2020 Presenter Profiles (Blue Pages)

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The Orpheus Choir’s vision is to celebrate the power of choral music as an agent of social change and a passionate medium of artistic expression. The 65-voice choir under artistic director Robert Cooper, champions the new and unusual in choral performance, commissioning and introducing new works and performing overlooked masterpieces. Regularly working with living composers, and singing a wide range of repertoire in concerts with high production values, Orpheus has introduced audiences to many accessible works from the current generation of leading composers. Orpheus also supports young emerging vocal talent through its highly respected Sidgwick Scholars Program and its newer Vocal Apprentice Program for high school singers. Winner of the 2018 Choral Canada Award for Outstanding Innovation, Orpheus continues to present an “expect something different” experience!

The 2020/21 season will begin virtually, with livestreamed performances in November and December, moving to live performances when circumstances permit. Planned projects include a program of favourites selected by the choir members, and an exploration of music and mental health in Allan Bevan’s Ancient of Days.

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Pax Christi Chorale Christi Chorale delivers stirring performances with great polish and total conviction. Under the leadership of artistic director David Bowser, the award-winning choir aspires to build on its strengths and accomplishments to achieve new levels of performance and audience engagement. Collaborations with outstanding guest artists and partners give audiences and performers a deep appreciation for choral masterworks and new Canadian music.

The Pax Christi Chamber Choir placed first in its category in Choral Canada’s 2017 national competition for amateur choirs. We champion great choral music among a diverse community. We have an inclusive philosophy and welcome audience members and choristers from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Pax Christi Chorale has moved its activities online for the 2020/21 season. Visit our website for more information on audition and concert information, or email interim executive director Cynthia Hawkins.

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Originally formed as the Peterborough Symphony Singers in 1990, the Peterborough Singers (PS) became a stand-alone entity in 1993. This highly-regarded, auditioned, amateur choir boasts upwards of 110 members under the direction of Sydney Birrell. The PS encourages young singers to join the choir to enhance their musical skills as well as to be part of a local community. Each season, the choir presents four concerts, incorporating a blend of repertoire from gospel to sacred, pop to oratorio. Highlights have included Bach’s B Minor Mass, St. Matthew Passion, Elijah, Belshazzar’s Feast, Canadian Legends and the annual Messiah. The Singers hold weekly rehearsals and music classes enabling our musicians to gain the skills required for Choral music performance.

World-class, professional Canadian soloists enjoy performing with the choir time and again. The PS also make a point of incorporating young emerging artists into their season, giving them a chance to perform alongside some of the more seasoned performers. Specially commissioned music from Canadian composers is part of the repertoire. For information please visit our website.

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Originally formed as the Peterborough Symphony Singers in 1990, the Peterborough Singers (PS) became a stand-alone entity in 1993. This highly-regarded, auditioned, amateur choir boasts upwards of 110 members under the direction of Sydney Birrell. The PS encourages young singers to join the choir to enhance their musical skills as well as to be part of a local community. Each season, the choir presents four concerts, incorporating a blend of repertoire from gospel to sacred, pop to oratorio. Highlights have included Bach’s B Minor Mass, St. Matthew Passion, Elijah, Belshazzar’s Feast, Canadian Legends and the annual Messiah. The Singers hold weekly rehearsals and music classes enabling our musicians to gain the skills required for Choral music performance.

World-class, professional Canadian soloists enjoy performing with the choir time and again. The PS also make a point of incorporating young emerging artists into their season, giving them a chance to perform alongside some of the more seasoned performers. Specially commissioned music from Canadian composers is part of the repertoire. For information please visit our website.

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The Piano Lunaire is a contemporary classical music organization based in Toronto, pursuing the presentation of artistic excellence in the 21st Century. The company's portfolio is three-fold: we produce monthly full moon performances, house a record label ("Lunaire Records"), and collaborate with the Canadian musical community at large, in the capacity of both fundraising and pedagogical platform. Correspondingly, our mission comprises three mandates: 1) to present new, dynamic and piano-centric music from the last fifty years to present; 2) to give voice to emerging professionals in the vibrant scene that is Toronto’s musical ecosystem and; 3) to offer audiences a direct, challenging and ultimately supportive concert experience, as they engage with the music of today and the artists of the future.

