24th ANNUAL DIRECTORY OF MUSIC MAKERS

Welcome to The WholeNote’s 24th annual Blue Pages directory of our region’s music makers. It’s been a bumpy ride getting to this point, and we hope you’ll enjoy perusing the profiles that follow, submitted both by presenters who are forging ahead with pandemically appropriate plans for 2023-24, or whose detailed plans are still uncertain.

Thanks to all those who have once again opted in with a WholeNote membership and profile: for your faith in and support for what we do.

And thanks to you, our readers - in print, and online at kiosk.thewholenote.com.

Profiles will be kept up-to-date online here, as new ones arrive or more information is available.

For information on the benefits of a WholeNote membership (of which a Blue Pages profile is a feature), please contact Karen Ages at karen@thewholenote.com or 416-323-2232 x26.


canary sitelinkZack Grosh
416-703-3767
opera.atelier@operaatelier.com
www.operaatelier.com

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Opera Atelier 2023Opera Atelier is North America’s premier period opera/ballet company, producing the opera, ballet and drama of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. While drawing upon the aesthetics and ideals of the period, Opera Atelier goes beyond “reconstruction” and infuses each production with an inventive theatricality that resonates with modern audiences. Led by founding artistic directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg since 1985, Opera Atelier has garnered acclaim for its performances at home as well as in the United States, Europe and Asia.

canary sitelinkChoir Administrator
416-346-7918
info@orianachoir.com
www.orianachoir.com

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Oriana Womens Choir 2022Oriana is an auditioned ensemble of 20 amateur upper-voice singers with a long history of performance at a high artistic standard. Led by artistic director Mitchell Pady since 2011, Oriana explores the possibilities in choral music for upper voices, collaborating with a diverse range of artists to push the boundaries of typical expectations for upper-voice choral performances. We foster the creation of Canadian choral music, regularly commissioning works from Canadian composers for upper voices. Oriana presents a three-concert series in December, March and May. In our first concert of the 2023/24 season, we will showcase all-Canadian seasonal repertoire, featuring several compositions by Healey Willan, Eleanor Daley and our honorary patron Ruth Watson Henderson, including her Songs Of The Nativity. In March, we welcome renowned Canadian composer Stephanie Martin to curate a concert of her compositions alongside works that inspired her writing. At our spring concert we will perform a concert of new Canadian repertoire including premiere compositions written by our composer-in-residence Marie-Claire Saindon and collaborative pianist Ben Keast. We look forward to welcoming you to the concerts in our 52nd season!

canary sitelinkHelen Coxon
416-420-9660
info@orpheuschoirtoronto.com
www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com

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Orpheus Choir 2022Orpheus’ vision is to celebrate the power of choral music as an agent of social change and a passionate medium of artistic expression. The 60-voice auditioned SATB choir, under newly-appointed artistic director Thomas Burton, 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 supports young emerging vocal talent through its highly respected Sidgwick Scholars Program and its newer Vocal Apprentice Program for high school singers. Winners of the 2018 Choral Canada Award for Outstanding Innovation, Orpheus continues to present an “expect something different” experience! The 2023/24 season encompasses a wide range of repertoire from around the world, featuring Poulenc’s Gloria and Jocelyn Hagen’s Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci.

canary sitelinkCynthia Hawkins
executivedirector@paxchristichorale.org
www.paxchristichorale.org

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Pax Christi Chorale 2023Pax Christi Chorale is a vital and ambitious 100-voice community choir that attracts a diverse base of passionate singers from across the GTA. We value partnerships and connections to enhance our knowledge, expand our reach, and strengthen relationships within and outside the choral community. The choir champions great choral music and performs a wide range of repertoire, from great historic masterpieces to newly commissioned works. Our overarching aim is to experience the deep joys of choral singing, and to communicate that joy to our audience.

Under the artistic direction of Dr. Elaine Choi, Pax Christi Chorale presents four concerts in 2023/24 – the Canadian premiere of Robert Cohen’s Alzheimer’s Stories in October, “Christmas Through the Ages” and “Children’s Messiah” in December, and Carmina Burana with the North York Concert Orchestra in June 2024.

canary sitelinkPeggy McCracken
705-745-1820
singers@peterboroughsingers.com
www.peterboroughsingers.com

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Peterborough Singers 2022Originally formed as the Peterborough Symphony Singers in 1990, the Peterborough Singers (PS) became a stand-alone entity in 1993. This highly regarded choir boasts upwards of 120-plus members under the direction of founding conductor Sydney Birrell. Each season, the choir presents four concerts, incorporating a blend of repertoire from gospel to sacred and pop to oratorio. World-class, professional Canadian soloists enjoy performing with the choir time and again. The PS also makes 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 regular repertoire. The Singers also hold weekly music classes enabling young musicians to gain the skills required for Choral music performance. The season ahead will feature Bach's great St. Matthew Passion. The Peterborough Singers have just completed their 30th Anniversary season and are proud of their contribution to the arts within our community and surrounding areas. Please visit our website for further details.

