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Toronto Classical Singers is known for its unique musical point of view and its high-quality performances, often presenting the lesser-known and rarely performed vocal/orchestral repertoire as well as the standard works. With its exuberant approach, the group celebrates the choral tradition.

For its 28th performance year, founding conductor Jurgen Petrenko will lead the choir, the Talisker Players and soloists through three concerts featuring Handel, Schubert and Vaughan Williams with programming ranging from the ubiquitous to the enigmatic. Opening with “Have Seen a Great Light” on December 8, treat yourself to the universally shared experience of Handel’s Messiah. On March 1, “An die Musick - To Music” features Schubert lieder and his Mass No. 4. “Mysterious and Deep” completes our season on May 3: as vast as the ocean, Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony will be performed with The Mystical Songs, creating a concert of atmospheric awe and wonder. All concerts are on Sundays at 4pm, Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street. Please visit us on our website for more information.

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The Toronto Choral Society (TCS) was founded in 1845 to foster a positive musical environment in which members can learn and develop their musical ability and choral repertoire. This December 6, 7:30pm at Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre, we will be performing: “Messiah & Carols, A Christmas Celebration!”

What better way to launch the holiday season than an evening of the uplifting sounds of Handel’s Messiah and traditional Christmas carols! The 150-voice Toronto Choral Society will fill Koerner Hall with the rich and emotional sound of one of the Western world‘s best known choral works. Handel wrote this, his most iconic work, in just 18 days. And, it is said that he “wept while he composed the Hallelujah chorus, and claimed he saw visions of angels while he worked on this piece.” Could we be so fortunate while listening? The magnificent choir will be accompanied by the Talisker Players, a unique ensemble of musicians whose strength and reputation lies in the accompaniment of choirs. Throughout the evening, Christmas carols will be interspersed in the program as well as some audience sing-alongs, creating the perfect festive concert. Geoffrey Butler is our artistic director, joined by William O’Meara, accompanist.

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The award-winning Toronto Children’s Chorus is currently marking its 42nd season and its 13th year under the baton of artistic director Elise Bradley, MNZM. The Chorus comprises a family of choirs: KinderNotes for children aged three to six (no audition required), four Training Choir levels, Main Choir (six ensembles) and Toronto Youth Choir (aged 16 to 30). Each year, more than 400 choristers develop their skills in vocal technique, sight-singing and music theory, and perform an array of season concerts and guest performances. The Chamber Choir also performs nationally and internationally, most recently representing Canada at choral festivals in New Zealand and Australia.

Highlights of the 2019/20 season include two fall concerts; the TCC’s annual holiday concert in collaboration with Roy Thomson Hall on December 15; the family-friendly, movie-themed concert in February; TCC’s Main Choir concert with guest choirs from New Zealand on April 18; and the spring concert at the Toronto Centre of the Arts on May 2. Visit www.torontochildrenschorus.com/performances to view all upcoming performances and to purchase tickets.

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Building on 50 years of concert performances, the Toronto Chamber Choir of around 40 skilled singers, now under artistic director Lucas Harris, has held a prominent place in Canada’s early music scene since 1968. It specializes in Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, collaborating regularly with Toronto’s rich pool of period instrumentalists, but also with forays into other periods while staying true to its early music roots.

Four concerts per season - two Saturday evening concerts and two Sunday afternoon “Kaffeemusik” presentations - explore the cultural context of our repertoire through narration, often with a special guest expert. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall with occasional Saturday “retreats.” Auditions for new volunteer members are held anytime by arrangement with the director, while auditions for our Toronto Chamber Consort section lead program are held in May or June.

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Toronto Beach Chorale (artistic director, Mervin W. Fick) is an auditioned SATB choir of up to 65 voices. Singers share a passion for great classical choral music, a strong commitment to sharing the gift of music and engaging their community in quality musical experiences. TBC invites professional musicians, soloists, actors and arts organizations to join in three to four concerts per season. TBC also organizes and participates in “Messiah for the City” – a free concert for the United Way charities – and in many local community events. TBC’s Choral Scholars Program offers subsidy and training to singers aged 19 to 24. Rehearsals are Wednesdays, 7pm to 9:30pm, September to May in the Beach area. Auditions are held in September and January. The ability to read music and choral experience are assets.