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Rebecca Davis Public Relations provides publicity, media and communications services to musicians, arts organizations and record labels, specializing in classical, jazz and other niche genres. From offices in New York and Florida, RDPR brings a respected and enthusiastic voice, in-depth musical knowledge and broad promotional expertise to help artists achieve meaningful and impactful visibility in mainstream and specialist press.

Rebecca brings more than two decades of experience working with musicians, arts organizations and the world’s leading major and independent record labels. She has implemented successful media campaigns for A-list pianists, violinists, singers, composers and vocal and instrumental ensembles. Clients have included Renée Fleming, Jonas Kaufmann, Giancarlo Guerrero and the Nashville Symphony, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Calidore String Quartet, Yuja Wang, Eric Whitacre and Cantus. Rebecca was led to a career in classical music publicity through her experience as a classically trained soprano and currently performs with the St. Petersburg Opera in Florida.

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The Royal Canadian College of Organists is the oldest organization of musicians in Canada, dedicated to supporting our country's organists and promoting the organ and its music to a broad audience. The College publishes the quarterly journal Organ Canada, offers examinations for organists from beginner to professional levels, and holds a major organ convention every second summer. The Toronto Centre has approximately 200 members in the city and GTA, and is led by a vibrant executive committee that meets monthly to coordinate and plan short- and long-term events. This fall, the College's offerings are primarily online, with a video series featuring Bach's Orgelbüchlein chorale preludes as well as other performances and workshops; please see our website or Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.

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The Royal Conservatory’s Koerner Hall is “the greatest venue in this city” and “magnificent in its acoustics, as much as in its design” (Toronto Star). This concert season, we bring you jazz, classical, world, and roots music performances by extraordinary international and Canadian artists - in a way that is safe and responsible. Join us in celebrating our Beethoven’s 250 Festival in November-December 2020 and the 21C Music Festival in January 2021, and close to 100 more concerts to choose from in the 2020/21 concert season, September 2020 through May 2021.

We look forward to sharing uplifting and inspiring live music with you!

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In response to COVID-19, the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra will proudly and safely present our 41st season online. The SPO has always been dedicated to enriching the musical life of the greater Scarborough area by presenting engaging, high-quality musical performances. We are proud and grateful to continue to do so.

For 2020/21, the SPO will present two online series based on interesting themes. All-new “SPOGreatMusic” podcast episodes will be available on major platforms every other Friday, beginning September 18, and new Music Performance videos will be posted every other Friday to our YouTube channel, beginning on October 9. Both series run through April 2021.

Music Performance videos will feature SPO musicians, the Odin String Quartet, guest artists, and our artist-in-residence, Dr. Lisa Tahara. We will also post animated short films created by fourth year Sheridan College students with new music by composers from our SPO family. Podcasts will feature amazing interviews with musicians, composers, historians, musicologists, special guests, sector representatives, community partners (including the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, Scarborough Arts, and FabCollab Toronto), and more. Our composer-in-residence and podcast host is Dr. Daniel Mehdizadeh.

For more information, theme details, music performance selections, and links, please visit our website and social media platforms regularly. #SPOGreatMusic.

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SINE NOMINE was formed in Toronto in 1991 to research and perform music from before 1500, and has given concerts in Canada, the United States, and the UK. The members have varied backgrounds in vocal and instrumental performance (wind instruments, fiddles, lutes, and percussion), musicology, medieval history, language, literature, liturgy, and manuscript studies. In preparing repertoire, we draw on all of these specialties, and experiment with improvisation and ornamentation, as well as medieval pronunciations and tuning systems, hoping to create performances which are intelligible and enjoyable to modern audiences - and which would not have been wholly foreign to medieval listeners! We blend vocal and instrumental music from medieval courts and churches with readings, and occasionally drama, liturgy, or dance, to provide insight into the fascinating artistic and intellectual culture of the Middle Ages.

