Blue Pages 2019

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St. Thomas’s Church, Toronto, is one of the oldest Anglo-Catholic congregations in Canada. Established in 1874, the parish has been, from its earliest days, at the forefront of the liturgical and musical life of the Anglican Church of Canada. Excellent choral and organ music are vital components of all Sunday services, Feast Days, and the liturgies of Advent and Holy Week. There are three choral services each Sunday, sung by a dedicated group of volunteers supported by section leads: “Sung Eucharist (Contemporary Rite)” at 9:30am; “Solemn Eucharist (Traditional Rite)” at 11am; and “Solemn Evensong and Devotions” at 7pm. The repertoire is diverse, from plainsong and Renaissance masterpieces to gems of the British cathedral tradition and contemporary Canadian compositions. Located in the historic Huron-Sussex neighbourhood, adjacent to the University of Toronto campus, the church was designed in the Arts and Crafts style by renowned architect Eden Smith (1858-1949), a parishioner.

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St. Olave’s, Swansea, is an Anglican church in the west end of Toronto. Traditional services of Holy Communion or Morning Prayer (sung Sundays at 10:30am) use the Book of Common Prayer. There are also Choral Evensongs throughout the year, our very popular “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” before Christmas and a special Good Friday service with readings and choral music. Its excellent acoustics, organ and grand piano make it a desirable venue for performing groups and recitals.

Choral Evensongs often featuring a visiting choir (about one Sunday per month at 4pm) are followed by afternoon tea and a music event (as listed in The WholeNote), such as illustrated music talks or recitals by guest musicians, or performances from our Arts Guild. Evening Prayer (various weekdays at 6pm) are followed by supper and talks on travel, history, applied religion, etc.

Our choir, under the direction of John Stephenson, leads the congregation in hymns and canticles, and also sings anthems and motets. Rehearsals are Thursdays, 7:30pm to 9pm, with a warm-up Sundays at 9:30am. Call to ask about paid positions, or come to a rehearsal to see what it’s all about. Singers are also welcome to join the choir at Choral Evensongs.

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St. Michael’s Choir School was founded in 1937, with the purpose of providing sacred music for services at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. St. Michael’s Choir School is an all-boys school from grades 3 through 12 located in downtown Toronto. Comprised of between 250 to 300 students, St. Michael’s Choir School is a centre for musical and academic excellence. It is one of only six choir schools in the world affiliated with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. Each student attending SMCS is accepted on the basis of a vocal audition and sings in at least one of the school’s choirs. Each St. Michael’s Choir School student is trained in music theory, vocal and instrumental music. In addition to weekly Masses and numerous annual concerts, SMCS choirs tour regularly and perform at local events.

At SMCS, balancing the sacred and the secular is a longstanding tradition. St. Michael’s Choir School is not only famous for its music program, but also for its academic achievement, consistently ranking at the top of Fraser Institute surveys. For 75 years, graduates of the Choir School have pursued studies in science, education, medicine, law, business, and, of course, music. For more information visit our website.

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St. Bart’s, Regent Park preserves a timeless liturgy that includes all that is best in the Western Catholic tradition. The St. Bart’s Choir, under the direction of early music specialist Katherine Hill, sings at the Sunday Parish Mass (10:30am) and on other Feast Days throughout the year. The choir’s repertoire includes Gregorian chant and polyphony of the 14th to 16th centuries, as well as a wide variety of later English Cathedral music, sacred harp, Eastern Orthodox hymns, Baroque motets, new compositions, and motets and mass settings by Healey Willan. 

Organist Sebastian Moreno is likewise passionate about Anglo-Catholic music and ancient liturgy, focusing on medieval music’s influence in 19th-20th century composition. Music for liturgy is regularly enhanced by instrumentalists playing recorder, violin, viola da gamba, trumpet and medieval fiddle. Comprised of nine dedicated volunteers and choral scholars, the choir is always happy to welcome new members. Rehearsals are held on Thursdays, 7:15pm to 9:15pm.