Dynamic | March 2013 - Calico School Library

Transcription

Dynamic
Choirs Ontario’s Newsletter
www.choirsontario.org
Connect chorally. Make life sing!
Durham Girls Choir
Dynamic | March 2013 | volume 41, issue 3
Dynamic is published four times a year by Choirs
Ontario. Reproduction or translation of any work
herein without the express permission of Choirs
Ontario is unlawful.
Editor
Stéphane Potvin
Design & layout
Stéphane Potvin
Printed by
The Printing House Limited
Subscriptions
Subscriptions are available through membership in
Choirs Ontario.
Advertising
For information on advertising contracts,
rates, and specifications, contact the office at
info@choirsontario.org or 416.923.1144
Ad materials should be sent to
info@choirsontario.org
Editorial
Dynamic welcomes your letters, commentary,
photos, audio clips, video files, and article submissions by email. Send to info@choirsontario.org
Choirs Ontario
A–1422 Bayview Avenue
Toronto ON M4G 3A7
t: 416.923.1144
t: 866.935.1144
f: 416.929.0415
e: info@choirsontario.org
w: www.choirsontario.org
Charitable registration number:
11906 7536 rr0001
Content
Board of Directors
President’s message
Choral Composition Competition
Albert Greer receives Order of Canada!
Choral Techniques for Conductors
Choral Administration Workshop & AGM
Growing and changing to serve you better!
How to series
Join the discussion!
President’s Leadership Award 2013
Upbeat
Bach Music Festival of Canada Mass Choir!
Cellar Singers
Chorus Niagara
County Town Singers
The DCAT Chorus
Duet Club of Hamilton
Time to renew your choir membership!
Durham Girls Choir
Durham Philharmonic Choir
Orpheus Choir of Toronto
Get up, move up, power up!
Vocal Music Academy at Ryerson Community School
Shevchenko choir
Supporting choristers in a rural setting
Summer institute of church music
Toronto Children’s Chorus
University of Toronto Choral Conducting Symposium 2013
Young Singers
Concert listings
Festivals and events
Content
Previous
Next
3
4
5
7
9
10
21
22
23
24
24
25
26
28
29
32
33
34
37
38
41
43
45
46
48
49
50
51
President
Dean Jobin-Bevans, Thunder Bay
Past President
Ken Fleet, Komoka
Vice-President
Shelagh Cohen, Toronto
Secretary
Diane Murray-Charrett, Georgetown
Treasurer
W. Edward McCall, Toronto
Directors
Mark Bell, Toronto
Michael Bourgon, Mississauga
Robert Filion, Ottawa
Sarah Morrison, Oakville
Laurel Oger, Thunder Bay
Stéphane Potvin, Hamilton
Rachel Rensink-Hoff, St. Catharines
Executive Director
Elizabeth Shannon
Office Administrator
Eli Clarke
53
55
2
President’s message
Dean Jobin-Bevans
Dean Jobin-Bevans completed
both a master’s and doctorate
degree in choral conducting
at McGill University. While
in Montreal, he directed the
Ensemble vocal Musica Viva,
was the Interim Director
of Music at The Church
of St. Andrew and St. Paul,
and Director of the McGill
Conservatory of Music where
he taught and coached voice.
In September of 2005, he
moved to Thunder Bay to
join the faculty at Lakehead
University, where he founded
the Lakehead University
Opera Studio and directs
choral activities.
When the list of recipients named to the Order of Canada was
released at the beginning of January, among the names of artists to be honoured was our very own Albert Greer. Albert has
enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a tenor soloist, organist, pedagogue, and choral conductor. He has conducted the
Ontario Youth Choir, and has hosted the choir on several occasions at St. James’ Anglican Church in Orillia Ontario where he
currently lives and works.
On the subject of vice regal, Patricia Abbot was awarded the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in a ceremony on January 14 in
recognition of her service to the choral community and specifically for her work with young people. In addition to her work
in choral music, Patricia is currently the Artistic Director of the
CAMMAC Lake MacDonald Music Centre, and the past Executive
Director of the ACCC. On behalf of the members of the Board for
Choirs Ontario, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations
Content
to both Albert and Patricia for their recent honours, and wish
them both many more years of continued musical successes.
On January 26, Choirs Ontario hosted Choral Techniques for
Conductors, where choral conductors spent a day working with
two of Canada’s finest choral conductors Zimfira Poloz and
Michael Zaugg. Many thanks to the 80 registrants who were
able to participate in the day and also to the many volunteers
who helped to make this event a tremendous success for both
the participants and the conductors.
And last, but not least, Choirs Ontario is undergoing a
Restructuring of the Board of Directors. The new structure will
create the position of President Elect, and provide for greater
regional representation. We are excited about the changes and the
opportunities that it will bring for better serving our choral community. I invite you to read more about this important change in
the Executive Director’s message in this issue of Dynamic.
Previous
Next
3
Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition
Call for Submissions
Choirs Ontario is pleased to announce the 2013 Ruth Watson Henderson
Choral Composition Competition. The competition exists to provide
Canadian composers with the opportunity of contributing to Canada’s rich
choral tradition through the writing of original choral works. The winning
entry receives a performance with one of Canada’s leading choirs as well as
a cash award. The winner of the 2013 award will receive a premiere performance by the Elmer Iseler Singers, conducted by Lydia Adams, in the spring of
2014 and a cash award of $1,000.
One of Canada’s foremost musicians, Ruth Watson Henderson is renowned
internationally both as a composer and pianist. Her works are acclaimed,
performed, and recorded worldwide. The Ruth Watson Henderson Choral
Competition was established in 1996 to recognize Ms. Watson Henderson’s
invaluable contribution to the art of choral music.
Submission details
•Entry deadline: September 30, 2013
•Duration: 4 – 6 minutes
•Type of work: The work must be an original composition for SATB choir. It
may be a cappella or accompanied by piano. Texts may be sacred or secular, in
English or French. For complete regulations and an entry form please contact
Choirs Ontario at 416.923.1144 or visit www.choirsontario.org.
•Entry fee: $25
The award winner will be announced in November 2013.
Open to all Canadian Citizens and landed immigrants.
Participating composers must reside in Canada. There is no age limit.
Choirs Ontario
A–1422 Bayview Ave.
Toronto ON M4G 3A7
Phone 416.923.1144 • 1.866.935.1144
Fax 416.929.0415
Content
Previous
Next
4
Albert Greer receives Order of Canada!
Choirs Ontario would like to congratulate Albert Greer on his recent
appointment as a member of the
Order of Canada, an honour he
received to celebrate his distinguished
service to music and his community. Over the past fifty-two years,
Greer has had concurrent careers as a
conductor, singer, educator, and composer, touching the lives of thousands
of singers. The Order is the “centerpiece of Canada’s honours system and
recognizes a lifetime of outstanding
achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The
Order recognizes people in all sectors
of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all
enriched the lives of others and made
a difference to this country.”
Born in Toronto in 1937, Greer’s first love was
singing. He started performing in high school
and, despite being initially rejected from the Jarvis
Collegiate Glee Club, was later the tenor lead in a
high school performance of HMS Pinafore. He got
his first church singing job while still in grade twelve.
After high school, Greer’s father wanted him
to take over the family accounting business, so
he took a CA course by correspondence. Deciding
that accounting was not for him, Greer successfully
applied to medicine, taking two years of pre-med at
the University of Toronto followed by one year of
medical school. During these years, he worked as a
singer, and was drawn in more and more by music.
Greer withdrew from medicine in 1958 and took
one year of voice lessons from tenor Aksel Schiøtz.
Aside from these lessons and some training in high
school, Greer is self-taught, partially through the
use of a tape recorder. That didn’t stop him from
taking the ARCT Gold Medal for Voice in 1964.
Content
Previous
Congratulations Albert!
Next
5
On the advice of Lloyd Bradshaw, Greer took his
pre-med credits and applied them to an undergraduate degree in English, graduating from the
University of Toronto in 1960. This is the year that
also launched his solo singing career when he performed the St. Matthew Passion with the Toronto
Symphony Orchestra and conductor John Sedgwick.
Greer’s first musical posting was a church job
in Timmins and a teaching job at South Porcupine
High School, where he taught geography, history, English, band, and orchestra. He did this
despite having never conducted before. In his
whole conducting career, his only formal training
would be three years of summer courses with the
Department of Education in Toronto.
In 1963, after three years in Northern Ontario,
Greer returned to Toronto, teaching high school
and working as a singer. He continued as a singer
all throughout his teaching career, performing
many of the roles in the standard repertoire.
Expanding his conducting résumé, Greer worked
under Elmer Iseler and Lloyd Bradshaw, and was
the assistant conductor to Bradshaw for the North
York Youth Choir. It was 175 voices strong and all of
them went to Montréal to perform at Expo ’67.
Greer taught music in Toronto until 1975, when
he sold his house in Thornhill and moved to Orillia
to live on the lake. He wasn’t sure at the time that
moving to Muskoka was a good idea, as it wasn’t
at the centre of the musical action; however, it
turned out to be just the right idea. He started
conducting the Cellar Singers in 1977 and was with
them for 35 and a half years until his retirement in
2011. He became famous for his “one rehearsal with
orchestra” concerts.
On December 6, 1981, he started as the organist
and choir director at St. James’ Anglican Church
in Orillia. He wasn’t really an organist, but as with
singing and conducting, he learned on the job. He
is still there today as the organist and conductor of
the church choir. He talks about how rewarding it
is to work with this group of amateurs. In 1980 he
also began teaching part-time at York University,
which he did for the next twenty-five years.
When asked what convinced him that pulling
out of medicine was the right decision, Greer talks
about his experience conducting the 1974 Ontario
Youth Choir. OYC had 75 singers that year, filling
two buses on their tour. Greer says when he looks
back on the repertoire that “the difficulty and sheer
Content
Previous
Next
volume of it impresses even me!” The repertoire
was heavily Canadian, including Harry Freedman’s
Keewaydin and Healy Willian’s Apostrophe to the
Heavenly Hosts. Many of the singers in the choir
that year went on to work in their communities as
singers, music educators, and conductors, including
Bob Anderson, Susan Cooper, Brian Emery, Robert
Hall, Lilian Kilianski, Gloria Jean Nagy, Alexa Petrenko,
and Brenda Uchimaru.
Greer married his wife Nynka Greer 26 years ago,
having been married before for 25 years. Greer says
“I have been married all my life!” He has four children with his first wife and raised one with Nynka.
Greer feels that his unique contribution to the
central Ontario region was to produce music of
the same type and quality as is found in bigger
cities. In moving away from Toronto, he left
behind a major cultural centre, yet in doing so
created a cultural centre in Muskoka.
Greer could never completely retire and still
hasn’t, continuing to touch the lives of Orillia
church-goers through his music. And for anyone
who can make it to London on July 20, 2013,
he will be singing the tenor solo in the St. John
Passion with Gerald Fagan.
6
Choral Techniques for Conductors
Zimfira Poloz and Michael Zaugg, Clinicians
Over 70 conductors descended on the Rose Theatre in Brampton to attend the Choirs Ontario workshop “Choral Techniques for Conductors” with Master Conductors Zimfira Poloz and Michael Zaugg.
