NOTE: All times are Eastern Time unless otherwise noted.
FESTIVAL ROUNDUP
Summertime! A great opportunity to discover the abundance of music festivals available to enjoy throughout Southern Ontario. Here is a brief summary of the festivals offering their first performances this week or continuing through the coming seven days. Please visit the WholeNote at www.thewholenote.com/index.php/listings/just-ask for detailed listings or check out the festival items in the Daily Listings section below. You can also visit the festivals’ websites directly. Enjoy!
Brott Music Festival
Jun 20-Aug 15
Habari Africa Festival
Aug 9-11
Highlands Opera Studio
Jul 25-Aug 26
Leith Summer Festival
Jun 22-Aug 24
Music Mondays
Jun 3-Sep 2
South Coast Jazz Festival
Aug 9-11
Stratford Summer Music
Jul 18-Aug 11
Summerstage 2024
Jul 18-Aug 18
DAILY LISTINGS
Listings are based on information sent to WholeNote in advance by event presenters. Please note that this update includes dated listings for the period Mon Aug 5-12, 2024.
These daily listings include only basic information. For complete and detailed listings or for information on all events, click here to use our JustAsk feature.
The deadline for the next weekly update is Tue Aug 20 at 6pm. Presenters are asked to advise us as soon as possible of any changes or cancellations to John Sharpe at listings@thewholenote.com.
Subscribe to the weekly update at www.thewholenote.com/newsletter.
LIVE OR ONLINE
Aug 05 12:15: Music Mondays. Dialogues: Rachmaninoff & Britten Sonatas for Cello and Piano. Rachmaninoff: Sonata in g minor for Cello and Piano Op.19; Britten: Sonata for Cello and Piano Op.65. Peter Eom, cello; Joonghun Cho, piano. Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Sq. 416-598-4521 X223 or www.musicmondays.ca or musicmondayscs@gmail.com. PWYC ($10 suggested).
Aug 05 7:00: Music Niagara Festival. Young Virtuoso: Toronto All-Star Big Band. Ravine Estate Winery, 1366 York Rd., St. Davids. www.musicniagara.org. $45.
Aug 06 8:00: Toronto Concert Orchestra. Marriage of Figaro. Music by W. A. Mozart. Mark Shapiro, conductor. Palais Royale Ballroom, 1601 Lake Shore Blvd. W. www.tcomusic.ca/03-marriage-of-figaro-2024. $69; $30(under 30). Costume Theme: Wedding party (any member of the wedding party!) This is your opportunity to get another wear out of your wedding dress! Past and present.
Aug 07 2:00: Bloor/Borden Farmer's Market. Music in the Market - Hobo Soles. 300 Borden St. 613-475-4769. Free. 2pm-7pm. Rain or shine.
Aug 07 7:30: Highlands Opera Studio. Pop Goes the Opera! Abbey Gardens, 1012 Garden Gate Dr., Haliburton. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6183456 or 1-855-455-5533. $25.
Aug 07 8:00: Hugh's Room. Karan Casey. Traditional, Irish, Folk. Hugh's Room Live, 296 Broadview Ave. www.showpass.com/karen-casey. $35.
Aug 08 7:00: Harbourfront Centre. Summer Music in the Garden: From Baghdad to Toronto. Moneka Arabic Jazz. Toronto Music Garden, 479 Queens Quay W. www.harbourfrontcentre.com. Free.
Aug 08 7:30: Brott Music Festival. Evita. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics by Tim Rice. Martin MacDonald, conductor; Lou Zamprogna, stage director; Tom Oliver, vocal director. FirstOntario Centre, 101 York Blvd., Hamilton. 905-525-7664 or www.brottmusic.com. From $25.
Aug 08 7:30: Stratford Summer Music. Echo Chamber - A World Transformed. Aaron Schwebel, Marcel d'Entremont, Andrea Ludwig, Jeanie Chung, Dakota Scott-Digout and others. Avondale Church, 194 Avondale Ave., Stratford. 519-271-2101 or visit www.stratfordsummermusic.ca. $15-$80.
Aug 08 8:00: Hugh's Room. Colin and Jay Linden. Americana, Roots. Hugh's Room Live, 296 Broadview Ave. www.showpass.com/colin-and-jay-linden. $40.
