Want to listen to some holiday music in Toronto?
There’s lots to choose from and what we’ve compiled below are community-based concerts either organized at the grass roots level or involving our local musicians.
This is our second instalment including concerts from Thursday, Dec. 8 right through to Christmas.
EAST END
TORONTO CHORAL SOCIETY
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: at Eastminster United Church.
WHAT: the Toronto Choral Society presents ‘An Eastern European Christmas’.
TICKETS/INFO: visit http://www.torontochoralsociety.org
EAST YORK CONCERT BAND
The East York Concert Band has two upcoming performances:
* Thursday, Dec. 8, 11:30 a.m., at Scarborough General Hospital: the annual Christmas Carol Sing-a-long;
* Monday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. at QSSIS Banquet Halls, 3474 Kingston Road (northwest corner at Markham Road): annual holiday concert, featuring a holiday sing-a-long along with a lively mix of seasonal favourites. Tickets: $12.50 (children 12 and under free).
Visit http://www.eastyorkconcertband.ca/
ETOBICOKE
HARMONY SINGERS
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 11, 3 to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Martingrove United Church, 75 Pergola Road (Martingrove and Rexdale).
WHAT: the Etobicoke-based Harmony Singers present their Christmas concert. This traditional holiday season concert has been charming audiences for the past 46 years. Proceeds from the concert contribute to the annual scholarship given to The Etobicoke School of the Arts.
TICKETS/INFO: visit http://www.harmonysingers.ca/
ETOBICOKE COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 16, 8 to 10 p.m.
WHERE: at 86 Montgomery Road (Bloor and Islington).
WHAT: The Etobicoke Community Concert Band, with the Toronto Police Services Men’s Chorus, presents ‘You Better Watch Out’: Favourite Christmas and Holiday tunes.
TICKETS/INFO: visit http://www.eccb.ca/
NORTH YORK
BACH CHILDREN’S CHORUS
WHEN: Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: George Weston Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge St.
WHAT: the award-winning choirs of The Bach Children’s Chorus will present songs of the season, taking the title of their concert from Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘Song For A Winter’s Night.’ A highlight of the concert will be a performance of Rutter’s delightful “Brother Heinrich’s Christmas,” for narrator, choir and instrumentalists. BCC will welcome Robert Fisher of CBC Radio as guest narrator. Traditional carols in beautiful choral arrangements will mix with seasonal music by contemporary composers, a traditional Hannukah song, and a Victorian skating song. This is a heartwarming evening for the entire family.
TICKETS/INFO: http://www.tocentre.com/georgeweston/bachchildrenschorus
CITY CENTRE/DOWNTOWN
UPPER CANADA CHORISTERS
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m.
WHERE: at Grace Church-on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Road.
WHAT: Upper Canada Choristers presents ‘Wintertide’, featuring the North American premiere of Karl Jenkin’s Stella Natalis.
TICKETS/INFO: visit http://uppercanadachoristers.org/
TORONTO ALL-STAR BIG BAND
WHEN: Saturday, December 10, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: at Jane Mallet Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre, 27 Front Street East (Front Street East and Scott Street).
WHAT: A Christmas Special, presented by The Toronto All-Star Big Band. A classic Christmas show, reminiscent of the Swing Era, fills the house with classic songs for the season. Now a glittering Yuletide tradition, this Big Band Christmas event is in big demand.
TICKETS/INFO: visit http://www.stlc.com/index.php?id=1295
ST. MICHAEL’S CHOIR SCHOOL
WHEN: Saturday, December 10, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 11, 3 p.m.
WHERE: Massey Hall.
WHAT: At this year’s annual Massey Hall Christmas Concert the talented boys of the St. Michael’s Choir School will celebrate with a performance of Christmas carols from around the world sung in seven living languages as well as the sacred language of Latin.
The four choirs of St. Michael’s Choir School will be joined by Alpha Rhythm Roots Drumming, which specializes in teaching and promoting African drumming, music and dance in Toronto. For more than seven decades, St. Michael’s Choir School’s talented students have presented an annual Christmas concert that inspires, uplifts, and serves as a signature holiday event for Torontonians. The Massey Hall concert provides much-needed funds that allow the school to uphold its commitment to maintaining the highest quality of choral programming and musical training that is affordable and accessible for all students.
