Toronto Children's Chorus

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Toronto Children's Chorus (TCC) is one of the world's leading choral ensembles for children.

History

Founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle, C.M., O.Ont., the Toronto Children's Chorus has existed for thirty years and is established as one of the world's premiere choral ensembles for children, whose artistry has inspired audiences, critics and children's choirs everywhere. Over 300 Toronto-area voices (ages 6-17) learn to sing each year with heart and mind. Offering its children unique musical and educational experiences through the musical repertoire - especially Canadian works and world premiere commissions - the Toronto Children's Chorus stands as an international role model in the children's choir movement. It has a long history of touring, recording and live performances.

The choir first walked onto the international stage in 1982, winning first prize at the International Eisteddfod in Wales. Other awards followed, including first place in the prestigious Let the Peoples Sing Competition in 1993 and numerous 1st places in the CBC choral competition.

Over the course of its history, the Toronto Children's Chorus has performed throughout the world, including debuts at Carnegie Hall (1994), the Kennedy Center (1995), the Kimmel Center (2002), Royal Albert Hall (2002), Sydney Opera House (1999), Salzburg Cathedral (2006) and the Stephansdom (2006). The Chorus was also honoured to serve as Artist-in-Residence for international children's choir festivals in Tuscany, Italy (1995) and Sydney, Australia (1999).

In July 2003, the TCC participated with choirs from Romania and Estonia at Newfoundland's Festival 500. In 2004, the TCC choirs were joined by a large alumni choir, guest conductors Sir Andrew Davis, Sir David Willcocks, and numerous special guest artists, including Stuart Laughton, trumpet, Russel Hartenberger, percussion, Ben Hepner, tenor, Catherine Robbin, mezzo-soprano and members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in a Great Gala, 25th Anniversary Concert held in Roy Thomson Hall. Another highlight in spring 2004 was the invitation for the TCC to go to Birmingham at the request of Sir Simon Rattle, to perform in a recorded performance of the Mahler 8th Symphony.

The most recent touring event of the TCC was when they traveled to Miami, Florida in March 2007 for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Convention to participate in several interest sessions and a concert, along with many other international choirs such as the Drakensburg Boys' Choir from South Africa.

The choir's vast repertoire embraces diverse cultures and traditions and covers an extensive range of musical genres. This includes sacred Renaissance works to challenging contemporary pieces. In fulfilling its mandate to celebrate the composers of its own country, Canada, the TCC has commissioned many new Canadian works that have greatly influenced the treble voice repertoire.

The choir has also performed with many internationally known conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, Charles Dutoit, Michael Lankester, Sir Simon Rattle, Helmuth Rilling, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Bramwell Tovey, and Sir David Willcocks, who is featured as guest conductor on one of the choir's CDs, A Song for All Seasons recently released by Marquis Classics. The choir can also be heard on a dozen compact discs and performs frequently on radio and television.

As of August 2007, the Artistic Director of the Toronto Children's Chorus is Elise Bradley, a New Zealand conductor and teacher previously based in Auckland; a former director of the Westlake Girls High School choir "Key Cygnetures". A new choir manager has also been appointed, Lisa Griffiths. Like Ms. Bradley, Lisa has been with the TCC since August 2007.

Levels

The TCC consists of 6 main groups: Preparatory Choir, Training Choir I, II and III, the West End Choir, and the Toronto Children's Chorus (main choir). Children as young as 5 or 6 can audition for the youngest choir, then begin moving up in the training choir levels until they reach the main choir. In the main choir, there are also several subgroups, including the Cantare and Chamber ensembles. Within Cantare is Apprentice, Senior Apprentice, and main Cantare. Within the Chamber choir (the recording and touring choir) are main Chamber, Acappella, and the Choral Scholars.

Head Choristers

*2008 - 2008 Grace Athanasiadis, Lizzie Hetherington, Hannah Tarder-Stoll, Danielle Toccalino
*2007 - 2008 Jonah Schermbrucker, Charlotte Hodgkins (to January 2008), Matthew Bobkin (to October 2007), Joe Osborne
*2006 - 2007: Joe Osborne, Julia Raffaghello, Claire Renouf, Lauren Saunders
*2005 - 2006: Mabel Fulford (to March 2006), Kyrie Vala-Webb, Alexandra Rolland
*2004 - 2005: Shannon Chun, Cassandra Luftspring, Alexandra Rolland
*2003 - 2004: Rena Ashton, Alexandra Mealia, Hannah Renglich, Kate Van Buskirk, Laura Cameron, Michael Saunders
*2002 - 2003: Laura Cameron, Michael Saunders
*2001 - 2002: Aleha Aziz, Katie Mann, Emily Shepard, Heather Hurst
*2000 - 2001: Heather Hurst, Gabi Epstein (to January 2001), Jenny Morgan (from January 2001)
*1999 - 2000: Laura Kishimoto
*1998 - 1999: Lauren Simmons, Vanessa Wiley-Anderson, Christina Chabot, Naomi Shin
*1997 - 1998: Valerie Kostyniuk, Katie Wylde, Naomi Shin
*1996 - 1997: Naomi Shin, Alessandra Nosko
*1995 - 1996: David Stewart, Alessandra Nosko
*1994 - 1995: Fiona Shand, Giles Tomkins
*1993 - 1994:
*1992 - 1993:
*1991 - 1992:
*1990 - 1991: Gillian Howard
*1989 - 1990: Sharon Berger
*1988 - 1989: Jennifer McLean
*1987 - 1988: Susan Astington
*1986 - 1987:
*1985 - 1986: Loriann Simpson
*1984 - 1985: Darleen Hubley
*1983 - 1984: Maureen Price

Recordings

* "'How Sweet the Sound
* "'Mahler, Symphony No. 8
* "'A Boy was Born
* "'A Ceremony of Carols
* "'A Song for All Seasons
* "'Adeste Fideles
* "'Along the Road To Bethlehem
* "'Come, Ye Makers of Song
* "'Dancing Day
* "'My Heart Soars
* "'Songs of the Lights

Tours

*1982 England & Wales
*1984 Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia & Switzerland
*1985 Chicago, Illinois
*1986 Western Canada
*1987 San Antonio, Texas
*1988 Australia, New Zealand, California & Hawaii
*1990 Finland & USSR
*1991 Phoenix, Arizona
*1992 England & France
*1993 Florida
*1995 Washington DC
*1995 Italy
*1996 New York City
*1997 Belgium & The Netherlands
*1999 Australia & New Zealand
*2000 Western Canada
*2002 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*2002 England
*2003 Newfoundland
*2004 England
*2004 South Africa
*2006 Austria, Hungary & Slovakia
*2006 New York State
*2007 Miami, Florida

External links

* [http://www.torontochildrenschorus.com/ Toronto Children's Chorus web site]