&IC2017 | 2018

Concert Season

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1 Artistic Director’s Message 2 17/18 Concerts4 17/18 Guest Artists5 Mission6 Season Concert Calendar8 Special Appearances10 40th Anniversary Messages14 Organization15 Season Supporters and Partners

"[These were choristers] who sang well beyond their years, investing their parts with

verve, understanding, subtlety and power. They were quite a revelation.”

- Robert Harris, The Globe and MailFrom a review of Opera Atelier's Dido and Aeneas with

TCC's Choral Scholars as special guests[ ]

WELCOME TO OUR 40TH SEASON!Celebrating 40 years as one of Canada’s finest treble choirs, we are delighted to present a season of performances reflective of this great country and the Toronto Children’s Chorus’s place in its history.

Canadians live in a land of extremes. East to west, we thrive in a vastly different environment - from flat, endless plains to mountains that reach beyond the clouds. North to south, we survive the brittle cold and ice, and enjoy hot and bountiful summers. This season we celebrate Canada’s diversity through the powerful extremes reflected in this year’s theme, Fire and Ice!

Our Ruby Season will be filled with celebrations large and small, friends old and new, and beautiful music that will inspire reflection on the 40 years we have spent together, and anticipation of the many years to come.

During this special season, we will welcome many guests - including international opera stars and TCC alumni bass-baritone Giles Tomkins, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó and her former TCC 'apprentice trainee', soprano Lesia Mackowycz. We are humbled to perform at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in September, and look forward to performing two concerts with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in November and March.

In spring 2018, the Toronto Youth Choir, celebrating its 5th anniversary, will perform in New York City with The King's Singers at the legendary Carnegie Hall. Our Chamber Choir is honoured to sing once again at Choral Canada's biennial Podium Conference and Festival to be held next summer in St. John's, and will tour to a number of local communities in Newfoundland.

We are thrilled to welcome you to our exciting 40th anniversary season, Fire and Ice!

Sincerely,

Elise Bradley, Artistic Director

1

17/18 CONCERTSAutumn RadianceSaturday, October 21, 2017 | 3:00pmSt. Anne’s Anglican Church | 270 Gladstone Ave.The Toronto Children’s Chorus Training Choirs, Choral Scholars, staff and alumni will welcome autumn with powerful repertoire at the historic St. Anne's Anglican Church. Guest artists include alumnus Giles Tomkins (baritone), Stan Klebanoff (trumpet), Bradley Christensen (baritone) and Ryan Downey (tenor).

Rainbows and Icicles Sunday, February 25, 2018 | 4:00pmVenue TBAThe 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.

Fire, Choir and Desire Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 4:00pmChurch of the Redeemer | 162 Bloor St. W.Feel the sparks! Chorale and the award-winning Chamber Choir will welcome spring with thrilling works by Raminsh, Dubra, Betinis, Brahms, Rheinberger. The Chorus has been invited to sing the world premiere of the winning piece in the biennial Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition, sponsored by Choirs Ontario. We welcome Michael Bloss (organ), Sarah Jeffrey (oboe) and Mary Carol Nugent (viola) as guest artists.

Fire and Ice Saturday, May 5, 2018 | 3:00pmToronto Centre for the Arts | 5040 Yonge St.Join all TCC children's choirs as they continue to celebrate the 40th anniversary season through songs reflecting the diversity of Canada! Featured composers include Larysa Kuzmenko, Ruth Watson Henderson, Lydia Adams, Nancy Telfer, John Govedas and TCC alumna Cassandra Luftspring. The choirs also look forward to welcoming alumni guest artists and friends from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Tickets available in the spring through the TCA box office.

Tour Send-Off Concert: Ring of FireSunday, June 17, 2018 | 4:00pmCalvin Presbyterian Church | 26 Delisle Ave.Support the young choral ambassadors of Chamber Choir as they sing the repertoire that they will take to St. John's, Newfoundland, in late June to perform at Choral Canada's national Podium Conference and Festival. While away, the choristers will have the honour of collaborating with other participating choirs and will present concerts in a number of regional communities.