Zimfira and Michael presented effective techniques in Getting the Best Sound Out of Your Choir,
Rehearsal Planning and Techniques, and Effective Conducting Gestures. It was a treat to watch them
work with Conducting Masterclass participants Cassie Luftspring and Kasia Constanty!
Zimfira Poloz demonstrating choral tone qualities
Workshop participants conducted by Michael Zaugg
Content
Previous
Next
7
Conducting Masterclass participant Cassie Luftspring gets a tip from Zimfira Poloz
Michael Zaugg demonstrates choral intonation with his favourite instrument: the tuning fork!
Conducting Masterclass participant Kasia Constanty in action
Content
Previous
Next
8
Choral Administration Workshop
&
Choirs Ontario Annual General Meeting
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Agricola Lutheran Church, 25 Old York Mills Rd., Toronto
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Registration Required
Free to all Choirs Ontario members.
$60 special introductory fee for new members (includes membership)
Visit www.choirsontario.org for more information.
We invite you to consider standing for election to the Board of Directors. Nominations are welcome
from all individuals, particularly those with development, law, and accounting expertise.
Please contact us at 416.923.1144 (1.866.935.1144) for more information.
Content
Previous
Next
9
Choirs Ontario—Growing and changing to serve you better!
by Elizabeth Shannon, Executive Director
There have been many exciting changes at Choirs Ontario. These include
our new online Member Forum, the launch of Choir 101, a new training programme for adult choristers, and last but not least, important changes to the
structure of our Board of Directors.
Restructuring
The Choirs Ontario Board of Directors has been undergoing a Restructuring
exercise which has resulted in the proposed changes to the Bylaws below.
If these proposed changes are approved, the Board will be restructured to
create the position of President Elect and accommodate the creation of six
Member Forum—Join the discussion
Regional Board Chairs who will act as representatives of and liaisons to six
Have a question about repertoire? Want to ask other choirs about chorister
Ontario regions.* These six Regional Chairs will be instrumental in the delivrecruitment? Looking for a concert venue? This is the place to do it. Choirs
ery of regional choral activities and in the outreach plan to promote Choirs
Ontario has just launched a new online Member Forum. The Forum was creOntario activities and encourage growth and diversification of our memberated to provide you with an opportunity to exchange and share information
ship. The Regional Chairs will reside in or have a close connection with their
related to all things choral.
region. This will require an increase of the total number of Board Members
www.choirsontario.org/jforum/forums/list.page and join the discussion!
from fourteen to fifteen.
*The six regions are:
Choir 101
1. North Ontario Region
In our search to better serve our chorister members, we are retiring the VOCAL
2. North-Central Ontario
project and replacing it with Choir 101 / 201. This one-day immersion for
3. Central Ontario
choristers will include sessions on score reading, music theory, sight-reading,
4. East Ontario
and vocal technique. Just the thing to prepare you for a year of enjoyable
5. South-West Ontario
choral singing! Watch the Choirs Ontario website for registration details.
6. South-Central Ontario
Content
Previous
Next
10
Far north
Near north
East
Central
South Central
Southwest
Content
Previous
Next
11
Far north / near north
Southwest / South central / Central regions
Southeast
Content
Previous
Next
12
Bylaws
Proposed Changes to Choirs Ontario Bylaws
The proposed changes to the By-Laws will:
In order to better serve and represent Ontario’s choral community, the
Board of Directors of Choirs Ontario has undertaken a restructuring process that requires changes to the structure of our Board. Because this
restructuring affects the Choirs Ontario By-Laws, the proposed changes
must be presented to and approved by the members of the organization.
Many of these changes are the result of removing the title of Vice President
and replacing it with President Elect. Only those sections which are undergoing revision are presented below. Upon approval, calls for nominations
for the newly created position of President Elect will be announced. A
member-wide vote for the incoming President Elect will take place as part
of the 2013 Annual General Meeting.
To obtain membership approval, an electronic member-wide vote will be
distributed on April 15, 2013. Each member of the organization will receive
voting instructions via email on April 15, 2013. There will be a one-week
window to register votes, after which the voting will be closed. Individual or
Corporate/Institutional Members are entitled to one vote, and each Choir
Member is entitled to two votes.
1 Increase the maximum number of Directors from fourteen to fifteen.
2 Create the position of President Elect.
3 Eliminate the position of Vice-President.
4Establish a rotation which would see the President Elect move to the position
of President and then to Past President for non-renewable terms of two years
in each position.
5 Establish a maximum of 6 consecutive years for the incoming President Elect.
6Establish a member-wide election every two years for the position of
President Elect.
Content
Previous
Next
13
Proposed Amendments:
Bylaws
Part I Bylaws: Objectives and Purposes
2. IN THESE BYLAWS:
Current Bylaw:
“Executive” refers to the Executive Committee, and means the Provincial
body of representatives elected by the membership as in Part IV 7. of these
Bylaws, and consists of the President, the Vice President, the Past President,
the Secretary and the Treasurer.
Content
Proposed Bylaw:
“Executive” refers to the Executive Committee, and means the Provincial body
of representatives elected by the membership as in Part IV 7. of these Bylaws,
and consists of the President, the President Elect, the Past President, the
Secretary and the Treasurer.
Previous
Next
14
Bylaws
Part II Management
6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Current Bylaw:
The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by a Board of no more
than fourteen (14) and no fewer than ten (10) Directors, each of whom
shall be elected for a two-year term. At the time of election or within ten
(10) days thereafter and throughout the term of office, each Director shall
be an Individual or Honorary Member of the Corporation. In addition,
the immediate Past President shall be an ex officio Director (when not an
elected Director) and shall be entitled to vote. Subject to what is hereinafter provided, the Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting to hold
office for a two (2) year term.
Elected Directors shall not be eligible to serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms or six (6) consecutive years in office, unless continuing as Past
President or President or being elected into office as President. Directors shall
be eligible for re-election after a one (1) year absence as a Director.
Content
Proposed Bylaw:
The affairs of the corporation shall be managed by a Board of no more
than fifteen (15) and no fewer than ten (10) Directors, each of whom shall
be elected for a two-year term. At the time of election or within ten (10)
days thereafter and throughout the term of office, each Director shall be an
Individual or Honorary Member of the Corporation. Subject to what is hereinafter provided, the Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting to hold
office for a two (2) year term.
Elected Directors shall not be eligible to serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms or six (6) consecutive years in office, unless being elected into
office as President Elect. A member-wide vote for the position of President
Elect will be held every two years. Directors shall be eligible for re-election
after a one (1) year absence as a Director.
Previous
Next
15
Bylaws
8. QUORUM AND MEETINGS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Current Bylaw:
Directors’ meetings may be formally called by the President or by the Vice
President, or by the Secretary on direction in writing by four (4) Directors.
The Board of Directors shall meet immediately following the annual
meeting of the Corporation, or so soon thereafter as is practicable, to
elect a President, Vice President and Secretary and to elect or appoint a
Treasurer and to conduct any other business.
10. VOTING, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Current Bylaw:
In the absence of the President, his or her duties may be performed by the
Vice President. If the Vice President is not in attendance, his or her duties
may be performed by such other Director as the Board may from time to
time appoint for the purpose.
Content
Proposed Bylaw:
Directors’ meetings may be formally called by the President or by the President
Elect, or by the Secretary on direction in writing by four (4) Directors.
The Board of Directors shall meet immediately following the annual meeting
of the Corporation, or so soon thereafter as is practicable, to elect a Secretary
and to elect or appoint a Treasurer and to conduct any other business.”
Proposed Bylaw:
In the absence of the President, his or her duties may be performed by the
Past President. If the Past President is not in attendance, his or her duties may
be performed by such other Director as the Board may from time to time
appoint for the purpose.
Previous
Next
16
Bylaws
Part III
1. EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS
Current Bylaw:
Deeds, transfers, licenses, contracts and engagements on behalf of the
Corporation shall be signed by either the President or Vice President and
by the Secretary, or any two of the three, and the Secretary shall affix the
seal of the Corporation to such instruments as require the same.
Contracts in the ordinary course of the Corporation’s operations may be
entered into on behalf of the Corporation by any two of the President, the
Vice President, the Secretary or by any other person or persons authorized
by the Board.
The President, the Vice President, the General Manager or equivalent, the
Secretary, the Treasurer or any one of them, or any person or persons from
time to time designated by the Board of Directors, may transfer any and all
shares, bonds, or other securities from time to time standing in the name
of the Corporation.
Content
Proposed Bylaw:
Deeds, transfers, licenses, contracts and engagements on behalf of the
Corporation shall be signed by either the President or President Elect and by
the Secretary, or any two of the three, and the Secretary shall affix the seal of
the Corporation to such instruments as require the same.
Contracts in the ordinary course of the Corporation’s operations may be entered
into on behalf of the Corporation by any two of the President, the President Elect,
the Secretary or by any other person or persons authorized by the Board.
The President, the President Elect, the General Manager or equivalent, the
Secretary, the Treasurer or any one of them, or any person or persons from
time to time designated by the Board of Directors, may transfer any and all
shares, bonds, or other securities from time to time standing in the name of
the Corporation.
Previous
Next
17
Bylaws
Part IV Officers and Committees
1. OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION
Current Bylaw:
The Officers of the Corporation shall be as follows:
•A President who shall be a Director of the Corporation.
•A Vice President who shall be a Director of the Corporation.
•A Secretary who shall be a Director of the Corporation.
•The Board of Directors shall annually, or as may be required, elect a President,
Vice President, and Secretary of the Corporation.
In case of absence or inability to act of the President, the Vice President
or any other Officer of the Corporation, or for any other reasons that the
Directors may deem sufficient, the Directors may delegate all or any of the
powers of such office to any other Officer or to any Director, provided that
a majority of the Board of Directors concur therein.
Content
Proposed Bylaw:
The Officers of the Corporation shall be as follows:
•A President who shall be a Director of the Corporation.
•A President Elect who shall be a Director of the Corporation.
•A Secretary who shall be a Director of the Corporation.
•The Board of Directors shall annually, or as may be required, elect a Secretary of
the Corporation.
In case of absence or inability to act of the President, the Past President
or any other Officer of the Corporation, or for any other reasons that the
Directors may deem sufficient, the Directors may delegate all or any of the
powers of such office to any other Officer or to any Director, provided that a
majority of the Board of Directors concur therein.
Previous
Next
18
Bylaws
2. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT AND PAST PRESIDENT
Current Bylaw:
The President shall be the Chief Officer of the Corporation and shall be
responsible for the general management and supervision of the affairs and
operation of the Corporation, and shall perform all duties incidental to the
office or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee. When present, the President shall preside at all meetings of
the Corporation, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee.
The President shall appoint all Committee Chairpersons except the
Chairperson of the Nominating Committee and serve as an ex officio
voting member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The
President with the Secretary or other officer appointed by the Board shall
sign all by-laws. During the absence or inability of the President, his or her
duties and powers may be exercised by the Vice President or such other
Officer appointed by the Board. The Vice President shall perform such
duties as may be prescribed by the President, the Board of Directors or the
Executive Committee.