TICKET/INFO: visit https://www.christmasconcert.ca/index.php
TORONTO WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIR
WHEN: Sunday, Dec, 11, 3 p.m.
WHERE: Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St.
WHAT: The Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir seasonal favourites.
TICKETS/INFO: http://www.twmvc.com/#/home/
ECHO WOMEN’S CHOIR
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Holy Trinity, 10 Trinity Square (beside the Eaton Centre).
WHAT: Echo Women’s Choir Land of Dreams
TICKETS/INFO: contact 416-588-9050 ext. 3 or http://www.echowomenschoir.ca/
ROY THOMSON HALL
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 13, noon
WHERE: Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
WHAT: Roy Thomson Hall Free Noon Hour Concert - The Glory of Gospel
TICKET/INFO: free, visit http://www.roythomson.com/eventdetail?eventId=978
TAFELMUSIK
WHEN: Dec. 14, 15, 16, 17, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Koerner Hall
WHAT: Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir present Handel’s Messiah.
TICKETS/INFO: SOLD OUT. Visit http://www.tafelmusik.org/
SPECIAL NOTE: Tafelmusik presents a special sing-along Handel's Messiah on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m., at Massey Hall, and some tickets were still available for this one.
TORONTO CHILDREN’S CHORUS
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street (King and Simcoe)
WHAT: A Chorus Christmas: Mysteries of the Season. Feel the mystery of the Holidays as the Toronto Children’s Chorus and Alumni Choir present pieces by Debussy, Holman, Mathias, Rutter, and the Canadian première of a seasonal Maori song. Special guests include True North Brass and internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabo, a TCC alumna.
TICKETS/INFO: visit http://www.torontochildrenschorus.com
ONTARIO PHILHARMONIC
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m.
WHERE: at Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street (St. Clair Avenue and Yonge Street).
WHAT: 'Messiah' with Michael Burgess, presented by Ontario Philharmonic. The world tradition of Messiah continues with the Ontario Philharmonic in the beautiful surroundings of Christ Church Deer Park. A great way to get in the spirit of the holiday season as you experience the glorious sounds of this choral marvel. Exceptional artists on stage including a luxury vocal quartet with Les Mis superstar Michael Burgess and the Toronto Chamber Choir all under the baton of Marco Parisotto.
TICKETS/INFO: visit http://www.ontariophil.ca/
GLORIOUS SOUNDS
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge Street.
WHAT: Amadeus Choir, with the Bach Children’s Chorus, presents Glorious Sounds of the Season. Featuring the winning compositions of 25th annual season song-writing competition along with plenty of holiday favourites.
TICKETS/INFO: visit www.amadeuschoir.com
CITY CAROL SING
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2-3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge Street (Yonge and St. Clair).
WHAT: City Carol Sing. A collection will be taken for the Churches-on-the-Hill Food Bank. This concert will be broadcast nationally by Citytv in support of Food Banks across Canada. With CityNews Anchor Gord Martineau and, special guests, International Opera Star Richard Margison, tenor; and Lauren Margison, soprano; and featuring:
* The High Park Choirs of Toronto
* The Larkin Singers
* The Choirs of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church and Christ Church Deer Park
* VIVA! ARTS! Brass
* William Maddox, organist, and Eric Robertson, music director
TICKETS/INFO: visit http://sites.google.com/site/9sparrowsarts/
GREATER TORONTO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Calvin Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Avenue (St. Clair West Avenue and Yonge Street).
WHAT: The Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestras presents its second concert of the season, Joy to the World. This year’s holiday program features traditional Christmas songs, including Carol of the Bells; Greensleeves; Christmas Carols; excerpts of Handel’s Messiah; and the Academic Festival Overture by Brahms. The GTPO will be conducted by Jean-Michel Malouf and joined by the Masterworks of Oakville Choir.
TICKETS/INFO: http://www.gtpo.ca/
CITY OF TORONTO
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 23, 11:30 to 1 p.m.
WHERE: City Hall, 100 Queen Street West (Queen Street West and Bay Street)
WHAT: Christmas Choral Concert presented by the City of Toronto. Celebrate the winter season with vocal music by the Toronto Beaches Children’s Choir, All the King’s Men and the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. Instrumental accompaniment by the Tower Brass. Come ready to sing, or just to listen and bask in the warmth of seasonal cheer!
INFO/TICKETS: free