Light The Flame Tuesday, November 21, 2017 | 7:00pmTrinity-St. Paul’s Centre | 427 Bloor St. W.As Canada prepares for another cold winter, the Main Choir, Toronto Youth Choir and a lively trio by TCC accompanists, Lara Dodds-Eden, Matthew Otto and Helen Becqué, will counter the chill with electric repertoire. Proceeds from this special concert will help support the Chamber Choir’s 2018 tour to Newfoundland, including its participation in Choral Canada's biennial Podium Conference and Festival.

The Fire Within Saturday, December 16, 2017 | 2:00pmRoy 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.

O Nata Lux – Toronto Youth Choir Holiday Concert with Incontra Vocal Ensemble Tuesday, December 12, 2017 | 7:30pmChrist Church Deer Park | 1570 Yonge St.Toronto Youth Choir will present a collection of beautiful seasonal music as it celebrates its fifth anniversary season. Joining the TYC is Conductor Matthew Otto's Incontra Vocal Ensemble, a project-based, professional-level group of vocal artists dedicated to promoting excellence in choral music through innovative performances. Proceeds from this unique holiday concert will help support the Youth Choir's tour to New York City in the spring.

Single tickets available online: torontochildrenschorus.com/concerts or at the door, unless otherwise stated in concert description

17/18 GUEST ARTISTS TORONTO CHILDREN’S CHORUSThe Voice of Excellence for 40 Years

The world-renowned Toronto Children's Chorus was founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle, C.M., O. Ont., and is now under the artistic direction of Elise Bradley in her 11th season. The Chorus offers unique learning, performance, and recording opportunities to children and youth through a variety of choral programs and ensembles.

More than just music To give back to the Toronto community, Chorus ensembles will be performing 40 good deeds to mark the 40th anniversary season.

Audition If you have a child or are a young person with a passion for singing, register to audition in May or September for one of our ensembles.

Attend a concert Each filled seat reinforces to our children that their voices matter. Support Toronto’s future leaders and performers by joining the audience and prepare to be amazed by the sounds of one of the world’s finest treble choirs.

Donate When you donate to the Toronto Children’s Chorus, you are supporting music education in the community! Your donation creates educational and performance opportunities to more than 300 children each year. The Chorus continues to be a leader in providing the highest level of choral education, artistry and life-enhancing experiences for young people in the GTA, thanks to people like you.

Thank you for your support!

Soprano Lesia Mackowycz is excited to return to Toronto from her home in Germany to perform with the Toronto Children’s Chorus - and with her childhood friend and former TCC ‘Apprentice Trainer’ Krisztina Szabó! Ms. Mackowycz performs in theatres throughout the world, including the Hamburg State Opera, Munich BIENNALE, Shanghai Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Chorin and Eutin Opera 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 Professor of Voice at the University of Osnabrück as well as a guest professor in the School of Arts at the South University of Science and Technology of China, Shenzhen.

The Continuo Circle

Toronto Children’s Chorus Continuo Circle members support our ongoing legacy of artistic excellence through generous annual gifts of $1000+ and enjoy exclusive privileges.

Join online at torontochildrenschorus.com/donate

Krisztina Szabó (TCC: 1982-1988) Performing Dec. 16

Lesia Mackowycz (TCC: 1983-1989) Performing Dec. 16

This season, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó will make her Royal Opera and Netherlands Opera débuts in George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence. She will also appear as Angel/Marie in Benjamin’s Written on Skin for Opera Philadelphia and the Holland Festival, and as Dido in both Dido and Aeneas (Henry Purcell) and Aeneas and Dido (James Rolfe) with Toronto Masque

Bass-baritone Giles Tomkins is widely praised for his vocal virtuosity and lyricism in an impressive range of repertoire. His rich, resonant voice brings “authority and power” to the concert and operatic stage. Mr. Tomkins’ many operatic roles, performed with companies across Canada and in Scotland, include Don Basilio (Il Barbiere di Siviglia),

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 Song Project. In 2015, Ms. Szabó was twice nominated for a Dora Award for 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.

Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Pistola (Falstaff), and more. Mr. Tomkins' r ecent oratorio performances include Elijah with Vancouver Bach Choir, Messiah with Elmer Iseler Singers, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Symphony New Brunswick, Dvorak’s Requiem with Chorus Niagara, St. John Passion with Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra , Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Symphony Nova Scotia , and Messiah with Regina Symphony . On the contemporary music scene, Mr. Tomkins starred as Gandalf in Dean Burry’s The Hobbit with Canadian 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 Graham Bell 's life in Cape Breton.

Giles Tomkins (TCC: 1989-1995) Performing Oct. 21

SEASON2017

CONCERT

01Autumn Radiance Training Choirs and Choral ScholarsSat. Oct. 21, 2017 | 3:00pmSt. Anne’s Anglican Church 270 Gladstone Avenue

06Fire and IceAll children’s choirs Sat. May 5, 2018 | 3:00pmToronto Centre for the Arts 5040 Yonge Street

02 Light the Flame

Main Choir and Toronto Youth Choir

Tues. Nov. 21, 2017 | 7:00pmTrinity-St. Paul’s Centre 427 Bloor Street West

03The Fire Within All choirs Sat. Dec. 16, 2017 | 2:00pmRoy Thomson Hall 60 Simcoe Street

04Rainbows and Icicles Preparatory to Chorealis Sun. Feb. 25, 2018 | 4:00pmVenue TBA

05Fire, Choir and Desire

Main Choir: Chorale Sat. Apr. 14, 2018 | 4:00pm

Church of the Redeemer 162 Bloor Street West

2018

SPECIAL APPEARANCES

Community Concert Sunday, February 4, 2018 | 4:00pmVenue TBAThe Chorale choir and the Toronto Youth Choir will perform a special concert for the local community.

Senior Treble FestivalSaturday, March 3, 2018 | 7:00pmClearview Christian Reformed Church | 2300 Sheridan Garden Dr. | OakvilleChorale will sing in the Senior Treble Festival, hosted this year by Guelph Youth Singers and featuring guest clinician, Heather Bambrick. The day's activities will culminate in an inspiring evening concert presented by all participating choirs.

18th School Choir Invitational Festivals April 10 and 17, 2018 Calvin Presbyterian Church | 26 Delisle Ave.Chorale and Training Choir III (April 10) and Cantare, Training Choir II and North York Training Choir (April 17) will host TCC’s 18th annual School Choir Invitational Festivals, bringing public and private school choirs together to perform solo and combined works.

Junior Treble Festival Saturday, April 7, 2018 | 7:00pmSt. CatharinesThe Cantare ensemble will represent the TCC at the Junior Treble Festival, hosted by Chorus Niagara. Choirs will share their music and have the opportunity to work with guest clinician, American composer and conductor Dr. Rollo Dilworth.

Vocal Academy RecitalThursday, May 3, 2018 | 7:00pmCalvin Presbyterian Church | 26 Delisle Ave.The members of the TCC Vocal Academy will showcase the skills they have developed throughout the year under the tutelage of Dr. Darryl Edwards, Main Choir vocal consultant and Associate Professor of Voice Studies at the University of Toronto.

Toronto Youth Choir in ConcertTuesday, May 15, 2018 | 7:00pmVenue TBABack from their NYC tour, join the Toronto Youth Choir as they perform an inspiring program filled with their favourite repertoire. Join the choir for a wine and cheese reception following the concert to toast the end of TYC’s fifth season.

Invictus Games Closing CeremonySaturday, September 30, 2017 | 7:30pm Air Canada Centre | 40 Bay St.Chamber Choir is honoured to sing Canada's national anthem with Canadian singer William Prince at the closing ceremony of the third annual Invictus Games. Established by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games is the only international adaptive sport event for injured active duty and veteran service members.

