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NOTE: All times are Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
NEW!! Alliance Française. Make Music Canada. June 21 at 6pm. Organized by the 9 Alliances Françaises Canada, the audience can stroll for free through 4 virtual stages, showcasing more than 20 artists for a few hours of concerts (on Facebook and Youtube live, and on this website). Visit make-music-canada.ca
Arts@Home. A vibrant hub connecting Torontonians to arts and culture. Designed to strengthen personal and societal resilience through the arts. Features resources for educators and people of all ages in several diverse and broad-based categories: Art, Dance, Music, Theatre, Media, and More. Subsections include Film and Photography, as well as offerings from Indigenous arts organizations. All tools and activities are free of charge, and available to everyone. Created and curated by representatives from the Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada’s National Ballet School, Harbourfront Centre, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Prologue Performing Arts, The Royal Conservatory of Music, TO Live, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Young People’s Theatre, with the support of the City of Toronto, and in consultation with arts educators from various school boards. Visit artsathome.ca to learn more about this exciting collaborative initiative.
NEW!! Array Ensemble. Living Room Talk #7: Composer John Mark Sherlock. A discussion with composer John Mark Sherlock about his piece Utopianism (to Jack Behrens). We also share a video of The Array Ensemble's April 10th, 2015, performance of his piece Utopianism, premiered by Ensemble Kore in April, 2007 in La Sala Rossa, Montreal. Stephen Clarke performs on Rhodes electric piano, Eve Egoyan on clavinet, Linda Catlin Smith plays the Wurlitzer electric piano, and Rick Sacks and David Schotzko are on percussion. To check out Arraymusic's complete offerings in June with artist bios, program notes, and more, visit the website here
Kevin Barrett. Live from Lockdown. Every Friday Kevin Barrett does a live-streamed set of solo guitar tunes, coming directly from lockdown in his studio in Kensington Market, Toronto. The show is timed so that West Coast residents can sit in for a late lunch (1pm PDT), people in Toronto/Ottawa/NYC can join in the late afternoon (4pm EDT) and friends in Edinburgh and throughout the UK can kick off their Friday night (9pm BST/UTC+1; later in Europe ...). Watch for special requests and dedications, birthday shout-outs, and a few opinions. But, mostly, lots of music! Tune in to Kevin's Facebook page on Friday! facebook.com/kevin.barrett.165470. If you can't join live, the video will be available afterwards on Kevin's page. And each week's episode is archived on his YouTube channel youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX5pxf-Eb_cgnAMKTNHgPiNATLYffRk3O
Beaches Jazz Festival. Starts July 17 at 6pm. Free streaming from July 17 to 26. In support of the Michael Garron Hospital front line workers. Join us for 9 days of incredible free virtual performances, workshops, lectures and so much more! Grab your favourite drink and festival snack and get ready for nine days of unreal programming...all from the comfort of your own home! Streamed online on our websitebeachesjazz.com, YouTube, Facebook Live and IGTV. For more information: infobeachesjazz@rogers.com
Canadian Brass: welcomes friends around their virtual fireplace for learning and laughs. All events take place on facebook.com/canadianbrass
Canadian Opera Company #Opera at Home is an initiative to share one clip every day on social media channels to help bring opera to our audiences during this challenging time. With one clip, every day at 11am there are already 44 of these for viewing, so you might have some catching up to do! Find the link on their homepage coc.ca
