Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, October 2, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

Beethoven’s glorious 9th Symphony with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and Orchestra

This Sunday Peter Togni starts off Choral Concert with the final movement of Beethoven’s final symphony, the Symphony No. 9 in D minor. It’s one of the best known works of the western classical repertoire, and has even been adapted and used as the European Anthem. It stands alone by any standard of measurement as one of the greatest works of the canon of western classical music.

The symphony was the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphony. The words are sung during the final movement by four vocal soloists and a chorus singing the famous “Ode to Joy”.

This performance by the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and Orchestra is sparse, lean and powerful - not to be missed! You will also hear the choir perform works by Mendelssohn, Brahms and Arvo Part.

Dr. Barbara Clark Receives 2011 Presidents' Leadership Award from Choirs Ontario

The 2011 Presidents’ Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Clark at the Toronto concert of the Ontario Youth Choir, August 28, 2011, for her extraordinary and multi-faceted contributions, over an illustrious career, to the art of choral music.

Established in 2001 to commemorate Choirs Ontario’s 30th anniversary, the Presidents’ Leadership 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. Choirs Ontario is proud to present this year’s award to Dr. Barbara Clark, C.M., in recognition of her long and distinguished career in promoting and supporting choral music in Canada and beyond.

Announcing the Diane Loomer Commissioning Fund

Imagine Chor Leoni walking on stage to premiere a new work written specifically for the Choir. Imagine you wrote that music and were about to hear it for the first time. Magic.

Not all of us are composers, but all of us can help make the music happen. Knowing Diane Loomer is one of Canada's strongest advocates for choral music, it made sense for Chor Leoni to establish the Diane Loomer Commissioning Fund at the Vancouver Foundation. This Fund will, forever, generate and support the creation of major choral commissions.

There is a ‘time limited’ matching opportunity we hope will convince you NOW is the time to contribute. Canadian Heritage is offering up to 100% match for every dollar we raise by November 15th.
Click here to make your secure fully tax-deductible contribution today!

Remember – after November 15th, the match opportunity is gone. Please contribute to a song-filled future for choral music – the future of Chor Leoni – today.

NewWorks Choral Composition Competition 2012

The award-winning DaCapo Chamber Choir is pleased to announce its 3rd annual, national choral composition competition, NewWorks. The purpose of the NewWorks competition is to foster new and engaging choral works by Canadian composers. The winning entry will receive a $1,500 cash award plus travel expenses to Kitchener to attend the premiere of his/her composition by the DaCapo Chamber Choir, under director Leonard Enns, in the choir’s 2012/2013 season. Young composers (aged 25 and younger) are also encouraged to submit compositions for consideration in our Young Composers Reading Sessions. Full details on DaCapo’s web site: www.dacapochamberchoir.ca/newworks
Entry Dealine: February 13, 2012

The ISME World Conference on Music Education Thessaloniki, Greece July 15-21, 2012

Although still not widely recognized in Canada, the International Society for Music Education (ISME) World Conferences are widely recognized for their research into and promotion of music education and its benefits at all performance levels to all members of society.

The 2012 ISME conference theme “Music Paedeia” means to serve humankind in a way that will elevate it to higher levels of self awareness through music. This philosophy will be examined through an interdisciplinary approach covering all aspects of music education including: Pedagogy, Sociology, Musicology, Theory, Medicine, Teaching Practices, Psychology, Ethno-Musicology, Philosophy, and School Administration.

The value of experiencing one of the World Conferences is immense. There are numerous learning opportunities through interaction and idea sharing with a wide range of conductors, teachers, music educators and performance groups from around the world. Extensive programming includes a rich blend of concerts, presentations, workshops, a trade show and opportunities to participate in multiple general assemblies.

Lift Your Voices: The Amadeus Choir Presents 2011-12 Concert Season

The internationally-recognized Toronto-based Amadeus Choir (www.amadeuschoir.com), celebrating its 37th anniversary season in 2011-12, is pleased to announce their 2011–2012 subscription concert series. Highlights of the season will include Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace along with the Hannaford Street Silver Band on November 12; Glorious Sounds of the Season featuring the winners of the Seasonal Song Writing Competition on December 17; an exciting collaboration with the Elmer Iseler Singers to present Rodion Shchedrin’s moving music drama, The Sealed Angel, on February 3, 2012 and a celebration of Dr. Roberta Bondar’s 20th anniversary of flight in space with Music of the Spheres: A Fusion of Music, Art and Science on April 21.

Subscription orders for the entire concert series are being accepted until November 11 with subscribers receiving substantial savings over single ticket purchasers. Subscriptions are priced at $120 for adults, $99 for seniors and $40 for students (including HST) and are available through the Amadeus Choir office at 416-446-0188.

