Live Listings

Clubs & Groups

Mar 15 1:00: Toronto Opera Club. Guest speaker: Michael Patrick Albano, Resident Director, U of T Opera. A one-hour presentation on the current U of T Opera production of Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park, based on the Jane Austen novel. There is also an opportunity to attend the opera performance at 2:30pm. The presentation is in Room 330, Edward Johnson Bldg., Faculty of Music, 80 Queens Park, Room 330. 416-924-3940. Free. Note: There is a charge for admission to the opera performance. See listings in Sections A and C for details.

Mar 22 2:00: Classical Music Club Toronto. Beethoven 250 (Part 3). Join us for our ongoing project to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. 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.

Mar 30 7:30: Toronto Wagner Society. Adrianne Pieczonka. The famed Canadian soprano will discuss her career. Arts and Letters Club, 14 Elm Street. torontowagnersociety.ca. Free(members); $20(non-members).

Competitions and Applications

Steinway & Sons. 2020 Steinway Junior Piano Competition. Registration deadline: April 1. Steinway Piano Gallery Toronto, 8-2651 John St., Markham. For information visit steinway.com/competition or call 905-9401-5597.

Films

Mar 29 3:00: Amici Chamber Ensemble. Cinema. Revisiting the tradition of silent films with live music. Films: Man Ray: Emak-Bakia; Guy Maddin: Heart of the World; Buster Keaton: The Playhouse. Music by Milhaud, Kradjian, Poulenc, Rota and Saint-Saëns. Guest: Yahonatan Berick, violin; Amici Chamber Ensemble (Joaquin Valdepeñas, clarinet; David Hetherington, cello; Serouj Kradjian, piano). Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. W. 416-408-0208. $50; $45(sr); $30(under 30); $15(st).

Galas, Tributes and Fundraisers

Mar 04 6:30: VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto. Annual Fundraising Gala. Old Mill Toronto, 21 Old Mill Rd. 416-788-8482. $150.

Mar 06 7:30: Firerooster Collective. Stabat Mater. Pergolesi: Stabat Mater. Maureen Pecknold, soprano; Andrea Johnston, alto; Dorothy Krizmanic, piano. Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Sq. 647-339-8587. By donation. Benefit for Stella’s Place.

Mar 07 7:30: VOCA Chorus of Toronto. 10th Anniversary Cabaret. Silent auction begins at 7pm. Performances by choristers and special guests. Complimentary appetizers. Fully licensed event. Grand Hall, Estonian House, 958 Broadview Ave. Tickets available at eventbrite.ca/e/voca-presents-10th-anniversary-cabaret-silent-auction-tickets-89102687537. $30.

Mar 08 3:00 Help Violinist Arthur Lewinowicz Beat Cancer Fundraiser Concert. An afternoon of music featuring Arthur Boomin’, Halton Jazz Singers, Elisa Malatesta, Mark Twang, Linda Lavender Band, and others. All artists are donating their time and talent. Proceeds go to help Arthur with his mounting bills and with future expenses of producing an album of the music he is composing while in cancer treatment. Relish Bar & Grill, 511 Danforth Ave. Advance tickets @ Eventbrite $20, $25 at the door.

Mar 19 7:30: Orchestra Breva Academy Orchestra. Music for Social Change: A Benefit Concert for Sistema Toronto. Mozart: Symphony No.40; Beethoven Concerto No.2; Tanovich: Symphony in B-flat. Vivian Kwok, piano; Evan Tanovich, conductor; Ricardo Ferro, conductor; Emma Moss, conductor. Seeley Hall, Trinity College, 6 Hoskin Ave. 519-981-8441. Admission by donation.

Mar 26 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Evening Epic. The TSO’s annual fundraising event will feature a gala dinner and EPIC party! With performances by members of the TSO and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and a one-night-only mainstage performance featuring the TSO in collaboration with award-nominated alternative-electronic Indigenous singer/songwriter iskwē. This is a 19+ event. The Carlu, 444 Yonge St. Visit EveningEpic.ca for tickets to the event. Early Bird tickets are on sale now for $155!