canary sitelinkRezan Onen-Lapointe
647-779-5696
rezonance.ensemble@gmail.com
www.rezonanceensemble.com

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Rezonance Baroque Ensemble 2023Rezonance Baroque Ensemble is one of the most exciting groups on Toronto’s classical music scene. Unafraid of improvisation and experimenting with new concert formats, and already known for giving captivating performances that resonate with today’s audiences, Rezonance is one of the foremost chamber music interpreters of historical music. Inspired by history and informed by the present, Rezonance leads audiences through the discovery of under-appreciated and unusual works, and new ways of hearing the classics, in a manner that is intimate, accessible, and fun, while maintaining the highest possible artistry.

For over 10 years, Rezonance has presented a three-concert season, and released their debut album James Oswald: Airs for the Seasons in May 2023 on Leaf Music.

canary sitelinkSebastian Moreno
647-278-5559
www.rcco.ca/toronto

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The Royal Canadian College of Organists TorontoThe Royal Canadian College of Organists Toronto (RCCO Toronto) is a Toronto professional music organisation for organists and lovers of the organ and its music. RCCO Toronto hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including recitals, concerts, professional workshops and more. These events showcase the professional and up-and-coming talent that is part of the vibrant Canadian and international community. As one of 27 centres across Canada, RCCO Toronto is dedicated to supporting its growing membership and providing opportunities for the public to experience the King of Instruments.

canary sitelinkRadostina Ivanova
416-408-2824, x368
radostina.ivanova@rcmusic.ca
www.rcmusic.com/concerts

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Koerner Hall at the RCM 2022The 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, you can enjoy more than 80 jazz, classical, roots, and global music performances - in the concert hall or live online - by extraordinary international and Canadian artists, including the annual 21C Music Festival. We look forward to sharing uplifting and inspiring live music with you!

canary sitelinkLinda Rogers
647-482-7761
lrogers@spo.ca
www.spo.ca

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The SPO works to create high quality performances of symphonic and chamber music. Supporting and promoting Canadian composers and their music is a priority, as well as fostering and mentoring new generations and young musicians. The SPO reaches out to connect with under-served members of the community through discounted and free tickets, as well as targeted community concerts.

Our vision is to create an environment of Inclusiveness, Equality, and Diversity through the arts. We believe music and the arts have the ability to unite people.

canary sitelinkNatasha Abramova
637-226-3710
operations@showoneproductions.ca
www.showoneproductions.ca

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Show One Productions 2023Show One Productions is a full-service production company presenting concerts with high-profile classical musicians, opera stars, and orchestras, as well as great dance and theatre companies. Formed in 2004 by Svetlana Dvoretsky, Show One continues its brand of excellence, presenting in Canada’s most prestigious concert halls. The secret to Show One Productions’ success is its uniqueness among Canadian presenters because of its successful blend of North American entrepreneurship and a strong European cultural sensibility. It thrives as well on a firm knowledge and appreciation of a wide range of musical genres. Not only is Show One Productions busy with concerts in major Canadian cities, but it does outreach to the ethnic communities and welcomes many new immigrant audiences to its concerts.

canary sitelinkAndrea Budgey
416-638-9445
sinenominetoronto@gmail.com
www.pims.ca/amici/sine-nomine

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SINE NOMINE Ensemble for Medieval MusicSINE NOMINE was formed 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, and medieval history, language, literature, liturgy, theatre, and manuscript studies. In preparing repertoire, we draw on all these specialties, and work with improvisation and ornamentation, medieval pronunciations and tuning systems, hoping to create performances which speak to modern audiences (and 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 or liturgical action, to provide insight into the fascinating artistic and intellectual culture of the Middle Ages. SINE NOMINE is currently working on projects to present the monophonic songs of famous 14th-century French and Italian composers, and the diverse vocal and instrumental repertoire of a remarkable 14th-century northern Italian manuscript, including guest dancers. Concert dates for 2023/24 are TBA; tickets will be available through www.brown-papertickets.com.

canary sitelinkMargaret Chasins
416-499-0403
info@sinfoniatoronto.com
www.sinfoniatoronto.com

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Sinfonia Toronto 2023Acclaimed as “A World-Class Orchestra” (German review headline), Sinfonia Toronto performs in the Trinity-St. Paul’s Center, Jane Mallett Theatre and George Weston Recital Hall.

The orchestra’s musicians play standing in an open crescent, creating intimate communication with each other and their audiences. Music Director Nurhan Arman brings a friendly, personal touch with engaging chats about each concert’s selections.