Vancouver Chamber Choir Voted Top Vocal Ensemble

The Vancouver Chamber Choir has been voted Best Local Classical Vocal Ensemble in the Georgia Straight's Best of Vancouver reader's ballot.

Congratulations!

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, September 25, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

Musica Intima in Concert

This Sunday Peter Togni brings you one of Canada’s finest chamber choirs, Musica Intima. Based in Vancouver, this unconducted choir has gained an international reputation for its tight blend and extraordinary ensemble singing. Choral Concert recorded them at the Music and Beyond festival in Ottawa this past summer. Among many other works, you will hear a world premiere performance of a new concert work by the celebrated Canadian film composer Howard Shore – yes, the guy who won all of those awards for the music to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

You will also hear Mozart’s mass in C major, in a classic performance with the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge and the Vienna Philharmonic all conducted by Karl Munchinger.

CHORAL CONCERT, with host Peter Togni The best choral music from across Canada and around the world SUNDAY, Sept 18th, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2

The Elmer Iseler Singers in Concert

This Sunday Peter Togni brings you one of Canada’s great choral groups, the Elmer Iseler Singers. This choir is based in Toronto, but Choral Concert caught up with them this past April at first Baptist Church in Halifax at the peak of their Eastern Canadian tour. This is the Iselers at their best!

You will hear Lydia Adams lead them in works by Mendelssohn, Schubert and John Estacio, plus some gorgeous arrangements of traditional Nova Scotian songs.

Want a feast for the eyes as well as the ears? Check out the Indonesian Cordana Youth Choir on the Choral Concert blog at: http://cbc.ca/choralconcert

Les Choralies 2012

Avec un millier de voix à Edmonton, l’été prochain sera à l’image d’un grand chant commun!

 

C’est avec une immense fierté que les partenaires fondateurs des Choralies 2012, la Chorale Saint-Jean d’Edmonton en Alberta, une chorale francophone, l’Alliance des chorales du Québec et le Campus Saint-Jean de l’Université de l’Alberta, la faculté francophone de l’université, vous convient à un rassemblement rarissime où Edmonton se parera de ses plus beaux atours pour souhaiter la bienvenue!

Les Choralies, c’est un festival-rencontre où des choralistes ainsi que des chœurs entiers s’unissent pendant huit jours pour participer à des ateliers et se perfectionner dans leur art sous la direction de nombreux chefs de chœurs provenant des quatre coins du monde. C’est aussi plus d’une dizaine de concerts offerts au grand public. Habituellement tenu exclusivement en France à tous les trois ans, l’événement ne se produit que rarement hors de l’Hexagone, et encore moins en Amérique du Nord. Le dernier passage des Choralies à Edmonton remonte à 1973.

Auditions for Vancouver Chamber Choir Saturday, September 24

All professional-level singers (SATB) are invited to audition for the Vancouver Chamber Choir on Saturday, September 24.

Before calling, please visit our website to see if you are eligible

Contact Catherine for an appointment at catherinelaub@hotmail.com

Edmonton Columbian Choirs Announce 45th. Season

The Edmonton Columbian Choirs, under the direction of Artistic Director Heather Bedford-Clooney, is pleased to announce its 2011-2012 Season which is proudly sponsored by the Edmonton Chapter of the Knights of Columbus, CKUA Radio and Vue Weekly.

Greenwoof Singers Announces 32nd. Season

Greenwood Singers, under the direction of its founder and music director Robert de Frece, announces its 2011-2012 Season.  This is the choir’s 32nd Season and once again, it will have the choir performing Choral Music from Renaissance to Broadway both in the a cappella style and by teaming up with various Edmonton artists.

An Invitation to One Earth Choir February 21, 2012

One Earth Choir is a Project of Musical sharing, representing the possibility to speak the same language on the whole Earth. At 11:00 Greenwich mean time, people from seven continents, including choirs, schools, theatres, orchestras, associations, companies and institutions , will sing together the same music simultaneously, conducted by the same conductor, in one global video transmission. The score will be available for download at the end of September 2011. We invite you to learn more about the project and to join the choir at www.inin2012.net


More than 22,100 voices from 41 countries are already part of One Earth Choir. Take a look at the Map, and see people from all over the world, from Armenia to Australia, from Finland to Peru, who have already joined the project.

The One Earth Choir Project is in affiliate Partnership with two of the largest international organizations dedicated to choir music, the International Federation for Choral Music and the Interkultur - Organizer of the World Choir Games.

