Who we are

What is the ATSO

The Associates of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (ATSO) is made up of people who sponsor and organize The Small Concerts series, featuring musicians of The Toronto Symphony Orchestra presenting first-class chamber music. After a one-year lapse, we have succeeded in reviving the series through the generosity of an audience member and matching crowd funding.

The ATSO is proud to announce that the Small Concert Series is returning for its 47th season featuring 5 concerts starting on January 20th, 2020.

The Small Concerts are priced to appeal to music lovers who appreciate value and artistic excellence.

Get your tickets today!

Events

See Our Upcoming Concerts

SAVE 20% WITH A SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE REMAINING 3 CONCERTS IN THE SERIES

APR27,
MAY25

&

JUNE8
2020 Small Concert Series - Subscription for the Remaining 3 Concerts

Trinity-St.Paul’s Centre
427 Bloor St. W. (1 block west of Spadina subway).
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

APR 27, MAY 25 & JUNE 8

JAN

20
Song Before the Storm’ 1st of the 2020 Small Concerts

427 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M5S 1X6 Canada

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

FEB

10
Beethoven : Kreutzer and the Archduke

427 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M5S 1X6 Canada

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

APR

27
Clash and Calm: A Folkloric Journey

427 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M5S 1X6 Canada

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

MAY

25
Augmented 6ix/5’ - Marvellous Woodwinds

427 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M5S 1X6 Canada

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

JUNE

8
Folk Tunes Made Classic

427 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M5S 1X6 Canada

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

*Re-scheduled from March 30th 2020 to June 8th, 2020 due to venue closure/COVID-19*

TSO Featured Artists

Performing on Monday, June 8th 2020

Philip Chiu

Terry Holowach was already studying the violin at the age of 6. By age 11, he was studying at The Royal Conservatory of Music with John Moskalyk. Mr. Holowach has been a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 1970, except for a leave of absence in 1972-1974, when he studied at the Kiev Conservatory with Oleh Krysa. He has also performed with Trio Da Capo and served as concertmaster of the Pro Arte Orchestra under the direction of Victor Di Bello. In 1982, he was concertmaster for a Sony recording of Wagner's Siegfried Idyll conducted by Glenn Gould. He continues to take part in chamber performances, enjoys teaching, and is on faculty at the Algonquin International Music Institute. In 2015, Mr. Holowach joined with cellist Edward Hayes and pianist Ilona Damasiute-Beres to form the Zephyr Piano Trio. The trio has performed on two previous occasions in the ATSO Small Concert Series.

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Violin

Terry Holowach

Shane Kim

Edward Hayes began piano lessons with his father and composed his first piece at the age of seven. In Toronto, he furthered his composition studies with Sam Dolin at the Royal Conservatory. Mr. Hayes was a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for seventeen years, as well as Trio da Capo and the Pro Arte Orchestra. Ed performs with the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, has acted as principal of the Richmond Hill Philharmonic. He has also taught cello and bass with the Toronto District School Board for 20 years. He is currently a member of the cello octet Cellovision, The Twyford Quartet, and the Zephyr Piano Trio.

Cello

Edward Hayes

Clare Semes

Ilona Damasiute-Beres was born and educated in Lithuania where she completed her Bachelor’s and Masters’s degrees at the prestigious Lithuanian Academy of Music in Vilnius. There she received formal training in both solo performance and as a collaborative pianist, chamber musician and teacher. In 1995 Ms. Beres moved to Canada where she has been active as a vocal coach and piano accompanist for well-known instrumentalists and various ensembles including Toronto's famed Volunge Lithuanian Choir. She also manages a successful private piano studio in Toronto. Ms. Beres has served as Artistic Director of the Humbercrest Concert Series, was a member of the Calyx Chamber Ensemble, joined the faculty of the Midsummer Music by the Lake Festival, and performed at the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival.

Piano

llona Damasiute-Beres

TSO Featured Artists

Performing on Monday, February 10th 2020

Philip Chiu

A long-time member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian-born Canadian Violinist Atis Bankas is the first violinist of the Gould String Quartet, a member of the Potsdam Trio, leader of Ensemble CamerAtis. He is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Music Niagara and was inducted into the International Knightly Order of St. George in recognition of his musical contributions.

