FIRE ICE 2017 | 2018 &Concert Season [ beyond theiryears, investingtheirpartswith
verve, understanding, subtletyandpower. CONTENTS From areview ofOperaAtelier's DidoandAeneaswith "[These werechoristers] whosangwell They werequitearevelation.” TCC's Choral Scholars asspecialguests - 15 14 10 8 6 5 4 2 1 Robert Harris,TheGlobeand Mail
Season SupportersandP Organization 40th AnniversaryMessages Special Appearances Season ConcertCalendar Mission 17/18 GuestArtists 17/18 Concerts Artistic Director’ s Message artners
] Elise Bradley, ArtisticDirector Sincerely, Fire andIce! We arethrilledtowelcome youtoourexciting 40thanniversaryseason, tour toanumberoflocalcommunitiesinNewfoundland. Podium ConferenceandFestivaltobeheldnext summerinSt. John's, andwill Our ChamberChoirishonouredtosingonceagainatChoralCanada's biennial perform inNewYork CitywithTheKing's SingersatthelegendaryCarnegieHall. In spring2018,theToronto Youth Choir, celebratingits 5th anniversary, will Toronto Symphony OrchestrainNovemberandMarch. Games inSeptember, andlookforwardtoperformingtwoconcertswiththe Mackowycz. We arehumbledtoperform attheclosingceremonyofInvictus Krisztina SzabóandherformerTCC 'apprenticetrainee', soprano Lesia opera starsandTCC alumnibass-baritoneGilesTomkins, mezzo-soprano During thisspecialseason,wewillwelcomemanyguests-includinginternational together, andanticipationofthemanyyearstocome. new, andbeautifulmusicthatwillinspirereflectiononthe40yearswehavespent Our RubySeasonwillbefilledwithcelebrationslargeandsmall,friendsold extremes reflectedinthisyear’s theme, FireandIce! summers. ThisseasonwecelebrateCanada’s diversitythroughthepowerful North tosouth,wesurvivethebrittlecoldandice, andenjoyhotbountiful environment -fromflat,endlessplainstomountainsthatreachbeyondtheclouds. Canadians liveinalandofextremes. Easttowest,wethriveinavastlydifferent Children’s Chorus’s placeinitshistory. present aseasonofperformancesreflectivethisgreatcountryandthe Toronto Celebrating 40yearsasoneofCanada’s finesttreblechoirs,wearedelightedto WELCOME TO OUR40 1 TH SEASON! 17/18 CONCERTS Single tickets available online: torontochildrenschorus.com/concerts or at the door, unless otherwise stated in concert description Autumn Radiance Saturday, October 21, 2017 | 3:00pm Fire, Choir and Desire St. Anne’s Anglican Church | 270 Gladstone Ave. Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 4:00pm The Toronto Children’s Chorus Training Choirs, Choral Scholars, staff and alumni Church of the Redeemer | 162 Bloor St. W. will welcome autumn with powerful repertoire at the historic St. Anne's Anglican Feel the sparks! Chorale and the award-winning Chamber Choir will welcome Church. Guest artists include alumnus Giles Tomkins (baritone), Stan Klebanoff spring with thrilling works by Raminsh, Dubra, Betinis, Brahms, Rheinberger. The (trumpet), Bradley Christensen (baritone) and Ryan Downey (tenor). Chorus has been invited to sing the world premiere of the winning piece in the biennial Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition, sponsored Light The Flame by Choirs Ontario. We welcome Michael Bloss (organ), Sarah Jeffrey (oboe) and Tuesday, November 21, 2017 | 7:00pm Mary Carol Nugent (viola) as guest artists. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre | 427 Bloor St. W. As Canada prepares for another cold winter, the Main Choir, Toronto Youth Choir Fire and Ice and a lively trio by TCC accompanists, Lara Dodds-Eden, Matthew Otto and Saturday, May 5, 2018 | 3:00pm Helen Becqué, will counter the chill with electric repertoire. Proceeds from this Toronto Centre for the Arts | 5040 Yonge St. special concert will help support the Chamber Choir’s 2018 tour to Newfoundland, Join all TCC children's choirs as they continue to celebrate the 40th anniversary including its participation in Choral Canada's biennial Podium Conference and season through songs reflecting the diversity of Canada! Featured composers Festival. include Larysa Kuzmenko, Ruth Watson Henderson, Lydia Adams, Nancy Telfer, John Govedas and TCC alumna Cassandra Luftspring. The choirs also look O Nata Lux – Toronto Youth Choir Holiday Concert forward to welcoming alumni guest artists and friends from the Toronto with Incontra Vocal Ensemble Symphony Orchestra. Tickets available in the spring through the TCA box office. Tuesday, December 12, 2017 | 7:30pm Christ Church Deer Park | 1570 Yonge St. Tour Send-Off Concert: Ring of Fire Toronto Youth Choir will present a collection of beautiful seasonal music as it Sunday, June 17, 2018 | 4:00pm celebrates its fifth anniversary season. Joining the TYC is Conductor Matthew