Canadian Opera Company. Opera Makers: Activities for Young Creatives. A new video series that teaches young people a wide range of creative skills. Each week, a new video tutorial led by one of the country’s leading teaching artists will focus on a different aspect of producing an opera. With topics ranging from singing and composing to movement and set design, young people will get hands-on experience to develop invaluable skills they can use both on and off the stage. Registration is not required but parents/guardians can sign up to receive these FREE mini-tutorials straight in their inbox by visiting coc.ca/OperaMakers
June 24 - Composer’s Corner
July 2 - Brain & Body Boost
July 8 - Aria Mad Libs
Canadian Opera Company. Songs of Hope: From Our Homes to Yours. July 9 at 7:30pm. Building on the long historical tradition of at-home salon concerts, the young artists of the Ensemble Studio are inviting you into their homes to share a piece they’ve personally selected. Each one holds a special place in their hearts; the result is a truly stirring program that we hope will bring you all a bit of solace and cheer. Available to view online at coc.ca/SongsOfHope.Those interested can sign up there to have the concert information delivered straight to their inbox, as well as performance reminders on July 9. A full overview of all of the COC’s digital programming and initiatives can also be found at its Digital Content Hub at coc.ca/Hub
NEW!! Choir!Choir!Choir! A Summertime Sing-Along. June 21 at 8pm. A Summertime Social Distan-Sing-Along! Here are the Summertime songs we'll sing: 1- Martha + The Vandellas "Dancing In The Street"; 2 - Don Henley "Boys Of Summer"; 3 - Seals + Crofts "Summer Breeze"; 4 - Bananarama "Cruel Summer"; 5- Bill Withers "Lovely Day"; 6 - Violent Femmes "Blister In The Sun"; 7 - The Drifters "Under The Boardwalk". 8 - Mungo Jerry "In The Summertime"; 9 - Lovin' Spoonful "Summer In The City". Download + print the song lyrics here and like our Facebook page here. At 7pm you'll get a notification about our live feed or log in on to YouTube here.
Dr. Jelena Cingara. Online Piano Recital. July 4 at 7:30pm. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition for solo piano and works by Dora Pejacevic. Streamed on facebook.com/events/872418063262440/. For info: 908-992-9211. Single ticket price $15 at eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=108496435760
Classical Jukebox Founded as a response to the days of COVID-19 social separation, this site is designed to provide you the ability to sing and perform your favorite classical pieces from the comfort of your own home, with accompaniments by organ and piano accompanist, Matthew Larkin. In addition, Classical Jukebox offers another service - assisting with the creation of Virtual Choirs and virtual choir videos for those missing that collaborative and artistic outlet in their lives. Classicaljukebox.ca
Collingwood Summer Music Festival. Virtual Concerts. Artistic Director Daniel Vnukowski is running a series of FREE virtual concerts throughout the summer months. For information: 705-300-2405 or collingwoodfestival.com. Visit ePianist.com for information about the virtual concerts.
NEW!! Confluence. An Intimate Salon Experience. June 24. 6:30pm live round-table discussion. 7:00pm concert premiere. An eclectic program with music by Peter Maxwell Davies, the Beatles, Ernest Chausson, Randy Newman and others, and brand new compositions and arrangements by Bijan Sepanji, Suba Sankaran and Larry Beckwith. We're also highlighting poetry by André Alexis, Susanna Moodie and others. Details available at confluenceconcerts.ca
Ori Dagan. June Live Concerts. All concerts are at 2pm & 7pm via Facebook at facebook.com/ori.dagan.jazz/. It’s Delivery: The Music of Cole Porter. June 25.