Aug 09 7:30: Brott Music Festival. Liuna Station. Repertoire to be announced. North Atlantic Drift; Martin MacDonald, conductor. FirstOntario Concert Hall, 1 Summers Ln., Hamilton. 905-525-7664 or www.brottmusic.com. From $25.
Aug 09 7:30: Shoreline Chorus. A Sprig of Thyme. Bruce Skelton, violin; Shoreline Chorus; Ann-Marie MacDairmid, director. St. George's Anglican Church, 166 Russell St., Clarksburg. 519-599-2710. $25.
Aug 09 8:00: Fallsview Casino Resort. Black Eyed Peas. OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, 6366 Stanley Ave., Niagara Falls. www.ticketmaster.ca. $88.15-$187.75.
Aug 09 9:00: Stratford Summer Music. Friday Night Live at Revival House - Allison Au Quartet. Revival House, 70 Brunswick St., Stratford. 519-271-2101 or visit www.stratfordsummermusic.ca. $70.
Aug 10 4:00: Arcady. Emerging Artist Showcase. Ekaterina Shelehova, soprano; Marcel vanHelden, tenor; Joachim Verdonk, baritone; Benjamin Gabbay, piano; Miriam Stewart-Kroeker, cello. Whistling Gardens, 698 Concession 3, Wilsonville. Visit Emerging Artist Showcase or arcadyensemble@gmail.com or call: 519-428-3185. $37; $15(under 18). A rain date is scheduled for Aug 11 at 4pm.
Aug 10 6:00: Highlands Opera Studio. Music on the Water. Boat on over to a location to be announced for a beach concert of opera, musical theatre, and pop music! (Weather permitting / Water access only). Mountain Lake Fairfield Bay, , Minden Hills. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6183453 or 1-855-455-5533. Pay what you can.
Aug 10 7:00: Music Niagara Festival. Mastering the Muse: Chamber Serenity - Kiri Quartet. Kiri Quartet: Emma Meinrenken, violin; Astrid Nakamura, violin; Lynn Sue-A-Quan, viola; Matthew Christakos, cello. Grace United Church, 222 Victoria St., Niagara-on-the-Lake. www.musicniagara.org. $40.
Aug 10 7:30: Stratford Summer Music. Quattro Mani. Steven Beck, Susan Grace. Avondale Church, 194 Avondale Ave., Stratford. 519-271-2101 or visit www.stratfordsummermusic.ca. $15-$80.
Aug 10 8:00: Hugh's Room. Steve Forbert. Folk, Roots. Hugh's Room Live, 296 Broadview Ave. www.showpass.com/steve-forbert. $35.
Aug 10 8:00: TD Music Hall. The High Lows and Gavin McLeod. 178 Victoria St. www.tickets.mhrth.com. $16.95.
Aug 11 2:00: Music Niagara Festival. Behind the Scenes of Music: Kiri Quartet Masterclass. Kiri Quartet; Emma Meinrenken, violin; Astrid Nakamura, violin. Grace United Church, 222 Victoria St., Niagara-on-the-Lake. www.musicniagara.org. Pay what you can.
Aug 11 2:30: Leith Summer Festival. Bénédicte Lauzière and Angela Park. Works by Saint-Saëns, Chausson, and others. Bénédicte Lauzière, violin; Angela Park, piano. Historic Leith Church, 419498 Tom Thomson Ln., Leith. 519-371-2833 or visit www.leithchurch.ca. $45.
Aug 11 4:00: Harbourfront Centre. Summer Music in the Garden: The Art of Expression. Pan-African drumming and dancing. Ngoma Ensemble. Toronto Music Garden, 479 Queens Quay W. www.harbourfrontcentre.com. Free.
Aug 11 4:00: Stratford Summer Music. The Big Finale: Zombie Blizzard. Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, soprano; Aaron Davis, keyboards. Avondale Church, 194 Avondale Ave., Stratford. 519-271-2101 or www.stratfordsummermusic.ca. $15-$80.
Aug 12 12:15: Music Mondays. دْیَار - Diar. Syrian and Arabic traditional songs infused with Flamenco music. Tarek Ghriri, guitar; Hinad Alshuhuf, oud; Nour KDN, percussion. Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Sq. 416-598-4521 X223 or www.musicmondays.ca or musicmondayscs@gmail.com. PWYC ($10 suggested).