Sing Loo! Sunday, December 3, 2017 | 1:00pmSheraton Centre Toronto Hotel | 123 Queen St. W.The Chorus will perform seasonal songs from 1:00 to 4:00pm in the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel lobby for its annual sing-a-thon fundraiser, hosted by classical music commentator, Rick Phillips. The choristers and special guests will “sing their pledges” to thank donors for their kind support. Donations to Sing Loo! may be made at torontochildrenschorus.com starting in November.

Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation with Toronto Symphony Orchestra November 9 and 11, 2017 | 8:00pm Roy Thomson Hall | 60 Simcoe St.The Chorus will join the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and soloists Measha Brueggergosman, Allyson McHardy, Colin Ainsworth and Brett Polegato to perform this soul-searching work by Canadian composer Jeffrey Ryan and Canada’s war poet Suzanne Steele.

Little Mass with Toronto Symphony OrchestraWednesday, March 7, 2018 | 8:00pmRoy 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.

Toronto Youth Choir Concert with University of Toronto Oratorio ClassTuesday, April 3, 2018 | 7:30pmChrist Church Deer Park | 1570 Yonge St.Toronto Youth Choir will perform a selection from different well-known oratorios in this special concert with soloists from the University of Toronto's Oratorio Class. Instructed by Dr. Darryl Edwards, Associate Professor of Voice Studies, the Oratorio class provides emerging singers an opportunity to experience solo and choral works from oratorios.

VICTORIA BUCHY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SUSAN ASTINGTON, BOARD CHAIR TCC Chorister: 1980-1988

JEAN ASHWORTH BARTLE, C.M., O. ONT. FOUNDER/CONDUCTOR LAUREATE

Music Director 1978-2007

Welcome to our 40th Anniversary Season! This year is a time to celebrate the thousands of children and youth who have developed a passion for singing and music through the Chorus' program since 1978. We commemorate not only the milestones that define our artistic legacy, such as our numerous professional recordings and performance tours, but also the daily routines children undertake to be their very best selves in choir and beyond. Sometimes it's hard to see the future greatness in being on time for rehearsal or practicing sight singing every day! To all those who have been a part of our organization, past and present, congratulations on all you have contributed to the Chorus.

We are thrilled to welcome you to our 40th season! When I started singing with the TCC in its third season, we were a single choir of 9 to 16-year-olds. As I have grown up, the organization has grown alongside me, and has remained an integral part of me and my family’s life. We have an exciting season planned with lots of opportunity to celebrate our past, and to keep building for the next 40 years and beyond. Thank you for being a part of our special year!

Happy 40th Anniversary!! I add my heartiest congratulations to the many people who have contributed to the Toronto Children’s Chorus’ enormous success over the past forty years. The children, their parents, the staff, the board, the sponsors, the arts councils…all have made TCC the vital arts organization it is today. Many children’s lives have been enhanced in innumerable ways and now, even the children of the children I conducted in my time are reaping the many benefits of this stellar choir (as they march off to rehearsal with their three sharp pencils!) The glorious concerts, recordings and tours are the icing on this substantial cake, but, likely even more important, theintangible 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 hear alumni, now in their forties and fifties(!), tell me that singing in TCC was the most important and defining moment of their lives, and that the deep friendships they made as children are just as vibrant today. I founded the Toronto Children’s Chorus in the spring of 1978 because I loved singing classical music and I loved teaching children. I am thrilled that TCC has gone from strength to strength and I look forward to celebrating many other milestones with you in the future.

Podium Conference and FestivalJune 29 to July 6, 2018St. John's, NewfoundlandThe Chamber Choir will sing in Choral Canada’s biennial national choral conference and festival this year entitled, Singing from Sea to Sea to Sea. The Chorus is excited to collaborate with Hamilton Children’s Choir for an hour-long spotlight concert entitled Around the Ring of Fire, and will perform with other participating choirs in a special production.