Apr 04 7:00: Echo Women’s Choir. 2nd Annual Folking Awesome Music Trivia Night. Specially designed for music lovers of all ages, this fun evening will challenge your upper register (your brain)! Echo challenges all other Toronto choirs to send a team to compete! Evening includes complimentary snacks, cash bar, great prizes + bragging rights for the winners! Russel Harder, host and quiz master. Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave., Main Hall. echochoir-music-trivia-2020.eventbrite.ca. Info: echowomenschoir.ca. $20; $70 (team table of 4).

Lectures, Salons and Symposia

Mar 01 7:00: Darchei Noam/Howard Mednick. Jewish All-Star Composers. Works of Mendelssohn, Gershwin and Copland. Recorded music with commentary. Darchei Noam Synagogue, 864 Sheppard Ave. 416-435-6517. $15.

Mar 02 7:00: Tafelmusik. Art, Religion, and Culture: Bach and St. John Passion. A panel discussion with Gordon Rixon, S.J., and Katharine Lochnan, both from Regis College; Choir Director Ivars Taurins; and Norman Tobias. Facilitated by Michelle Voss Roberts, Principal, Emmanuel College. Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. Free admission with registration at tafelmusik.org/concert-calendar/concert/art-religion-and-culture-bach-and-st-john-passion.

Mar 04 7:00: Canadian Opera Company. Opera Talks: Music and Mental Health. Explore the art and science of music’s impact on our physical, mental and emotional health with accredited music therapists and registered psychotherapist SarahRose Black and cellist Andrew Ascenzo. Participants will discover how music can punctuate life’s most important moments and learn more about music’s important role in the healthcare industry and personal wellness. North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St. Free but advanced registration is recommended by calling 416-395-5639.

Mar 04 7:30: Glenn Gould Foundation. James Rhodes: In Conversation. Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. W. Order online at: glenngould.ca. $25.

Master Classes

Mar 28 9:00am: The Susan Hoeppner International Music Academy (SHIMA). Flute and Picccolo Master Class. Includes lunch. Scholarships available. The Haworth Showroom. 55 University Ave. For information: 647-801-3456 or susanhoeppner.academy@gmail.com. Also Mar 29.

Singalongs, Jams, Circles

Mar 14 12:30: Recollectiv. A unique musical group whose members are mainly made up of people affected by memory challenges (caused by Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, PTSD, brain injury, etc.). Volunteers of all ages also form part of the band, making this a positive intergenerational experience for all participants. Recollectiv’s mission is to help people with memory challenges find joy and a sense of community through music-making. The band meets weekly at a central accessible location and is free with pre-registration. For more information, to participate, volunteer or donate, please visit recollectiv.ca or call Smile Theatre at 416-599-8440. Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. Free/PWYC. Also Mar 21, 28, Apr 4.

Tours

Mar 01 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 Mar 8 and 15 (French).

Workshops & Classes

Mar 01 1:30: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by viola da gamba player Joëlle Morton. Armour Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. For information: 416-779-5750 or tempotoronto.net. $20.

Mar 06 7:30: Toronto Recorder Players Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for Recorders and Other Early Instruments. Refreshments included. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church, 527 Mount Pleasant Rd. (entrance off Belsize). For information: 416-480-1853 or rpstoronto.ca. $15.

Mar 17 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company. Vocal Series: Opera for All Ages. Artists of the COC Ensemble Studio playfully explore opera in a lively interactive March Break concert. Audience members of all ages can listen to, learn about, and try their hand at the fascinating art of opera. This program is fun for the whole family and welcomes people of all abilities and exceptionalities! Richard Bradshaw Auditorium, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. (at University Ave.) Free. Note: Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are encouraged to arrive early as late seating is not available after 12:00 noon.

