Volume 17 Issue 8 - May 2012

Canary PagestheWholeNote CHOIR LISTINGS | 2012-2013john@islingtonunited.orgRonald Jewell416-233-0279ronjewell@sympatico.cawww.islingtonunited.org●●John Laing SingersThe John Laing Singers is a chamber choir foundedby John Laing in 1982 and based in Ontario’sGolden Horseshoe. Throughout its 30-year history,the choir has earned a reputation for vibrantperformances and recordings. Now under theartistic direction of Dr. Roger Bergs, the singerscontinue to win over audiences in Hamiltonand surrounding areas with their compellingperformances of diverse choral repertoire. Inthe upcoming anniversary season the choir willbe focussing on Canadian repertoire as well astime-honoured choral favourites. Informationabout the JLS subscription series, choristers, artisticdirector, recordings and contact details canbe found on our website.Jennifer Wray, choir president905-628-5238president@johnlaingsingers.comjohnlaingsingers.com●●Jubilate SingersThe Jubilate Singers is an ensemble choir ofaround 30 voices, presenting an eclectic andoften multi-lingual mix of international andCanadian choral works. We have a three-concertseason and perform at least two communityconcerts per year. Under the leadership of IsabelBernaus, the choir is exposed to challengingrepertoire not often heard by Canadian audiences.Auditions are held twice yearly, in Juneand September, and as needed. Rehearsals areTuesday nights, 7:30pm–9:45pm, at St. Leonard’sAnglican Church (Yonge and St. Clair). Interestedsingers are welcome to sit in on a rehearsal beforedeciding to audition.David Reddin, membership coordinator416-286-8927join@jubilatesingers.cawww.jubilatesingers.ca●●Kingston Chamber ChoirNow in its ninth season, this 22-voice choir presentsmore “music to move you.” The choirtackles some of the more challenging choralworks and presents them in the spectacular St.George’s Cathedral setting, long known for itsaesthetic beauty and grandeur, and for its fineacoustical properties. Guest artists’ collaborationswith the choir are always highlights forboth choir and audience. Audiences are increasinglydrawn to the choir’s approach to the choralart and its mastery of memorable musicalworks. As important as mastery is, of course,it is the connection with an audience that canbe magical.Gordon Sinclair, artistic director613-531-9413sinclair@kingston.netwinfo@kingstonchamberchoir.cawww.kingstonchamberchoir.ca●●Kingsway Children’s Choirand Drum EnsembleVenturing outside the bounds of traditionalchoir training, the Kingsway Children’s Choirand Drum Ensemble is a unique, liberatingchoral experience for children aged 7 and up.Directed by a professional music educatorwith extensive choral conducting experience,the Kingsway Children’s Choir explores a vastrepertoire spanning world music, folk songsand classic choral works. Weekly rehearsals arean invigorating musical work-out encompassingvoice and body warm-ups, vocal technique,singing skills and drum circle (each choristerreceives an African djembé drum to keep).Throughout the 30-week season, choristers taketheir music to various stages including adjudicatedfestivals, recitals and community events.Sharon Burlacoff416-234-0121sharonkcm@bellnet.cawww.kingswayconservatory.ca●●La Jeunesse Youth ChoirsEstablished in 1988, the four-time internationalgold medal winner La Jeunesse Senior Choir(girls aged 11–18) includes 40 auditioned singersand is one of the four La Jeunesse YouthChoirs. The other choirs include the Children’sChoir (ages 8–12), STAB (youth aged 12 and up)and SheVoce (girls 17–18). All choirs rehearseweekly at Trinity United Church in Cobourg,Ontario, and perform two concerts per year, plusother community events and productions. InApril 2007, LJYC released its fifth CD, JeunesseElemental. The choir regularly commissionsworks from Canadian composers. The choir iscurrently working on its sixth CD.Jennie Gilles, choir administrator905-355-3634ljchoirs@eagle.cawww.lajeunessechoirs.ca●●Larkin SingersThe Larkin Singers, a 16-voice chamber choir,has quickly established itself amongst the finestexamples of Canada’s strong choral heritage.Founded in 2008 under the direction of MatthewLarkin, the choir “boasts strong singers verycommitted to choral work, and programs interestingmusic.” The members appear regularlyas professional choristers and soloists in Canada,present an annual subscription series and performregularly in Toronto, Ottawa, London andcities further afield. The group has toured inthe UK and the US, with plans for future tours.In 2008, the choir released its first recording,A New Work is Come on Hand. Auditions takeplace in the fall for open positions.Robin McLean, general managerinfo@larkinsingers.comwww.larkinsingers.com●●Lawrence Park CommunityChurch ChoirLawrence Park Community Church Choirsings weekly at Sunday worship services fromSeptember through June, with Thursday eveningrehearsals. Consisting of more than 20 members,including a professional quartet, the choirpresents special musical offerings at Christmasand during Holy Week, and is featured annuallyin Lawrence Park’s “Fridays@8” concert series.The choir has commissioned a number of anthemsfrom composers including Bob Chilcott,Ruth Watson Henderson and Paul Halley. RecentCD recordings have included Awake, my soul, andsing, Peace for a New Millennium and a ChristmasCD Beauty, Peace and Joy, available through thechurch office.Mark Toews, director of music416-489-1551mark@lawrenceparkchurch.cawww.lawrenceparkchurch.ca●●Les voix du coeurFondé en 1994 par Bernard Dionne, l’ensemblevocal Les voix du cœur est dirigé depuis 16 anspar Manon Côté et accompagné au piano parGabriel Drouin. L’ensemble à quatre voix mixtescomprend une trentaine de choristes amateurset se consacre principalement à l’interprétationde la chanson populaire francophone en provenancedu Canada et de l’Europe. Les spectaclesprésentés allient le chant, le théâtre et ladanse. L’ensemble est sans contredit des plusdynamiques et a su, au fil des ans, se tailler unebelle place au sein de la francophonie torontoise.Carmen Bourbonnais, présidente416-267-1880evlesvoixducoeur@gmail.com●●Lyrica Chamber Choir of BarrieFounded in 2000 by the late Natalyia Gurin anddirected since 2005 by Steve Winfield, LyricaChamber Choir of Barrie strives to present eclecticand evocative programs of excellent choralchamber music. The 34 singers of Lyrica demonstratea strong desire to present artisticallyvaried choral programs with a high degreeof musicianship to the community of Barrieand surrounding area. Recent highlights includeperformances of Randall Thompson’sFrostiana Cycle and works by Josef Rheinberger.Professional soloists and instrumental musiciansregularly join Lyrica for performances.Our accompanist, Brent Mayhew, enhances thechoir’s performances with extraordinary skilland sensitivity.Steve Winfield705-722-0271steve.winfield@sympatico.cawww.lyricachoir.org● ● Masterworks of Oakville Chorusand OrchestraWe are a community-based group dedicatedto performing the great works of the westernclassical tradition, particularly sacred works forchoir and orchestra. We are committed to artisticexcellence and proud to preserve and continuea great musical tradition.As one of the largest performing arts groupsin Oakville, we are known for our outstandingperformances and challenging repertoire.Masterworks performs in Oakville-area churches,each of which hosts and produces our concertsthemselves, assisted by our dedicated teamof volunteers. Masterworks also regularly appearsat special events in the GTA.Masterworks exists with the enthusiasm of itschoristers and orchestra players, which is thehallmark of its performances.info@masterworksofoakville.cawww.masterworksofoakville.ca