Dr. Mike Daley. Legends of Vocal Jazz. Starting June 15 at 9am. Live, streamed lecture series. June 29 - Billie Holiday, July 13 - Ella Fitzgerald. eventbrite.ca/e/the-legends-of-vocal-jazz-tickets-105995976820
Esprit Orchestra. Soundbites Series. A focused glimpse into selected excerpts from compositions Esprit has performed in recent seasons. The composers of the works have themselves selected these segments from their own pieces and, in the associated Soundbite Insights links, have provided brief personal commentaries on how the music was inspired and created, why the music is meaningful to them and what effect it is intended to have on the listener. Soundbites and Soundbite Insights, on a regular basis, will provide you a way for deeper appreciation of pieces you’ve heard at our concerts or provide you with a new musical adventure! espritorchestra.com/media/soundbites
Harbourfront Centre. Summer Music in the Garden at Home. Starts July 5, every Sunday at 4pm and Thursday at 7pm. Just as our gardens come to life again, so too does the music of Toronto. Harbourfront Centre’s Summer Music in the Garden series is virtual this year, bringing the sounds of the Toronto Music Garden right to your home. Featuring artists from Ontario, Quebec and around the world. Music by Bach, Ravel, Borodin and Telemann are accompanied by meditative raags and ancient lute techniques. Sign up for reminders at harbourfront.live to remain up to date on concerts and even a few surprises. For information 905-973-4000. Website: harbourfront.live
The Holy Gasp will congregate on July 1 in the basement of the Historic Kiever Synagogue in Toronto’s Kensington Market for a live stream performance of Grief. Conducted by Maestro Pratik Gandhi, this new performance piece is written for 10 vocalists, 2 pianists, and percussion. To be performed from sunset to sunrise without break, and is intended to fabricate a communal mourning ritual for those who have suffered the sorrows of losing a loved one. Beginning April 23, the public is invited to record the names of their deceased loved ones in The Holy Gasp’s Database of the Dead https://theholygasp.com/grief/. Each name entered into the database will later be inscribed into a scroll, from which The Holy Gasp frontman Benjamin Hackman will read throughout the evening as the ensemble performs Grief. For every name entered into the database, a candle will be lit on screen to memorialize the dead. The performance will be considered complete only after every name has been read, and the sun has come up. Those who wish to send candles to commemorate their loved one may send it here: The Historic Kiever Synagogue c/o The Holy Gasp, 25 Bellevue Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 1K8.
NEW!! International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation. IF 2020. Aug 8 at 8pm. An all-night, online celebration of improvisational arts that will feature video performances from 150+ artists from 15+ countries. This 24-hour festival is free to attend and will feature a dynamic array of improvisational artists, including musicians, spoken word poets, dancers, and theatre practitioners. improvfest.ca/
International Resource Centre for Performing Artists. Conversation with Jazz Icon Sheila Jordan and Ori Dagan. July 15 at 3pm. Sheila Jordan is a legendary figure in jazz history--an NEA jazz master and critically acclaimed singer-songwriter. She has recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to recording her own albums. Jordan pioneered a bebop and scat jazz singing style with an upright bass as the only accompaniment. Charlie Parker often introduced Jordan as "the singer with the million dollar ears." Zoom in free with RSVP or questions to info@ircpa.net.
Istituto Italiano di Cultura. So Long, Toronto: Musical Soundbites. A series of musical presentations by Luca Dell’Anna, piano; Mirko Signorile, piano; Claudio Jr. De Rosa, sax; and Redi Hasa, cello. Due to the restrictions in place, future plans for a return performance in Toronto had to be cancelled. Their time in Toronto was incredibly special, and so, they have each agreed to present a live, online concert, as an homage and a thank you to our city. Mirko Signorile - June 25. Luca Dell’Anna - July 2. iictoronto.esteri.it/iic_toronto/en/gli_eventi/calendario/2020/06/so-long-toronto.html for more information.
Kingston Symphony. Finale of Beethoven’s Third Symphony (Eroica). Forty members of the orchestra perform the finale of the Eroica, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 while in isolation in their homes. To view the virtual performance, please click on youtube.com/watch?v=F2eVauBqiAY. For more information on the Kingston Symphony, please visit kingstonsymphony.ca.
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Friday Night with the KWS. Online broadcasts of archival concerts every Friday at 8pm. Select broadcasts will feature video and others will be audio-only. Content for each concert will be announced each week via KWS social media platforms. facebook.com/kwsymphony and youtube.com/user/kwsymphony/videos.
Koerner Hall CONCERTS FROM HOME There are more than 25 classical, jazz, and roots music concerts currently available online. rcmusic.com/performance/live-from-koerner-hall-concert-livestream
Danny Michel. Live From Lockdown Sundays. A weekly live, interactive online concert on Sundays at 3pm, on ZOOM from his studio in the woods. Unlike Facebook live, fans can see each other, interact, chat, play along & be a part of the show. Buy a ticket for $7.00, get a private link in your email and join the party on Zoom (free download available) dannymichel.com
Music Gallery at Home. Summer Reruns featuring Bandcamp watch-parties on Fridays at 7pm and talks on Mondays at 7pm.
