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The 24-voice DaCapo Chamber Choir was founded in 1998 in Kitchener-Waterloo under the direction of Leonard Enns. The mission of the choir is to identify, study, rehearse and present outstanding choral chamber works of the past 100 years and to champion music of Canadian and local composers. In 2019/20, DaCapo will complete its three-season exploration of themes related to the global refugee crisis with a focus on “Renewal”. The season will feature the premiere of the 2019 NewWorks winning composition by Kevin Pirker, and appearances by guest artists Angela Schwarzkopf, harpist; mezzo-soprano Jennifer Enns Modolo; and pianist Catherine Robertson. This past year, DaCapo released its 3rd CD, containing selections received through NewWorks, its national choral composition competition. (Read the review of this CD in the April 2019 issue of The WholeNote.) Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @DaCapoChoir!

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Counterpoint Community Orchestra has been operating as a community orchestra in downtown Toronto for 34 years. Formed in 1984, it was the first lesbian/gay/gay-positive orchestra in Canada and in the world. Counterpoint is a full symphony orchestra, and the programming is drawn from Baroque through contemporary orchestral repertoire. Rehearsals are at the 519 Community Centre on Church Street. The other pages in the ‘About Us’ section of our website give a more detailed history and description of Counterpoint Community Orchestra.

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Confluence – “an act or process of merging” – is a company of diverse creative artists dedicated to intimate, thought-provoking programs with a focus on: cabarets curated by a wide cross-section of Toronto’s leading musicians, the work of Indigenous artists and artists of colour, anniversary programs celebrating important figures in music, salons and lectures on a wide variety of musical topics, and commissions of new works by Canadian creative artists. Our 2019/20 season features “Celebrating Clara Schumann”; “An Evening with Marion Newman”; “Hugo and Willie: Songs of the Soul”; “Witch on Thin Ice (by Alice Ho)”; “Creativity and Aging”; “Baroque Music by Candlelight”; and “The Mandala.” Artistic producer Larry Beckwith has been ably assisted in planning this new mandate by a whole host of outstanding and diverse figures from Toronto’s amazing music scene, including Confluence associate artists Andrew Downing, Kathleen Kajioka, Marion Newman, Patricia O’Callaghan, Suba Sankaran and managing director Jennifer Collins.

“...this series has established itself as one of the most important and consistently interesting in the city.” - John Gilks, Opera Ramblings.

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Fine music is central to life at the Church of St. Peter and St. Simon-the-Apostle. Whether it is our own choir that sings services in the Anglican prayer book tradition – and whose calibre is such that it has twice been invited to sing services in cathedrals in Britain, most recently at Gloucester and Chichester in the summer of 2019 – or the many visiting ensembles and choirs choosing us for their concerts. The church seats 300 for a concert and has an adjacent hall, also with superb acoustics, seating 175 for a smaller concert.

Our 1883 Jacobean Arts and Crafts building (with exquisite windows, a beautiful sanctuary, and a cloister-style courtyard) sits in one of the most intensely interesting neighborhoods in the city. At 525 Bloor St. E. (close to subway), between Sherbourne and Parliament, it has old Rosedale to the north, multi-faceted St. Jamestown to the south, and a fever of new condo developments to the east and west. It exists as an oasis in the midst of this, providing space as well for local youth choral programs and music teachers. Please join us for services, or consider our space for your next musical event.

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Steeped in musical heritage and assisted by a generous acoustic, St. Mary Magdalene offers a music program strongly rooted in the tradition established by Healey Willan. Every Sunday at 11am: Solemn Mass - the Gallery Choir sings a mass and motet from the west gallery, while the Ritual Choir sings the Gregorian propers from the east end. Both choirs rehearse on Thursdays. At the 9:30am Sung Mass, the SMM Singers sing a motet and lead congregational singing. Membership is informal: rehearsals are at 9am directly before the service; regular attendance is not mandatory.

One Sunday per month at 4:30pm, the meditative Solemn Evensong and Benediction is sung, preceded by an organ recital at 4pm. 