Our 2020/21 Toronto season is on hold, pending public health developments, but our current project is a detailed exploration of a 14th-century Italian manuscript with an unusually rich combination of vocal music and instrumental dances.

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Founded in 1982, Soundstreams is one of the world’s leading contemporary music companies, and the largest global presenter of new Canadian music. Artistic director Lawrence Cherney and executive director Menon Dwarka are committed to showcasing the work of living composers with a focus on innovative thematic and experiential programming, and creating a living and lasting legacy for Canadian music.

Soundstreams also serves a broad community of music lovers through free outreach and education programs including Encounters, the RBC Bridges workshop for early career composers, BMO SoundWave and SoundMakers. Encounters is a free discovery series featuring performances, discussions, and audience participation; the RBC Bridges workshop for early career composers helps talented contemporary composers from around the world launch their careers; BMO SoundWave provides accessible-priced tickets; and SoundMakers provides interactive learning experiences online and in the classroom.

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SPEAK Music is a Canadian publicity and promotions company based in Toronto, Ontario. Our mission is to help discover new musical talent and reconnect established artists with the ever-changing Canadian media landscape. We specialize in genres from folk to indie, world music to jazz, country and blues to pop, and everything in between. SPEAK Music has been providing encouragement and professional support to performing musicians, independent record labels, distributors, festivals, not-for-profit organizations, and music charities since March 2003.

SPEAK Music provides press releases, album servicing, consulting, media training, reviews, features, interviews, premieres, non-commercial radio, and tour press. We want your music to be heard by as many media and music tastemakers as possible.

Director Beverly Kreller has extensive media and artist relations, publicity, special event, and production experience, with strong communications and writing skills, and is highly motivated, enthusiastic, and results-oriented. She was the publicist and artistic director of the Winterfolk Festival for the past 12 years and began her own successful SPEAK Music Be Kind Festival in January, 2020. She also performs with her duo, HOTCHA!

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Reaching Out Through Music was founded in 2007 with the goal of providing free, high-quality music education to the children and youth of St. James Town, a dense, underserved community that is home to thousands of ethnically diverse, low-income newcomers to Canada. Over the years, hundreds of children have participated in a variety of free arts programs including choir, piano, violin, guitar, ukulele, voice and, most recently, drama. Professional artists provide sensitive, child-centred instruction, and the children receive free instruments, as needed. The St. James Town Children’s Choir remains at the heart of the organization. Our recent name change from Reaching Out Through Music to St. James Town Community Arts (SJTCA) was prompted by the desire to highlight the community that we serve and to acknowledge our expansion into other artistic domains. The SJTCA team consists of dedicated professionals and volunteers who contribute their talent and passion with the shared belief that every child should reap the benefits of arts education and engagement regardless of their financial means. Visit us on our website and follow us @sjtca.

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St. Thomas’s Church, Toronto, is one of the oldest Anglo-Catholic congregations in Canada. Established in 1874, the parish has been, from its earliest days, at the forefront of the liturgical and musical life of the Anglican Church of Canada. Excellent choral and organ music are vital components of all Sunday services, Feast Days, and the liturgies of Advent and Holy Week. Starting in September, for as long as COVID-19 restrictions are in effect and choral gatherings are prohibited, we are pleased to offer weekly solo excerpts from Bach's Church Cantatas, and hope that these provide comfort and joy in such unusual and difficult times. All of our services are live-streamed online and can be found through the St. Thomas's website.

Looking ahead to when we can once again sing together, St. Thomas's will present three choral services each Sunday, sung by a dedicated group of volunteers supported by section leads: “Sung Eucharist (Contemporary Rite)” at 9:30am; “Solemn Eucharist (Traditional Rite)” at 11am; and “Solemn Evensong and Devotions” at 7pm. The repertoire is diverse, from plainsong and Renaissance masterpieces to gems of the British cathedral tradition, contemporary Canadian compositions, and other choral masterworks.

