Book Launches and Record Releases

Nov 11 8:00: Gathering Sparks. “All That’s Real” CD Release. Eve Goldberg, acoustic guitar/ukulele/vocals; Jane Lewis, piano/ukulele/accordion/vocals with guest musicians. Niagara Artists Centre, 354 St. Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-641-0331. $25/$20(adv).

Dec 06 8:30: Hugh’s Room Live. Ensemble Vivant: Latin Romance CD Release Concert. 2261 Dundas St. W. 416-533-5483. $40/$35(adv).

Clubs & Groups

Nov 02 1:00: 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. 292 Brunswick Ave. 416-599-8440. Free. Also Nov 9, 16, 23, 30, Dec 7.

Nov 10 2:00: Toronto Opera Club. Dvořák’s Bewitching Rusalka. Guest speaker: John Holland, bass-baritone. Edward Johnson Bldg., Faculty of Music, 80 Queens Park, Room 330. 416-924-3940. $10.

Nov 17 2:00: Classical Music Club Toronto. Offenbach Bicentennial Celebration. For further information, visit classicalmusicclubtoronto.org or contact John Sharpe at 416-898-2549 or torontoshi@sympatico.ca. Annual membership: $25(regular); $10(sr/st). Free for first-time visitors. Donations accepted for refreshments.

Nov 23 7:15: Toronto Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Join us for a sing-through of Trial by Jury, a 35-minute delight and the partnership’s first big success plus a quiz and more! St. Andrew’s United Church, 117 Bloor St. E. Refreshments included. $5 for non-members.

Dec 01 2:00: Classical Music Club Toronto. Bach: Christmas Oratorio. For further information, visit classicalmusicclubtoronto.org or contact John Sharpe at 416-898-2549 or torontoshi@sympatico.ca. Annual membership: $25(regular); $10(sr/st). Free for first-time visitors. Donations accepted for refreshments.

Competitions and Applications

Nov 29 application deadline: TD Discovery Series Special Projects. Designed to encourage the creation, development and presentation of special projects by local jazz musicians. Provides successful applicants with marketing and public relations support, including a bursary, from Toronto Downtown Jazz. Projects must take place between Jan 15 and Apr 30, 2020, and must fall outside of the usual scope of an artist’s work. For complete details, please visit torontojazz.com/special-projects.

Dec 01 application deadline: Toronto Mozart Violin Competition. Further information at mozartproject.ca.

Dec 01 application deadline: Toronto Mozart Vocal Competition. Further information at mozartproject.ca.

Festivals, Fairs and Festivities

Nov 30 10:00am: Aurora Community Band. Eighth Annual Holiday Market. Christmas and holiday favourites by the Aurora Community Band. Enjoy one-of-a-kind gifts from unique local vendors. Aurora Cultural Centre, 22 Church St., Aurora. auroracommunityband@gmail.com. Free admission.

Galas, Tributes and Fundraisers

Nov 02 8:00: Roy Thomson Hall. 6th Annual Dream Serenade Benefit Concert. Dream Serenade is a benefit concert and celebration of the Toronto community of children with developmental or physical disabilities and their caregivers. 60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. $34.50-$199.50.

Nov 22 7:00: High Notes Avante Productions. Mental Health Image-Raiser. Luba Goy, Selardor Duo, and friends. An intimate combination of a concert, social and image-raising event. Selardor Duo plays and sings favourite tunes. Talks by special guests who have been touched by mental illness. Enjoy free appetizers, buy a drink, browse the silent auction, and bid on items in the live auction. Heintzman House, 135 Bay Thorn Dr., Markham. Information at 416-605-8915 or highnotesavante@gmail.com or visit Eventbrite. $20.

Nov 24 5:00. Denise Williams In Concert: A Benefit for Orquesta Sinfónica De Oriente, Santiago de Cuba. Ernesto Lecuona: Lamento Africano and Mi Vida Eres Tu; and works by Handel, Mozart, Bellini and Gershwin. Denise Williams, vocalist; and others. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Boor St. W. cubafundraiser2019.eventbrite.com. $40; $30(st).

Nov 30 7:00: Incontra Vocal Ensemble. Creator of the Stars of Night. Advent and Christmas music by Britten, Mendelssohn, Chilcott, and J. Scott Brubacher. Matthew Otto, artistic director/conductor. Knox College Chapel, Fundraiser to support the Institute for Christian Studies. 59 St George St. 416-979-2331 ext. 260 or email: communications@icscanada.edu. $35.

Dec 02 7:30: Casey House Foundation. Voices for World AIDS Day. A fundraising concert for Casey House, Ontario’s HIV/AIDS hospital. A mixed program of classical and jazz for the whole family. Shannon Mercer, soprano; Asitha Tennekoon, tenor; Julie Nasrallah, host; Emily Steinwall Trio; Pearle Harbour, tragicomedienne; and others. Glenn Gould Studio. CBC Building, 250 Front St. W. 416-962-4040. For further information: caseyhouse.com. Free (suggested donation $20).

Lectures, Salons and Symposia

Nov 16 10:00am: Royal Canadian College of Organists Toronto. The Employment of a Church Musician. Expert panel discussion. Wycliffe College, 5 Hoskin Ave. 416-929-6400. Free and open to the public.

Tours

Nov 03 10:30am: Canadian Opera Company. 90-Minute Tour of the Four Seasons Centre. Led by a trained docent. Includes information and access to the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room, the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre and R. Fraser Elliott Hall, as well as backstage areas such as the wig rooms and dressing rooms, the orchestra pit, and other spaces that only a stage door pass could unlock. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. coc.ca. $20(adults); $15(sr/st). Also Nov 10, 17, 24, Dec 1.

Tributes

Nov 17 8:00: The Music Gallery. History Series: Celebrating Casey Sokol. Tribute to one of the greatest teachers of improvisation that Canada has ever produced, as he retires. Part improvised soiree, part interview, with nibbles and drinks to set the tone. 918 Bathurst St. 416-204-1080. PWYC.

Workshops & Classes

Nov 09 1:00: Canadian Music Centre. Theremin Composition Workshop. Join theremin player Pamelia Stickney in the midst of the 100th anniversary of the theremin; lecture/demonstration on writing for the instrument and techniques; discussion of the differences and similarities between writing for theremin and writing for voice or strings. Composer Alexander Rapoport will also be on hand to discuss his use of the theremin in his sonatas. Canadian Music Centre, Chalmers Performance Space, 20 St. Joseph St. 416-961-6601. Free admission.

Nov 17 2:00: CAMMAC Toronto Region. Reading for Singers and Instrumentalists of Haydn’s Te Deum and Bruckner’s Te Deum. Maria Case, conductor. Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. 905-877-0671. $10; $6(members).

Nov 23 10:30am: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Singsation Saturday Choral Workshop. Guest conductor Dr. Andrew Donaldson will lead participants through part-songs, call-and-response freedom songs, and dance songs from various faith traditions and many countries. Cameron Hall, Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. Information at tmchoir.org/singsation-saturdays/. $10 fee includes refreshments.