For information, please contact the director of music, Andrew Adair.

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Continuing its long tradition of musical excellence, Christ Church Deer Park boasts an innovative music program. Our choir, consisting of professional members and skilled volunteers, performs a rich treasury of sacred choral music and hymnody at the 10am Sunday liturgy. The choir also performs at other special events, feast days, Evensongs and concerts throughout the year. Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings from 6:45pm to 8:45pm and offer an opportunity to develop musicianship through vocal instruction, while being part of an open and welcoming community. In addition, we present “Jazz Vespers,” a popular, informal service held bi-monthly from September to June and featuring some of the city’s finest jazz musicians. For more information contact Matthew Otto, director of music.

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Worth the drive to Niagara! Chorus Niagara, The Power of 100 is Niagara’s premier 100-voice auditioned ensemble. Conducted by artistic director Robert Cooper (celebrating 30 years with Chorus Niagara), Chorus Niagara has been entertaining and enlightening audiences for 57 years. Chorus Niagara performs traditional choral masterpieces, modern and seldom-heard works and new commissions, and provides a showcase for emerging Canadian talent. Attracting singers of all ages with the Chorus Niagara Children’s Choir, Side-by-Side High School Chorale and Robert Cooper Choral Scholars program, and emerging talent with our new Apprentice Conductor program, Chorus Niagara provides opportunities for everyone to experience the joy of live choral performance. Our thrilling 57th season begins in November with Sir Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time; followed by “Welcome Christmas” with actor Benedict Campbell in December. In the new year, we present Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo’s moving Sunrise Mass in March, followed in May by “Topsy Turvy – The Best of Gilbert and Sullivan.” All concerts are performed at the stunning new FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in revitalized downtown St. Catharines. Join us as we bring great music to life!

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Choral Mosaic 2020 is a new music festival that will give choral music lovers of all levels a chance to perform and learn together with choral musicians from around the world. From June 25 to 27, Choral Mosaic will feature performances from renowned choral musicians such as: Norwegian composer Kim André Arnesen; Finnish a capella sensation Rajaton; Canada’s own Mary Lou Fallis in Primadonna Choralis; and The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra.

Choral singers of all skill levels will have an opportunity to perform, with no audition required! Sing in the mass choir gala, performing a newly-commissioned work from Kim André Arnesen, attend keynote addresses, masterclasses and workshops from top choral clinicians, as well as choral concerts around the City of Mississauga, and more. Choral Mosaic 2020 will be hosted in the spectacular Living Arts Centre in Mississauga - and our artistic director is David Ambrose. Register now on our website, and contact us at our email for any questions.

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The Cellar Singers is a 40-voice mixed choir based in Orillia. For over 50 years, the choir has delighted audiences in Simcoe and Muskoka with choral masterpieces grand and intimate. Under the direction of gifted choral specialist Mitchell Pady, the choir presents four main concerts each season. Rehearsals are open to all and are held Wednesday evenings, 7:15pm, at St. James’ Anglican Church, Orillia.

During the 2019/20 season, The Cellar Singers will present Haydn’s The Creation, Britten’s Ceremony of Carols together with Susa’s Carols and Lullabies, Bach’s St. John Passion and Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore. Join us!

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Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is a volunteer community orchestra that has been based in Scarborough since 1986. The orchestra is presenting eight concerts this season, including a subscription series of six concerts.

Led by artistic director Norman Reintamm in his final season with Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, we will bring to life some of the greatest musical masterpieces, including favourite works by Beethoven, Brahms, Gershwin, and Mahler, and we will introduce you to some of Canada’s rising stars, including pianist Lauren Esch and violinist Eva Lesage. We also look forward to new collaborations with Iranian-Canadian classical guitarist Bahar Ossareh and Odawa First Nations composer Barbara Croall. This season will also feature the finals of the biennial Clifford Poole Vocal Competition – showcasing talented young singers. Looking for an orchestra to play in? Send your inquiries to us via email.