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The critically-acclaimed Symphony In The Barn Festival at Glencolton Farms, Canada's leading biodynamic farm, brings together music, and the tastes and sounds of idyllic farm life as an immersive backdrop for a three-day open-air weekend festival. A typical concert is accompanied by the sounds of the birds in the rafters, a visit by one of the farm animals, and features a starlight reception, and farm-baked refreshments.  Symphony in the Barn has been host to critically-acclaimed opera productions, jazz concerts, an annual film festival, its annual Christkindl market, First Nations dance, classical chamber, and orchestral performances. With the tagline “Where Culture Meets Agriculture”, the festival is centred around themes of sustainability, education, and artistic enlightenment.

Symphony in The Barn looks forward to celebrating its 26th anniversary, by producing a full open-air festival on the first weekend in August 2021. Farmer/conductor/general director Michael Schmidt is excited to announce the appointment of pianist Kati Gleiser and conductor Kevin Mallon as co-artistic directors. Virginia Gallop joins the team as Executive Director.

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Led by music director Elisa Citterio and executive director Carol Kehoe, Tafelmusik is an orchestra, choir, and experience that celebrates beauty through music of the past.

Founded over 40 years ago on the pillars of passion, learning, and artistic excellence, Tafelmusik continues to bring new energy to baroque music and beyond. Historically informed performances of 17th- to 19th-century instrumental and choral music (led by chamber choir director Ivars Taurins) share the stage with vibrant, insightful multimedia programs, and bold new music written just for the group. Each piece is played on period instruments, underscored and illuminated by scholarship.

Through dynamic performances, international touring, award-winning recordings, and comprehensive education programs, Tafelmusik invites audiences to engage with beauty and experience the breadth of emotion music can inspire.

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Under the leadership of artistic director Peter Mahon, The Tallis Choir is a mixed-voice chamber choir of 36 voices that has been performing together since 1977. The choir presents an annual subscription series of four concerts between October and May each year in the magnificent acoustic of St. Patrick’s Church in downtown Toronto. Known for innovative programming and polished performances of repertoire covering more than five centuries, the Tallis Choir is an extremely versatile ensemble. They specialize in performances of rarely-heard sacred masterpieces of the Italian, Spanish and English Renaissance that form the cornerstone of their concert series. While they frequently feature a capella polyphonic works, the Choir often works with guest artists performing on period string and wind instruments to add further authenticity to the experience. Additionally, the Choir can be heard in performances around the GTA and southern Ontario, having appeared in the Colours of Music Festival, Luminato Festival, and in multiple performances at the Sony Centre.

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Called “the leader of the opera pack” by the Globe and Mail, Tapestry Opera is a rare gem in Canada’s cultural landscape. After four decades of boundary-breaking opera, the company enters its 41st year filled with hope and the drive to explore in its 2020/21 season.

Featuring digital comedy opera shorts about the current social and political climate, the first-ever opera writers' room and group-creation workshop, Tapestry's 2020/21 season showcases the best of the creativity that comes with adversity. Faced with a year in which indoor live performances are no guarantee, the company instead curated a season full of cancellation-proof digital works. Monthly livestreams from the beautiful Ernest Balmer Studio each embody the spirit of innovation that defines Tapestry; slow-release digital gems pop up on your timelines without warning; and the world premiere of a gorgeous new work, Dragon's Tale by Ka Nin Chan and Mark Brownell, satisfies the desire for human connection in a free, outdoor performance in June 2021, co-produced with Soundstreams.

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Called “the leader of the opera pack” by the Globe and Mail, Tapestry Opera is a rare gem in Canada’s cultural landscape. After four decades of boundary-breaking opera, the company enters its 41st year filled with hope and the drive to explore in its 2020/21 season.

Featuring digital comedy opera shorts about the current social and political climate, the first-ever opera writers' room and group-creation workshop, Tapestry's 2020/21 season showcases the best of the creativity that comes with adversity. Faced with a year in which indoor live performances are no guarantee, the company instead curated a season full of cancellation-proof digital works. Monthly livestreams from the beautiful Ernest Balmer Studio each embody the spirit of innovation that defines Tapestry; slow-release digital gems pop up on your timelines without warning; and the world premiere of a gorgeous new work, Dragon's Tale by Ka Nin Chan and Mark Brownell, satisfies the desire for human connection in a free, outdoor performance in June 2021, co-produced with Soundstreams.

