE.COM 45