Content
Proposed Bylaw:
The President shall be the Chief Officer of the Corporation and shall be
responsible for the general management and supervision of the affairs and
operation of the Corporation, and shall perform all duties incidental to the
office or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee. When present, the President shall preside at all meetings of the
Corporation, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee.
The President shall appoint all Committee Chairpersons except the
Chairperson of the Nominating Committee and serve as an ex officio voting
member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President
with the Secretary or other officer appointed by the Board shall sign all by-laws.
During the absence or inability of the President, his or her duties and powers
may be exercised by the Past President or such other Officer appointed by the
Board. The Past President shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by
the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Previous
Next
19
3. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT ELECT
Current Bylaw:
No such entry exits.
Bylaws
Proposed Bylaw:
In preparation for the position of President, the President Elect shall by observation, contribution and consultation with the President, familiarize him or herself
with the inner workings of the organization. Following a two-year term of office,
the President Elect shall succeed to the office of President and Past President.
Following the resignation, disability or death of the president, the President
Elect shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President and
shall perform such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned to them
by the President, Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors.
8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Current Bylaw:
The President, the Vice President, the immediate Past President, the
Secretary and the Treasurer shall constitute the Executive Committee, and
each member shall be entitled to vote.
Content
Proposed Bylaw:
The President, the President Elect, the immediate Past President, the Secretary
and the Treasurer shall constitute the Executive Committee, and each
member shall be entitled to vote.
Previous
Next
20
How to series
Choirs Ontario is an incredible source of information for choirs, conductors,
singers and administrators. One of those resources is the Choirs Ontario How
to series. The collection currently counts nine titles:
•How to apply for a charitable license
•How to audition singers
•How to build a budget
•How to fundraise
The series was originally produced in 1994, first updated in 2007 and is now
going through a second revision. To make this compendium ever more useful
we want to expand the series to include a number of new titles.
We are seeking people interested in to helping us develop theses new
titles. If you have expertise in budgeting, finances, management, human
resources, touring, etc, and are able to share your expertise, please contact us
at info@choirsontario.org
•How to incorporate
•How to manage a choir
•How to manage a library
•How to organize a concert
•How to plan a programme
Content
Previous
Next
21
Join the discussion!
e
g
a
p
.
t
s
i
l
/
s
m
u
r
f/ o
m
u
r
o
f
j
/
g
r
o
.
o
i
r
a
t
n
o
s
r
i
o
h
c
.
w
w
Choirs Ontario launches online member forum
Looking for new repertoire ideas? Want to know how other choirs handle
chorister recruitment?
•Choirs Ontario has just launched a new Member Forum. The Forum was created to provide you with an opportunity to exchange and share information
related to all things choral!
•The Artistic Forum is for discussions and questions related to the artistic side
of choral music—anything to do with repertoire, rehearsals, performance,
programming, warm-ups etc.
•The Administrative Forum is for discussions and questions related to the
administrative side of choral activity, for example, revenue development, touring logistics, governance, chorister recruitment etc.
The first topic for discussion is already posted!
To post a comment, login using your User Id and Password.
w
Content
Previous
Next
22
President’s Leadership Award 2013
Applications must be received by April 30, 2013
The award
The process
Established in 2001 to commemorate Choirs Ontario’s 30th anniversary, this
award recognizes individuals who, through their support or engagement in
choral music-making, have made an exceptional contribution to the promotion and advancement of choral music in their communities.
The Award is presented annually and alternates between those who support
choral music—executive directors, administrators, volunteers, corporate sponsors, philanthropists, and those who are directly involved in the performance of
choral music – singers, conductors, and accompanists. Candidates must have
demonstrated an exceptional leadership role, vision and cultural activism and
must be nominated by a Choirs Ontario member choir or individual member.
In 2012, the award was presented to Jean Ashworth Bartle, in recognition of
her long and distinguished career in promoting and supporting choral music in
Canada and beyond. Previous recipients include: Marilyn Ala-Kanti, Albert Greer,
Robert Henderson, Mark Sirett, Jessie Iseler, Gerald Fagan, and Barbara Clark.
In 2013, the award will be presented to a choral music supporter who
through their work as an executive director, administrator, volunteer, corporate sponsor, or philanthropist has made a significant contribution to the
choral art in his or her community.
Candidates must be nominated by a Choirs Ontario member choir or individual member. Each nomination must consist of a completed application form
supported by three letters of recommendation and a written submission
of not more than three pages outlining the candidate’s contribution to the
choral art. Complete the attached application form and send it along with
supporting documentation to: President’s Leadership Award, Choirs Ontario,
A-1422 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4G 3A7. Applications must be
received no later than April 30, 2013.
The Award is juried by a three person panel of Choirs Ontario past presidents who are appointed by the Choirs Ontario Board of Directors.
Content
Eligibility
Nominees must be residents of Ontario who have demonstrated outstanding
leadership and advanced the role of choral music in their community for a
minimum of five years.
The presentation
The recipient receives a framed certificate and a Choirs Ontario honorary lifetime membership at a recognition ceremony to be held at the Ontario Youth
Choir concert in Toronto, August 25, 2013.
For more information and application form please visit
www.choirsontario.org/presidentsleadershipaward.html
Previous
Next
23
Upbeat!
Bach Music Festival of Canada Mass Choir!
by Gerald Fagan O Ont
The Bach Music Festival of Canada held its first
Festival in July of 2011 in Exeter Ontario and literally took the province by storm! Concerts,
workshops, master classes, a fantastic week long
mass children’s choir program (conducted by
Brenda Zadorsky), and a gala performance of the
B minor mass, with an adult choir of 150 singers,
soloists, and orchestra players. July 14 – 20 2013 we
present the second Bach Music Festival of Canada.
One of the great joys is the formation of a
Massed Choir, this year to perform the monumental St. John Passion. Experienced choristers come
from all over Ontario, Canada and the United
States. Choir members are given their music two
months before the Festival week, and come to the
first rehearsal with the music learned. Pre-Festival
rehearsals are held during June and early July in
Stratford, London, and Exeter, to accommodate singers in the area who are eager to learn the music with
other musicians, prior to the first Festival rehearsal.
The Festival massed choir is joined by the Bach
Festival Chamber Choir and the Bach Festival
Orchestra, two permanent ensembles created to
partner the performance and augment the Festival
programming.
The soloists bring professional experience in
Baroque performance. Soloists for this year’s
Festival include Albert Greer (Evangelist), John
Avey (Christus), Bud Roach (tenor arias), Anita
Krause (alto arias), and Leslie Fagan (soprano arias).
Any chorister interested in taking part in an
action-packed, exciting week of performances and
rehearsals is encouraged to contact the Bach Music
Festival of Canada.
Contact information
www.bachmusicfestival.wordpress.com
bachmusicfestival@bellnet.ca
519.235.2565
PO Box 253
264 Main St
Exeter Ontario
N0M 1S6
Gerald Fagan has been an Artistic Director, Guest
Conductor and Clinician for over 50 years.
The Bach Music Festival of Canada is his most current
musical passion!
Content
Previous
Next
24
Upbeat!
Cellar Singers
by Audrey Willsey
Exciting end to 2012, promising 2013 ahead for
Simcoe and Muskoka’s renowned community
choir, the Cellar Singers.
The Cellar Singers had an exciting end to the
year 2012 with two well-received performances of
Handel’s Messiah in snowy Orillia and Bracebridge
with their fabulous new artistic director, Mitchell
Pady, and established soloists, Virginia Hatfield,
soprano, Marion Newman, mezzo-soprano,
Albert Greer, tenor, and Sean Watson, baritone.
Also in the month of December, a small group
of Cellar Singers members caroled in downtown
Orillia as apart of the city’s Christmas festivities and
were a big-hit with passing shoppers and families.
To start the new year, Albert Greer, former
artistic director of the Cellar Singers, was honoured the Order of Canada for his dedication to
Canadian music.
Now back to their weekly rehearsals, the Cellar
Singers are busy preparing for their March 23rd
concert, Where Pines and Maples Grow, which will
celebrate Canadian composers. But before their
third concert, the Cellar Singers will present their
biennial fundraising performance, Cellar Singers
Got Talent, with musical acts by Cellar Singers
members, light desserts, refreshments and a silent
auction beforehand. Cellar Singers Got Talent will
be held at St. James Anglican Church in Orillia on
February 9, 2013, just in time for Valentines Day.
The Cellar Singers’ final concert of the 2012 – 2013
season will take place on May 12, 2013 in Orillia.
Direct your
music needs
to our hands
Audrey Willsey is a board member, publicity coordinator and former
member of the Cellar Singers. She studies Communications and French at
York University. Audrey calls Toronto and Orillia home.
Content
Previous
Next
25
Upbeat!
Chorus Niagara From a spark to a flame
by Trish Crawford
The year 2013 marks the fiftieth anniversary season
of Chorus Niagara. Founded in 1962, with its debut
performance in March of 1963, the Chorus Niagara
organization has grown from 44 to over 150 singers and has achieved musical acclaim far beyond
the Niagara region where we make our home.
The premier 110 voice choral ensemble in Niagara,
Chorus Niagara, led by visionary Artistic Director
Robert Cooper for the past 24 years, has expanded
its choral family to include the Side-by-Side High
School Chorale; 20 committed singers from local
high schools who participate in one performance
each season, and the Chorus Niagara Children’s
Choir, now in its seventh season with 31 young
singers (ages 7 – 17) conducted by its own dedicated Artistic Director, Amanda Nelli.
The last few seasons have seen Chorus Niagara
adding some exciting engagements to its regular
4 concert line-up. The Chorus appeared at the
Opening Gala for the Scotiabank Convention
Centre in Niagara Falls, performed Beethoven’s ninth
Symphony with the Hamilton Philharmonic, was
featured with Sir Anthony Daniels in Star Wars—In
Concert at Copps Coliseum, and sang at the Olympic
Torch Ceremonies, the Niagara Wine Festival and the
25th Tree of Lights Ceremony. In 2009 Chorus Niagara
performed in England, and will tour Scotland this
May, singing in Glasgow and Inverness.
Our successful 2010 ‘Flash Mob’ of Handel’s
Hallelujah Chorus at Welland’s Seaway Mall generated unprecedented exposure and outreach. The
Youtube video, produced by Alphabet Photography,
has been viewed over 41 million times and has set
records as The Most Watched Flash Mob and The
Top Rated Video of All Time in Canada. The success of this Flash Mob led to a live reprise on CTV’s
Canada AM, as well as numerous mentions on major
American and Canadian news networks.
Presenting newly commissioned works by
Canadian composers such as Imant Raminsh, Allan
Content
Previous
Next
Bevan and John Estacio has been integral to our
mission. In March of this year we will premiere
A Mighty Cry, a new work by Niagara composer
Michael Kositsky celebrating the Bicentennial of
the War of 1812. We were honoured to receive a
Cultural Capital of Canada Grant to develop and
perform this locally relevant work. Also planned is a
new commission by composer John Estacio scheduled for the Chorus’s 2014 – 2015 concert season.
Singathon, our annual major fundraiser, generates not only substantial operating funds but also
a great deal of excitement for choristers and shoppers alike. Held at Welland’s Seaway Mall on a
February Saturday, Singathon showcases Chorus
Niagara, under the direction of Robert Cooper
and many surprise guest personalities, in a fivehour marathon of choral classics and audience
favourites. Last year’s event raised $48,000 and this
year we have set a target of $50,000 to celebrate
our 50th Anniversary.