Mar 21 10:30am: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Singstation: Opera Choruses with Sandra Horst. Join Sandra Horst, Chorus Master of the Canadian Opera Company, for a lively morning of popular opera choruses. Bring your voice: we provide the music. Register at the door. We ask that participants come to the event scent-free. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. $10 (includes refreshments). CANCELLED.

Mar 22 2:00: CAMMAC Toronto Region. Reading for singers and instrumentalists of Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem. Ross Inglis, conductor. Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. 647-458--0213. $10; $6(members).

Mar 24-26 7:00: Canadian Music Centre. New Musical Resources: A Composition Workshop with the Brodie West Quintet. Shedding light on lesser understood aspects of rhythm, its function and organization, this three-day workshop will be beneficial to composers of all levels and backgrounds, with even a fundamental understanding of music theory. Each evening will include interaction between participants and the ensemble. Participants are welcome to attend all or any of the evenings. You must register for each individual event. To register and for details of each evening’s topics, visit on.cmccanada.org/event/brodie-west-quintet. Canadian Music Centre, 20 St. Joseph St. $10 admission per day.

Mar 27, 7:30: Toronto Recorder Players Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for Recorders and Other Early Instruments. Refreshments included. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church, 527 Mount Pleasant Rd. (entrance off Belsize). For information: 416-480-1853 or rpstoronto.ca. $15.

Apr 05 1:30: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by recorder player Vincent Lauzer. Armour Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. 416-779 5750 or tempotoronto.net. $20.

Clubs & Groups

Feb 09 2:00: Classical Music Club Toronto. Beethoven Sestercentennial Celebration (Part 2). Join us as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. 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.

Feb 09 2:00: Toronto Opera Club. Guest speaker: Derek Bate, Canadian Opera Company Assistant Conductor. Edward Johnson Bldg., Faculty of Music, 80 Queens Park, Room 330. 416-924-3940. $10.

Feb 24 7:30: Toronto Wagner Society. Roundtable technical discussion on the making of The Flying Dutchman with the Canadian Opera Company’s Head of Wardrobe; Head of Hair, Wig and Makeup; the Stage Manager; and the Associate Director. The Arts and Letters Club, 14 Elm St. Located west of Yonge St. and two blocks north of Dundas St. W. Meetings are open to everyone. For information: info@torontowagnersociety.ca. Free(members); $20(non-members).

Competitions and Applications

DEADLINE Feb 01: International Music Festival and Competition. All ages and levels. Piano, voice, guitar, harp, strings, woodwinds, brass, conducting, composition. For information. Competition dates: Mar 21-Apr 5, 2020. For information: intermusic.ca or 905-604-8854 or office@intermusic.ca.

DEADLINE Feb 18: Yip’s Music Festival Competition. Piano, violin, musical theatre and chamber music. Competition dates: Apr 18, 19, 25, 26, May 2, 3, 2020. For information: ymf.yips.com or 905-948-9477 x2211.

Galas, Tributes and Fundraisers

Feb 02 3:00: Bowerbird Collective. Music for Australia: A Concert Raising Funds for the Bushfire Crisis. Simone Slattery, violin; Anthony Albrecht, cello. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. For information: wheresongbegan.com. $30; $5(under 18). All profits donated to support Australian wildlife in the bushfire crisis.

Feb 14 8:00: Chorus York, Richmond Hill. Romantic Melodies, 3rd Annual Fundraising Gala. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Plaza Suite, 10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill. 7pm: cocktails, appetizers, silent auction & cash bar. 8pm: concert. An evening of love songs in a cabaret style. Stéphane Potvin, artistic director; Asal Iranmehr, accompanist; Guests: Natalie Wong, violin; Drew Henderson, guitar; Angela Gibbon, soprano; Laura Ewing, poet. Tickets: RHCPA box office, or online at rhcentre.ca or call 905-787-8811. $50 with $20 tax receipt.

Mar 06 7:30: Firerooster Collective. Stabat Mater. Pergolesi: Stabat Mater. Maureen Pecknold, soprano; Andrea Johnston, alto; Dorothy Krizmanic, piano. Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Sq. 647-339-8587. By donation. Benefit for Stella’s Place.

