Blue Pages 2019

Read Profile

Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation marks its 26th season under the continuing leadership of artistic director Eric Robertson. Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation has presented a rich variety of concerts for Toronto audiences, including its popular weekly recital series, as well as international groups such as King’s College Cambridge Choir, Clare College Singers and St. John’s College Choir. It has also featured Canadian artists including Erica Goodman, Colin Fox, Beverley Johnston, John McDermott, Sharlene Wallace, Anne Lindsay, John Johnson, the True North Brass, the Gryphon Trio, and NEXUS.

Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation is also involved in the “City Carol Sing,” a large annual charity event that raises money for food banks across Canada. Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing the best in inspirational arts programming. It is governed by an elected volunteer board of directors and operates with the assistance of advisors from a variety of backgrounds, including event management, promotions, finance and business. 

Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation, in cooperation with Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, begins its 2019/20 season in September with its weekly Lunchtime Chamber Music series.

Read Profile

newchoir is Toronto’s first adult rock choir. Entering our 15th season, newchoir specializes in performing choral arrangements of rock and pop songs accompanied by a rock band and other professional instrumentalists to support the sound. Members are auditioned for the ensemble and come from across the GTA to rehearse every Monday night at the Church of the Redeemer (161 Bloor West). newchoir presents two concerts each season, with the final concert of the season being at Koerner Hall. The choir invites a well-known Canadian artist to collaborate with for the Koerner Hall show. This gives the membership the opportunity to work with a professional musician and to actively support musicians in this genre of music. newchoir is committed to promoting and working with Canadian talent as an active member of the arts community.

Read Profile

2019/20 begins an exciting new adventure for New Music Concerts as it embarks on its 49th season. Brian Current comes on board as co-artistic director with founder Robert Aitken and, along with new general manager Adam Scime, prepares to take us boldly into our second half century. Here are some season highlights. “Kasemets@100” is a celebration of Estonian-Canadian composer Udo Kasemets, in cooperation with the University of Toronto, Nov 12. “Aitken@80” features works written for the world-renowned flutist by a number of world-renowned composers, on December 8. “The Mouths That Roar” features Gabriel Dharmoo’s solo performance piece Anthropologies imaginaires, and works for soprano performed by 2018’s Friend of Canadian Music Award-winner Janice Jackson, on January 10. Brian Current curates “Serious Smile” on February 13 featuring György Ligeti, Alexander Schubert, Keiko Devaux, Corie Rose Soumah and Brandon Chow. The PEP ensemble (pianist Corey Hamm and erhu virtuoso Nicole Ge Li) perform works created especially for their unique ensemble on March 26. And the season concludes on May 31 with a portrait concert featuring renowned German composer/conductor Matthias Pintscher. 

Read Profile

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 Dr. 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 Toronto concert season, 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 at York University. Membership is by audition. The 2019/20 season will include Great Joy II: Around the World - a jazz/gospel Christmas; the opera Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom by American composer Nkeiru Okoye; the premiere of God’s Trombones - a song cycle by the Canadian pianist and composer Stewart Goodyear; and collaborations with local choirs.