26
Upbeat!
Our Anniversary celebrations will culminate this
May at the spectacular Lake Street Armoury in
St. Catharines with a Gala performance of Verdi’s
monumental Requiem, featuring a superstar operatic quartet, the Niagara Symphony Orchestra,
the Fanfare Trumpets of the Lincoln Welland
Regiment and our specially created Chorus Niagara
Community Chorale. Following the concert, audience members will be treated to 50th Anniversary
Cake as we light our 50 Celebration Candles.
The arts are flourishing in Niagara and we look
forward to the opening of the much anticipated
St. Catharines Performing Arts Centre. Artistic
Director Robert Cooper has been a fervent
advocate for its development. “While singing is
an egalitarian experience for all,” notes Cooper,
“choral music is a performance art. To sing and
to listen in the acoustic splendour of the new
Concert Hall will be a transformational experience
for all. Our audiences will be poked, prodded and
excited by the magnificent interplay of creative
and human endeavour afforded by this new performing space; our singers and guest artists will be
stimulated, challenged and inspired, not just by the
bricks and mortar of their new surroundings but
also by the revitalized community of artistic colleagues who will surround us; and our community
will experience a renewed cultural vibrancy that
will have lasting ripple effects of positive artistic
energy across the Region.”
Chorus Niagara’s future is bright! We look
forward to the next 50 years of entertaining, educating and inspiring through the performance of
fine choral music.
Trish Crawford has been singing with Chorus Niagara for the past 5 years
and is an active member of the Chorus’ Marketing committee.
Content
Previous
Next
27
Upbeat!
County Town Singers
The County Town Singers are pleased to introduce
our new Director, Michael Morgan.
Michael graduated from the University of
Western Ontario with a degree in Music, Voice
Performance and is an active performer on opera/
operetta, oratorio, and music theatre stages.
As an international man of music, Michael is
most passionate about creating positive musical
learning environments and experiences. He maintains this long term commitment through a
private teaching studio as well as his work with the
Oshawa Little Theatre as youth group vocal director for Music Man, active committee member and
vocal director for the upcoming production of
The Producers.
Watch for Michael’s latest project to unfold as he
launches Cantareh—Durham’s newest and hottest
show choir for singers and dancers aged 13 to 19.
Job posting
Artistic Director
Mississauga Children’s Choir
www.mississaugachildrenschoir.com
Singers wanted
All SATB Tenors and Basses
Content
Previous
Next
Etobicoke Centennial Choir
Etobicoke
www.etobicokecentennialchoir.ca.
DCAT Chorus
Toronto
www.dcatchorus.ca
County Town Singers
Durham
www.countytownsingers.com
28
Upbeat!
The DCAT Chorus Esprit de Corps
By Shiona Mackenzie-Morrison
“Music is the food of love; sing on,” quips Edna
Kingsley, a longstanding member of the DCAT
(Drum Corps Alumni Toronto) Chorus.
This is the sentiment that brought a small ensemble of untrained singers together almost 20 years
ago and still resonates throughout the group, which
has grown to some 50 active members, today.
Many of us cannot read a score or play an
instrument, but that doesn’t get in the way of our
love of singing and the camaraderie that comes
with supporting one another to reach our goal: to
entertain with panache and have fun doing it.
The DCAT Chorus story began in 1994, when
many Ontario drum and bugle corps alumni, like
Don and Marg Gill, were facing the prospect of
losing touch with the people and lifestyle they had
enjoyed for years. One weekend, Don attended an
event in Preston, Ontario, where The Princemen
Chorus—the offshoot of a drum corps alumni
association formed in the U.S.—performed. The
Princemen’s show presented a delightful means for
them to keep on collaborating on music projects.
“The Princemen inspired me to go back home
and see if I could gather a nucleus of people interested in forming a drum corps alumni group,” Don
explains. So, with a few friends gathered around
their kitchen table one evening, Don and Marg
started up a singing group as an outlet for their
passion for music, to provide an opportunity to
socialize on a regular basis and to experience in a
new way the pageantry and wonderful team spirit
that had infused their drum corps days.
That spirit continues to unify DCAT Chorus
members of all ages and backgrounds.
Content
Previous
Next
“While the foundations of the DCAT Chorus
spring from a rich North American drum corps
history, we are open to anyone and everyone who
likes to sing,” says Ort Beaumont, the DCAT Chorus
President. “You don’t need a drum corps connection to join us.”
I can attest to that. In 2008, I ran across the
dynamic group performing at the Zoomer Show
and was invited to visit one of DCAT’s regular
Wednesday evening rehearsals at Estonian House
in Toronto. There, I was warmly received and
treated to a moving rendition of “You’ll Never
Walk Alone”. That night, the members made me
feel so welcome I made up my mind to join, even
though I did not read music and knew nothing
about drum corps. I’ve been enjoying their fine
company ever since and my confidence to sing in
public has been boosted enormously.
29
Upbeat!
Ana Amez, a member for about five years now,
says she joined DCAT for the opportunity to sing
and socialize with other music lovers, too.
You see, we may come for the music, but we
stay for the friendships... and the chance to play a
part in something that brings happiness to others.
Our Music Director, Wyatt Gill, tells us that a
positive attitude can be more important at our
weekly practices than musical knowledge or skill.
His patient guidance brings out the musicality in us.
Our Music Director, Wyatt Gill, tells us that a positive attitude can be more important at our weekly
practices than musical knowledge or skill. His
patient guidance brings out the musicality in us.
“My litmus test to check whether I have got a
song selection right or not is the immediate feedback I receive when announcing the song,” Wyatt
says. “If I get a good audible gasp or a stir in either
the chorus or the audience or both, I know that
the selection was a good one.
Unlike a lot of choral groups that perform
with books in hand, our members memorize the
music, allowing for greater freedom of expression when performing and for feeling the music
while engaging and connecting with the audience
through eye contact. No doubt, for an amateur
singing group to perform without relying on music
books can be challenging, but when we think
we’ve bitten off more than we can chew, each
member’s effort helps us succeed as a whole. We
work hard and share lots of laughs and good times
along the way, too. What the Chorus manages to
pull off sometimes comes as a surprise, even to us.”
Content
Previous
Next
Wyatt’s unbridled enthusiasm and commitment
to growth and professionalism is infectious. He
brings a lot of joy to conducting, not to mention
exceptional skill in teaching and motivating a disparate group of people to achieve their very best.
The DCAT Chorus repertoire encompasses many
genres and styles, including Broadway favourites,
traditional songs, folk, pop, patriotic songs, devotional/gospel, and classical (songs without words),
all delivered with theatrical flair, big sounds and
high energy which characterizes the performances
of the DCAT Chorus.
30
Upbeat!
We couldn’t have managed this
Great Alliance of Seniors reunions in
without creative direction, passion
Boston and Gettysburg, and more.
and perseverance.
Our own annual show, “Love of
One of our newest members,
Music”, is held at the City Playhouse
Maxine Willan, a fellow alto, is a
Theatre in Vaughan. DCAT also supqualified music teacher, pianist and
ports community-building efforts,
composer who joined DCAT because performing often at the Veteran’s
she wanted to participate in a group Wing of Sunnybrook Hospital, and is
that sings secular music with good
available for hire to perform at fundarrangements. “I love the harmonies,” raising events.
she says. “The chorus sounds very
Don sums it up: “Our closeness
beautiful.”
and warm family ambiance, our
Wyatt’s original six- and eightaccomplishments as an entertaining
part a cappella arrangements have
group and our Esprit de Corps make
impressed audiences across North
me proud.”
America. The DCAT Chorus has perShiona Mackenzie-Morrison is a communications proformed at Roy Thomson Hall, on
fessional with 17 years of international experience and a
Breakfast Television, at the Hamilton lifelong love of music.
International Tattoo, at the South
Street Seaport in New York City, at
Content
Previous
Next
31
Upbeat!
Duet Club of Hamilton For the joy of it
by Susan Ricketts
Founded 123 years ago in 1889 by piano teacher
Ellen Ambrose, the Duet Club is the longest running
women’s musical club in Canada. Over the years
many eminent musicians, including Gerald Moore,
Jan Rubes, and Gladys Swarhart have performed for
our concert series. Part of our general membership
is the Duet Club Chorus, mostly retired musicians
from greater Hamilton area. The chorus presents
several area concerts during the year including a
variety of music from classical to contemporary.
Our focus is twofold. Along with our Chorus,
Our concert series opener in October 2012
which presents concerts in our community during presented three talented young musicians, Maggie
the year, the Duet Club also helps promote young Morrison, piano, Emily Lukasik, soprano and Emma
musicians in the greater Hamilton area. As well as
Morrison, violin. In November the Duet Club
creating a platform on which to perform, namely
presented our “Scholarship Winners in Recital”,
its yearly concert series, the Duet Club provides
where scholarship winners performed and then
nine piano, vocal and instrumental scholarships for received their scholarships.
promising music students and choral groups with
There are two events still to come in our season.
first class standings. Funds for these scholarships
The fifth Annual Michael Geryk Memorial Piano
are raised from our concert series, donations and
Competition, hosted by the Duet Club will be
membership fees.
held on February 24 at Melrose United Church,
Hamilton, as are all our events.
On Sunday April 21, 2013, the Duet Club Chorus
will share a concert with a student choir from
Hamilton. This Annual Spring Choral Concert
will be under the baton of our Music Director,
Stéphane Potvin, with accompanist Erika Reiman.
Content
Previous
Next
32
Time to renew your choir membership!
Top 7 reasons to renew your Choirs Ontario membership:
•Connect with Ontario’s choral community through our new Member Forum!
•Free online concert listings, job postings and singers wanted notices
•Reduced advertising rates in Dynamic, our quarterly newsletter
Membership Fees
•Eligibility for professional development grants
•Choirs with up to 40 members $100
•Access to thousands of choral titles through the Choirs Ontario Music Library
•Choirs with 40 members and over $140
as well as the choral libraries of provincial choral federations across Canada
•Reduced insurance rates for choirs
•Automatic membership in the Association of Canadian Choral Communities
Renew online
Content
Previous
Next
33
Upbeat!
Durham Girls Choir
by Michelle Azavedo
The Durham Girls’ Choir, currently celebrating their
40th anniversary, has a history of providing enriching musical experiences for its members. Founded
in 1964, the organization was first established when
the Oshawa Folk Arts Council asked local musician Elsie Drygala to form a choir to perform for
an annual celebration. They continued to rehearse
and perform after the event, and renamed themselves the Oshawa Festival Singers. They remained
together for a few years before disbanding. In 1973,
Drygala re-established the Oshawa Festival Singers;
the group was comprised mostly of her own vocal
students. Her small choral group eventually grew
to an ensemble of more than 50 members. Little
did she realize at the time that 40 years later, the
choir would still be sharing the gift of music thanks
to her original vision and effort.
Mrs. Drygala was director of the Oshawa
Festival Singers for 17 years. During this time, the
choir took three major tours to Europe and per-
formed at local festivals, never earning a mark of
less than ninety percent. In 1990, the directorship of the choir was passed on to Lorie Easton.