Mar 26 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Evening Epic. The TSO’s annual fundraising event will feature a gala dinner and EPIC party! With performances by members of the TSO and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and a one-night-only mainstage performance featuring the TSO in collaboration with award-nominated alternative-electronic Indigenous singer/songwriter iskwē. This is a 19+ event. The Carlu, 444 Yonge St. Visit EveningEpic.ca for tickets to the event. Early Bird Tickets are on sale now for $155!

Lectures, Salons and Symposia

Feb 02 8:00: The Music Gallery. Panel Discussion and Performance: When Did Transparency Become So Opaque? Curated by Olivia Shortt. The Music Gallery at 918 Bathurst St. PWYW ($10 suggested).

Feb 07 1:00-6:00. University of Toronto Faculty of Music. DM@X: Sixth Annual Digital Media at the Crossroads Conference. Visit digitalmediaatthecrossroads.com for conference details and to register. Various locations in the Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Registration required. Also Feb 8 9am-5pm.

Feb 07 12:00noon: Westben. Tick Talk: Music in Nature. Excerpts from The Selfish Giant by Brian Finley. Brian Finley and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The talk will focus on the beautiful estate of Mary West that abuts the Westben Barn property and the potential for performance and experiences in this habitat. The Clock Tower Concert Hall, 36 Front St. S., Campbellford. 705-653-5508 or 1-877-883-5777. Admission by donation ($10 suggested minimum.)

Feb 13 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Thursdays at Noon: What Makes Human Compositions Human? (Part 1). In this lecture-recital, Dr. Steve Sang Kyun Koh and the Interro Quartet highlight AI’s growing capabilities in composing music. Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free and open to the public.

Feb 16 7:00: Darchei Noam/Howard Mednick. Jewish Music by Non-Jewish Composers. Works by Handel, Smetana, Bruch and Verdi. Recorded music with commentary. Darchei Noam Synagogue, 864 Sheppard Ave. 416-435-6517. $15.

Feb 20 7:00: Canadian Opera Company. Opera Insights: An Evening with Ian Cusson. Join COC Composer-in-Residence Ian Cusson for an exploration of his artistic inspirations and creative process. Includes performances from artists of the COC Ensemble Studio. Richard Bradshaw Auditorium, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. at University Ave. Free but requires a ticket. Register online or call COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231.

Feb 23 7:00: Darchei Noam/Howard Mednick. First Concert of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Brahms: Symphony No.2; Schubert: Symphony No.8; Mendelssohn, Incidental Music to a Midsummer Night’s Dream. Recorded music with commentary. Darchei Noam Synagogue, 864 Sheppard Ave. 416-435-6517. $15.

Feb 25 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Herman Geiger-Torel Lecture: Linda and Michael Hutcheon. Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free and open to the public.

Mar 01 7:00: Darchei Noam/Howard Mednick. Jewish All-Star Composers. Works of Mendelssohn, Gershwin and Copland. Recorded music with commentary. Darchei Noam Synagogue, 864 Sheppard Ave. 416-435-6517. $15.

Mar 04 7:00: Canadian Opera Company. Opera Talks: Music and Mental Health. Explore the art and science of music’s impact on our physical, mental and emotional health with accredited music therapists and registered psychotherapist SarahRose Black and cellist Andrew Ascenzo. Participants will discover how music can punctuate life’s most important moments and learn more about music’s important role in the healthcare industry and personal wellness. North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St. Free but advanced registration is recommended by calling 416-395-5639.

Mar 04 7:30: Glenn Gould Foundation. James Rhodes: In Conversation. Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. W. Order online at: glenngould.ca. $25.

Master Classes

Feb 06 1:10: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Brass Chamber Master Class with Gábor Tarkövi. Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Open to the public.

Feb 06 5:00: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Trumpet Master Class with Gábor Tarkövi. Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Open to the public.