Sinfonia Toronto plays music from the last four centuries in adventurous musical journeys that mix exciting premieres with beloved Classical and Romantic works. To celebrate the orchestra’s 25th Anniversary season in 2023/24, ten composers have written new works, and programs will also include all-time favourites by Bach, Beethoven, Dvorak, Mozart, Schumann, Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi.

The orchestra performs across Ontario from Brockville to Sarnia and annually in Barrie, and has toured in China, Germany, South America, Spain and the US. Their most recent CDs were issued on Centrediscs in spring 2023: an album of works by Colin Eatock, and Shadow & Light - double concertos for violin and piano by Christos Hatzis, Alice Ping Yee Ho and Larysa Kuzmenko.

canary sitelinkScott Pietrangelo
647-970-1397
scottpietrangelo@gmail.com
www.soundcrowd.ca

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SoundCrowd 2023SoundCrowd, Toronto’s first large-scale contemporary a cappella ensemble, burst onto the scene in 2016 backing up former Barenaked Ladies' front man Steven Page at the Danforth Music Hall. The brainchild of Artistic Director, Scott Pietrangelo, they have since studied and performed under the direction of Deke Sharon (Pitch Perfect, The Sing Off) at New York City's Carnegie Hall, created exciting viral music videos, been seen at special events at the Princess of Wales Theatre, The Opera House, the Distillery District, Nathan Phillips Square, Fort York, Harbourfront, Ontario Place, and even on national television – flash mobbing the hosts of CTV’s The Social for their 1,000th episode.

SoundCrowd has shared billing with the likes of Chantal Kreviazuk, Cadence, Margaret Atwood, Tomson Highway, Countermeasure, Retrocity, and cast members from both Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen and various productions of Les Miserables. Their first album, All Voice, No Limits, was released in May 2023 and can be found on all major streaming platforms. For more information about singing with SoundCrowd or where you might find them next, please visit our website.

canary sitelinkKirk Thomson
416-504-1282
kirkt@soundstreams.ca
www.soundstreams.ca

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SoundstreamsUnder the leadership of its Founding Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney, Soundstreams began in 1982 with a tribute to Igor Stravinsky’s 100th birth year, an artist who fundamentally transformed the ways we hear our world. Since then, we’ve probed Canadian themes and stories through new works that resonate with our time and place, hoping not only to reflect upon them but to empower new perspectives.

Soundstreams has created a platform for compelling new creations both at home and abroad. Our various Toronto-based concert series, educational, outreach events and professional development programs have showcased nearly 1500 global creators and performers in collaboration with their Canadian counterparts. Soundstreams’ productions featuring Canadian themes and stories have toured and continue to tour in North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe. In recent seasons, Soundstreams’ productions have received praise from The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal.

canary sitelinkFather Walter Hannam
416-368-9180
stbartsanglican@gmail.com
www.stbartstoronto.ca

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St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church, Regent Park, preserves a timeless pattern of worship based on the evolving tradition of Western Catholicism. Under the direction of Early Music specialist Katherine Hill, the St. Bart’s choir sings at the Sunday Parish mass (11am) and on other Feast Days throughout the year. The choir's repertoire spans many centuries, featuring Gregorian chant, Medieval and Renaissance polyphony, Baroque motets, a wide variety of later English Cathedral music and French Romanticism.

canary sitelinkThomas Bell
416-364-7865
tbell@stjamescathedral.ca
www.stjamescathedral.ca

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St. James CathedralThe Choir of St. James Cathedral includes both professional and experienced amateur singers. Singing for both choral Eucharist and evensong, it also presents an annual concert in May, and a performance of Messiah in December, both with orchestra. The Advent and Christmas carol services are always very popular.

Organ recitals on the large 5100 pipe organ are presented each week of the year, normally on Tuesdays at 1pm.

St. James Cathedral also supports an artist-in-residence. The position, an annual appointment, is presently held by Silas Friesen, a young composer and instrumentalist.

All enquiries about our music may be directed to Thomas Bell, Director of Music at tbell@stjamescathedral.ca.

 

canary sitelinkPina Povolo
416-397-6367
povolo@smcs.on.ca
www.smcs.on.ca

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Since 1937, St. Michael’s Choir School has served the Archdiocese of Toronto by educating and training the boys’ choirs that sing every weekend at St. Michael’s Cathedral. Founded by Monsignor J.E. Ronan, St. Michael’s Choir School is unique in offering both an enriched academic program, including extended French instruction, integrated with a lively ministry of sacred music. Choirs from St. Michael’s Choir School perform annually on tour and at many local concerts and events. During the school year, they sing three weekly Masses at St. Michael’s Cathedral. School alumni are active in Toronto and beyond, performing in choral groups, operas and more. St. Michael’s Choir School accepts boys grades 3 to 12. For more information please visit our website or contact us via email.

canary sitelinkJudy Beal
416-769-5686
stolaves@stolaves.ca
www.stolaves.ca

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St. Olaves Anglican Church 2023St. Olave's is a vibrant and growing church located in Toronto's Bloor West Village. We offer choral liturgies every Sunday at 10:30am. Led by Director of Music Jeremy Tingle, the SATB chamber choir comprises volunteers and professionals and sings repertoire spanning from the Renaissance to contemporary choral works, embracing the highest standards of liturgy. Evensong is a highlight of our musical programming, as well as a “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” (December 17, 2023 at 7:30pm) and a Good Friday service (March 29, 2024 at 10:30am). For more information about our choir, contact Jeremy at music@stolaves.ca.