July 13 - Future of Creative Music Toronto (X Avant Festival 2019). Moderated by David Dacks, with Michael Rancic (NOW Magazine), Jessica Cho aka Korea Town Acid, Amanda Smith (FAWN Chamber Creative) and Rich Brown (Rinsethealgorithm, Jazzcast.ca).
Aug 7 - Bandcamp Watch Party: SlowPitchSound (MG Remixed, 2016) + co-presented with IF: Improvisation Festival.
Aug 10 - Forward Together (X Avant Festival 2019). Moderated by Del Cowie, with Cheryl Duvall (Thin Edge New Music Collective), Ange Loft (YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN), Chelsea McBride (Socialist Night School) and Keysha Freshh (The Sorority).
All performances and talks will be streamed live via the Music Gallery Facebook Page and via : musicgallery.org/live/
NEW!! New Music Concerts. NMC Media Archives. Available now. A NMC performance on Apr 12, 1987, of Igor Stravinsky's L'Histoire du soldat (The Soldier's Tale) at the Premiere Dance Theatre with renowned puppeteer Bil Baird's marionettes. Max Ferguson, narrator; Bill Baird's Marionettes directed by Peter Baird; Stanley McCartney, clarinet; Peter Lutek, bassoon; James Spragg, cornet; Robert Aitken, conductor. Follow along with the score here and visit here for the video.
Opera Revue. Isolation Series. Comic operatic duo Danie Friesen and Claire Harris film and record operatic parodies as well as legit opera and art song for a weekly release. This week features a long distance collaboration with two singers in Glasgow, Scotland. Platforms: Facebook/Youtube. Join us every Saturday. For info: operarevue@gmail.com
Orchestre Métropolitain. Live stream of Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 1-8. On the websites of Orchestre Métropolitain and Bourgie Hall over the course of the summer of 2020. orchestremetropolitain.com/en/ and mbam.qc.ca/en/bourgie-hall-news/
Ottawa Chamberfest. Chamber Chats: At Home / Chez vous. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2pm. Hosted by celebrated broadcaster/writer Eric Friesen. Interactive episodes combine chat with pre-recorded and live performances and feature guest artists and lecturers from all over the world. For information: 613-234-8008. Website: chamberfest.com
Recollectiv: Currently holding on-line meetings. A unique musical group made up of people affected by memory challenges caused by illness (such as dementia) or brain injury (stroke, PTSD, etc.) and their care partners. Volunteers of all ages also form part of the band, making this a positive intergenerational experience for all. Participation is free with pre-registration. June 20. Contact info@recollectiv.ca for meeting times, information and registration. recollectiv.ca
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. a•P•art {of} performance series, every Thursday at 7:30pm on facebook.com/RHCPA
NEW!! Small World Music. Jafar Zabeh with Friends. June 23 at 2pm. Presented in partnership with National Arts Centre. smallworldmusic.com/venues/facebook-live
NEW!! Small World Music. Baobá. June 23 at 4pm. Presented in partnership with National Arts Centre. smallworldmusic.com/venues/facebook-live
Suite Melody Care: virtual performances created for hospital patients and elderly in Canada and the United States to bring them some joy through music during these challenging times, in the safety and comfort of their own rooms and with their own personal devices. The first of these performance videos is available at youtu.be/UEg4YsVVHdk suitemelodycare.com
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir. Tafelmusik at Home is a new online concert featuring solo and duo performances. If you can't come to them, they will bring the concert experience to you! Hosted by Tafelmusik musicians from their homes, each program lasts about an hour and combines works that may be new to your ears with music you know and love. Be sure to stay until the end for live Q&A sessions with featured musicians. These concerts are $5, $10, $20 Choose-What-You-Pay, allowing you to pay what you feel is the value of the concert. Join them for this new way to experience the beauty of Tafelmusik. Tafelmusik.org
NEW!! Tafelmusik. Tafel Talks: Musicians & Physicians. June 23 at 7 PM. Online panel discussion and Q&A with Emi Ferguson, Kensho Watanabe, and Dr. Jennifer Wilson, moderated by Meghan Moore. Exploring the parallels between two professions that demand intensive training, continual improvement and reassessment, and a high level of precision. Moderator Meghan Moore will join three panelists with personal experience in both fields to discuss the overlap of skills, talent, and aptitude required to practise music and medicine professionally. Tickets are $5 and are now on sale at tafelmusik.org
June 24 at 7pm. Sonata. Intensely beautiful and universal, Bach’s music represents the artform at its purest, and is performed here by Cristina Zacharias on solo violin and Allen Whear on solo cello. The series concludes with the brilliant artistry of violinist and Music Director Elisa Citterio performing works by Tartini and Roman.