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Building on more than 50 years of concert performances, the Toronto Chamber Choir of around 40 skilled singers under artistic director Lucas Harris has held a prominent place in Canada’s early music scene since 1968. It specializes in Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, collaborating regularly with Toronto’s rich pool of period instrumentalists, but also with forays into other periods. Currently on pandemic hiatus but meeting virtually until it’s safe to resume, the choir generally presents four concerts per season - two Saturday evening concerts and two Sunday afternoon “Kaffeemusik” presentations - that explore the cultural context of our repertoire through narration, often with a special guest expert. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings with occasional Saturday “retreats.” Auditions for new volunteer members are held anytime by arrangement with the director, while auditions for our Toronto Chamber Consort section lead program are held in May or June. Choir blog and other information is available on the website.

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The Toronto Choral Society (TCS) was founded in 1845, to foster a positive musical environment that enables members to learn and develop both musical ability and choral repertoire. The TCS aims to be an integral part of the community of Toronto, presenting important works from the traditional choral repertoire, exploring the music of the many cultures that make up our community, and making an active contribution to the life of the city by participating in community events. During this difficult time TCS hopes you are all safe. We would love to provide you with more information about our upcoming concerts, unfortunately at this time due to the current lock-down restrictions we will not be performing live concerts until sometime in 2021.

We are currently pursuing the possibility of an online concert in November. There are a number of technical issues that still need to be resolved as well as engaging our choir members through online rehearsals. We have been very fortunate with the loyalty of our members and supporters and we will keep you informed as things develop.

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For 29 years, Toronto Classical Singers has been known for its unique musical point of view and its high-quality performances, often presenting the lesser-known and rarely performed vocal/orchestral repertoire as well as the standard works. With its exuberant approach, the group celebrates the choral tradition with its complex sonority of large choir with professional orchestra.

Over our 29 seasons in Toronto, it took a full-blown pandemic to cancel a single performance and like all arts groups we are greatly impacted by the situation. We are postponing our May 2021 performance but hope that founding conductor Jurgen Petrenko will lead the choir, the Talisker Players and soloists for our all Vaughan Williams concert as part of next season’s programming. As vast as the ocean, his Sea Symphony will be performed with Five Mystical Songs, creating a concert of atmospheric awe and wonder.

We look forward to resuming our full schedule in 2021-2022, as we celebrate 30 years of contributing to the fabric of musical life in Toronto.

Our concerts are presented at Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street. Please visit us at www.torontoclassicalsingers.ca for more information.

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The Toronto Consort is Canada’s leading ensemble, specializing in the music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and early Baroque. Led by a collective of artistic associates, ten of Canada’s leading early music specialists, the Consort presents a main stage concert series at the beautiful Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, located in the Annex. The Consort has toured extensively and has recorded music for film and television, including the hit television series "The Tudors and The Borgias", and is releasing its 15th CD recording in Autumn 2019: Frescobaldi and the Glories of Rome.

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Canada’s world-renowned large vocal ensemble plans to continue to bring great choral music to the community throughout the pandemic. For the 2020/21 season, the TMC will be under the artistic leadership of Simon Rivard who was appointed associate conductor in July. TMC is designing a 2020/21 season that will include virtual choir performances, digital programs and artistic collaborations. Programming will begin online with the hope of adding in-person elements as health and safety regulations permit.

Fall 2020 programs in development include a Thanksgiving program with guest curator Suba Sankaran, a Remembrance Day program with guest curator Andrew Balfour, and the TMC’s annual celebration of Christmas music in December, “Festival of Carols.”

Visit the TMC’s website for updates on 2020/21 programs and to access online programs and virtual choir pieces created during Spring 2020.

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Operated by the Mozart Project, the Toronto Mozart Players are composed of professional solo, chamber and orchestral musicians dedicated to performance of the highest calibre. Specializing in the music of Mozart and his contemporaries, the Toronto Mozart Players perform a varied repertoire from the early eighteenth century to the twenty-first century under the direction of David Bowser. With commitment to Canadian repertoire and commissioned works by Canadian composers, the Toronto Mozart Players present world premieres along with classical repertoire.

