Galas and Fundraisers

Feb 1 7:30: High Notes Avante. High Notes Gala for Mental Health. Join Luba Goy, Lloyd Robertson, Michael Landsberg, Orlando Da Silva, Giles Tomkins and others for this exciting evening in support of mental health initiatives. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 102868 Yonge St., Richmond Hill. Tickets at 905-787-8811 or rhcentre.ca. $10-$65.

Feb 17 7:00: Chorus York Richmond Hill. Romantic Melodies: 1st Annual Fundraising Gala. 7pm: Cocktails & appetizers, silent auction, cash bar. 8pm: Concert. An evening of love songs in a cabaret style. Plaza Suite, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill. Tickets $50 available at RHCPA box office, 905-787-8811, or at www.rhcentre.ca/. Further information at 905-884-7922 or www.chorusyork.ca.

Lectures, Salons and Symposia

Feb 4 2:00: Toronto Concert Orchestra. Musical Lecture Series: Tchaikovsky (Surcharged Emotionalism). Sharon Lee and Marcus Scholtes, violins. Angus Glen Golf Club, 10080 Kennedy Rd., Markham. lifelonglearningmarkham.com $75.

Feb 8 7:00: Canadian Opera Company. Opera Insights: Mozart’s Style – The Abduction from the Seraglio. Explore Mozart’s first big operatic hit with violinist Elizabeth Johnston and other artists from the COC Orchestra. 416-363-8231. Free

Feb 13 7:30: The Toronto Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society. Monthly Meeting. Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas St W, Etobicoke. Membership fee $35 per person or $50 per couple, with one free initial visit. Anyone interested in Ellington’s music and his contributions to the art of jazz is welcome. For further information about the society or to purchase concert tickets, visit our website at www.torontodukeellingtonsociety.com or phone 416-239-2683.

Feb 15 7:00: Canadian Opera Company. Opera Insights: Opera Trivia – From Beginner to Expert. Join trivia master Russel Harder of Trivia Club! for this fun, gameshow-inspired opera quiz night. 416-363-8231. Free.

Feb 25 10:00am: York University. Community Band Festival. Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele St., 416-736-5136.

Feb 25 2:00-5:00: Classical Music Club Toronto. Boito: Mefistofele. The Faust legend has provided inspiration to many of the famous composers – Gounod, Schumann and others. Our program will examine a 19th-century operatic approach. Brief audio selections followed by a full-length performance on video. For program details, please call John Sharpe at 416-898-2549. Annual membership: $25(regular); $10(sr/st). Free for first-time visitors. Donations accepted for refreshments.

Feb 25 2:00: Aga Khan Museum. Sephardic Music in the Mediterranean Soundscape. Ethnomusicologist Judith Cohen will discuss her work with the Crypto-Jews (“Marranos”) in the villages of Portugal over the past 20 years. Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Dr. 416-646-4677.

Master Classes

Feb 8 2:30: York University Department of Music. Jazz Master Class/Drum Clinic with Adam Nausbaum. Martin Family Lounge, Accolade East Building, YU, 4700 Keele St. 416-736-2100 x20054. Free.

Feb 15 2:00: University of Toronto, Faculty of Music. Riki Turofsky Master Class in Voice. Johanne Debus, Music Director of the Canadian Opera Company. Faculty of Music, Edward Johnson Building, Geiger-Torel Room, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free.

Feb 24 1:00: Tafelmusik. Voice Master Class. Thomas Hobbs. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-9562 x241. Free admission for auditors. Suggested donation $10. Open to the public.

Mar 6 7:30: University of Toronto, Faculty of Music. Louis Applebaum Distinguished Visitor in Film Composition. Lecture by Howard Shore. Faculty of Music, Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free.

Mar 7 1:00: University of Toronto, Faculty of Music. Collaborative Pianist. Master Class by John Hess. Faculty of Music, Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free.

Screenings

Feb 24 3:00: Orpheus Choir of Toronto. Nordic Light: A Composer’s Diary + One-On-One with Ēriks Ešenvalds. The Canadian premiere screening of the documentary film about the making of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ multi-media symphony. Immediately following the screening, Ēriks Ešenvalds in conversation. Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E. Toronto. Tickets: www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com or 416-530-4428. $20.

Feb 27 6:30: Royal Conservatory of Music. Music on Film: Mama Africa. Directed by Mika Kaurismäki. 90 min. Miriam Makeba was one of the first African musicians who won international stardom and whose music was always anchored in her traditional South African roots. Forced into exile in 1959, this documentary traces 50 years of her music and her performing life. Special guest to be announced. Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. www.hotdocscinema.ca or 416-637-3123. $17.

Tours

Feb 4 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 Feb 11, 18, Mar 4.

Workshops

Feb 4 1:30-4:00: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by recorder player Colin Savage. Armour Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. 416-779-5750. tempotoronto.net. $20.

Feb 16, 7:30: Toronto Recorder Players Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for Recorders and Other Early Instruments. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church, 527 Mount Pleasant Rd. 416-480-1853. Refreshments included. www.rpstoronto.ca Guests: $15.

Feb 18 2:00-4:30 CAMMAC Toronto Region. Reading for Singers and Instrumentalists. Brahms: Schicksalslied and Nänie.  Cheryll Chung, conductor. Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. 905-877-0671. $10; $6(members).

Feb 21 7:00: Orpheus Choir of Toronto. A Choral Encounter with Ēriks Ešenvalds. A seminar and singers’ workshop for choirs, conductors and fans of choral music. St John’s Latvian Lutheran Church, 200 Balmoral Ave. Presented in partnership with St. John’s Vocal Ensemble. Tickets: www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com. 416-530-4428. $30; $20(st). Includes scores.

Feb 24 10:30am: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Singsation Saturday. Join other enthusiastic singers for a fun choral workshop. Sing through Beethoven’s Mass in C Major under the direction of TMC Associate Conductor Jennifer Min-Young Lee. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Cameron Hall, 1585 Yonge St. (1 block north of Yonge and St. Clair). Register at the door. www.tmchoir.org/singsation-saturdays $10, includes refreshments.

Feb 26 7:00: Orpheus Choir of Toronto. A Choral Encounter with Ēriks Ešenvalds. A seminar and singers’ workshop for choirs, conductors and fans of choral music. St John’s Latvian Lutheran Church, 200 Balmoral Ave. Presented in partnership with Mark Vuorinen, Conrad Grebel University Choirs and the Grand Philharmonic Choir. Tickets: www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com. 416-530-4428. $30; $20(st). Includes scores.

Mar 4 1:30: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by viol player Justin Haynes. Armour Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. 416-779-5750. www.tempotoronto.net $20.