The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC) presents Singsation Saturdays, a series of choral workshops where anyone who loves to sing is invited to join with noted guest conductors, other singers and TMC choristers to sing selections from some of the great choral masterpieces and gain insight into these notable works. Music scores are available for participants to borrow at each workshop.
During the successful 2010-11 season, between 70 and 120 singers participated in each workshop. Singers came from all parts of Toronto and many sing in church or community choirs as well. These events are enjoyable and educational, and help build the Toronto choral community.
TMC is offering five Singsation Saturdays during the 2011-2012 season. Singsation Saturdays take place at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Cameron Hall, 1585 Yonge St. from 10:30 am to 1 pm. The fee per workshop is $10 which includes refreshments. Participants can register at the workshops, or in advance by completing the Singsation order form. For more information call TMC at 416-598-0422 or visit online at www.tmchoir.org.
TMC Singsation Saturday 2011-12 Schedule
October 15, 2011 – Renaissance Music – Peter Mahon, conductor
Peter Mahon, Artistic Director of Tallis Choir of Toronto, will lead participants through a morning of Renaissance greats, including Byrd’s Mass for Four Voices and Ave Verum, and Palestrina’s Stabat Mater and Exultate Deo.
In addition to leading the Tallis Choir, a chamber ensemble known for its performances of Renaissance music, Peter Mahon is also a professional singer, rehearsal conductor and singing instructor at St. Michael's Choir School, and Director of the Chancel Choir at Lorne Park Baptist Church in Mississauga.
November 19, 2011 – A Tribute to Derek Holman – David Fallis, conductor
In celebration of composer Derek Holman’s 80th birthday, David Fallis will take participants through a number of Holman’s compositions. Dr. Holman has been active as a composer, teacher and church musician throughout his life, first in England and then in Canada. His compositions -- many which were commissions by organizations like the TMC, TSO and CBC -- range from hymn-tunes to full scale oratorios and songs for solo voice and piano.
Conductor David Fallis is active in Toronto and on the international stage. He is the Artistic Director of the Toronto Consort, conductor of the Soundstreams Choir 21 and Music Director of Opera Atelier.
January 14, 2012 – Beethoven – Hilary Apfelstadt, conductor
Hilary Apfelstadt, Director of Choral Programs at the University of Toronto, will lead participants through Beethoven’s Mass in C Major. This is a wonderful opportunity for participants to sing through one of Beethoven’s rare mass settings – this was the first of only two settings he composed for the Mass.
A graduate of the University of Toronto, Dr. Apfelstadt has studied and worked internationally. From 1993–2010, she was Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the Ohio State University in Columbus. She conducted extensively in the U.S., guest conducted in Canada, Cuba, and England, and led choral festivals in Switzerland and Austria. In 2011 she conducted at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and during the summer directed the Ontario Youth Choir.
February 25, 2012 – Haydn and Cummings – Daniel Cummings, composer/conductor
California-based composer, pianist and conductor Daniel Cummings will lead participants through Haydn’s Theresien Messe, one of the dramatic orchestral masses composed by Haydn when he was in his 60s. Dr. Cummings will also take singers through one of his own compositions.
Dr. Cummings is known in Toronto as an adjudicator for Orchestra at the Kiwanis Music Festival. He was music director and conductor of the La Sierra University Symphony Orchestra from 2007 to 2011 and has also been active in opera, musical theatre and piano performance. As a composer, Dr. Cummings has written film scores, concerti for piano and clarinet, a Requiem, songs and song cycles, and over one hundred arrangements of hymns and folk-songs for various ensembles and singers.
March 31, 2012 – Bach – Matthew Otto, conductor
Each year Singsation features a young conductor. This year it will be Matthew Otto, an active choral and orchestral conductor and collaborative pianist who has worked with numerous Toronto choirs including as Assistant Conductor of Pax Christi Chorale. Matthew Otto was recently appointed as the TMC’s new Associate Conductor, part of the TMC’s Emerging Conductors program.
Matthew will lead participants through Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, recognized as one of the greatest sacred choral works ever composed. Bach wrote this masterpiece in 1729 for double chorus, orchestra and soloists.
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