Upper Canada Choristers
The Upper Canada Choristers is a mixed-voice community choir with a diverse membership that interweaves fun with the commitment to musical excellence and vibrant community service. Performances feature collaborations with international choirs, local children’s choirs, and professional instrumentalists and singers. Cantemos is an auditioned a cappella latin ensemble within UCC. Led by artistic director, Laurie Evan Fraser, the choirs perform three diverse choral programs annually. Weekly rehearsals for the Main Choir are Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30pm at Grace Church on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd. Cantemos rehearses on Saturday mornings from 10:30am to 12:30pm at 2 Romar Cres. The choirs sing up to 20 concerts annually in a variety of community venues.
Laurie Evan Fraser, conductor/artistic director
416-256-0510
info@uppercanadachoristers.org
www.uppercanadachoristers.org
Vesnivka Choir was established in 1965 by founding artistic director Halyna Kvitka Kondracki. This award-winning women’s ensemble has delighted audiences around the world with its rich repertoire of Ukrainian liturgical, classical, contemporary and traditional folk music. The choir’s regular concert season comprises three major concerts, one of which is its ever-popular annual Christmas concert. Vesnivka, together with its partner the Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir (TUMCC), is often accompanied by professional soloists and chamber ensembles of area musicians. Vesnivka also sings at Christmas and Easter Liturgies. Singers are welcome; rehearsals are held on Tuesdays, 7:15pm to 9:15pm (4 Bellwoods Ave., Toronto). Male singers are welcome to join TUMCC; rehearsals held on Mondays, 7:30pm to 9pm (2445 Bloor St. W., Toronto).
Village Voices, a diverse, mixed-voice 70-voice community choir based in Markham, enters its 30th season in September 2018. Directed by Oksana Vignan, the choir presents two major concerts annually and sings at seniors’ residences and special community events, performing repertoire from the great standard classics to contemporary music. Village Voices has collaborated with other Ontario choirs and as guest artists of instrumental ensembles such as the Markham Concert Band and the Kindred Spirits Orchestra. The choir’s musical skills are honed regularly through special workshops with outstanding choral musicians. Features of the choir’s May 12, 2018 concert, “Celebrate Love,” include a medley from Les Miserables, along with superb, contemporary worksby Ola Gjeilo, Olaf Christensen and Kim Andre Arnesen. The 2018-2019 season will end with a May concert celebrating our 30th anniversary.
VIVA!’s six choirs include three children’s choirs for ages four to 16; the Everyone Can Sing Choir for teens and adults with disabilities; an SATB Community Choir providing singing opportunity for adult beginners and retirees; and an SATB adult chamber choir. Diverse programming features age-appropriate choral training through instruction in vocal technique, private vocal instruction and music theory. VIVA!’s TD Bank Group Inclusion Program offers support for people with disabilities and transgendered singers who are finding their voices. Singers from the Main Chorus and Chamber Choir may choose to perform with VIVA! in the National Ballet of Canada’s Nutcracker. VIVA!’s staff of fine musicians and the members of the Choral Mentoring and Leadership Program deliver authentic music-making in a supportive, singer-centred choral community.
The VOCA Chorus of Toronto is a dynamic, auditioned ensemble that performs eclectic repertoire (including premieres of arrangements by our artistic director) in collaboration with some of Canada’s finest artists. Each season consists of two major concerts, a cabaret fundraiser, two retreats (including one with guest clinician) and community performances. Rehearsals are Monday evenings at Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave., Toronto. On Saturday, May 5, 7:30pm at Eastminster, we present “Dreamsongs,” featuring the Canadian premiere of 
Beautiful melodies, rocking sax solos, edgy new jazz arrangements of Handel’s Messiah– if any of this appeals to you, read on. The Waterloo-based Wayne Gilpin Singers is an auditioned (a singer-friendly audition, we promise!) chamber choir that sings a wide variety of music, including contemporary Christian, gospel, show tunes, spirituals and more. Resident composer/accompanist Andrew Gilpin pens unique arrangements for an ever-expanding Jazz Messiah, an annual event that twins Handel’s beautiful melodies with modern rhythms and musical styles. Also featured in concert are talented guest artists on bass, drums and saxophone, providing an unforgettable musical experience for both audience and choir.