TD Niagara Jazz Festival. The Virtually Possible Festival. May 19-July 18. Featuring nine virtual, captivating, Big Easy-centric “Sessions” (curated and hosted by musician and New Orleans resident Christopher Butcher of “Heavy Weights Brass Band”) that will explore the art, history, food, famous locations and especially the music of New Orleans – sort of a “Mardi Gras 101” that will culminate in the TDNJF’s Mardi Gras event itself on July 18! For the latest information about what's in store for TD NJF’s “Niagara Summer Mardi Gras”, please click on niagarajazzfestival.com/niagaras-summer-mardi-gras/. To access the exclusive “Mardi Gras Sessions” hosted by Christopher Butcher, visit niagarajazzfestival.com/mardigras-sessions
NEW!! 50/50 Performing Arts Collective/Ontario Presents. Tkaronto Music Festival: Presents An Indigenous History Month Celebration. Live streamed on June 24 at 5pm. The concert will be headlined with a powerful and one of a kind performance by Juno nominated alternative-electronic artists Iskwé, soul and rock band from Vancouver Old Soul Rebel, singer/songwriter musician from the Six Nations of the Grand River James N Wilson, and a special poetry performance from Mahlikah Awe:ri. The event is hosted by award-winning actor Glen Gould. This event will kick off with an opening by renowned poet, journalist, and activist Elder Duke Redbird. The event will be broadcast live at TKMF.ca, on Facebook @TkarontoMusicFestival, and on Youtube Live.
Toronto Concert Orchestra. Symphony in Your Garden. All concerts at 7:30pm. Visit torontoconcertorchestra.com.
June 30 - Thank You, Canada
July 14 - Stories of Piaf
July 28 - Around the World in 40 Minutes
Aug 11 - Songs Under the Stars
Aug 25 - Grand Finale: Tribute to Kerry
Toronto Consort. Explorer: Discovering the World of Early Music. Explorer is a blog for the curious; a place of learning, sharing, and community. This all-new offering will present an assortment of curated content in a range of formats, like original short- or long-form articles, original video and audio recordings, and educational content on relevant topics relating to Early Music, history, and world music, as they relate our beloved repertoire. Visit torontoconsort.org for further information.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra: The TSO Facebook page hosts a regular series on Facebook Live on Tuesday and Friday afternoons called #TSOatHome.The TSO can also be found on Instagram (torontosymphony), onTwitter (@TorontoSymphony), and YouTube youtube.com/user/TorontoSymphony. Orchestra members are also represented on Facebook and other platforms. They share content on Facebook (TSO Musicians), Instagram (tsomusicians) and Twitter (@TSOmusicians). The TSO has also partnered with The Toronto Star for a collection of “Musical Moments”on Thursdays, thestar.com/musicalmoments
URGNT Live This ad hoc crowd-funded livestream concert series was created in response to the covid-19 outbreak. You can pay a cover charge which will contribute to paying a nominal fee to all involved parties, and help with lost gigs and wages as a result of the quarantine. Presenting a wide range of performances, including, on May 8, a 10-show, one day festival that includes the Gryphon Trio, and Stewart Goodyear urgnt.ca
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