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, September 11, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

This Sunday on CBC Radio 2, in collaboration with the National Arts Centre (NAC), you will hear a live to air broadcast of The 9/11 Concert of Hope and Remembrance , featuring the NAC Orchestra and the Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys.

The hour-long concert is a gesture marking the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania. The broadcast will begin at 8:40 am (9:40 in the Maritimes, 10:10 in NFLD) and the first notes of music will begin at 8:46 a.m. to coincide with the time the first plane crashed into New York’s World Trade Center. The live to air event will be hosted by Peter Togni.

This broadcast will be followed by a special one hour edition of Choral Concert, heard in central and western Canada, that features the Studio Musique Ancienne de Montreal in a concert called “Tavener and Taverner”. It’s a collection of moving and soulful performances of works by the contemporary British composer John Tavener, and his distant cousin - the Renaisance master John Taverner. The two composers are separated by 400 years but connected by many musical similarities.

Vancouver Chamber Choir 2011—2012 Season

Welcome to a world of beauty...
 

Ten times a year Artistic Director Jon Washburn and the master musicians of the Vancouver Chamber Choir create this world of beauty and meaning for their audiences. It is the whole range of vocal expression - from the majesty of choir and orchestra to the multi-hued palette of unaccompanied voices - from the masterpieces of the greatest composers to the excitement of the latest premiere - from song to motet to oratorio and even opera.

The exciting 2011—2012  choral season will include festive holiday favourites Handel's Messiah, A Dylan Thomas Christmas and so much more. You can find further repertoire details at www.vancouverchamberchoir.com.
 
The best way to become a part of this music's magic is to subscribe to the season. Subscriptions are available by calling 604-738-6822. Choral fans save up to 35% off single ticket prices by subscribing to three or more concerts - from a choice of 10 wonderful performances.  Single tickets are available online at Ticketmaster or by calling 1-855-985-ARTS (2787).

DaCapo Chamber Choir 2011-2012 Season: Home

DaCapo's 2011-2012 season centres around the various aspects of "Home" and will feature the 2011 NewWorks winner, The Echo by Waterloo's very own Patrick Murray, premieres of a number of new Canadian works, Persian-Canadian vocal soloist Amir Haghighi, cellist Ben Bolt-Martin, and much more.

• Imagining Home: exploring the possibility of a home for both soul and body; November 12th & 13th - featuring cellist Ben Bolt-Martin and the premiere of the 2011 NewWorks winner, The Echo
  
• Creating Home: living together in vigorous, positive and affirming relationship to one another; February 25th & 26th - featuring Colour of Freedom by Iman Habibi, with Iranian-born vocal soloist, Amir Haghighi
  
• Celebrating Home: honouring nature and our environment; May 5th & 6th - featuring the works of Canadian composers, including R. Murray Schafer and Stephen Chatman, and guest pianist Catherine Robertson  

Click here to download a season subscription order form. The deadline to receive our special subscription pricing is September 9th...don't miss out!

Schola Magdalena Releases Second CD

Schola Magdalena is pleased to announce the release of a second CD, Virgo Splendens. The group will celebrate the launch with a recital and reception on Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 pm at the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, 477 Manning Avenue, Toronto.

Recorded in the glorious acoustic of the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, “Virgo Splendens” is a beautiful collection of medieval music for women’s voices, featuring chant by Hildegard of Bingen, polyphony by Guillaume Dufay, John Dunstable, and others, as well as Gregorian chant. Many of the works come from the rich array of music dedicated to the Virgin Mary, including plainchant Marian anthems and an intricate polyphonic setting of the Magnificat.

The CD Launch Party will include a reception and a performance of selections from the recording, and is free to attend. CDs ($20) will be available for purchase at the event.

Visit:  www.scholamagdalena.ca

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, September 4, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

This Sunday Peter Togni wraps up the summer in St. John’s Newfoundland, with the second concert in a special two-part series celebrating the spirit of Festival 500, one of Canada’s most treasured choral festivals.

Singing in Newfoundland and Labrador has been a way of celebrating, mourning, and telling their community's stories for over 500 years. That community spirit is still at the heart of  Festival 500, as St John’s now reaches out beyond its shores to bring in choirs from across Canada and around the world, to celebrate the power of song.

Tune in this week to hear what Festival 500 is doing with small vocal ensembles. It’s in the tight, exposed harmonies of vocal quartets, quintets and sextets where choristers get to hone their craft. You’ve got to be good to make it work – and on Sunday you’ll hear three groups that can really pull it off: “Vocado” from Sweden, “Extra” from St FX University in Antigonish, NS and “Afterglow” from St. John’s.