Aug 12 1:00: Mostly Madrigals. Singout at Pickering Esplanade Park. Mostly Renaissance songs. Esplanade Park, 1 The Esplanade, Pickering. Free. Please bring a lawn chair.
Aug 12 7:00: Music Niagara Festival. Pops Series: Quartetto Gelato. Sarah Albu, soprano. Ironwood Cider House, 1425 Lakeshore Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake. www.musicniagara.org. $40.
Aug 12 7:30: Highlands Opera Studio. Casual Song Soirée. A relaxed evening of favourite music chosen by the 2024 professional program participants. St. George's Anglican Church, 617 Mountain St., Haliburton. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6183440 or 1-855-455-5533. $25.
AUDITIONS
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir invites experienced amateur choristers, aged 17 and up, with a passion for great choral music to join Canada’s premier symphonic choir. Sing with Artistic Director Jean-Sébastien Vallée in an exciting 2024/25 season, which will include a series of TMChoir-produced concerts and guest appearances with the TSO.
To add your voice to the volunteer ensemble, you must have musical and singing experience. Prior choral experience is highly recommended. Details about expectations and how to audition, and a link to the audition application can be found at www.tmchoir.org/audition.
Auditions are scheduled for August and September. Apply by August 5th to secure your spot in the August auditions. Contact Kathleen Stevenson, Director of Artistic Operations by email at operations@tmchoir.org if you have additional questions.
LIVE REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
A New Quartet is an emerging Toronto area ensemble that rehearses traditional repertoire and writes new music. The quartet is currently seeking saxophone players and composers. For details please visit www.anewquartet.net.
The Choralairs is a non-audition, adult choir that welcomes new members in September and January. Rehearsals are on Tuesday 6:45-8-45pm at Edithvale C.C. 131 Finch Ave. W, Toronto. Please contact Elaine at choralairs.delighted.720@silomails.com to RSVP. Check out our new website at www.Choralairs.com.
Etobicoke Community Concert Band. Full rehearsals every Wednesday night at 7:30pm. 309 Horner Ave. Open to all who are looking for a great band to join. Text Rob Hunter at 416-878-1730.
Harmony Singers of Etobicoke. The women of The Harmony Singers survived COVID and are regrouping for 2024! If you'd like to sing an exciting repertoire of pop, jazz, folk and light classics, the group will give you a warm welcome! Rehearsals start in January on Wednesday nights from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. at Richview United Church in Etobicoke. Contact Conductor Harvey Patterson at: theharmonysingers@ca.com or call 416-239-5821.
New Horizons Band of Toronto. All levels from beginners to advanced for brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Weekly classes led by professional music teachers. Loaner instrument provided to each new registrant in the beginners’ program. Visit www.newhorizonsbandtoronto.ca.
North Toronto Community Band. Openings for drums, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, French horns. Rehearsals held at Willowdale Presbyterian Church 38 Ellerslie Ave. (just north of Mel Lastman Square). Monday evenings 7:30-9:30 pm. Contact ntcband@gmail.com.
String Orchestra TO is a new string orchestra in Toronto for amateur intermediate and advanced string players. No auditions. Our season runs from Sep 11, 2024 to May 28, 2025. Wed rehearsals: 7:15-9:15 pm at St. Barnabas Church, 361 Danforth Ave.. Visit www.sites.google.com/view/stringorchestrato/home or email us at StringOrchestraTO@gmail.com.
Strings Attached Orchestra, North York. All string players (especially viola, cello, bass) are welcome. Mondays 7 to 9 p.m. from Sep to Jun. Email us first at info.stringsattached@gmail.com to receive music and other details or visit our website at www.stringsattachedorchestra.com for more information.
Toronto Shape Note Singers. Sacred Harp Singing. Shape note selections from the Sacred Harp tunebook.Singing is participatory, not a performance. No experience necessary. All are welcome and there are books to borrow. Monthly on the third Wednesday from Feb 21 to Dec 8, 2024. Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave. 647-838-8764. Pay what you can. Jun 19, Jul 17, Aug 21, Sep 18, Oct 16, Nov 20 & Dec 18.