Evensong and other evening services are often followed by presentations from the city's leading music scholars. Check our website at stolaves.ca/special-services to learn more about upcoming events.

St. Olave's supports music in the community and is available for concerts and recitals. There is seating for 300+ people and a grand piano and its neo-Gothic design makes for a generous acoustic. Concerts can also be live streamed to our YouTube channel. We are located on the Bloor subway line between Runnymede and Jane but there is also on-site parking. To ask about rentals, please contact stolaves@stolaves.ca.

canary sitelink1-833-964-6337
info@tafelmusik.org
www.tafelmusik.org

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Tafelmusik 2023Founded 45 years ago on the pillars of passion, learning, and artistic excellence, Tafelmusik brings a fresh perspective to historically informed performance. Played on period instruments and grounded in scholarship, 17th– to 19th– century instrumental and choral music shares the stage with exciting multimedia programs, bold new commissions, and intriguing cross-cultural collaborations.

From dynamic live performances at Jeanne Lamon Hall in Toronto’s historic Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre and stunning Koerner Hall, to international tours, award-winning recordings, and inspiring education programs, Tafelmusik is a musical powerhouse with a reputation for thrilling and delighting audiences.

canary sitelinkDavid Martin
416-286-9798
info@tallischoir.com
www.tallischoir.com

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Founded in 1977, the Tallis Choir is one of Canada's principal a cappella choral ensembles and continues to offer Toronto audiences a wide array of choral music. Under the direction of Peter Mahon, the choir is best known for its interpretation of Renaissance music and has presented the first Canadian performance of many rarely heard pieces of the period. The choir's repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant to contemporary music. Previous seasons have featured critically-acclaimed performances of Handel's Coronation Anthems, Bach's Six Motets, Victoria's Requiem and Rachmaninoff's Vespers. The Tallis Choir has also appeared on stage in multiple programs at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, and has been a finalist in the CBC Choral Competition.

canary sitelinkClay Jones
437-326-9410
cjones@tapestryopera.com
www.tapestryopera.com

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Tapestry Opera is TO.

From a Canadian perspective, Toronto represents innovation, inclusivity, thoughtful approaches, and art and culture. Tapestry embraces Toronto and reflects its heart to Torontonians.

We promote Toronto culture by hiring Torontians and actively animating its features. Tapestry presents its work at unique Toronto venues and incorporates them into our operas and events. We’ve performed our shows in spaces around the city like the Evergreen Brickworks, Todmorden Mills, stackt market, Sidewalks Labs, and soon on the Toronto waterfront.

When you come to a Tapestry show, you experience a deeper Toronto.

canary sitelinkTO Live Box Office
1-800-708-6754
boxoffice@tolive.com
www.tolive.com

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TO Live 2023TO Live is one of Canada’s largest multi-arts organisations, operating three iconic venues: Meridian Hall, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and Meridian Arts Centre. In addition, TO Live presents a full range of performing arts, theatrical, and concert events at these venues in both downtown and uptown Toronto. Our Music at the MAC series features world-renowned artists and outstanding local talent at Meridian Arts Centre in North York.

TO Live believes that the arts are crucial to creating healthy, vibrant, and engaged diverse communities. Our vision is to build a better city through the arts. We are a creative hub for audiences, artists, and all those who work with us.

canary sitelinkVlad Bortnowski
416-839-2058
vbortnowski@gmail.com
www.torontobeachchorale.com

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Toronto Beach Chorale 2023An auditioned concert choir, Toronto Beach Chorale attracts singers who are highly motivated with excellent musical skills. We offer three choral concerts each season, performed with professional soloists and instrumental ensembles.

In addition to our concert season, we actively participate in community events, collaborating with other groups and artists to enhance the quality of life in our neighbourhood. Toronto Beach Chorale is a vital musical presence in the Beach, and has achieved a reputation for artistic excellence. We are supported by professional orchestras and ensembles, and we engage professional and emerging soloists in principal solo roles.

Our Artistic Director, Mervin William Fick, has been transforming choirs, inspiring individuals and raising performance levels of community, church and professional choirs for over 35 years. He is the founding director of the Toronto Beach Chorale, the Artistic Director of the Mississauga Chamber Singers, and conductor of the PCS Singers of Brampton and the National Award winning Esprit Chamber Choir. One of the greatest gifts that Mervin brings to performances and to us, singers under his direction is his ability to inspire truly joyful singing.