A major highlight from this period saw the choir
perform in the Toronto run of Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat with Donny
Osmond. Choristers at this time also experienced
the opportunity to perform at many other venues,
both at home and abroad.
Mary Jane Corradetti took over the directorship in 1995. For fourteen years, the choir toured
Italy, Germany, France, the Czech Republic and
Austria, where they received a 3rd place finish at
the Vienna Youth Music festival. Choristers participated in life-altering performances when they
sang at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate
in Ypres, Belgium, and for a Holocaust survivor
at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
Site in Germany. Choristers from this time period
will also remember enthusiastically sharing their
Content
Previous
Next
love of song so much that sometimes making
music became more about inadvertently making
mischief! The Hall of Mirrors in Versaille offered
such incredible acoustics that the girls couldn’t
help but start to sing. As an appreciative and captive audience formed, one very distraught guide
approached the choir, informing them that they
would have to stop or be asked to leave, as at that
time no one had ever performed there!
In 2001, the name was changed from the
Oshawa Festival Singers to the Durham Girls’ Choir.
While at one time there had been young men in
the choir, this was no longer the case. The new
name established the group as an all girls choir,
and reflected the geographic draw of its members
from the entire Durham Region.
The Durham Girls’ Choir continues to perform
throughout Europe. In July 2012 the choir visited
Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy.
Through international festivals and exchanges with
34
Upbeat!
other Ontario choirs, girls have made music, and
have formed friendships that span continents. As
choristers share the gift of music, they receive
many riches in return.
While members change over the years, so do directors. In September 2012, the DGC welcomed new
director Michelle Azavedo. Michelle’s new directorship kicked off with our annual camp weekend. The
weekend was filled with rehearsals, activities such
as archery and swimming, and the building of new
friendships. A highlight of the weekend was a clinic
with composer Dr. Mark Sirett, whose compositions we were preparing for our Christmas concert.
The concert was well-attended with guest performances by harpist Liane James and soprano
soloist Serena Meharchand, as well as a number of
student musicians. The girls celebrated their success
with a holiday potluck and secret Santa exchange.
Our new year began with a free workshop
for girls in the community. Our workshops take
place twice a year and give prospective members
the opportunity to learn new music and have
fun while performing alongside current members. Many new girls were in attendance, and all
choristers learned some new techniques, played
new games and made new friends. The workshop
featured returning guest conductor Mary Jane
Corradetti. Some of the senior girls were excited
to work with her again for the afternoon, and
newer members enjoyed experiencing her unique
and fresh style. It also gave her an opportunity to
reflect back on her years with the choir. As she
shared: “I can remember laughing so hard at some
rehearsals and openly crying over the beauty of
the sound of the girls at concerts, dancing on the
organ bench to keep them alive and engaged in
rehearsal, and dancing to African music with them
in concert. I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful girls and
adults.” Through the history of the choir, girls have
Content
Previous
Next
also been very lucky to have learned from the
many directors and accompanists that gave of their
time to enrich young lives.
Today, the choir continues to be full of vibrant
young women that enjoy giving back to the community through their gift of song. Being involved in
an organization like the Durham Girls’ Choir reinforces the need for women to support each other
through all walks and stages of life. And while there
have been countless opportunities for performance,
perhaps the most touching are the community
events, where choristers can see the difference
they are making close to home. When singing to
a crowd at a nursing home, the joy is palpable. In
recent years, our girls have participated in Relay for
Life, organizing a team, raising funds, and walking in
support of cancer research. Each year the organizers
of the choir continue to be amazed at the generosity of the choristers, and it is a joy to watch them
use their gifts to give to those around them.
35
Upbeat!
The girls are currently rehearsing repertoire composed exclusively by Canadians, featuring many
local composers such as John Burge, Mark Sirett,
Lori-Anne Dolloff and Lydia Adams. Choristers are
enjoying the opportunity to learn about some of
the most celebrated local composers while working toward performing their music. In addition,
they continue to work hard to prepare for many
upcoming community events and concerts.
The future of the Durham Girls’ Choir is full of
promise. Our membership continues to grow;
we currently have groups at both the junior and
senior levels, allowing for an enriching experience
where choristers can challenge themselves and
meet friends in an age-appropriate setting. Our
faculty and executive continue to meet to dis-
cuss our many visions for the organization. Plans
for the upcoming years include a commissioned
piece by a Canadian composer, composer and
specialist workshops and rehearsals, and music
appreciation and performance-focused trips. Our
next European tour is scheduled for the summer
of 2015. Though the exact destination is still to be
decided, fundraising efforts are already well underway and choristers are looking forward to the trip.
Further plans include a new recording, a website
overhaul and the purchase of recording equipment
aid in rehearsals. We are excited to see these ideas
come to fruition and look forward to continue
achieving a level of musical excellence, while contributing to the community and having fun!
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Music from Queen’s
University, as well as a Masters in Musicology/
Ethnomusicology from York University, and a Bachelor
of Education from Ontario Institute for Studies in
Education at the University of Toronto. She has performed in a number of choirs in both Kingston and Toronto including
the Queen’s University Choral Ensemble, Polyhymnia, and the Palestrina
Chamber Chorus. She was the co-founder and director of the Durham
Youth Choir, and conducted the northwestern branch of the Schola
Cantorum children’s choir, with which she participated in two performance tours to Italy. Michelle has an active private studio, and still enjoys
performing. She teaches music and English at a high school in Toronto.
See picture on cover page
Share Dynamic with your choristers online
www.choirsontario.org/DynamicManager/home
The password for this issue is maple
Content
Previous
Next
36
Upbeat!
Durham Philharmonic Choir
by Robert Phillips
The Durham Philharmonic Choir,
conducted by Robert Phillips, is celebrating its twentieth Anniversary
season with a few special projects. The DPC was delighted to
have Mark DuBois as special guest
for the Annual Christmas Concert
in December. Along with featuring several past ‘Young Musician’s
Scholarship’ winners in concerts
throughout this season, including vocalists Brittany King, David
Espeut and Melinda Delorme, the
choir has an upcoming collaboration with the Canadian Sinfonietta.
Of special note is the fact that the
DPC recently took delivery of ‘Two
Scottish Folk Songs’ (‘Farewell to
Tarwathie’ and ‘Johnnie Cope’) commissioned by the choir and written
by Canadian composer Mark Sirett.
The DPC has also engaged Mr. Sirett
for a choral workshop in April. The
choirs printed concert programs this
season will feature some of the work
of the Oshawa Camera Club. The
DPC, with 20 years of performances
Durham Region, continues to strive
for musical excellence through a
wide variety of choral programming
and the engaging of top calibre vocal
soloists, orchestral players and young
school and community choirs.
Content
Previous
Volunteer with Choirs Ontario
•You can make a meaningful difference to our organization.
•In as little as 1 or 2 hours per week • Even a few days per year.
•From the comfort of your home anywhere in the province.
•Help with mail-out projects, or our telephone campaign.
•Help with other administrative and research projects.
Call: 416.923.1144, 866.935.1144, or email: info@choirsontario.org
Next
37
Upbeat!
Orpheus Choir of Toronto
by Johnny Isip
This season, the Orpheus Choir of Toronto celebrates the tenth anniversary of Artistic Director
Robert Cooper. Under his dynamic leadership, the
choir has evolved into a forward thinking ensemble,
discovering new works, singing important Canadian
premieres, and collaborating with international artists. Armed with the mission to “expect something
different,” the choir has recently worked with a
diverse array of musicians, from operatic soprano
Adrianne Pieczonka, to popular crossover singers
Mark Masri and the Canadian Tenors.
Orpheus welcomes Latvian composer, Ēriks
Ešenvalds March 22
This spring, Orpheus welcomes the arrival of
Ēriks Ešenvalds, the young and talented Latvian
composer whose works are quickly being hailed
as contemporary classics by the international
press. To coincide with the composer’s visit, the
choir will reprise its Canadian premiere performance of Ešenvalds’ Passion and Resurrection, a
deeply moving and powerful oratorio. Composed
in 2005, the work has already been recorded twice,
signifying its impact and importance to the choral
repertoire and to contemporary music.
Robert Cooper’s dedication to contemporary
composers such as Ešenvalds has recently proven
rewarding for the choir. Last season, the Orpheus
was invited to join the Toronto debut performance of I Believe: A Holocaust Oratorio for Today
by award-winning Canadian composer Zane Zalis.
The sold out performance at Roy Thomson Hall
proved a season highlight. This year, to compliment Passion and Resurrection, the choir will once
again explore the music of popular British composer Howard Goodall. The concert will feature
the Canadian premiere of Goodall’s newest work,
Every purpose under the Heaven, composed to
commemorate the 400th anniversary of the King
James Bible.
Such successes have resulted in a renewed
mission to enthrall and entertain audiences with
rare and new choral music. This season, Robert
Cooper’s 10th anniversary, represents a symbolic
milestone in the revitalized growth of the choir,
and its ever successful collaboration with its
dynamic Artistic Director.
For details go to www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com
Johnny is a second bass who has been singing with Orpheus for three seasons. He is also a Director on the Orpheus Board.
He is currently doing his Masters at Columbia and is the music director at
Commonwealth Avenue Baptist Church.
Content
Previous
Next
38
Upbeat!
Eriks Ešenvalds was born on January 26, 1977 in
Priekule, Latvia.
He studied at the Priekule School of Music
(1983 – 1991) and the Liepāja first Secondary
School (1992 – 1995), studied at the Latvian Baptist
Congregation Theological Seminary (1995 – 1997).
He received his Bachelor’s degree (2002) and
Master’s degree (2004) in composition with Selga
Mence at the Latvian Academy of Music. He furthered his study at international master classes,
including the Latvian Young Musician Camp in
Ogre (2000, 2002) with Martin Herman and Dana
Paul Perna, as well as the De Villecroze Summer
Academy in France (with Richard Danielpour,
2001), Česki Krumlov in the Czech Republic with
Michael Finnissy, Guy Reibel, and Marek Kopelent
(2001), in Germany with Klaus Huber, the international Gaudeamus music week in Amsterdam,
the Netherlands with Trevor Wishart, David Land,
Richard Ayres (2003), in France with Jonathan
Content
Previous
Next
Harvey and Philippe Manoury (2004), in Norway
with Ole Lützow-Holm and Nils Henrik Asheim
(2005 – 2006), and others.
He has been rewarded with the Jāzeps Vītols
(1999, 2002) as well as the Vernisāža Musical
Centre and Latvian Creative Fund (2002), and the
Latvian Culture Ministry Scholarships (2003, 2004).
For his work Iespaidi Sāremā (Impressions Of
Saaremaa), he received an honourable mention
diploma at the International Clarinet Association
organized competition in Miami (USA, 2000). He
has received the Latvian Great Music Prize in
2005 and 2007. For his work Legende de la femme
emmurée (Legend of a walled-in woman) he was
awarded first place at the 2006 International
Rostrum for Composers in the Young Composers
category. He is a laureate of the AKKA/LAA
Copyright Award (2006) and Diena’s Annual
Culture Award (2007). British Composer Awards
Nomination (2010). The Year’s New-Composer
39
Upbeat!
