Canary Pages 2013

newchoir is Toronto's first adult rock choir, performing choral SATB arrangements of contemporary rock and pop songs with 130 voices. The choir rehearses weekly on Monday nights. Performance opportunities include two concerts per season, gigs and fundraisers.

Caroline Suri
647-203-3408
carolinesuri@rogers.com
www.newchoir.ca

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is a 21-voice SATB professional choir based in Toronto, dedicated to performing Afrocentric music of all genres, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues. Founded by artistic director D. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor in 1998, the Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada’s premier performer of Afrocentric composers and a touchstone for the education of audiences and communities regarding the full spectrum of Afrocentric choral music. The mission of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale is to build bridges of understanding, appreciation and acceptance between communities of people through the medium of music. The chorale has a three-concert season in Toronto, tours extensively each season and has released several CDs and DVDs. The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is artist-in-residence at the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas. Membership is by audition.

D. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor
416-736-2100 x33068
info@nathanieldettchorale.org
www.nathanieldettchorale.org

Musicata - Hamilton's Voices is a 28-voice chamber choir based in Hamilton. The group was established in 1982 as the John Laing Singers by Conductor John Laing. 2016/17 marks the first season of an exciting new identity for us. Since becoming artistic director in 2011, Roger Bergs has built on John Laing’s solid foundation of choral excellence, moving the choir in adventurous new directions. Musicata concerts feature excellent instrumentalists, outstanding program notes and lively conductor’s comments, all of which provide a concert experience that is both educational and delightful. Experienced singers with good musical skills and a sense of adventure are welcome to inquire about joining us at any time.

President
905-628-5238
president@musicata.ca
www.musicata.ca

Eight-week sessions (fall, winter, spring) devoted to different genres: jazz, Broadway, Motown. See what’s next! Enjoy diverse repertoire, vocal technique, and train your ear to harmony. No experience or audition required. Join any or all. Conductor: Gillian Stecyk. Meets Thursday evenings, 7pm to 8:30pm. Conveniently located near Spadina TTC station.

Harriet Wichin
416-924-6211 x0
music@mnjcc.org
www.mnjcc.org

Love to sing? Prefer rehearsing during the day? Join us, and fill your life with the joy of singing in harmony! A fun-filled, relaxed environment. No experience or sight reading necessary. Meets Tuesday afternoons, 1pm to 2:30pm. Learn vocal technique, sing in a wide variety of musical styles, stretch yourself. Includes some performances! Runs all year long. Register for the year, or pay as you go. Conductor: Gillian Stecyk. Conveniently located near Spadina TTC station.

Harriet Wichin
416-924-6211 x0
music@mnjcc.org
www.mnjcc.org

Tackle world, jazz, classical, Jewish, folk, Canadian, gospel and pop music. Our 75-member auditioned SATB choir meets Wednesday evenings, September to June. Rehearsals are well structured and singers learn skills in different musical genres, including expression, blend, vocal production, and reading. A wonderful community of dedicated singers. Annual Spring Concerts in the Al Green Theatre, and other community concerts. Ensemble and cabaret opportunities. Good supportive learning materials. Artistic director: Harriet Wichin. Conveniently located near Spadina TTC station.

Harriet Wichin
416-924-6211 x0
music@mnjcc.org
www.mnjcc.org

Founded in 1984, Mississauga Festival Choir (MFC) is a 150-member non-auditioned community choir whose mission is to be a community choir enriching lives through music by performance, education and outreach to the people of Mississauga. Led by artistic director David Ambrose, MFC hosts three subsidiary choirs: Mississauga Festival Chamber Choir, an auditioned group launched in 2008, which explores intimate and challenging works; Raising Voices: an intergenerational choir of music lovers, launched in 2015 to provide the therapeutic value of music to people with Alzheimer's and dementia and their caregivers; and Resonance (resonance.mfchoir.com), a non-auditioned choir launched in January 2016 to provide a much-needed choral opportunity for youth and young adults in Mississauga ages 15 to 25.

VictoriaRose Regan
416-407-1658
vrregan@mississaugafestivalchoir.com
www.mfchoir.com

This dynamic, auditioned, four-part community choir has entertained audiences in Halton Region and beyond for 49 years. The 40 member choir performs two major concerts annually, often including premier guest soloists and musicians. We also enjoy performing at numerous local events. Our director, Sheena Nykolaiszyn, is expanding our already varied repertoire. From classical to contemporary, sacred to secular, we sing it all. Rehearsals are Tuesdays, 7:30pm to 10pm, from September to June. A love of singing, some sight reading and a sense of humour are all you need to become a Milton Chorister.

Bill McLean
905-875-1730
info@miltonchoristers.com
www.miltonchoristers.com

The auditioned 32-member Metropolitan United Church Choir has eight lead singers, rehearses Thursday evenings and sings on Sunday mornings and special occasions, September through June. Repertoire is Medieval through 21st-century. Singers must have sight-singing ability. A waiting list exists; contact our director in late spring or early fall to join. The Festival Choir adds 10 to 15 singers to the core choir and rehearses Sunday afternoons for six weeks prior to Good Friday. Past concerts have featured Bach, Mozart, Fauré, Duruflé, Gilles and others. The Metropolitan Sparklers (ages 4 to 6), Choristers (7 to 11), Great Heart Ensemble (vocal and instrumental, ages 12 and up) and Metropolitan Handbells are groups open to all.

Dr. Patricia Wright
416-363-0331 x26
patriciaw@metunited.org
www.metunited.org

Founded in 1955, Menno Singers is a 45-voice, auditioned community choir based in Kitchener-Waterloo. While rooted in the thriving Mennonite community of KW, membership is open to all interested singers. Four regular concerts are offered each season with repertoire ranging from the Renaissance through the present day. Menno Singers also sponsors Mennonite Mass Choir every two years. Mass choir alternates performances of the Messiah at Centre in the Square with other works of the oratorio repertoire. The choir is pleased to announce its new artistic director for the 2017/18 season, Brandon Leis. He will continue the strong leadership of the choir as longterm director Peter Nikiforuk completes his 19 years with the choir.

Brandon Lies
519-568-8086
bleis@wlu.ca
www.mennosingers.com