Calvin Presbyterian Church | 26 Delisle Ave. Otto's Incontra Vocal Ensemble, a project-based, professional-level group of Support the young choral ambassadors of Chamber Choir as they sing the vocal artists dedicated to promoting excellence in choral music through innovative repertoire that they will take to St. John's, Newfoundland, in late June to perform performances. Proceeds from this unique holiday concert will help support the at Choral Canada's national Podium Conference and Festival. While away, the Youth Choir's tour to New York City in the spring. choristers will have the honour of collaborating with other participating choirs and will present concerts in a number of regional communities. The Fire Within Saturday, December 16, 2017 | 2:00pm Roy Thomson Hall | 60 Simcoe St. Kindle the joys of the holiday season with the angelic voices of more than 300 choristers, plus the Toronto Youth Choir, TCC Alumni Choir and dancers from the Swan Studio in London, Ontario. The choirs will perform Vivaldi's Gloria and other seasonal favourites during this special 40th anniversary holiday concert. The Chorus is thrilled to welcome TCC alumnae Krisztina Szabó (mezzo-soprano) and Lesia Mackowycz (soprano), friends from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and TCC organist Michael Bloss. Alumni are invited to a reception in the lobby following the concert. Tickets available through Roy Thomson Hall box office. Rainbows and Icicles Sunday, February 25, 2018 | 4:00pm Venue TBA The Toronto Children’s Chorus will present an afternoon of vibrant music that will stir the child within everyone. Enjoy popular songs, including movie favourites from Mary Poppins, The Aristocats and The Muppets. The choristers look forward to singing with special guests from Claude Watson School for the Arts. 17/18 GUEST ARTISTS TORONTO CHILDREN’S CHORUS Giles Tomkins (TCC: 1989-1995) Performing Oct. 21 The Voice of Excellence for 40 Years Bass-baritone Giles Tomkins is widely praised for his vocal virtuosity and lyricism in an impressive range of repertoire. His rich, resonant The world-renowned Toronto Children's Chorus was founded in 1978 by Jean voice brings “authority and power” to the concert and operatic stage. Ashworth Bartle, C.M., O. Ont., and is now under the artistic direction of Elise Mr. Tomkins’ many operatic roles, performed with companies across Bradley in her 11th season. The Chorus offers unique learning, performance, and Canada and in Scotland, include Don Basilio (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), recording opportunities to children and youth through a variety of choral programs Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Pistola (Falstaff), and more. Mr. Tomkins' recent and ensembles. oratorio performances include Elijah with Vancouver Bach Choir, Messiah with More than just music To give back to the Toronto community, Chorus Elmer Iseler Singers, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Symphony New ensembles will be performing 40 good deeds to mark the 40th anniversary Brunswick, Dvorak’s Requiem with Chorus Niagara, St. John Passion with Thirteen season. Strings Chamber Orchestra, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Symphony Nova Scotia, and Messiah with Regina Symphony. On the contemporary music scene, Audition If you have a child or are a young person with a passion for singing, Mr. Tomkins starred as Gandalf in Dean Burry’s The Hobbit with Canadian register to audition in May or September for one of our ensembles. Children’s Opera Company and, for two seasons, he joined the cast of The Bells of Baddeck, Lorna MacDonald and Dean Burry’s music drama based on Alexander Attend a concert Each filled seat reinforces to our children that their voices Graham Bell's life in Cape Breton. matter. Support Toronto’s future leaders and performers by joining the audience Lesia Mackowycz (TCC: 1983-1989) Performing Dec. 16 and prepare to be amazed by the sounds of one of the world’s finest treble choirs. Soprano Lesia Mackowycz is excited to return to Toronto from her Donate When you donate to the Toronto Children’s Chorus, you home in Germany to perform with the Toronto Children’s Chorus - are supporting music education in the community! Your donation creates and with her childhood friend and former TCC ‘Apprentice Trainer’ educational and performance opportunities to more than 300 children each Krisztina Szabó! Ms. Mackowycz performs in theatres throughout year. The Chorus continues to be a leader in providing the highest level of choral the world, including the Hamburg State Opera, Munich