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Violin

Atis Bankas

Shane Kim

Principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 2009, Joseph Johnson has been heard throughout the world as a soloist, chamber musician and educator. Recent Joseph Johnson highlights include the Canadian Première of the Unsuk Chin Cello Concerto with the Esprit Orchestra, as well as Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with the Kingston Symphony and Etobicoke Philharmonic. Mr. Johnson performs on a magnificent Paolo Castello cello crafted in Genoa in 1780.

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Cello

Joseph Johnson

Clare Semes

Russian born Victoria Korchinskaya-Kogan is praised as “an admirably gifted performer” by Yuri Temirkanov, “a pianist of great talent, having extraordinary skills and boundless musicality” by Mikhail Pletnev, and a “true artist ” by Yefim Bronfman. Victoria is the winner of The Stravinsky Piano Competition, Andorra Piano Competition, E-Piano Competition in Minneapolis and the International Piano Competition in Korea, among others.

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Piano

Victoria Kogan

TSO Featured Artists

Performing on Monday, January 20th 2020

Philip Chiu

An exceedingly sociable pianist, Philip concertizes extensively as one of Canada’s most sought-after chamber musicians. Chiu has appeared in recitals with leading musicians on the world stage, and plays with striking precision and subtle poetry.

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Pianist

Philip Chiu

Shane Kim

Toronto-born violinist Shane Kim has been a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) since 2012. He is the winner of the Orford String Quartet Award & founding member of the XIA String Quartet with fellow TSO musicians.

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Violin

Shane Kim

Clare Semes

Clare is a recent Alumna of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach where she was a fellow for the 2016/2017 season before joining the TSO in 2017. Clare has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras, and her diverse musical interests have led her to performances beyond the traditional concert hall.

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Violin

Clare Semes

Theresa Rudolph

Theresa Rudolph is an active chamber musician, recitalist, and orchestral player. Theresa joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Viola in 2011, and is currently performing as the Viola. Theresa has performed on series and festivals throughout North America and performs regularly as a member of the TSO Chamber Soloists.

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Viola

Theresa Rudolph

Joseph Johnson

Mr. Johnson has been heard throughout the world as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator. A gifted and inspiring teacher, Mr. Johnson is Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of Toronto, as well as the cello coach for the Toronto Youth Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Johnson performs on a magnificent Paolo Castello cello crafted in Genoa in 1780

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Principal Cello

Joseph Johnson

Get in Touch

Drop us a line

Looking to purchase tickets or volunteer with the ATSO? Have a question, comment or concern for our team? Send us a message here and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

427 Bloor St West Toronto, Ontario
416 221 8342
atsoconcerts@gmail.com




    Please direct all mail to 1808 – 5444 Yonge St., Toronto ON M2N 6J4

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    donation

    What does my
    donation support?

    At the May 2018 concert, we announced this would be our final concert because of a lack of funds. At least $20,000 per season of 5 concerts is needed (in addition to ticket revenues) to present The Small Concerts series.

    To our delight and amazement, at the May 2018 concert a generous supporter pledged $10,000 to continuing The Small Concerts, if the ATSO could raise an additional matching $10,000. Our loyal audience rose to the occasion, and by December we succeeded in crowdfunding the additional $10,000. Because the musicians need a lead time of 12 - 18 months to commit to perform, it was not possible to present a 2019 concert season; however, we are now focussing on mounting a superb 2020 season!

    This is just the beginning; the funds pledged and collected will finance our 2020 season of 5 concerts. The Associates’ hope is that our loyal audience and other classical chamber music lovers will continue to donate regularly; with your help and generosity, you will make it possible for us to present concerts for many years to come. We hope your interest in these concerts will encourage you to continue supporting some of the best chamber music in the GTA, both with your donations and with your attendance at concerts!

    Donate Now

    Be a Volunteer

    With the support of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, ATSO volunteers secure musicians for concerts, publicize the concerts through print, radio, TV and the Web, and ensure that concerts run smoothly. If you would enjoy working with people who appreciate and promote an interest in classical music, please consider becoming a volunteer of the ATSO; volunteers are most welcome!

    Become a Volunteer