Singalongs, Jams, Circles

Feb 08 2:00: Canadian Bandurist Capella. Meet & Greet and Open House. Taras Shevchenko Centre, 482 Horner Ave., Etibocoke. Seeking young singers and musicians to be part of our dynamic all-male ensemble as we embark on our 20th-anniversary season. Bring your bandura or voice and join us for an afternoon of information, camaraderie and entertainment. Food and refreshments will be served. For information: 647-229-9531 or banduristy.com.

Tours

Feb 09 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 23 (French), Mar 1, 8 and 15 (French).

Workshops & Classes

Feb 02, 1:30: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by recorder player Francis Colpron. Armour Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. For information: 416-779-5750 or tempotoronto.net. $20.

Feb 07 7:30: Toronto Recorder Players Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for Recorders and Other Early Instruments. Refreshments included. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church, 527 Mount Pleasant Rd. (entrance off Belsize). For information: 416-480-1853 or rpstoronto.ca. $15.

Feb.16 2:00: CAMMAC Toronto Region. Reading for singers and instrumentalists of Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Matthew Jaskiewicz, conductor. Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. 416-482-6562. $10; $6(members).

Feb 20-23. Toronto Mass Choir. Powerup: Gospel Music Workshop. York University, Accolade East Bldg., 4700 Keele St. For information, visit powergospel.ca. $99; $79(st).

Mar 01 1:30: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by viola da gamba player Joelle Morton. Armour Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. For information: 416-779-5750 or tempotoronto.net. $20.

Mar 06 7:30: Toronto Recorder Players Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for Recorders and Other Early Instruments. Refreshments included. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church, 527 Mount Pleasant Rd. (entrance off Belsize). For information: 416-480-1853 or rpstoronto.ca. $15.

Clubs & Groups

Dec 07 1:00: Recollectiv. A unique musical group whose members are affected by memory challenges caused by Alzheimer’s, dementia, traumatic brain injury, stroke, or PTSD. Volunteers of all ages also form part of the band making a positive intergenerational experience for all participants. The group’s mission is to help people with memory challenges find joy and a sense of community through music-making. Meets weekly and is free with pre-registration. For information visit recollectiv.ca or call Smile Theatre at 416-599-8440. Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. Also Dec 14, 21, 28, Jan 4, 11, 18, 25, and Feb 1.

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.

Jan 19 2:00: Classical Music Club Toronto. Beethoven Bicentennial I. 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

DEADLINE Dec 01: Toronto Mozart Vocal Competition. Applications are being accepted now. Further information at mozartproject.ca.

DEADLINE Jan 06: Artists’ International Music & Dance Association. Lorenzo Bellini International Vocal Competition 2020. Audition dates: Jan 11 & 12, 2020. Registration and information: 416-250-1882 or torontoschoolofmusiccanada@yahoo.ca.

Jan 11 12:00noon: Don Wright Faculty of Music. Maritsa Brookes Concerto Competition. Von Kuster Hall, Music Building, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N., London. 519-661-3767. Free.

DEADLINE Feb 01: International Music Festival and Competition. All ages and levels. Piano, voice, guitar, harp, strings, woodwinds, brass, conducting, composition. Competition dates: Mar 21-Apr 5, 2020. For information: intermusic.ca or 905-604-8854 or office@intermusic.ca.

DEADLINE Feb 18: Yip’s Music Festival Competition. Piano, violin, musical theatre and chamber music. Competition dates: Apr 18, 19, 25, 26, May 2, 3, 2020. For information: ymf.yips.com or 905-948-9477 x2211.

Films

Jan 19 6:30pm; Royal Conservatory. Music on Film: Heart of a Dog. Director: Laurie Anderson, 75 min, 2015, USA. Laurie Anderson takes us on a magical journey through the nature of love, loss, and absence. Centered on her beloved dog Lolabelle, who died in 2011, and dedicated to her late husband, Lou Reed, the film seamlessly weaves together childhood memories, video diaries, and philosophical musings on the meaning of life. Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. Post-film talk with Laurie Anderson, hosted by Mervon Mehta. Tickets & information: hotdocscinema.ca

Jan 21 7:00: Toronto Consort. The Search for Salamone Rossi. A documentary film screening and Q&A. Innis Town Hall, U of T, 2 Sussex Ave. 416-964-6337 or torontoconsort.org. $20.