Around the Ring of Fire: Choir Love Hamilton Children's Choir and TCC Chamber Choir Saturday, May 26, 2018 | 7:30pmChrist’s Church Cathedral | 252 James St. N., HamiltonTCC Chamber Choir choristers will sing with the Hamilton Children's Choir in a collaboration reflecting the music of the conductors' homelands and chosen countries, all of which sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Be the first to hear this performance of works which the choirs will sing together in St. John's, Newfoundland, during Choral Canada's biennial Podium Conference and Festival.

Noon-Hour Choir and Organ Concert | Ring of Fire Monday, June 4, 2018 | 12 noonRoy Thomson Hall | 60 Simcoe St.All are welcome to attend this FREE noon-hour concert, featuring the TCC Chamber Choir, Hamilton Children's Choir and TCC organist Michael Bloss. The choirs will sing exciting joint repertoire that they will also perform at Choral Canada's national Podium Conference and Festival, to be held in St. John's, Newfoundland.

McMichael Gallery Series | Ring of Fire Sunday, June 24, 2018 | 2:00pmMcMichael Canadian Art Collection | 10365 Islington Ave., KleinburgThe Chamber Choir will return to the magnificent McMichael Gallery to perform a concert for their patrons. The choir will feature music from such countries as Russia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada - nations linked by the unpredictable geological forces of the 'Ring of Fire'.

ORGANIZATION

Artistic

Elise BradleyArtistic Director

Matthew OttoAssistant Artistic Director

Carole AndersonAssociate Conductor

Judith BeanAssociate Conductor

Louise LuiAssociate Conductor

Linda SongAssociate Conductor

Kim KendrickKinderNotes Director

Dr. Darryl Edwards Vocal Consultant

Jennifer SwanChoreographer

Accompanists: Helen Becqué Michael Bloss Geoffrey Conquer Lara Dodds-Eden Joy Lee Marjorie Wiens Heather Williams Jai Eun Yoo

Administrative

Victoria BuchyExecutive Director

Carol Stairs Manager, Artistic Administration

Karin AndersonChoir Manager

Bonnie O’SullivanMarketing Coordinator

Anica Chodri Finance Officer

Gloria Baldwin Development Officer

Elaine LehtoMusic Librarian

Jodie SargentVolunteer Coordinator

Board of DirectorsSusan AstingtonBoard Chair

Andrew LuTreasurer

Robert WassermanSecretary

Craig FisherDr. Joan FloodGillian FrippKirstin GrantArlene Lerer

Honorary PatronsBob Chilcott Sir Andrew DavisVern & Elfrieda HeinrichsBen HeppnerChristopher PlummerCatherine Robbin Krisztina Szabó

Founder/ Conductor LaureateJean Ashworth Bartle, C.M., O. Ont.

SEASON SUPPORTERS

The Toronto Children’s Chorus extends sincere gratitude to its season supporters.

THE MARY-MARGARET WEBB FOUNDATION

SEASON PARTNERS

The Toronto Children’s Chorus wishes to acknowledge its

Distinguished Honorary Patron

The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Special thanks to our more than 1,000 Sing Loo! individual donors!

JACKMAN FOUNDATION1964

THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION

CONTINUO CIRCLE

Platinum Patrons ($10,000 +)Dr. Ronnie and Debra AronsonSusan Astington and Kevin DevittDr. Joan Flood and Tom Healy

Artistic Director Patrons ($5,000 – $9,999)Vern and Elfrieda HeinrichsShelly and Kevin LoweDr. John and Ellen SpearsJohn and Carol StairsRobert WassermanAlan and Malou Wells

Continuo Patrons ($1,000 – $4,999)Carole Anderson Elise BradleyVictoria BuchyDonald BrownRebecca CowderyGillian FrippKirstin GrantNestor and Cathy KostyniukAndrew Lu Sknaber LimitedJohn RogersJackie Stothers

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@TorontoChildrensChorus @TorontoYouthChoir

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Designed by Bonnie O'Sullivan

1978 - 2018 Celebrating 40 Years as

Toronto's Voice of Excellence

Toronto Children’s Chorus26 Delisle Avenue

Toronto, ON M4V 1S5 416-932-8666

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