BIENNALE, education, artistry and life-enhancing experiences for young people in the GTA, Shanghai Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Chorin and Eutin Opera thanks to people like you. Festivals, and has appeared in numerous world premieres. Her interpretation of the title role in Toshio Hosokawa's, Matsukaze, sparked much international acclaim. Also an enthusiastic recital singer, she has performed with symphonies in Europe, China, the United States, and Canada. Ms. Mackowycz studied at McGill University and at the Musikhochschule Lübeck in Germany. She is now an Adjunct The Continuo Circle Professor of Voice at the University of Osnabrück as well as a guest professor in Toronto Children’s Chorus the School of Arts at the South University of Science and Technology of China, Shenzhen. Continuo Circle members Krisztina Szabó (TCC: 1982-1988) Performing Dec. 16 support our ongoing This season, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó will make her Royal legacy of artistic excellence Opera and Netherlands Opera débuts in George Benjamin’s through generous annual Lessons in Love and Violence. She will also appear as Angel/Marie gifts of $1000+ and enjoy in Benjamin’s Written on Skin for Opera Philadelphia and the exclusive privileges. Holland Festival, and as Dido in both Dido and Aeneas (Henry Purcell) and Aeneas and Dido (James Rolfe) with Toronto Masque Theatre. She will appear in concert with Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody), Arion Baroque Orchestra (Bach’s Mass in A Major), Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal (Sokolovic’s Pesma), and Toronto Symphony Orchestra (Händel’s Messiah) and will début a new work by Jeffrey Ryan with Canadian Art Join online at torontochildrenschorus.com/donate Song Project. In 2015, Ms. Szabó was twice nominated for a Dora Award for Thank you for your support! Outstanding Female Performance for her work with the Canadian Opera Company and Tapestry Opera. A graduate of Western University, Ms. Szabó is a member of the Voice Faculty at the University of Toronto. 2017 2018 CONCERT SEASON
01 04 Autumn Radiance Rainbows and Icicles Training Choirs and Preparatory to Chorealis Choral Scholars Sun. Feb. 25, 2018 | 4:00pm Sat. Oct. 21, 2017 | 3:00pm Venue TBA St. Anne’s Anglican Church 270 Gladstone Avenue
02 05 Light the Flame Fire, Choir and Desire Main Choir and Main Choir: Chorale Toronto Youth Choir Sat. Apr. 14, 2018 | 4:00pm Tues. Nov. 21, 2017 | 7:00pm Church of the Redeemer Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre 162 Bloor Street West 427 Bloor Street West
03 06 The Fire Within Fire and Ice All choirs All children’s choirs Sat. Dec. 16, 2017 | 2:00pm Sat. May 5, 2018 | 3:00pm Roy Thomson Hall Toronto Centre for the Arts 60 Simcoe Street 5040 Yonge Street Toronto Youth Choir Concert SPECIAL APPEARANCES with University of Toronto Oratorio Class Invictus Games Closing Ceremony Tuesday, April 3, 2018 | 7:30pm Saturday, September 30, 2017 | 7:30pm Christ Church Deer Park | 1570 Yonge St. Air Canada Centre | 40 Bay St. Toronto Youth Choir will perform a selection from different well-known oratorios in Chamber Choir is honoured to sing Canada's national anthem with Canadian this special concert with soloists from the University of Toronto's Oratorio Class. singer William Prince at the closing ceremony of the third annual Invictus Games. Instructed by Dr. Darryl Edwards, Associate Professor of Voice Studies, the Established by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games is the only international adaptive Oratorio class provides emerging singers an opportunity to experience solo and sport event for injured active duty and veteran service members. choral works from oratorios. Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation Junior Treble Festival with Toronto Symphony Orchestra Saturday, April 7, 2018 | 7:00pm November 9 and 11, 2017 | 8:00pm St. Catharines Roy Thomson Hall | 60 Simcoe St. The Cantare ensemble will represent the TCC at the Junior Treble Festival, hosted The Chorus will join the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Mendelssohn by Chorus Niagara. Choirs will share their music and have the opportunity to work Choir and soloists Measha Brueggergosman, Allyson McHardy, Colin Ainsworth with guest clinician, American composer and conductor Dr. Rollo Dilworth. and Brett Polegato to perform this soul-searching work by Canadian composer 18th School Choir Invitational Festivals Jeffrey Ryan and Canada’s war poet Suzanne Steele. April 10 and 17, 2018 Calvin Presbyterian Church | 26 Delisle Ave. Sing Loo! Chorale