 

canary sitelinkLucas Harris
416-546-3312
lucasharris@live.ca
www.torontochamberchoir.ca

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Toronto Chamber ChoirThe Toronto Chamber Choir has held a prominent place in Canada’s early music scene since 1968. Since 2014, the TCC’s Artistic Director is lutenist Lucas Harris. Past directors have included David Fallis and Mark Vuorinen.

The TCC’s 30-40 auditioned singers specialise in performing Renaissance and Baroque repertoire in collaboration with period instrumentalists, though the choir’s themed concerts often include music from other time periods and diverse cultures. Our performances often explore the cultural context of our repertoire using narration and a multimedia component. Since 2014, we’ve run the Toronto Chamber Consort section lead program for professional singers with a special interest in early music, and since 2003, we’ve run an apprenticeship program with Rosedale Heights School for the Arts.

Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at Church of the Transfiguration (Mt. Pleasant/Davisville), with appropriate COVID protocols adjusted by our Health & Safety Committee. The TCC is committed to inclusion and diversity of perspectives within the choir. We welcome audition requests from singers with excellent choral skills at any time through arrangement with the Artistic Director.

canary sitelinkPaige Mpeletzikas
416-932-8666
paige@torontochildrenschorus.com
www.torontochildrenschorus.com

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Toronto Childrens Chorus 2023The Toronto Children's Chorus (TCC) is a vibrant musical community that has been nurturing young voices for generations. Through exceptional choral training and performance experiences, they inspire growth, teamwork, and artistic excellence.

Founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle, the TCC is now celebrating its 46th concert season with Artistic Director, Dr. Zimfira Poloz. The TCC have won numerous competitions, including the International Eisteddfod in Wales and the CBC, Kathaumixw, and Let the Peoples Sing Competitions in Canada. The Chorus has also performed at such revered venues as the Kennedy Center, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, The Dom in Salzburg, and most recently, Carnegie Hall. In addition to their busy annual concert seasons, their young choral ambassadors have represented Canada on 31 international tours and seven national tours.

The theme for the 2023/24 season is "Kaleidoscope: Let Your Light Shine!" symbolising a commitment to celebrating each chorister's uniqueness and highlighting the shared beauty and connection that emerges when one embraces their true selves.

canary sitelinkDebby Blyth
416-499-3000
dblyth@sympatico.ca
info@torontochoralsociety.org
www.torontochoralsociety.org

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If you like singing and have musical experience, The Toronto Choral Society is here for you! Come and be a part of a classic Canadian musical experience here in Toronto. Join us this September 6th for the start of our 2023/24 season, we rehearse at Eastminster Church on Danforth on Wednesday nights 7pm to 9pm. Singers are welcome in all voice parts. We perform a wide range of musical styles from opera to musical theatre. Each year we present a minimum of three concerts, and this December we are performing Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at Koerner Hall, the jewel of Toronto concert venues. For our Spring 2024 Concert, we will be performing the exhilarating Carina Burana! In the winter months we will be holding a “Uncrate the Sun” fundraising event, featuring treats from sunny destinations, with details to follow. However, you may want to practise up on your Macarena! We welcome you to join our choir and take your place in good company in spirit and voice. Please go to our website for more details. See you in September!

canary sitelinkKathleen Payne
416-986-8749
kathleenpayne@sympatico.ca
www.torontoclassicalsingers.ca

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Toronto Classical SingersToronto Classical Singers is the only choir in the country dedicated exclusively to the great choral/orchestral repertoire. Known for its unique musical point-of-view and its diverse and high-quality programming, the choir features lesser-known and rarely performed pieces as well as the beloved vocal/orchestral repertoire. Led by founding conductor and artistic director Jurgen Petrenko, the group performs with orchestra and soloists in their presentations of the great choral masterpieces. With its exuberant approach, TCS celebrates the choral tradition with the complex sonority of large choir with professional orchestra.

This season we are presenting two concerts featuring music both new and familiar. On December 11 at 4pm, our concert of seasonal music with soloists and orchestra features Finzi’s radiant and optimistic In Terra Pax and Haydn’s joyful, energetic St. Nicholas Mass. Our spring concert on April 23 at 4pm, will feature Schubert’s Mass in C and Mozart’s Vespers, pieces showing both composer's love of the human voice.

Join us this winter and spring for inspiration and joy through thrilling choral music. Our concerts are presented at Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street, Toronto.

canary sitelinkSharon Scanlan
416-358-0783
graphcon@sympatico.ca
www.torontocommunityorchestra.org

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Toronto Community Orchestra 2023The Toronto Community Orchestra (TCO) is a welcoming and enthusiastic group of primarily amateur musicians of all backgrounds and professions united by our love of music. We have been proudly sharing our music with the community for more than 50 years. The orchestra had its humble beginnings in 1970 as the Timothy Eaton Memorial Orchestra. In 2011, the TCO moved to East End United where it has attracted even more local musicians expanding to a membership of 60. Rehearsals are currently held at 800 Greenwood Avenue with two “pay what you can” (PWYC) concerts performed at East End United each season.