Galas, Tributes and Fundraisers

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).

Dec 21 2:30: Polina Chernik and Julia Tchernik. Music and Miracles Youth Charity Concert. In support of the Music Therapy Program at SickKids Hospital. Polina Chernik, piano, Alexander Dondish, violin/guitar, Elizabeth Gilerovitch, voice, Karim Khakimov, flute, Grace Zemlyak, voice. Array Music, 155 Walnut Ave. 416-638-8226. $10 or PWYC.

Jan 23 7:00: Echo Women’s Choir. An Evening with Singer/Songwriter Andrea Ramolo and Special Guests. A benefit concert for Echo Women’s Choir. Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. Free snacks, cash bar and silent auction. Tickets: $20 available at the door or via Eventbrite: echo_presents_andrea_ramolo.eventbrite.ca. Further information at echowomenschoir.ca or facebook.com/events/1301762543366645/.

Lectures, Salons and Symposia

Dec 02: 1:30: Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. Mozart at the Opera. Presented by opera educator Iain Scott. By December 1791, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had written the defining compositions in every available musical genre of his time: symphony, chamber music, masses, and – above all – three types of operas: Opera Seria, Opera Buffa and Singspiel. Iain will discuss a spectrum of directorial approaches to these masterworks, providing fresh insights into these multi-layered experiences. Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Ave. To register, call 416-924-6211 x0 or visit mnjcc.org. $22.

Dec 05 1:00: Miles Nadal JCC. Are You Hep to the Jive?: The Music of Cab Callloway. Led by musician Jonno Lightstone. Cab Calloway (the legendary “Hi De Ho” man) was a larger-than-life showman known for scat singing, dancing, and flashy elegance. He catapulted to fame with performances at The Cotton Club, created signature songs like “Minnie the Moocher”, and led one of the greatest bands of the Swing Era. Enjoy this historical lecture complete with live music. Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Ave. Admission: $5. Spaces limited. To register, call 416-924-6211 x0 or visit www.mnjcc.org.

Dec 09 2:00: Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. Classical 101 Talk. Presented by Composer Abigail Richardson-Schulte. Caroline Place, 118 Market St., Hamilton. 905-526-7756 or hpo.org. Free.

Dec 11 2:00: Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. Seniors’ Symphony Experience: Tchaikovsky - His Life and Music. Presented by composer Abigail Richardson-Schulte. Talk with piano demonstrations. Caroline Place, 118 Market St., Hamilton. 905-526-7756 or hpo.org. Free.

Jan 07 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Voice Performance Class: In Conversation with Emily D’Angelo, mezzo. Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Open to the public.

Jan 17 5:10: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. New Music Festival: Lecture by Women on the Verge “Evolution of an Idea: Bringing your artistic vision to market”. Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Open to the public.

Jan 19 1:00: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. New Music Festival: UofT Opera presents Coffee with the Composers. Presented by Colin McMahon. Geiger-Torel Room, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Open to the public.

Jan 23 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Lecture: James W. Wright - They Shot, He Scored: Eldon Rathburn and the Legacy of the National Film Board. Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Open to the public.

Master Classes

Jan 14 10:00am: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. New Music Festival: Composition Master Class I with André Mehmari. Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Open to the public. Also Jan 15.

Feb 06 1:10: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Brass Chamber Master Class with Gábor Tarkövi. Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Open to the public.

Feb 06 5:00: University of Toronto Faculty of Music. Trumpet Master Class with Gábor Tarkövi. Edward Johnson Building, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Open to the public.

Singalongs, Jams, Circles

Dec 01 7:00: Jazz United Jam. A spot where dancers, singers and musicians are all equal. Everybody contributes to make the songs come alive. The Jam is practice at a more democratic approach to music and dance. Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. 416-923-8137. Free/PWYC. Also Dec 8, 15, 22, 29, Jan 5, 12, 26.