Discovery, Philadelphia Inquirer, USA (2010).
Composition Teaching Achievement Award by
Riga Dome Choir School (2010). In 2012 the new
CD “O Salutaris” of youth choir ‘Kamēr...’ with
choral music exclusively by Ēriks Ešenvalds wins
the Latvian Music Records Award as the best academic music album of the year 2011.
His music has been performed at the festival
Young.euro.classic in Germany (2002), IV Bergen
Internasjonale Kammermusikkfestival in Norway
(2003), Festiwal Muzyki Nowej in Poland (2003),
Europamusicale in Germany (2004), Klangspuren
in Austria (2005), the New Music festival Arena
in Latvia (2005), the XII Latvian Organ Music
Festival in New York, USA (2005), Internationales
Gitarren Festival in Munster, Germany (2006),
World Choir Games in China (2006), Christopher
Summer Festival in Lithuania (2006), NATO Summit
in Riga, Latvia (2006), Aksamitna Kurtyna II in
Ukraine (2006), Bodenseefestival in Germany
(2007), Eckelshausener Musiktage in Germany
(2007), Schwetzinger Festspiele in Germany (2007),
Tenso days/3e Biennale d’art vocal in France (2007),
Kurzeme Song festival in Talsi, Latvia (2007),
Glasperlenspiel in Estonia (2007), Riga Opera festival, Latvia (2007), the VIII and X International
Sacred Music Festival in Latvia (2005, 2007), the
XII Latvian Song festival in Indianapolis, USA (2007),
Europalia.europa in Belgium (2007), the Haarlem
Choir Biennale, the Netherlands (2009), Baltic Sea
Festival, Sweden (2010), Usedomer Music Festival,
Germany (2010), University of Louisville New Music
Festival, USA (2010), St Machar Cathedral`s Festival
of Sacred Music, UK (2011), Vale of Glamorgan
Festival, UK (2011), 14th International Sacred Music
Festival, Latvia (2011), Haarlem Choir Biennale, the
Netherlands (2011), Voices Now, UK (2011), ACDA
conference, USA (2011), XXX Siauliai International
Music Festival Resurrexit, Lithuania (2012), NordicBaltic Male Choir Festival, Estonia (2012), American
Content
Previous
Next
Guild of Organists National Convention, USA
(2012), Internationalen Audi Jugendchorfestival,
Germany (2012), Elora Festival, Canada (2012), MDR
MUSIKSOMMER, Germany (2012), Spoleto Festival,
USA (2012), Festival of the Sound, Canada (2012),
Festival ‘Les Claviers en Poitou à Bonneuil-Matours’,
France (2012), Riga Dom Cathedral International
Organ Music Festival, Latvia (2012), Festival ‘Europa
Cantat XVIII’, Italy (2012), Ulster Bank Belfast Festival
at Queen’s, Northern Ireland (2012).
He has worked as a teacher at the Riga 31st
Secondary School. 2002 – 2011, he performed in
the State Choir Latvija. As of 2002, he is a member
of the Latvian Composers’ Union. For 2011 – 2013
he holds the position of Fellow Commoner in
Creative Arts at Trinity College, University of
Cambridge, UK.
Ešenvalds is married and the father of 3 children.
40
Upbeat!
Get up, move up, power up!
Power Up workshops and the finale concert are back!
York University music professor and Juno Award winning Toronto Mass Choir co-founder, Karen Burke, is
bringing back another weekend of Power Up workshops that includes a free finale concert.
Power Up is an annual weekend workshop event
for lovers of gospel music, singing, song writing,
dance and instruments such as; piano, keyboard
and guitar. This is an experience that otherwise
may not be available to some. It offers participants the opportunity of not only learning to sing
gospel music in a mass choir setting, but also the
opportunity to improve the skills of songwriters,
musicians and dancers. ‘Nothing re-ignites the passion for music more than finding out something
new about it. Everyone who loves to sing is invited
to enjoy high-energy, spirit-lifting, hand-clapping,
toe-tapping gospel music’, said Karen. Back by
popular demand is the Power UP youth choir
workshop. Designed for young people from 12 to
21, this exciting new session involves marrying great
gospel lyrics to hip choreographed
moves done only as young people can!
The workshops were started by
Karen Burke to inspire and help people
grow their passion for gospel music.
Historically, gospel music was prevalent amongst the Black community.
The music kept their ancestors going;
it empowered them, gave them
strength and a sense hope. Today,
everyone enjoys the sounds of gospel music.
Perfect examples are the worldwide tours that the
Toronto Mass Choir (TMC) has done in Canada, the
United States, the Caribbean and Europe,—most
recently Romania; and TMC’s 25 year anniversary
this October.
The workshops, held on March 1 – 3, are a good
opportunity for emerging artists but also for those
simply interested in learning to sing gospel music.
Participants will be coached by seasoned profes-
Content
Previous
Next
sionals such as multi-award winning recording
artist, Ali Matthews; sensational gospel vocalist,
Amoy Levy; renown Canadian choreographer,
Gregory Hines and many more. Participants will
sing together in the Power Up mass gospel choir
and be joined by the Toronto Mass Choir in the
finale concert, which is free to the public. Everyone
is invited to attend the finale concert on Sunday
March 3, 7:00 PM at Global Kingdom Ministries.
Workshop registration is open for all ages
including students and groups. For more information and registration, visit www.tmc.ca.
41
Upbeat!
•What: Power Up Workshops
•Registration: www.tmc.ca
•Where: York University, Accolade East Building,
4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON
•When: Friday, March 1 – Saturday, March 2, 2013
•Admission: Adult: $60; Student: $50;
Group: $50 per member
•Finale concert: Sunday, March 3, 2013, 7:00 PM
•Who: The Power Up Workshop Mass Choir and
the Toronto Mass Choir
•Location: Global Kingdom Ministries,
1250 Markham Road, Scarborough, ON
•Admission: Free
About Toronto Mass Choir and Power Up Workshops
Founded by Karen Burke in 1988, the Toronto
Mass Choir (TMC) continues to be on the cutting
edge of the Canadian gospel music scene bringing
their distinct gospel sound to the world stage. This
October will mark the TMC’s 25th Anniversary.
TMC’s music incorporates contemporary gospel,
traditional gospel and Caribbean music influences.
In particular, TMC’s combination of gospel lyrics
with a variety of musical styles has resulted in a
style unique in Canada.
In 2003, they picked up a Juno Award for
Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the
Year, the Vibe Award for Urban/Soul Album of the
Year, and the Urban Music Association of Canada
Award for Gospel Recording of the Year.
Power Up is held annually and is in its 9th
season. The workshops were started by Karen
Burke to inspire and help people grow their passion for gospel music.
Content
Previous
Next
42
Upbeat!
Vocal Music Academy at Ryerson Community School
by Mark Bell, vice principal & Marlys Neufeldt, teacher
“The Voice” This is the theme chosen by the staff
and students of the new Toronto District School
Board (TDSB) Vocal Music Academy downtown at
Ryerson Community School for this inaugural year.
“Everybody has a voice”; “all voices are unique and
different”; “give voice to your thoughts and dreams”
and “voice your opinions”. These are all familiar
applications of the word, “VOICE”. At the Vocal
Music Academy (VMA) at Ryerson Community
School (CS) this holds especially true when we
consider the wonderful chorus of voices that are
present among the students and staff.
On Thursday November 29, 2012 the VMA @
Ryerson CS presented its Inaugural Concert followed by the Gala Opening Ceremony of the
school. The students of the school were in fine
voice as the concert opened with Ruth Moody’s
wonderful composition, “One Voice”. The musical
program contained music from many different
genres, languages and styles, from Bach’s “Bist
du bei mir” to a drumming, dancing and singing
ensemble based on a song from Mali, to Bruno
Mars’ “Count on me”. The capacity audience at
the concert in the school’s auditorium was very
appreciative and the students shone. Greetings
were shared by Chris Bolton, Trustee and Chair of
the Toronto District School Board, the Honourable
Olivia Chow, MP, Trinity-Spadina, Curtis Ennis, TDSB
Superintendent of Education and Karen Falconer,
TDSB Superintendent of Continuing Education.
Content
Previous
Next
The music and teaching staff of the VMA are
Marlys Neufeldt, Sarah Parker and Abby Pierce.
These talented educators teach the required subjects of the Ontario curriculum, as in any public
school, and they work together to provide the
musical enrichment to our grades 4 through 6
boys and girls. In 2013, a grade 7 class will be added.
The VMA draws students from the local community as well as from across the city, reflecting our
city’s diversity in many ways. Students attending
the VMA have the opportunity to sing every
day, and are engaged by reading, writing, creating and listening to music. Music is incorporated
into other subject areas to deepen the students’
cross-curricular learning. Numerous performance
opportunities are offered to the VMA students
through glee clubs, large and small ensemble singing groups, musical theatre, chamber ensembles
and solo performances. The students develop their
musical knowledge and ability by studying many
43
Upbeat!
different musical styles from many cultures and
time periods. There is no audition process required
for entry into the VMA—only the love of singing!
During the opening ceremony, Mackenzie
Goodwin, the first student to enroll at the VMA,
cut the ribbon and a new mural created by the
students with Toronto-based artist, Andrew Owen
A01, was unveiled in the school.
The newly-formed VMA School Advisory Council
The Vocal Music Academy at Ryerson CS is
(Parent Council) played a very important part in
accepting students in grades 4, 5, 6, and 7 for
the organization and execution of the Gala celeSeptember, 2013.
bration. All aspects of the evening from the décor
No previous music training or audition is required.
to the food and the silent auction were coordinVocal Music Academy at Ryerson Community
ated by the School Advisory Council.
School: 96 Denison Avenue, Toronto 416.393.1340
The final song of the concert, mirroring the
To register now, go to: www.tdsb.on.ca/academies
community-building message of the opening song
“One voice”, was “I am but a small voice” by Roger
Whittaker. Its inspirational lyrics and melody set
the direction for our year of learning and singing
together: “Come, young citizens of the world, we
are one... we have one hope... one dream, for peace,
love and prosperity for humankind... and with one
voice, we sing!”
Back Row: Mark Bell, Vice Principal and Craig Tsuji, Principal
Front Row: Sarah Parker, Marlys Neufeldt and Abby Pierce, Teachers/Conductors
Content
Previous
Next
44
Upbeat!
Shevchenko choir
by Helen Spiers and Patricia Ignaczewski
If you want to throw an excellent party, just ask
the Shevchenko Choir how to do it.
After its rehearsal on January 6 the Shevchenko
Choir held its annual “Ukrainian” Christmas at
Columbus Centre.
An e-mail was sent to everyone asking them
to bring their specialty dish. The result—a diverse
and delicious sampling of foods originating from
Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Israel, Holland, Azerbaijan,
Poland and Canada. The feast included potato
pancakes (or latke), herring, salads, sauerkraut,
various meat dishes, fruit, cakes and, of course, a
few bottles of wine to help bring in the New Year.
A fun group who love to socialize as well as sing
and dance, once we had eaten and toasted the
New Year, Alexander Veprinsky, our conductor,
entertained on piano while we surrounded him
with a sing-a-long of songs in Ukrainian, Russian,
French, English and Italian. Some members began
to dance while some just spent time talking with
other members, getting to know them better.