Our repertoire is primarily classical, but we also do include more contemporary works. The repertoire team works hard to put together programs that are challenging, yet manageable and exciting. Over the past seven years, the orchestra has developed to a new level of proficiency and has enabled us to play music that has broadened our horizons. Since 2022, the TCO has been led by Artistic Director Nick Arrigo, and we are excited to have Nick return this season.

canary sitelinkAndrew Adridge
416-964-6337
info@torontoconsort.org
www.torontoconsort.org

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The Toronto ConsortThe Toronto Consort is celebrating and reinventing Early Music. We present musical and educational experiences by collaborating with specialists in historical music traditions from cultures across the globe. We believe in the strength of diverse artistic perspectives and respecting the rich variety of relationships with the music of the past.

canary sitelinkKathleen Stevenson, Director of Artistic Operations
416-598-0422
operations@tmchoir.org
www.tmchoir.org

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Toronto Mendelssohn ChoirThe Toronto Mendelssohn Choir is proud to be one of Canada’s oldest, largest, and best-known choral organizations. Under the incredible leadership of maestro Jean-Sébastien Vallée, 2023/24 promises to be a season full of exhilarating performances, including collaborations with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Through its performances, educational programs, and community engagement, the TMChoir aspires to introduce our audiences to choral masterworks from the past and present - making both renowned and lesser-known pieces available, accessible, and inspirational to all. The TMChoir includes a core of 24 professional singers and 110+ auditioned and experienced volunteer choristers. Visit the tmchoir.org for updates on 2023/24 programs and how to purchase in-person and online tickets.

canary sitelinkGuillermo Silva-Marin
416-366-7723
admin@torontooperetta.com
www.torontooperetta.com

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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.

TOT will return to the St. Lawrence Centre stage with a new season of wonderful music, comedy, and romance - the best of Operetta and Music Theatre! Getting things underway on October 20, 21, and 22, 2023 will be Gilbert and Sullivan’s immortal Pirates of Penzance, conducted by Jennifer Tung in her TOT debut. TOT’s holiday show this year is everyone’s favourite, Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow, opens on December 29, 2023, with further performances on December 30, 31, and January 2, 2024, with Derek Bate. A Canadian Premiere of Jacinto Guerrero’s zarzuela will conclude the season with El Huésped del Sevillano (The Guest at the Inn) conducted by Kate Carver. The performances will be on May 3, 4, 5, 2024. All main performances are held at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts with safety protocols in place.

canary sitelinkJessica Rashotte
416-593-7769
jrashotte@tso.ca
www.tso.ca

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Toronto Symphony Orchestra 2023One of Canada’s most respected arts organisations, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) plays a vital role in the city’s dynamic cultural life.

Committed to serving local and national communities through vibrant performances and expansive educational activities, the TSO offers a wide range of programming that resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds. From commissioning new compositions with living composers, to performing classical canon, to the best of Broadway, film, and beyond, there is something for every musical taste with the TSO. With a notable recording and broadcast history complementing international touring engagements, the TSO is a unique musical ambassador for Canada around the world. In 2023/24 the TSO embarks on Year 101 — a bold new beginning!

canary sitelinkWinona Zelenka
416-409-6824
admin@trioarkel.com
www.trioarkel.com

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Trio Akel 2023Trio Arkel, originally founded in 2008, is composed of Marie Berard, violinist, Rémi Pelletier, violist, and Winona Zelenka, cellist, who have been sharing their artistry and imagination through the fashioning of a chamber music series that has since garnered an enthusiastic following in their hometown of Toronto. They collaborate with guest artists of international renown to present great masterpieces of the classical chamber music repertoire, from Bach to present-day living composers, in beautiful, eclectic and fascinating programs that transport and move audiences.

Season 11 includes chamber music works both beloved and extraordinary, familiar and unusual. Weber, Beethoven and Schubert are paired with Cusson, Stravinsky and Webern. All in beautiful Jeanne Lamon Hall in the heart of Toronto.

canary sitelinkNatasha Smith
416-978-0491
n.smith@utoronto.ca
www.music.utoronto.ca

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University of Toronto Faculty of Music 2023Established in 1918, the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music offers a vibrant and welcoming learning environment to a diverse and talented group of students. The U of T provides exciting opportunities to study composition, performance, music education, music history and culture, and music theory with an internationally renowned and dedicated faculty. During the 2023/24 academic year, the Faculty’s season offers over 100 events, including an exciting lineup of distinguished visitors, performances, master classes, lectures and more.

canary sitelinkElizabeth Brown
604-505-0454
theuntitledensemble@gmail.com
www.untitledensemble.ca

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Untitled Ensemble Chamber Music Society 2023The Untitled Ensemble Chamber Music Society is a not-for-profit chamber music project based in Toronto/Tkaronto, Ontario that strives to explore lesser known historical and current chamber music with an emphasis on works by women and non-binary people.