MUSICALS
Blyth Festival. Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes. By Alison Lawrence. Inspired by the Book by Bonnie Sitter & Shirleyan English. Harvest Stage (Aug 14-31). Memorial Hall (Sep 3-7). $60; $35(partially obstructed view); $30(obstructed view); $20(youth). www.blythfestival.com.
Drayton Festival. Naked Radio: A Comedy With No Dead Air. Music by Paul Libman. Book and Lyrics by Dave Hudson. Dayton Festival Theatre, 33 Wellington St. S., Drayton. www.draytonentertainment.com. Aug 7-25.
Shaw Festival. Cotton Club. Spiegeltent, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake. www.shawfest.com/playbill/cotton-club.To Oct 11.
Shaw Festival. Kabarett. Spiegeltent, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake. www.shawfest.com/playbill/kabarett. To Oct 12.
Shaw Festival. My Fair Lady. Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Festival Theatre, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake. www.shawfest.com/playbill/my-fair-lady. To Dec 21.
Shaw Festival. The Roll of Shaw. Spiegeltent, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake. www.shawfest.com/playbill/the-roll-of-shaw. To Sep 28.
Shaw Festival. The Secret Garden. A Play with Songs. Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Adapted for the stage by Jay Turvey and Paul Sportelli. Royal George Theatre, 85 Queen St., Niagara-on-the-Lake. www.shawfest.com/playbill/the-secret-garden. To Oct 13.
Shaw Festival. The Shaw Variety Show. Spiegeltent, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake. www.shawfest.com/playbill/the-shaw-variety-show. To Oct 6.
Stratford Festival. La Cage aux Folles. Book by Harvey Fierstein. Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman. Based on the play by Jean Poiret. Directed by Thom Allison. Choreographed by Cameron Carver. Avon Theatre, 99 Downie St., Stratford. www.stratfordfestival.ca. To Oct 26.
Stratford Festival. Something Rotten. Book by Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell. Conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick & Wayne Kirkpatrick. Directed and Choreographed by Donna Feore. Festival Theatre, 55 Queen St., Stratford. www.stratfordfestival.ca. To Oct 27.
TYT Theatre. Junie B. Jones the Musical. Book & Lyrics by Marcy Heisler. Music by Zina Goldrich. Adapted from the Junie B. Jones series of books by Barbara Park. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Sydney LaForme & Erinn Bekkers, directors; Sydney LaForme, choreographer; Quinton Naughton, music director. Wychwood Theatre, 601 Christie St. boxoffice@tyttheatre.com. $42.49(Front Row); $33.49(4 or more Group Pack); $37.49; $35.49(under 12). Aug 3-Sep 8 at 1pm & 3:30pm.
ONGOING EVENTS
Trinity College, University of Toronto. Evensong. Traditional Anglican choral music. Trinity College Chapel Choir; Thomas Bell, director of music; Peter Bayer, organ scholar. Trinity College Chapel, University of Toronto, 6 Hoskin Ave. 416-978-2522 or Trinity College. Free. Evensong is sung every Wednesday at 5:15pm in the beautiful Trinity College chapel during term time.
Encore Symphonic Concert Band. Monthly Concert Band Concert. The first Thursday of every month at 11am. 35-piece concert band performing band concert music, pop tunes, jazz standards (2 singers) and the occasional march. Trinity Presbyterian Church York Mills, 2737 Bayview Ave. www.encoreband.ca. $10.
ONLINE EVENTS
Arts@Home. A vibrant hub connecting Torontonians to arts and culture. Designed to strengthen personal and societal resilience through the arts. www.artsathome.ca.
North Toronto Community Band. Openings for clarinet, trumpet, trombone, tuba and auxiliary percussion. Rehearsals held at Willowdale Presbyterian Church 38 Ellerslie Ave. (just north of Mel Lastman Square). Monday evenings 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Contact ntcband@gmail.com.
Recollectiv. For anyone living with cognitive challenges from Alzheimer’s, dementia, traumatic brain injury, stroke or PTSD. The group meets weekly to rediscover the joy of making music. Community members and music students are welcome to this fun, rewarding and inter-generational experience. Sessions take place from 2 to 3pm (with sound checks and socializing at 1:30pm). No summer sessions after Jun 22. Weekly sessions resume on Sep 7. Please contact recollectiv@gmail.com for more information.