There is a wonderful mix of interesting people in
the Shevchenko Choir and as most of our Sundays
are spent rehearsing, this once-a-year party ritual
has become very popular. We hope it continues
along with the success of the choir.
We welcome anyone who would like to join
our multicultural choir. We rehearse every Sunday
at 10:00 a.m. in room 304 of Columbus Centre,
901 Lawrence Avenue West at Dufferin.
Content
Previous
Next
Helen Spiers, as a child began singing in school and
church concerts in Glace Bay, N.S. In Toronto she sang
in a rock and roll band and began her classical training
only at the age of 50. She performed at Roy Thomson
Hall for the Seniors Jubilee, and won first place in the
Chartwell Senior’s Star Competition. Helen performs in concerts, church
services, wedding receptions as well as with the Shevchenko Choir.
Patricia Ignaczewski, as a child in Timmins, Ontario,
attended concerts at the Ukrainian where she fell in
love with the Ukrainian culture. Later in Toronto Pat
played mandolin and took Ukrainian dancing, and also
studied piano at the Royal Conservatory.
After marrying, raising three sons and retiring, Pat joined the Shevchenko
Choir where she enjoys being part of a culture she will never forget.
45
Upbeat!
Supporting choristers in a rural setting:
Albert Greer leads the South Simcoe Arts
Council’s 2012 Choral Workshop.
choir members from the small religious choirs
that sing weekly services, singers in school choirs
looking for additional learning opportunities and
Albert Greer, well-known tenor, teacher and
award-winning choral conductor, was the clinician enthusiasts in community choirs. All contribute to
the cultural life of the area.
in October, 2012, ably assisted by Terry Therien,
For this workshop, all members of a choir do
collaborative pianist. Not only did participants
not need to attend. The sound of this massed
enjoy a full day working on 4 choral selections,
choir is always extraordinary and we finish the day
they benefitted from Mr. Greer’s extensive knowledge of the singing voice through vocal technique by singing through all the selections.
If you sing, live, work or study in Toronto or any
sessions. As a surprise additional benefit, Albert
of our other cities with multiple opportunities
Greer finished the Choral Workshop by accomto go to choral workshops, you may not know
panying himself on an operatic aria—a great
that professional development opportunities for
ending to the day!
The tradition of people singing together is alive choristers are almost non-existent in largely rural
communities. Individual community choirs in
and well across South Simcoe in groups of all
sizes. The goal of the Workshop is to provide indi- smaller towns and cities admittedly do get grants
to work with choral leaders. Many individual
viduals from many choral settings with renewed
choristers in rural communities and small towns,
inspiration and a stronger sense of themselves as
important individual contributors to the success of however, have limited access to the ongoing
their choirs. Choral Workshop participants include inspiration and education that comes from workDynamic | March 2013 | volume 41, issue 3
Content
Previous
Next
ing with outstanding choral clinicians. The South
Simcoe Arts Council’s (SSAC) Choral Workshop is
one initiative that helps fill that void.
Over the past five years, SSAC has brought expert
choral directors with provincial, national and
international recognition to the area. They have
included Dr. Lee Willingham, Associate Professor,
Wilfred Laurier University (twice); Nancy Telfer,
widely published Canadian composer and choral
clinician; and, Jean Ashworth Bartle, C.M., O.Ont.,
one of the world’s most distinguished conductors
of Youth Choirs and a respected mentor to many
emerging and mid-career choral conductors.
46
Upbeat!
Stronger choral connections in the area are
created over refreshment breaks, a sharing session and lunch. The Workshop was recognized in
2012 as a “community-building initiative” through
an award from Monsanto’s Genuity® Project—
Communities Advanced, supporting Ontario
and Quebec farm communities (www.monsanto.
ca/newsviews/Pages/NR-01-30-2012.aspx). The
Choral Workshop is one example of community
music in which the relevance of choral singing for
community building is now being studied (e.g.,
Higgins, 2012; Veblen, Messenger, Silverman, Elliot,
2012) and put into practice in rural communities
(www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2038653.htm).
The co-chairs of the event are Mary Hookey
(mhookey@sympatico.ca) and Nanette Seaman
(nanseaman@rogers.com) They would welcome
questions and comments. Our volunteers are now
in place for the next SSAC Choral Workshop event
in 2014.
Content
Previous
Next
47
Upbeat!
Summer institute of church music
by Dawn Duncliffe
As a church musician, do you ever feel overwhelmed
by the increasing choices in musical styles? As a choir
director, when you look at the notations of the less
familiar styles, do you yearn for more information to
greet you from the “black dots” on the page? In our
time-restricted schedules, with churches that seem
to want “more of the same”, how do we find the
living inspiration from those pages?
This year’s session of Summer Institute of Church
Music, entitled “Scored for Glory—from printed
page to worthy praise” will focus on the printed
score and how we, as church musicians, can best
bring it to life in a way that can create energy in
our worship services and praise God to our greatest abilities. Sessions will address strophic song,
cyclical song, psalmody and canticles, and culminate in 2 sessions on the congregational experience.
In addition to these sessions, we will also continue
with our daily chapel services, choral rehearsals,
conducting and organ classes.
Based at Trafalgar Castle School in
Whitby, Ontario, this year’s Summer
Institute of Church Music will take
place on July 7 – 12, 2013. Our principal choral director will once again
be Hilary Apfelstadt and our organ
recitalist and instructor is David Palmer.
Biographies for these two accomplished instructors can be found on
the SICM website.
We are once again offering our
Chorister programme for those who
live or work within commuting distance of Whitby. This non-auditioned
programme is open to all choristers
who would like the opportunity to sing in the Summer Institute
choir and join in our concert at St.
George’s Anglican Church in Oshawa
on the evening of Thursday, July 11.
Content
Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoon
and evening, and Monday through
Wednesday evenings, beginning at
approximately 7:30 p.m. and ending at
approximately 10 p.m.
Canada’s Summer Institute of
Church Music is an annual week of
celebration, study and retreat for
people in all disciplines, all levels of
training and all Christian denominations
who know the call to minister in music.
For more information on our
full or chorister programme, visit
www.sicm.ca. You can also email
info@sicm.ca or phone 416.356.3138.
Dawn Duncliffe is the Director of Music at DunbartonFairport United Church in Pickering. She is a graduate
of Lakehead University’s Department of Music and
also piano, flute and theory. Dawn serves in the dual
portfolio of Secretary and Publicity for the Board of
Governors for the Summer Institute of Church Music.
Previous
Next
48
Upbeat!
Toronto Children’s Chorus
by Pam Fossen
It’s a big year for the Toronto Children’s Chorus,
chock full of important milestones. Not only are
we celebrating our 35th anniversary and marking
Elise Bradley’s sixth season as TCC’s Artistic Director,
we’ll also be launching a brand new CD of glorious
choral music!
We are extremely pleased to announce the
upcoming release of “Sounzscapes” this spring.
With recordings that span the last five years of
the Toronto Children’s Chorus, it celebrates Elise
Bradley’s first five years as Artistic Director, and
features works from both Canadian and New
Zealand composers, representing a true melding
of cultures—the Toronto-based Chorus, and
Ms. Bradley’s native New Zealand.
“Sounzscapes” is a showcase of choral artistry
from our own choristers, musicians and conductors, and from the many guests we have worked
with over the years. Toronto Children’s Chorus
Soloists featured on the album include Lizzie
Hetherington, Laura Jamieson, Laura D’Angelo
and Emily D’Angelo. This array of Canadian and
New Zealand songs performed by one of the
world’s leading treble choirs is complemented by
a range of world-class musicians. Some will be
familiar faces for TCC choristers and their families—
Christopher Dawes, Kathryn Tremills and Michel
Ross—while others performed as special guests.
These artists include Mitchell Pady (guitar/karanga),
Sarah Jeffrey (principal horn, Toronto Symphony
Orchestra), and Joaquin Valdapenes (principal clarinet, Toronto Symphony Orchestra).
The majority of recordings are from live concerts at various venues throughout Toronto. On
the Canadian side, tracks include: Rupert Lang’s
Cantate Domino; Eleanor Daley’s Magnificat, and
Child with the Starry Crayon; Mark Sirett’s Watane;
and Donald Patriquin’s arrangements of I Went to
the Market and Tsimshian Welcome Chant. New
Zealand compositions included on the CD are:
Content
Previous
Next
David Hamilton’s Ohana I Runga Rawa; Dorothy
Buchanan’s Peace Song; Richard Oswin’s Sanctus;
Weep No More from David Childs; and Te Wehi
Whanau’s I Te Timatanga and Te Iwi e.
Information about CD release activities and events
will soon be forthcoming—so, keep an eye on our
website to get all the updates as they are available.
Pam Fossen, is settling into her new role as grant writer for the Toronto
Children’s Chorus. Though she is new to the choral community, Pam works
as a freelance writer for a number of businesses, and has a long history of
supporting the arts in Toronto.
49
Upbeat!
University of Toronto Choral Conducting Symposium 2013
This intensive, one-week seminar is an excellent
opportunity for music teachers and community
chorus conductors to gain professional development and continuing education credits (graduate
and undergraduate). The combination of learning and camaraderie of fellow music teachers and
other conductors makes for a stimulating and
enjoyable experience.
Tuesday, July 2 until Friday, July 5, 2013
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Toronto, ON, Canada
Dr. William Weinert, Eastman School of Music,
Masterclass Clinician, will coach twelve advanced
conductors in rehearsal with the Symposium
Singers, as well as conduct all Symposium participants in a Directors’ Chorus.
Masterclass conducting applications will include
CV’s and examples of applicants’ recent work and
must be submitted by May 1, 2013. (Regular registration for other participants is due May 30.)
Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt and Dr. Lori-Anne Dolloff,
University of Toronto faculty members, will coach
intermediate level conductors and teach sessions
on conducting and rehearsal technique, as well as
repertoire selection.
Content
Previous
Next
The seminar will focus on:
•Choral pedagogy and rehearsal planning
•Daily rehearsals with the Symposium Singers
•Repertoire selection
•Vocal pedagogy for conductors and choristers
•Individual consultations in vocal technique
Other collaborators:
•Christopher Dawes, accompanist and organist;
•Elizabeth McDonald, soprano, U of T voice faculty;
•Nancy Sicsic, Alexander Technique instructor.
For more information:
•hilary.apfelstadt@utoronto.ca
•www.music.utoronto.ca/Assets/events/summer/
Choral+Conducting+Symposium+2013.pdf
50
Upbeat!
Young Singers
Young Singers is a community youth choir in
the Durham Region, which offers young people
between the ages of 6 and 20 an opportunity to
experience choral music through the discipline
of learning and the art of performing. Originally
a program which was part of the Recreation
Department of the Town of Ajax, Young Singers
now thrives as an independent charitable organization, acknowledged as a role model for active
youth in the greater Durham community.
Founder and Artistic Director Anna Lynn Murphy
is a great part of Young Singers success. Her belief
that every child should have an opportunity to sing,
has lead her to expand the original choir to four,
covering a wider age and ability range.
Young Singers is comprised of 4 choirs.
