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!
Ashkenaz Festival
Aug 26-Sep 2
Highlands Opera Studio
Jul 25-Aug 26
Music Mondays
Jun 3-Sep 2
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 26 to Mon Sep 2, 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 27 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 26 12:15: Music Mondays. The Bohemian Violin. León Zuckert: Gypsy Memories; Ernst: Dance alla Zingarese; Dvořák: Slavonic Fantasie in b (arr. Kreisler); Dinicu: Spring Tune; Falla: Danse rituelle du feu; Liszt: Romance oubliée; Drdla: Carmen Variations; and Monti: Czardas. Lucia Barcari, violin; Sabatino Vacca, 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 26 7:30: Highlands Opera Studio. Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville). Pre-performance chat. Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion, 5358 County Rd. 21, Haliburton. 1-855-455-5533.
Aug 28 2:00: Bloor/Borden Farmers' Market. Music in the Market - Andrea Kuzmich. 300 Borden St. 613-475-4769. Free. 2pm-7pm. Rain or shine.
Aug 28 7:00: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Niagara-on-the-Lake). Gateau & Grace. Bringing hope by telling stories through sound. Brock Hewitt, piano & bass; Quintessence Ensemble, 2 violins & cello; James van den Brink, organ & piano. 323 Simcoe St., Niagara-on-the-Lake. 905-980-0009. Freewill offering. Gateau on the lawn (7pm); music & religious service inside(7:30pm).
Aug 29 7:00: Harbourfront Centre. Summer Music in the Garden: The Joining of Light. Classical. Arion Hlusko. Toronto Music Garden, 479 Queens Quay W. www.harbourfrontcentre.com. Free.
Aug 29 8:00: Hugh's Room Live. Larkins, Dufour, Bellue. 296 Broadview Ave. www.showpass.com/antoine-dufour-van-larkins-adrian-bellue. From $33.
Aug 29 8:00: TD Music Hall. Honey Jam. 178 Victoria St. www.tickets.mhrth.com. $35.
Aug 29 8:30: BSMT254/Uma Nota. Baroque Middle-Eastern Cyberpunk Meets Live Harp. John Kameel Farah and Animal Party. BSMT 254, 254 Lansdowne Ave. 416-801-6325 or www.bsmt254.com. $20(adv).
Aug 30 6:00: Emerging Artists Association. Tenth Annual T.U. Jazz Fest. 6pm-10pm. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. info@tujazz.com. Free. Also Aug 31(1-10pm), Sep 1(1-10pm), Sep 2(1-8pm).
Aug 30 6:00: TU Jazz Festival. TJ & The Crew. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.comFree.
Aug 30 7:00: Brampton On Stage. The Poets: A Tragically Hip Tribute Presented in Partnership with The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. Garden Square, 12 Main St. N., Brampton. 905-874-2800. Free.
Aug 30 7:00: Fallsview Casino Resort. Howard Jones & ABC with Haircut One Hundred. OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, 6366 Stanley Ave., Niagara Falls. www.ticketmaster.ca. From $59.
Aug 30 8:00: Longboat Hall. Lavender Town w/ Dolphin Hyperspace - Video Game Jazz Fusion. Classic tunes from beloved games like Pokémon, Zelda, and Minecraft. 103 Dovercourt Rd. 416-792-1268. .
Aug 30 8:00: TU Jazz Festival. Angela Pincente Octet. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Aug 31 1:00: Emerging Artists Association. Tenth Annual T.U. Jazz Fest. 1pm-10pm. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. info@tujazz.com. Free. Also Aug 30(6-10pm), Sep 1(1-10pm), Sep 2(1-8pm).
Aug 31 1:00: TU Jazz Festival. Anise Russow. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Aug 31 2:00: TU Jazz Festival. The Emmett Hodgins Cost Group. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Aug 31 3:00: TU Jazz Festival. PK 6TET. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Aug 31 4:00: TU Jazz Festival. Leo Codiga and The Southwest Corridor. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Aug 31 5:00: TU Jazz Festival. Karl Silveira Quintet. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Aug 31 6:00: TU Jazz Festival. Camila Lozada’s SINERGY. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Aug 31 7:00: Brampton On Stage. Classic Rock Royalty. Michael White's Orchestral Led Zeppelin - Smoke on The Water - The Deep Purple Experience. Garden Square, 12 Main St. N., Brampton. 905-874-2800. Free.