This project also strives to create new and fluid groups of musicians to match the repertoire of each show, creating a meeting place and a resource for musicians who want to play chamber music, but do not have an established ensemble.

Our goal is to foster collaboration and create new ensembles who may or may not continue to exist beyond their beginnings within the Untitled Ensemble while using our multi-instrumental nature to perform a wider range of repertoire than we would be able to otherwise!

Currently we're gearing up to deliver two concerts featuring works by Ontario-based emerging composers on October 28, 2023 and February 10, 2024. These concerts will feature selected works from our Land of Lakes call for scores for string and brass ensembles. We're really excited to expand our musical ranks to include more string and brass players, and also provide live performances of these gorgeous chamber music compositions!

canary sitelinkLaurie Evan Fraser
416-256-3809
lef@uppercanadachoristers.org
www.uppercanadachoristers.org

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Upper Canada ChoristersThe Upper Canada Choristers is an SATB community choir in Toronto with a history of collaboration with choirs and professional guest artists. UCC is committed to excellence and diversity. Cantemos is UCC’s auditioned latin american ensemble. Founding Artistic Director, Laurie Evan Fraser and Accompanist, Hye Won Cecilia Lee provide the professional musical leadership for this vibrant organisation.

Our 2023/24 concert season opens with “A Seasonal Journey”, a concert at Grace Church on-the-Hill on December 1 at 7:30pm. A highlight of the concert is Navidad Nuestra by Argentinian composer, Ariel Ramirez. On May 10, 2024, the Choristers celebrate their 30th anniversary in a concert: “New Beginnings”. Repertoire includes Heartshine, a new song composed by director Laurie Evan Fraser, with lyrics by Jacqui Atkin and Jacinto Salcedo; music by Ola Gjello and arrangements of the unofficial Cape Breton anthem We Rise Again, Billy Joel’s And So It Goes, Loch Lomond and the Chilean song Todo Cambia (Everything Changes).

canary sitelinkNykola Parzei
416-246-9880
nykola@vesnivka.com
www.vesnivka.com

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Vesnivka Choir 2023Vesnivka Choir is an award-winning women’s ensemble established in 1965 by founding artistic director Halyna Kvitka Kondracki. The choir has delighted audiences with its rich repertoire of Ukrainian classical, contemporary, sacred and traditional folk music. Vesnivka, together with its partner the Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir (also founded by Ms. Kondracki), are often joined in concert by area musicians and soloists. We are preparing an exciting concert season, starting in the Fall with concerts in London, Ontario (October 29, 2023) and Toronto (November 4, 2023), entitled “Ukraine - Glorious and Free”, joined by guest ensemble the Canadian Bandurist Capella.

We’ll celebrate the new year with our annual Christmas concert on January 14, 2024, featuring traditional and contemporary Ukrainian Christmas carols and New Year’s songs, with guest youth vocal and bandurist ensemble Zoloti Struny. Our concert season will end on May 11, 2024 with “Spring Rituals”, a performance where we will be joined by Red Sky Performance, a leading contemporary indigenous performance company, with a program featuring traditional music from both Ukrainian and Indigenous cultures that celebrate spring and the return of the summer sun.

canary sitelinkVictoria Shalygin
admin@vivayouthsingers.com
416-788-8482

www.vivasingerstoronto.com

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VIVA Singers TorontoVIVA Singers Toronto is a not-for-profit family of choirs with a mandate to give members, ages four through adult, the opportunity to achieve artistic excellence in a singer-centred, collaborative choral community.

VIVA offers diverse musical programming - including regular performance and international touring opportunities, musical literacy, Orff-based creation activities, an annual fall Performing Arts Camp and commissioned works and partnerships with distinguished musicians and composers. VIVA's unique Creation Stream programming offers singers opportunities to explore and compose music through creation-based learning.

We continue to advocate for all voices, and push for inclusivity to ensure that anyone who enjoys music is welcomed - and challenged - at VIVA. Every Voice Matters!

canary sitelinkJenny Crober
416-931-8224
crober.best@gmail.com
www.vocachorus.ca

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VOCA Chorus of Toronto 2022The 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. We're thrilled to welcome our new collaborative pianist, Dakota Scott-Digout. Several remarkable artists have joined VOCA as clinicians, including composers Ola Gjeilo, Andrew Balfour and Sarah Quartel, conductors Ivars Taurins and Sandra Horst, and jazz musician Dylan Bell.