and Training Choir III (April 10) and Cantare, Training Choir II and North Sunday, December 3, 2017 | 1:00pm York Training Choir (April 17) will host TCC’s 18th annual School Choir Invitational Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel | 123 Queen St. W. Festivals, bringing public and private school choirs together to perform solo and The Chorus will perform seasonal songs from 1:00 to 4:00pm in the Sheraton combined works. Centre Toronto Hotel lobby for its annual sing-a-thon fundraiser, hosted by classical music commentator, Rick Phillips. The choristers and special guests will Vocal Academy Recital “sing their pledges” to thank donors for their kind support. Donations to Sing Loo! Thursday, May 3, 2018 | 7:00pm may be made at torontochildrenschorus.com starting in November. Calvin Presbyterian Church | 26 Delisle Ave. The members of the TCC Vocal Academy will showcase the skills they have Community Concert developed throughout the year under the tutelage of Dr. Darryl Edwards, Main Sunday, February 4, 2018 | 4:00pm Choir vocal consultant and Associate Professor of Voice Studies at the University Venue TBA of Toronto. The Chorale choir and the Toronto Youth Choir will perform a special concert for the local community. Toronto Youth Choir in Concert Tuesday, May 15, 2018 | 7:00pm Senior Treble Festival Venue TBA Saturday, March 3, 2018 | 7:00pm Back from their NYC tour, join the Toronto Youth Choir as they perform an inspiring Clearview Christian Reformed Church | 2300 Sheridan Garden Dr. | Oakville program filled with their favourite repertoire. Join the choir for a wine and cheese Chorale will sing in the Senior Treble Festival, hosted this year by Guelph Youth reception following the concert to toast the end of TYC’s fifth season. Singers and featuring guest clinician, Heather Bambrick. The day's activities will culminate in an inspiring evening concert presented by all participating choirs. Little Mass with Toronto Symphony Orchestra Wednesday, March 7, 2018 | 8:00pm Roy Thomson Hall | 60 Simcoe St. Toronto Children’s Chorus will join the TSO to perform this riveting and complex work for children’s choir and orchestra by Scotland’s James McMillan, as part of the New Creations Festival. Guest artists: Mira Wang, violin and Jan Vogler, cello. Around the Ring of Fire: Choir Love Hamilton Children's Choir and TCC Chamber Choir Saturday, May 26, 2018 | 7:30pm Welcome to our 40th Anniversary Season! This year Christ’s Church Cathedral | 252 James St. N., Hamilton is a time to celebrate the thousands of children and TCC Chamber Choir choristers will sing with the Hamilton Children's Choir in a youth who have developed a passion for singing and collaboration reflecting the music of the conductors' homelands and chosen music through the Chorus' program since 1978. We countries, all of which sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Be the first to hear this commemorate not only the milestones that define our performance of works which the choirs will sing together in St. John's, artistic legacy, such as our numerous professional Newfoundland, during Choral Canada's biennial Podium Conference and Festival. recordings and performance tours, but also the daily routines children undertake to be their very best selves Noon-Hour Choir and Organ Concert | Ring of Fire in choir and beyond. Sometimes it's hard to see the Monday, June 4, 2018 | 12 noon future greatness in being on time for rehearsal or Roy Thomson Hall | 60 Simcoe St. practicing sight singing every day! To all those who All are welcome to attend this FREE noon-hour concert, featuring the TCC have been a part of our organization, past and Chamber Choir, Hamilton Children's Choir and TCC organist Michael Bloss. The present, congratulations on all you have contributed to choirs will sing exciting joint repertoire that they will also perform at Choral the Chorus. Canada's national Podium Conference and Festival, to be held in St. John's, VICTORIA BUCHY, Newfoundland. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR McMichael Gallery Series | Ring of Fire Sunday, June 24, 2018 | 2:00pm McMichael Canadian Art Collection | 10365 Islington Ave., Kleinburg Happy 40th Anniversary!! I add my heartiest The Chamber Choir will return to the magnificent McMichael Gallery to perform a congratulations to the many people who have concert for their patrons. The choir will feature music from such countries as contributed to the Toronto Children’s Chorus’ enormous Russia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada - nations linked by the success over the past forty years. The children, their unpredictable geological forces of the 'Ring of Fire'. parents, the staff, the board, the sponsors, the arts councils…all have made TCC the vital arts organization Podium Conference and Festival it is today. Many children’s lives have been enhanced June 29 to July 6, 2018 in innumerable ways and now, even the children of St. John's, Newfoundland the children I conducted in my time are reaping the The Chamber Choir will sing in Choral Canada’s biennial national choral many benefits of this stellar choir (as they march off to conference and festival this year entitled, Singing from Sea to Sea to Sea. The rehearsal with their three sharp pencils!) The glorious Chorus is excited to collaborate with Hamilton Children’s Choir for an hour-long concerts, recordings and tours are the icing on this spotlight concert entitled Around the Ring of Fire, and will perform with other substantial cake, but, likely even more important, the participating choirs in a special production. intangible benefits of singing in this choir give a positive focus and purpose to a child’s life which few other pursuits can bring. It gives me enormous pleasure to We are thrilled to welcome you to our 40th season! hear alumni, now in their forties and fifties(!), tell me that singing in TCC was the When I started singing with the TCC in its third most important and defining moment of their lives, and that the deep friendships season, we were a single choir of 9 to 16-year-olds. As they made as children are just as vibrant today. I founded the Toronto Children’s I have grown up, the organization has grown alongside Chorus in the spring of 1978 because I loved singing classical music and I loved me, and has remained an integral part of me and my teaching children. I am thrilled that TCC has gone from strength to strength and I family’s life. We have an exciting season planned with look forward to celebrating many other milestones with you in the future. lots of opportunity to celebrate our past, and to keep building for the next 40 years and beyond. Thank you JEAN ASHWORTH BARTLE, C.M., O. ONT. for being a part of our special year! FOUNDER/CONDUCTOR LAUREATE SUSAN ASTINGTON, Music Director 1978-2007 BOARD CHAIR TCC Chorister: 1980-1988 ORGANIZATION The Toronto Children’s Chorus extends sincere gratitude to its season supporters. SEASON SUPPORTERS Artistic Administrative Board of Directors Elise Bradley Victoria Buchy Susan Astington Artistic Director Executive Director Board Chair Matthew Otto Carol Stairs Andrew Lu Assistant Artistic Manager, Artistic Treasurer Director Administration Robert Wasserman Secretary THE MARY-MARGARET Carole Anderson Karin Anderson WEBB FOUNDATION Associate Conductor Choir Manager Craig Fisher Judith Bean Bonnie O’Sullivan Dr. Joan Flood Associate Conductor Marketing Coordinator Gillian Fripp THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION JACKMAN FOUNDATION Kirstin Grant 1964 Louise Lui Anica Chodri Arlene Lerer Associate Conductor Finance Officer Linda Song Gloria Baldwin Honorary Patrons Associate Conductor Development Officer Bob Chilcott Special thanks to our more than 1,000 Sing Loo! individual donors! Sir Andrew Davis Kim Kendrick Elaine Lehto Vern & Elfrieda Heinrichs KinderNotes Director Music Librarian CONTINUO CIRCLE Ben Heppner Dr. Darryl Edwards Jodie Sargent Christopher Plummer Platinum Patrons ($10,000 +) Continuo Patrons ($1,000 – $4,999) Vocal Consultant Volunteer Coordinator Catherine Robbin Dr. Ronnie and Debra Aronson Carole Anderson Susan Astington and Kevin Devitt Elise Bradley Jennifer Swan Krisztina Szabó Dr. Joan Flood and Tom Healy Victoria Buchy Choreographer Donald Brown Accompanists: Founder/ Artistic Director Patrons ($5,000 – $9,999) Rebecca Cowdery
Helen Becqué Conductor Laureate Vern and Elfrieda Heinrichs Gillian Fripp Michael Bloss Jean Ashworth Bartle, Shelly and Kevin Lowe Kirstin Grant Geoffrey Conquer C.M., O. Ont. Dr. John and Ellen Spears Nestor and Cathy Kostyniuk Lara Dodds-Eden John and Carol Stairs Andrew Lu
Joy Lee Robert Wasserman Sknaber Limited
Marjorie Wiens Alan and Malou Wells John Rogers Heather Williams Jackie Stothers Jai Eun Yoo SEASON PARTNERS
The Toronto Children’s Chorus wishes to acknowledge its Distinguished Honorary Patron
The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario 1978 - 2018 Celebrating 40 Years as Toronto's Voice of Excellence
Toronto Children’s Chorus 26 Delisle Avenue @TorontoChildrensChorus Toronto, ON M4V 1S5 @TorontoYouthChoir 416-932-8666 @TCCSings [email protected] torontochildrenschorus.com @TCCHighNotes 4Designed by Bonnie O'Sullivan