Toronto Mozart Players perform both at Church of the Redeemer, in the Bloor Street Cultural Corridor, and virtually. Concert programs offer variety and include chamber, orchestral, vocal and choral works - featuring the Toronto Mozart Choir.

For more information, including concert dates and information on the Toronto Mozart Choir, please visit our website.

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Toronto Operetta Theatre is in its third decade as Canada’s only performing arts company dedicated to music theatre in all its variety.

The 2021 season opens with an online presentation of our patron’s favourite Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers in early Spring of 2021. The world premiere of Canadian work A Northern Lights Dream by Michael Rose and Kálmán’s The Csardas Princess are being planned and the details to be announced at a later date.

Please check our website and social media for upcoming performance announcements and archived video series.

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One of Canada’s most respected arts organizations, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a vital role in the city’s dynamic cultural life for 98 years. Music director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 92-musician Orchestra. The TSO is committed to serving local and national communities through vibrant performances, extensive educational activities, and impactful community relationships. It has a notable recording and broadcast history and has been celebrated internationally during its many tours. Toronto’s iconic Roy Thomson Hall is the TSO’s home, drawing patrons from around the world. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s name remains synonymous with musical versatility and growth, and artistic distinction.

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Trio Arkel is a chamber music ensemble presenting classical music in the heart of Toronto. Leading musicians Marie Bérard and Winona Zelenka collaborate with renowned guest artists in three eclectic programs each season, performing both favourites and lesser-known works in concerts that fascinate and delight.

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Established in 1918, U of T Music is Canada’s leading comprehensive institution for higher education in music and is a growing global presence in musical training, interdisciplinary research, and digital media content development. Home to a diverse and dynamic community of scholars, performers, composers, and educators, U of T Music offers a supportive community in one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic cities. We provide a superb learning environment, an internationally renowned teaching faculty, multiple performance halls, and an outstanding music library collection. With degrees and diplomas available in numerous areas of study, our array of courses and programs provides our 900 students an exceptional opportunity to explore various fields within music.

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This award-winning women’s ensemble, established by Halyna Kvitka Kondracki in 1965, has delighted audiences around the world with its rich repertoire of Ukrainian classical, sacred, contemporary and folk music.

Vesnivka begins its 54th season on October 27 with a concert featuring the music of Ukrainian composer Oleksander Koshyts. Koshyts led the National Choir of Ukraine on a concert tour in North America in the 1920s and later taught in Winnipeg. Joining Vesnivka and its partner, the Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir (TUMCC), will be St. Nicholas Choir. On January 12, Vesnivka and TUMCC present their ever-popular annual “Ukrainian Christmas” concert with guest soloists and a folk instrumental ensemble. The season wraps up on March 29 with a concert commemorating the 180th anniversary of the publication of Kobzar - a collection of poetry and prose by Ukraine’s famous literary figure Taras Shevchenko – featuring music written by Ukrainian composers inspired by his poignant words. Guest artists will include soloists from the Ukrainian Art Song Project. Vesnivka also sings Christmas and Easter Liturgies on January 7 and April 19 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church (Toronto).

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Vesnivka Choir, established in 1965 by founding artistic director Halyna Kvitka Kondracki, is an award-winning women’s ensemble whose repertoire consists of Ukrainian liturgical, classical, contemporary and traditional folk music. The choir’s regular concert season comprises three major concerts, one of which is an annual Christmas concert. Vesnivka, together with its partner the Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir (TUMCC), are often accompanied by local professional soloists and chamber ensembles. The choir also sings Christmas and Easter Liturgies. While regular rehearsals (normally held on Mondays for TUMCC and on Tuesdays for Vesnivka) as well as performances have been put on hold as a result of the current pandemic, the choirs are occasionally meeting virtually to continue their work. New singers are welcome. We invite you to explore our website for information on the choirs and on Vesnivka's e-library of Ukrainian choral music, which offers free downloadable scores in both Ukrainian and transliterated versions. Information on ordering CD recordings is also available on the website. We look forward to resuming our full schedule and sharing live music with you as soon as it is safe to do so.