Dec 21 2:00: Tafelmusik. Sing-Along Messiah. Margot Rood, soprano; Lucile Richardot, mezzo; Thomas Hobbs, tenor; Peter Harvey, baritone; Tafelmusik Chamber Choir; Ivars Taurins, conductor (in character as Mr. Handel). Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. $20-$49.50.

Dec 31 7:00: Art Gallery of Burlington. Crystal Journey Welcomes 2020. Paiste planet gongs, Persian santoors, harmonica and quartz crystal bowls. Doors open at 6pm. Drum circle at 7pm with Tom Wolf. Crystal Journey will perform two sets at 8:30pm-9:30pm and 10:30pm-11:30pm. At midnight we will “gong” in 2020 with the Big Earth Gong. We encourage you to gather around the Gong. Vendors, chill and zen areas, kids zone with supervision. Includes access to Art Gallery displays, Garden Area and Zen Room. Coffee/tea and vegan snacks. Art Gallery of Burlington, 1333 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington. www.eventbrite.ca/e/crystal-journey-new-years-eve-2019-2020-tickets-63602930076. $60; free(under 12). Only 220 tickets will be available and only a few at the door.

Jan 11 7:15: Toronto Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Songfest. An annual gathering of great G&S groups from around the city performing excerpts of G&S operettas. A fantastic evening with refreshments included. St. Andrew’s United Church, 117 Bloor St. E. Free parking off Hayden St. below church. For more information, please call 416-763-0832. $5 for non-members.

Tours

Dec 01 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 Dec 8, Jan 12, 26 (also available in French).

Workshops & Classes

Dec 01 1:30: 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 or tempotoronto.net. $20.

Dec 06 7:30: Toronto Recorder Players Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for Recorders and Other Early Instruments. Coach: Avery MacLean. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church, 527 Mount Pleasant Rd. (entrance off Belsize). 416-480-1853. rpstoronto.ca. $20. Refreshments included.

Jan 05 1:30: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by viola da gamba player Valerie Sylvester, Armour Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. 416-779-5750 or tempotoronto.net. $20.

Jan 11 1:00. Durham Girls’ Choir. Winter Workshop. Girls aged 7 through 18 from across the Durham Region are invited to join us for an afternoon of singing and musical fun. Bring a friend, make new friends, and be amazed by the beautiful sounds you create in just one afternoon. A great way to experience what a performing choir is all about, without the commitment of a full year. Choir membership is NOT required. Parents are welcome to observe the workshop and are invited to our special performance at the end of the day. Durham Girls’ Choir is not church-affiliated. Location: TBD. 905-434-7269. Free workshop (reservation required).

Jan 17 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. (entrance off Belsize). 416-480-1853. rpstoronto.ca. $20. Refreshments included.

Jan 19 2:00: CAMMAC Toronto Region. Reading for Singers and String Players of Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri. Mark Vuorinen, conductor. Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. 647-458-0213. $10; $6(members).

Jan 25 10:30am: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Singsation Saturday Choral Workshop. Conductor Jordan Travis will explore two types of close-harmony singing. Now’s the time to give some Barbershop a try. Cameron Hall, Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. $10 fee includes refreshments. More info: tmchoir.org/singsation-saturdays.

Jan 26 2:30: Fit for the Stage. Elevated Performance for Singers: A Comprehensive Mind and Body Workshop. Overcome physical and mental blocks to performing at your highest level in this day of hands-on learning. Led by Leigh Graham, fitness and mindset coach and vocalist. 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education, 918 Bathurst St. For information and registration: fitforthestage.com

Feb 02 1:30: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by recorder player Francis Colpron. St. Leonard’s Church, Canon Dykes Memorial Room, 25 Wanless Ave. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. 416-779-5750 or tempotoronto.net. $20.

Feb 07 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. (entrance off Belsize). 416-480-1853. rpstoronto.ca. $20. Refreshments included.

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.