VOCA's 2023/24 Season will continue with in-person rehearsals following updated Covid guidelines. Our professional leads will be performing in a cabaret/fundraiser on October 29. Our concert on December 16 at Eastminster will feature guests Jason Fowler, guitar and Jamie Drake, percussion, with works by Gordon Lightfoot (including an arrangement by Jenny Crober), Mark Sirett, Ola Gjeilo, Jake Runestad and others. We were honoured to perform our Roy Thomson Hall debut last April, and are looking forward to our annual March cabaret/fundraiser and Spring concert with special guests. VOCA rehearses Monday nights at Eastminster (Danforth Ave. / Chester subway station).

canary sitelinkGuillermo Silva-Marin
416-922-2147
admin@operainconcert.com

www.operainconcert.com

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VOICEBOX Opera in Concert 2022VOICEBOX: 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 inflection of text and poetry accompanied by orchestra or piano.

The 50th anniversary season features three early Bel Canto influenced operas of the iconic Italian Master, Giuseppe Verdi. The season begins on Sunday, November 5, 2023 with the Busetto master's comedy of 1840, Un giorno di regno (King for a Day) – followed on Sunday, February 25, 2024 by Ernani, one of his first undoubted hits. The anniversary season concludes with La Battaglia di Legnano.

OIC’s musical leaders for the Golden Jubilee Year will be Suzy Smith at the helm of Un giorno di regno, Narmina Afandiyeva in charge of Ernani and Helen Becqué leading the Canadian premiere of La Battaglia di Legnano. They will lead an impressive roster of established artists paired with emerging talents. Robert Cooper will direct the chorus in all three operas.

canary sitelinkDonna Bennett
705-653-5508
westben@westben.ca
www.westben.ca

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Westben 2023Westben is where music and nature spring to life! Nestled amongst the hills of Northumberland County, 2 hours east of Toronto, 40 minutes from Peterborough and Cobourg near Campbellford, Westben presents concerts and outdoor experiences in and around its three venues. The custom-built, timber-frame barn seats 400 with doors that roll open onto a lush meadow. Willow Hill amphitheatre offers the outdoor festival experience, and the cosy campfire venue offers performers and audiences a chance to share songs and stories with smores and a sunset. Imagine sunshine and smiles while listening to everything from Bach to Broadway, jazz, folk, pop, comedy including music by our neighbours from Alderville First Nation and the Performer-Composer Residency.

Westben is celebrating its 25th Season of Concerts opening June 2024, featuring over 70 artists in 26 concerts, plus a fully-staged musical by Brian Finley and Ken Tizzard called the Selfish Giant. But Westben is more than just great performances; it is a true music in nature experience. Gourmet picnics on the meadow, Dare to Pair dining experiences, guided nature walks with live music on a neighbouring Nature Reserve and a chance to relax by the pond, all make Westben the place to be.

canary sitelinkRoy Greaves
647-292-4204
wychwoodclarinetchoir@yahoo.ca
www.wychwoodclarinetchoir.com

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Wychwood Clarinet ChoirThe Wychwood Clarinet Choir brings together the family of clarinets from E flat sopranino down to contrabass. Our range of instruments is matched by the variety of our repertoire. The choir, now in its 15th season, was founded and directed by conductor and clarinettist Michele Jacot. We perform new compositions and arrangements, many written or transcribed by our Composers’ Collective. Choir members are admitted by audition and pay an annual membership fee. Choir members are dedicated clarinettists eager to share their love of playing music in a collegial and musically challenging environment. We strive to create opportunities for serious amateur musicians to develop their musical skills and we strive to share our music more broadly in educational settings and in the wider community. The group rehearses on Wednesday evenings and performs on a regular basis in Toronto’s St. Clair and Wychwood area. Check out our YouTube videos and look for updates on our website.

canary sitelinkWilliam Maddox
416-922-1550
wcmaddox@yorkminsterpark.com
www.yorkminsterpark.com

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Yorkminster Park Baptist Church 2023Yorkminster Park is synonymous with magnificent music. Whether it’s the choir accompanied by the majestic Casavant organ, our Memorial Carillon (one of 12 in Canada), or the congregation lifting their voices in hymns of praise, vocal and instrumental expressions of faith are integral in the Yorkminster Park experience.

Our choir, under organist and music director William Maddox and his assistant, Sharon Beckstead, enjoys a reputation as one of the best church choirs in Toronto. We present a series of free organ recitals at 12:30pm, every Wednesday from September through June, with performers from around the world.

We have a wide variety of unique musical events throughout the year, but Yorkminster Park is renowned for its special seasonal concerts. The quality of the music ministry at YPBC is never more evident than during Advent and Holy Week. These services have become community traditions: City Carol Sing, Carols by Candlelight, Iona liturgical music, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Passiontide Devotion during Holy Week and Evensong services three times a year.

Our sanctuary is frequently made available to other choral and concert groups, which draw appreciative audiences from all over Southern Ontario.

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