Volume 23 Issue 2 - October 2017

BLUE PAGES 2017/18
We have about 40 singers and are now in our
fourth season with artistic director Lucas Harris.
He auditions new singers throughout the
season as necessary. Interested singers should
bring a rich choral background and a deep love
for early repertoire.
Sharon Adamson
416-763-1695
info@torontochamberchoir.ca
www.torontochamberchoir.ca
●Toronto ● Children’s Chorus
The Toronto Children’s Chorus celebrates its 40th
anniversary this 2017/18 season and its 11th under
artistic director Elise Bradley. The Chorus comprises
a family of choirs: KinderNotes for children
aged 3 to 6 (no audition required), four Training
Choirs, Main Choir (Cantare, Chorale, Chamber,
and Choral Scholar levels) and Youth Choir.
More than 300 choristers develop skills in vocal
technique, sight-singing and music theory each
year. Main Choir offers masterclasses and exceptional
performance and recording opportunities,
including with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Chamber Choir is the 2017 ambassador for the
International Federation for Choral Music and
the only Canadian act at the 11th World Symposium
on Choral Music. Chorus auditions are held
in May and September.
Bonnie O’Sullivan
416-932-8666 x225
info@torontochildrenschorus.com
www.torontochildrenschorus.com
●Toronto ● Choral Society
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. In addition,
TCS plays an integral part in the community,
presenting important works from the traditional
choral repertoire, while exploring the music of the
cultural mosaic that is our city. This year, as a result
of years of experience, we are taking a big leap forward
and we are performing Bach’s Christmas
Oratorio, on December 6 at 7:30pm in Koerner
Hall. The artistic director and conductor of three
of the TCS choirs is Geoffrey Butler, who joined
the TCS in 1994. Under his guidance, the choir has
flourished and grown, performing choral works
in a wide variety of styles, from Baroque to jazz.
Being an accomplished tenor, Mr. Butler helps the
members of the choir to expand both their musical
horizons and their singing abilities. The accompanist
of this Community Choir is William O’Meara. A
talented pianist, organist and harpsichordist, Mr.
O’Meara is well known for traditional solo repertoire,
as well as his improvised accompaniments
at international silent film festivals.
Debby Neill Blyth
416-465-9614
dblyth@sympatico.ca
www.torontochoralsociety.org
●Toronto ● City Opera
We are a community opera company with a longstanding
history of 51 years. Our mission is threefold:
to develop young emerging singers through
an intensive voice and stagecraft training program
culminating in performances of fully-staged,
fully-costumed operas in their entire originality;
to invite the community at large, from all walks
of life, to join our non-auditioned, non-discriminatory
chorus program through the Continuing
Education Program of the Toronto District
School Board; and to promote the intricate
beauty of operas through affordable ticket price.
By engaging the professional artists and amateur
and non-professional artists together, we
break down barriers in these two groups, promote
team effort and exchange knowledge with
a common goal of delivering an outstanding performance
to the public.
Sandra Tang
416-223-8060
sandratang@tanginc.com
www.torontocityopera.com
●Toronto ● Classical Singers
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 26th performance year, Toronto Classical
Singers is presenting an exciting and timely
season. Conductor Jurgen Petrenko will lead the
choir, the Talisker Players Orchestra and soloists
through three concerts featuring five composers.
Opening with “Noel Noel” on December 10,
2017, enjoy a French Christmas with Charpentier’s
Messe de Minuit and Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio
de Noel. “Music for Troubled Times,” on
February 25, 2018, will feature Haydn’s wartime
Lord Nelson Mass, contrasted by the comforting
Mass in G by Schubert. The season will culminate
with “Music of Transcendence” on May 6, 2018,
with Brahms’ great and humanizing masterpiece
Ein Deutsches Requiem.
All concerts are on Sundays at 4pm, Christ
Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St.
Season tickets $80, single tickets $30.
Anne Molloy
647-960-2405 (text or phone)
kathleenpayne@sympatico.ca
www.torontoclassicalsingers.ca
●Toronto ● Consort
Celebrating its 45th Anniversary, The Toronto
Consort is Canada’s leading ensemble specializing
in the music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance
and early Baroque. Founded in 1972, the Consort
presents an annual subscription series at the
revitalized Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre in Toronto. The
Consort has toured extensively and has recorded
music for film and television, including the hit television
series The Tudors and The Borgias, and is
releasing its 14th CD recording in November 2017:
The Italian Queen of France.
2017/18 marks A Season of Celebration! For
our 45th Anniversary, we present concerts that
highlight everything we love about Medieval and
Renaissance music: “Renaissance Splendours”
(November 17 and 18, 2017) with dancers from
the Atelier School of Ballet; “Navidad: A Spanish
Christmas” (December 8, 9 and 10); “Illuminations”
(March 2 and 3, 2018) featuring Persian
percussionist Naghmeh Farahmand; “Quicksilver
presents Fantasticus” (April 13 and 14),
and Monteverdi’s Orfeo with Charles Daniels
and Kevin Skelton (May 25, 26 and 27). $15 tickets
are available for ages 35 and under through
Club Consort. Tickets on sale at TorontoConsort.
org or by calling 416-964-6337.
Michelle Knight, managing director
416-964-6337
www.torontoconsort.org
●Toronto ● Masque Theatre
Founded in 2003 by Larry Beckwith, Toronto
Masque Theatre is one of the only companies in
the world devoted to the performance and creation
of masque, an art form that fuses music,
dance and theatre. Inspired by the rich courtly
tradition of the late Renaissance, we reinvent the
art form for today’s audiences, speaking to contemporary
Toronto.
We have produced over 60 critically acclaimed
productions, ranging in repertoire from the late
Renaissance to the present day, including original
works from Canadian artists.
This will be our final season and the company
goes out on a high, with a year of celebration
featuring: “Dido and Aeneas / Aeneas and
Dido” in October, a twice-told love story; “The
Peasant Cantata / All the Diamonds” in February,
our annual winter cabaret to warm the soul;
and “The Last Chaconne” in May, a one-nightonly
farewell celebration of the company. We
will also be presenting salons in September and
April, and a special Christmas event, “Peace on
Earth,” in December.
Vivian Moens
416-410-4561
admin@torontomasquetheatre.com
www.torontomasquetheatre.com
●Toronto ● Mass Choir Inc.
Toronto Mass Choir continues to be on the cutting
edge of Canadian gospel music, bringing
their distinct sound to the world stage. The
choir’s music incorporates contemporary gospel,
traditional gospel as well as Caribbean
music influences.
The seeds of this gospel choir were sown during
the choir’s initial live recording concert as
B22 | theWholeNote 2017/18 PRESENTER PROFILES