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TO Live is one of Canada’s largest multi-arts organizations, operating three iconic venues and presenting a full range of performing arts, theatrical and concert events in both downtown and uptown Toronto at Meridian Hall (formerly Sony Centre for the Performing Arts), St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and Meridian Arts Centre (formerly Toronto Centre for the Arts). With hubs of creativity and content creation in both downtown and uptown Toronto, TO Live has a unique place and perspective in Toronto, and the mission of TO Live is to activate creative spaces by inspiring local and international artists, to connect audiences and to be the nexus for new ideas, to elevate artistic potential, and to be the catalyst for creative expression that is reflective of Toronto’s diversity.

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Currently in their 12th season, That Choir is one of Toronto’s most exciting a cappella ensembles, combining high-calibre performance with storytelling through choral music. Founded in 2008 by artistic director Craig Pike, That Choir now draws together close to 20 auditioned singers with diverse backgrounds in culture, work and study. Each season, That Choir presents a self-presented concert series of contemporary choral works, along with their own series of cabarets throughout the year. Additionally, the choir often collaborates with other ensembles in the city, undertakes a range of professional development projects, and appears at many local and provincial music festivals and arts events.

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Tapestry Opera is a rare gem in Canada’s cultural landscape, and after four decades of boundary-breaking opera, the company enters its ruby anniversary year (40th) in a stronger position than ever before and with a red-hot lineup for 2019/20.

The season includes a world premiere, the return of two smash hits, embarks on bold explorations into augmented reality, the launch of a landmark national project and the ongoing development of four new commissions. Partnerships with Opera Philadelphia, Luminato, Opéra de Montréal, OCAD U and others are a major part of upcoming initiatives, this season and beyond.

This season’s world premiere, Jacqueline, dives into the real-life struggle between celebrity virtuosic cellist Jacqueline du Pré and the multiple sclerosis that ravaged her body, mind, and talent, robbing her of her identity, her breathtaking musical gift, and her life.

Tapestry Opera’s award-winning original cast and production of Rocking Horse Winner explores the relationship between Paul, a young man with developmental challenges, and Ava, his emotionally distant mother. An intimate, psychologically insightful look at love, luck, and greed, Rocking Horse Winner received 5 Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

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Under the leadership of artistic director Peter Mahon, The Tallis Choir is a mixed-voice chamber choir of 36 voices that has been performing together since 1977. The choir presents an annual subscription series of four concerts between October and May each year in the magnificent acoustic of St. Patrick’s Church in downtown Toronto. Known for innovative programming and polished performances of repertoire covering more than five centuries, the Tallis Choir is an extremely versatile ensemble. They specialize in performances of rarely-heard sacred masterpieces of the Italian, Spanish and English Renaissance which form the cornerstone of their concert series. While they frequently feature a capella polyphonic works, the Choir often works with guest artists performing on period string and wind instruments to add further authenticity to the experience. Additionally, the Choir can be heard in performances around the GTA and southern Ontario, having appeared in the Colours of Music Festival, Luminato Festival, and in multiple performances at the Sony Centre.

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Led by music director Elisa Citterio, Tafelmusik is one of the world’s leading period-instrument ensembles, performing on instruments and in styles appropriate for the era of the music. Renowned for dynamic, engaging, and soulful performances, Tafelmusik performs some 80 concerts each year for audiences across Toronto, and is Canada’s most toured orchestra, having performed in more than 350 cities in 32 countries. The orchestra is often joined by the critically acclaimed Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and its director, Ivars Taurins.

Tafelmusik also seeks to transport audiences to the Baroque and Classical periods through insightful multimedia programs and adventurous cross-cultural collaborations. Our musicians share their knowledge and experience through comprehensive education and artist-training initiatives such as the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer and Winter Institutes. Tafelmusik’s recordings on the Sony, CBC Records, Analekta, and Tafelmusik Media labels have garnered ten JUNOs and numerous international recording prizes.