Aug 31 7:00: TU Jazz Festival. Ori Dagan Quintet. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Aug 31 8:00: TU Jazz Festival. Kellylee Evans. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 01 1:00: Emerging Artists Association. Tenth Annual T.U. Jazz Fest. 1pm-10pm. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. info@tujazz.com. Free. Also Aug 30(6-10pm), Aug 31(1-10pm), Sep 2(1-8pm).
Sep 01 1:00: TU Jazz Festival. Robert Lee Group. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 01 2:00: TU Jazz Festival. Eunice Keitan. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 01 3:00: TU Jazz Festival. Marigold. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 01 4:00: TU Jazz Festival. Andrew Wilcox Trio. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com Free.
Sep 01 5:00: TU Jazz Festival. Shanty Sweets Quintet. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com Free.
Sep 01 6:00: TU Jazz Festival. Sound Spaghetti. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com Free.
Sep 01 7:00: TU Jazz Festival. Groovy Turtles Band. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 01 8:00: TU Jazz Festival. Rodrigo Simões. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 02 12:15: Music Mondays. Of Premier Importance. Works by Ronald Royer and David Jaeger and Rebecca Clarke: Sonata for Viola and Piano. The Ezra Duo: Sasha Bult-Ito & Jacob Clewell. Special guest: Kaye Royer, clarinet. Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Sq. 416-598-4521 X223 or www.musicmondays.ca or musicmondayscs@gmail.com. PWYC ($10 suggested).
Sep 02 1:00: Emerging Artists Association. Tenth Annual T.U. Jazz Fest. 1pm-8pm. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. info@tujazz.com. Free. Also Aug 30(6-10pm), Aug 31(1-10pm), Sep 1(1-10pm).
Sep 02 1:00: TU Jazz Festival. Funk10Tet. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 02 2:00: TU Jazz Festival. The Simon Williams Sextet. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 02 2:00: University of Toronto. Labour Day Carillon Recital. Lachrimae Pavan, Haru no Umi, Day-O, and The Old Brigade. Naoko Tsujita, carilloneuse. Soldiers’ Tower War Memorial, 7 Hart House Cir. 416-978-3485. Free. Outdoor recitall. Seating is provided.
Sep 02 3:00: TU Jazz Festival. Victoria Malenfant Quintet. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 02 4:00: TU Jazz Festival. Reach Quartet. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 02 5:00: TU Jazz Festival. Japs Cunanan Quartet. Long & McQuade Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
Sep 02 6:00: TU Jazz Festival. Matthew O'Halloran Quintet. Main Stage. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St., North York. www.tujazz.com. Free.
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.
Serenata Singers. Are you free Wednesday mornings? Do you love the joy of singing and the camaraderie it brings? Join the Serenata Singers who have sparkled in Toronto’s constellation of choral gems since 1976! Seniors singers, come together with voices united in song. Inspire generations to follow! This 55-voice adult SATB community choir, ranging in age from 55 to 97, will gather again under accomplished choral director Michael Morgan who shares his talents and expertise to perform a “Winter Cabaret” on November 30, 2024, with other performances during the year at seniors’ residences. Our season crescendos with two annually spring concerts on May 8 & 9, 2025. Our spring concerts entitled “Tuned In” will feature favourites from the movies, Broadway, and television. Consider joining this caring, friendly group of retirees at Scarborough Bluffs United Church, 3739 Kingston Rd, every Wednesday from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Two free trial rehearsals are allowed before deciding to join! Check us out at our website at www.serenatasingers.ca or call Charlotte at 416-449-4053! Come join us!
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. Aug 21, Sep 18, Oct 16, Nov 20 & Dec 18.
Aug 26 7:00: Array/ECCG Gamelan. Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan Monthly Meetup. Array Space, 155 Walnut Ave. 416-532-3019. Free.
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.
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.
WORKSHOPS
Aug 31 2:00: North York Central Library. Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival Masterclass: Kellylee Evans. Space limited. All ages are welcome. This workshop will focus on work with performers to find their comfort on stage and blast through the inner dialogue that we sometimes experience when we are exposed to the world. Singers and instrumentalists of all ages and of any style or genre welcome. Bring an MP3 of a track without vocals or your particular instrument to sing or play along to and be ready to feel more at home on stage. A microphone and keyboard will be provided. Toronto Public Library - North York Central Branch - Auditorium, 5120 Yonge St. No advance registration required. 416-395-5639 or www.tpl.ca. Free.