Director’s Choir, the auditioned treble choir, has
singers between 10 – 15 years old. Many of the
YoungER Singers, for 6 – 8 year olds, is a nonDirector’s Choir members have begun as YoungER
auditioned choir with a focus on basic sight
Singers or Treble Notes, and are often mentors for the
reading and performance skills.
younger choirs. Director’s Choir performs frequently
Treble Notes, for 8 – 12 year olds, is also a nonin the community, and throughout the Greater
auditioned choir that continues to teach music
theory and performance skills, and beginning parts Toronto Area. Music theory continues as members
singing. Both of these choirs are active in the com- work through A Young Singer’s Journey books.
Random Notes is the auditioned SATB teen choir.
munity often performing at seniors residences and
These singers are often former Treble Notes and
other events.
Director’s Choir members who look forward to their
time in Random Notes. Their challenging repertoire
and professional performances continue to win acclaim
at music festivals and workshops throughout Ontario.
Content
Previous
Next
51
Upbeat!
Performance touring is a part of the Young
Singers program. The auditioned choirs have
participated in the Crossroads Children’s
Chorus Festival in Nashville, the Coastal Sound
International Choral Festival in Vancouver, as
well as two Maritime tours, with performances at
Citadel Hill and with the Men of the Deeps.
2012 was the twentieth Anniversary of Young
Singers. Celebrations included an Alumni Evening,
the creation of a 60 page memory book and the
commissioning of a piece by Stephen Hatfield.
The exciting final concert incorporated all alumni
with all current members in a performance of that
piece, Canary in a Coal Mine.
Young Singers is celebrating its twenty-first
season, with a trip to China in March 2013. An invitation was extended by the Chinese Government
to visit the country as Canadian Cultural
Ambassadors. Travel will include visits to Beijing,
Shanghai and the coastal city of Qinhuangdao
where they will collaborate with an arts school and
perform at the Annual Dragon Head Festival. A
one hour live television performance will be a collaboration with the Arts School students. This trip
is the tour of a lifetime for these singers.
Young Singers represents over 800 Durham
region youth, who have been involved in the
program since its inception in 1992. For more
information about Young Singers visit the website
at www.youngsingers.ca or call the hotline at
905.686.9821
Content
Previous
Next
Submissions deadline
May 1
Editorial policy
We reserve the right to edit material for
content, grammar, timeliness and appropriateness. We reserve the right to refuse
any submissions, and to use submissions
intended for either online or print freely
in both mediums, based on timeliness
and content.
All submissions should be sent to
Photos taken of public performances
(where permitted) are within the public
domain, all other photos cannot be
published without the consent of all
participants.
52
Concert listings
14 March
Toronto Chamber Choir
Kaffeemusik: Out of the Depths
Church of the Redeemer, 162 Bloor St. West at
Avenue Road, Toronto 3:00 p.m. $30/$25/$12.50
416.763.1695 www.torontochamberchoir.ca
23 March
Orpheus Choir of Toronto Every Purpose
Under the Heaven St. Anne’s Anglican Church,
270 Gladstone Ave, Toronto. 7:30 p.m. 416.530.4428
www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com
Avon Lake High School Chorale Avon Lake
High School Chorale Kingston Road United Church,
975 Kingston Rd., Toronto. 7:30 p.m. freewill offering
30 March
Fanshawe Chorus London & The Gerald Fagan
Singers Mozart Requiem Centennial Hall, London.
7:00 p.m. 519.433.9650 www.choruslondon.com
Cantabile Chorale The Rose of Calvary
Thornhill United Church, 25 Elgin St., Thornhill. 7:30
p.m. Freewill offering www.cantabile.ca
Grand Philharmonic Choir Bach: Mass in B
minor Centre in the Square, Kitchener. 7:30 p.m.
$20–$70 519.578.1570 www.grandphilchoir.com
6 April
Oakville Ensemble Majestic: Handel &
Bach St. John’s United Church, 262 Randall
Street, Oakville, ON. 7:30 p.m. $30/$25/$15
905.825.9740 www.oakville.ensemble.ca
24 March
Woodstock Fanshawe Singers
Amadeus Choir and Elmer Iseler Singers Bach
Cabaret! Craigowan Golf & Country
Mass in B minor Metropolitan United Church, 56
Queen Street East, Toronto. 7:30 p.m. $40/$30/$25/$15 Club, Woodstock. 7:30 p.m. $25/$20
519.539.9411 www.woodstockfanshawesingers.ca
416.446.0188 www.amadeuschoir.com
Grebel Chamber Choir Grebel Chamber
University of Guelph Chamber Choirs
Choir Knox Presbyterian Church, 50 Erb St West,
Choral Kaleidoscope Harcourt United Church,
Waterloo. 8:00 p.m. $10/$5
87 Dean Avenue, Guelph. 8:00 p.m. $10
visotamm@uoguelph.ca
Content
Previous
Next
7 April
Oakville Ensemble Majestic: Handel & Bach
Mary Mother of God Church, 2745 North
Ridge Trail, Oakville, ON. 3:00 p.m. $30/$25/$15
905.825.9740 www.oakville.ensemble.ca
The Velvet Curtain BAROQUE TO BROADWAY
Gala Concert Grace Church On The Hill,
300 Lonsdale Road, Toronto. 7:30 p.m. $25/$20
647.774.6552 www.thevelvetcurtain.ca
Woodstock Fanshawe Singers
Cabaret! Craigowan Golf & Country
Club, Woodstock. 7:30 p.m. $25/$20
519.539.9411 www.woodstockfanshawesingers.ca
Mississauga Festival Chamber Choir
The Four Seasons First United Church, 151
Lakeshore Rd. West, Mississauga. 8:00 p.m. $20
www.mississaugafestivalchoir.com
University of Waterloo Choir Bach to
Bernstein Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 54
Queen Street North, Kitchener. 8:00 p.m. $10/$5
53
Concert listings
8 April
Tapestry Chamber Choir Schubert’s
Mass in G Major Aurora United Church,
15186 Yonge St., Aurora. 3:00 p.m. $20/$15
905.836.8589 www.tapestrychoir.ca
13 April
Guelph Youth Singers Can You Feel the Love
Harcourt Memorial United Church, Guelph.
7:00 p.m. www.guelphyouthsingers.com
29 April
Achill Choral Society Brahms Requiem
St. James RC Church, Colgan. 7:30 p.m. $25/$15
www.achill.ca
5 May
Mississauga Festival Choir The World
Beloved RBC Theatre, Living Arts Centre, 4141
Living Arts Drive, Mississauga. 2:00 p.m. $28/$25/$20
905.306.6000 www.mississaugafestivalchoir.com
Grand Philharmonic Children’s
Choir Papoulis and Friends First United
Church, Waterloo. 7:00 p.m. $10–$25
519.578.6885 www.grandphilchoir.com
Toronto Chamber Choir Media Vita
Grace Church on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale
Road, Toronto. 8:00 p.m. $30/$25/$12.50
416.763.1695 www.torontochamberchoir.ca
Mississauga Festival Choir The World
Beloved RBC Theatre, Living Arts Centre, 4141
Living Arts Drive, Mississauga. 8:00 p.m. $28/$25/$20
905.306.6000 www.mississaugafestivalchoir.com
Ottawa Bach Choir Baroque Magnificence
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, 130 Glebe
Avenue, Waterloo. 8:00 p.m. $45/$35/$30/$15
www.ottawabachchoir.ca
Toronto Chamber Choir Media Vita
Grace Church-on-the-Hil, 300 Lonsdale
Rd., Toronto. 8:00 p.m. $30 416.763.1695
www.torontochamberchoir.ca
6 May
Monday Morning Singers Airs and
Arias, Duos and Divas St. Paul’s Anglican
Church, 65 Toronto St, Uxbridge. 3:00 p.m. $15
905.852.3693 www.mmsingers.org
Content
Previous
9 May
Orpheus Choir of Toronto Orpheus Cinema—
The Passion of Joan of Arc St. Clement’s Anglican
Church, 70 St. Clements Ave, Toronto. 8:00 p.m.
416.530.4428 www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com
11 May
Fanshawe Chorus London Song & Stage: An
evening on Broadway Centennial Hall, London.
7:30 p.m. 519.433.9650 www.choruslondon.com
12 May
Oakville Children’s Choir Singing Our Songs
Through Story: Legends & Myths & More
Clearview Church, 2300 Sheridan Garden Dr.,
Oakville. 7:00 p.m. $30/$20 905.337.7104
www.oakvillechildrenschoir.org
Grand Philharmonic Choir Chamber Singers
Media Vitae: In the Midst of Life St. Andrew’s
Presbyterian Church, Kitchener. 7:30 p.m. $10–$25
519.578.1570 www.grandphilchoir.com
26 May
Guelph Youth Singers It Takes a Village River
Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph. 7:00 p.m.
www.guelphyouthsingers.com
Next
54
Festivals and events
Ontario
•April 13 • TMC Singsation Saturday: Brahms and Schubert with conductor Jurgen Petrenko • Toronto • www.tmchoir.org/education/singsation-saturdays.cfm
•May 4 • TMC Singsation Saturday: Bach’s St. John Passion with conductor Patricia Wright • Toronto • www.tmchoir.org/education/singsation-saturdays.cfm
•May 9 – 12 • SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival • Toronto • www.torontovocalartsfestival.com
•May 28 • Guelph Youth Singers Bring-a-friend rehearsal • Guelph • www.guelphyouthsingers.com
•July 2 – 5 • University of Toronto Choral Conducting Symposium 2013 • University of Toronto
www.music.utoronto.ca/Assets/events/summer/Choral+Conducting+Symposium+2013.pdf
•July 13 – July 26 • Making Choral Connections • University of Western Ontario, London
www.music.uwo.ca/graduate/course_offerings/making_choral_connections.html
International
•April 4 – 8 • Istra Music Festival • Istria, Croatia • www.mrf-musicfestivals.com/imf.phtml
•May 1 – 5 • 59th Cork International Choral Festival • Ireland • www.corkchoral.ie/index.php/visiting-cork.html
•May 1 – 5 • Costa Barcelona Music Festival • Costa Barcelona, Spain • www.mrf-musicfestivals.com/cbmf.phtml
•May 17 – 22 • 13th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf • Marktoberdorf, Germany • www.modfestivals.org.
•May 23 – 27 • Festival Filadelfia 2013 • Italy • www.associazione-melody.com
•May 30 – June 2 • Festival Musica Sacra • Venice, Italy • www.mrf-musicfestivals.com/fms.phtml
•June 27 – July 1 • Roma Music Festival • Rome, Italy • www.mrf-musicfestivals.com/rmf.phtml
Content
Previous
Next
55

Dynamic | March 2013 - Calico School Library

Transcription

Similar documents

Page 19 - Local choir performs at Carnegie Hall

Ye Weekly Blurb, October 4, 2015

SECOND COMPETITION CONCERT ВТОР НАТПРЕВАРУВАЧКИ

BPI926 THE FIRST NOEL Beckenhorst Press, Inc. 960 Otd

ACDA sp 16 blog - Mississippi American Choral Directors Assocation

Gumboot dancing in Italy Jordan

2015-16 PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

2015-16 Audition Results