I am a free-lance musician and founding artistic director of the Upper Canada Choristers, a non-auditioned community choir based in mid-town Toronto. We have had to cancel two public concerts, one of which we have rescheduled for October 2, 2020. We have also cancelled our early summer fund-raising garden social.
In addition to our usual spring and winter concerts, community service is the cornerstone of our choir and each year we typically visit over a dozen venues where people do not otherwise have the opportunity to hear live choral music. We share diverse music with audiences at long-term care facilities, seniors’ residences, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and schools. In May 2019, we celebrated our 25th anniversary of this mission with our ‘Peace Through Music Tour,’ rehearsing and performing with community-based choirs throughout Japan.
This is the aspect of our work that has taken the hardest hit in the current circumstances and we are actively exploring new ways to continue practising together and to serve our audiences.
We are also taking this time to refresh our website, including the addition of a ‘virtual’ choir performance. I also host regular online choir visits, sectional rehearsals, and “Choir Cocktail Parties” where we sing repertoire chosen by our singers. Online technology is effective as a means to learn new music but not for experiencing the magic of ensemble performing, and we all miss the synergy and support of actually singing together, with or without an audience.
Visit our website: www.uppercanadachoristers.org
For the map, The Upper Canada Choristers rehearse at Grace Church on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Road.
