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
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 Sep 2 to Mon Sep 9, 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 Sep 3 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
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.
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.
Sep 03 8:00: Black Bear Pub. The Bob Brough Triot. To 11pm. Bob Brough, saxophone; Peter Telford, bass; Greg Pilo, drums. 1125 O'Connor Dr. www.blackbearpub.caor 416-752-5182.
Sep 04 2:00: Bloor/Borden Farmers' Market. Music in the Market - Hobo Soles. Bloor/Borden Farmers' Market, 300 Borden St. 613-475-4769. Free. 2pm-7pm. Rain or shine.
Sep 04 8:00: Hugh's Room Live. Crys Matthews. 296 Broadview Ave. www.showpass.com/crys-matthews. From $16.
Sep 05 8:00: Hugh's Room Live. Chris Smither Album Release. 296 Broadview Ave. www.showpass.com/chris-smither. $40.
Sep 05 8:30: Lula Lounge. The Patsy Cline Birthday Show. Candombe, samba, tango. Heather Morgan, host; Steve "Bebop Cowboys" Briggs, band leader; Burke Carroll, pedal steel; Denis Keldie, keyboards; Russ Boswell, upright bass; Teddy Hawkins, drums & harmony vocals; and others. 1585 Dundas St. W. 416-588-0307. $35/$30(adv). Dinner reservations guarantee seating. In support of Artscan Circle helping youth in remote Indigenous communities, using the power of the arts.
Sep 06 8:00: Hugh's Room Live. Niall McCabe. 296 Broadview Ave. www.showpass.com/niall-mccabe. From $16.
Sep 07 2:00: SweetWater Music Festival. Special Pre-Festival Event: Arts in the Garden. An event in support of local artists and charities. Wander the garden with a beverage, bid at the Silent Auction, watch visual artist Sheila Greenland paint, browse a mini Craig Gallery, and enjoy a range of works from regional artists. Fire & Grace Duo; Drew McIvor, guitar; Richard-Yves Sitoski, poet; Olivier Lafleur, violin. Private Residence, 39 Old Mill Road. Visit Arts in the Garden. $35. Rain date: Sep 8(2pm).
Sep 07 3:00: Canadian Opera Company. Musical Flights. Previewing the COC's upcoming productions of Nabucco, Faust, Madama Butterfly, and Eugene Onegin, as well as a range of Broadway hits including selections from Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, and The Sound of Music. Midori Marsh, soprano; Charlotte Siegel, soprano; Matthew Cairns, tenor; Korin Thomas-Smith, baritone; COC Orchestra; Johannes Debus, conductor. Base31, 26-343, County Rd 22 Building 26, Picton. www.base31.ca and by phone at 613-695-2851. From $79.
Sep 07 4:00: Canadian Chamber Choir. Where Waters Meet: CD Release Tour. Canadian Chamber Choir with special guests and Sherryl Sewepagaham and Babεl. Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, 230 St. Clair Ave. W. www.canadianchamberchoir.ca $35; $20(arts workers).
Sep 07 7:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society. Chamber Music Concert. Program to be announced. Adam Didderich, violin; Lisa Tahara, piano; Dobrochna Zubek, cello. Venue TBA. Visit www.ticketscene.ca/kwcms. $30; $10(st).
Sep 07 8:00: Batuki Music Society/Alliance Francaise. Mis Blandine & Caza Jazz Band: Renaissance Album Release Concert. Alliance Français de Toronto - Spadina Theatre, 24 Spadina Rd. www.alliance-francaise.ca or www.misblandineSep724.eventbrite.ca. $20/$15(adv).
Sep 07 8:00: Massey Hall. Squeeze. Special guests The English Beat. 178 Victoria St. www.ticketmaster.ca. From $84.
Sep 07 9:00: Fallsview Casino Resort. Don Felder. OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, 6366 Stanley Ave., Niagara Falls. www.ticketmaster.ca. From $71.
Sep 08 2:30: Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. Deantha Edwards With The New Orford String Quartet. Selections from Pillorikput Inuit: Inuktitut Arias for All Seasons. Deantha Edwards, vocalist; New Orford String Quartet; Sylvia Cloutier & Nancy Nike, throat singers. Queen's University - Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts - Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall, 390 King St. W., Kingston. 613-533-2424 or IsabelBoxOffice@queensu.ca. From $15.
Sep 08 7:00: Fallsview Casino Resort. Crowded House: Gravity Stairs Tour. OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, 6366 Stanley Ave., Niagara Falls. www.ticketmaster.ca. From $76.
Sep 08 7:00: Opera Revue. A Very Weill Evening of Verdi. Works by Weill and Verdi. Danie Friesen, soprano; Hillary Tufford, mezzo; Ryan Downey, tenor; Alexander Hajek, baritone; Michael Louis Johnson, vocals & trumpet; Claire Elise Harris, piano. Redwood Theatre, The, 1300 Gerrard Ave. E. 647-637-7491. From $20.
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.
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.