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The namesake of the Victoria Scholars, Tomás Luis de Victoria, was an outstanding Renaissance composer whose music is renowned for its spirituality and emotional expressiveness. The Victoria Scholars bring clarity and balance of sound so characteristic of Renaissance music to all their repertoire, encompassing Medieval plainchant, works from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and contemporary eras, and newly-commissioned works. Past winners of the Healey Willan Grand Prize in the CBC Radio National Competition for Amateur Choirs, the Victoria Scholars have performed with many exceptional arts organizations (including Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Kiev Chamber Choir) and vocal soloists (including Sondra Radvanovsky, Michael Schade, Russell Braun and Norine Burgess). They have toured nationally and internationally and are heard regularly on CBC Radio 2 and Classical 96.3FM.

We are pleased to offer audiences a three-concert series each year; however, due to COVID-19 and in the interests of the health and safety of both our audience and choir members, we currently do not have any concerts planned. Please visit us on our website or Facebook for updates on the remainder of the 2020/21 season should the situation change.

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Village Voices is a non-auditioned community choir with our home base in Markham, Ontario. We perform major concerts in December and in May. We provide opportunities for members to sing together in fellowship, and encourage and promote each individual’s musical growth. We also provide choral music presentations to community-based groups, such as seniors’ homes, local fairs, festivals and churches.

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The VOCA Chorus of Toronto, a dynamic, auditioned ensemble under the leadership of artistic director Jenny Crober, performs a broad range of repertoire in collaboration with a variety of superb guest artists. VOCA's season consists of concerts, cabaret fundraisers, community performances and workshops. Our talented, versatile accompanist is Elizabeth Acker. Several remarkable artists have joined VOCA as guest clinicians, including composer Ola Gjeilo, conductor Ivars Taurins and jazz musician Dylan Bell.

Our Fall 2020 season will feature a wide array of online sessions presented by our artistic staff (including six professional leads), which will include vocal technique, yoga, vocal/body work, musicianship skills, score study, sectionals, interviews with composers and guest artists - and more. We are thrilled to be invited to perform as part of Roy Thomson Hall’s Annual Choir and Organ Series, where we will present a world premiere by renowned Cree composer Andrew Balfour. We hope to be able to present this event and another “Star Songs” concert, both featuring guests Shawn Grenke, organ; Colleen Allen, sax; and Jamie Drake, percussion in Spring 2021. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings (when in-person, at Eastminster United).

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VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert is Canada’s only company dedicated exclusively to the presentation of rare opera programming. Our performances rely on the power and beauty of the human voice, the dramatic inflexion of text and poetry accompanied by orchestra or piano.

We are having a modified season with a double bill online presentation in January 2021 - Francis Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine and Jean Cocteau’s play of the same title on which the opera was based. Featuring artists are soprano Miriam Khalil and Chilina Kennedy, with Narmina Afandiyeva as music director. Francesco Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur and Georges Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles are planned in Spring 2021 and the details to be announced at a later date.

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Established in 2009, the Wychwood Clarinet Choir is directed by clarinetist and conductor Michele Jacot. Members of the choir include skilled clarinetists who share a love of music-making, friendship and fun. The group rehearses weekly and performs on a regular basis in Toronto’s St. Clair and Wychwood area. The instrumentation of the WCC extends from the contrabass clarinet to the E-flat sopranino. The choir’s repertoire includes many compositions and arrangements written by the group’s own Composers’ Collective, and by the choir’s late composer and conductor laureate, Howard Cable.

The Wychwood Clarinet Choir embraces the ideal of ‘music for life” and is committed to sharing the musical experience in educational settings and in the wider community. Choir members are admitted by audition and pay a modest annual membership fee.

Due to COVID-19, we do not know when rehearsals and performances will resume, but the Composers Collective has been very busy, so a large selection of new arrangements will be ready when rehearsals finally begin. Please visit the choir’s website for updates