Welcome to VOCA Chorus of Toronto
Welcome to our home on the web! Here you will find information about upcoming concerts and events, as well as details about our artistic staff, guest artists, and past concerts. If you haven’t already done so, please join our mailing list so you’ll be the first to know when we have something new to share.
What people are saying about us…
— Donald Patriquin (2011)
— Stephen Hatfield (2012)
— Larry Beckwith (2014)
Vision & Collaboration: Cree Composer Andrew Balfour
Jenny Crober, Artistic Director/Conductor, the VOCA Chorus of Toronto
– As submitted to the CAMMAC Toronto Region Newsletter: Dec. 2020 – Jan. 2021: Vision & Collaboration – Cree Composer Andrew Balfour (Jenny Crober) – CAMMAC Tor. Reg. Newsletter (Dec. 2020 – Jan. 2021)
COVID-19 UPDATE
Due to public health mandates related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to postpone our “STAR SONGS” concert at Roy Thomson Hall on April 9th. Fortunately, this landmark event will be reschedulled in 2021 – Date TBA.
We also had to postpone our “STAR SONGS” Spring concert at Eastminster United on May 9th, but are hoping to perform this performance – public health protocols permitting – in April 2021 – TBA.
We wish to express our sincere thanks for your support and understanding under these unprecedented and uncertain circumstances, and very much look forward to seeing you at our upcoming performances.
VOCA’s 2020 – 2021 Season
BROADWAY NORTH
Saturday, November 14, 2020
On Saturday, November 14, 7:30 pm, join the VOCA Chorus of Toronto’s Emily Vick Agnew, soprano and Jenny Crober, artistic director (and principal cabaret pianist) for “BROADWAY NORTH” – a fabulous tribute to Canadian Musical Theatre,, and a VOCA Chorus fundraiser.
Sharing the stage will be several special guests, including all of VOCA’s professional staff: Elizabeth Acker (pianist), Dallas Chorley (soprano), Lindsay Connolly (mezzo), Kevin Mulligan (tenor), Lee Clapp (tenor), Jacques Arsenault (tenor on-leave), Parker Clements (baritone) and Korin Thomas-Smith (baritone). Also featured will be VOCA’s Tom Roedding (baritone) and recent Sheridan Musical Theatre grads Liam Crober-Best (tenor) and Tevra Plamondon (soprano).
Our online cabaret / VOCA fundraiser will be a virtual delight, featuring a variety of solos and duets, stories and background info. We’ll be presenting home-grown selections (from Come From Away, The Drowsy Chaperone, Anne of Green Gables and others), along with much-loved faves from musicals with a Canadian connection (Camelot and Ragtime). We’ll also be featuring trivia games, quizzes and a raffle or two, all in an intimate setting (what could be more intimate than your own living room?). You can pour yourself a drink and enjoy the show from the comfort of your own couch.
Hope to see you there!
Artistic Director: Jenny Crober
Co-hosts / directors: Emily Vick Agnew & Jenny Crober
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2020
Time: 8:00 pm
Tickets: $20.00 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/broadway-north-voca-cabaret-fundraiser-tickets-125721316843) *All ticketholders will be sent a Zoom link shortly before the event.
If you are unable to attend the cabaret – and even if you can make it – and would like to make a donation to the VOCA Chorus of Toronto for this special fundraising event, we would be very grateful. You can make payments in one of three ways:
– By cheque to VOCA Chorus of Toronto c/o Mark Gold, 86 Harcourt Ave., Toronto ON M4J 1J2
– By INTERAC e-transfer to payments@vocachorus.ca
– By making a donation online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/vocachorus/
All donations will receive a charitable tax receipt, as well as recognition in our concert programmes.
Photo, flyer design: Jenny Crober
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ROY THOMSON HALL!
Postponed until Spring 2021 – TBC
More exciting news for the VOCA Chorus of Toronto for Spring 2020! We’re thrilled and honoured to have been invited to perform a concert as part of ROY THOMSON HALL’s 23rd Annual Choir & Organ Concert Series on Thursday, April 9, 2020, 12:00 pm at Roy Thomson Hall! (https://www.roythomsonhall.com/tickets/voca-chorus-of-toronto/)
VOCA will be performing “STAR SONGS”, a choral and instrumental celebration of stars and the night sky, featuring works by Paul Halley, Kurt Weill, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Eleanor Daley and others.
We’re also thrilled to be featuring a world premiere, “Anang (The Star)”, written in Obijway and English by the renowned Cree composer, Andrew Balfour. (http://cameratanova.com/16/about-us/artistic-director/)
VOCA will be joined by 3 fabulous guest artists, all of whom have previously performed with our ensemble: Shawn Grenke, organ, Colleen Allen, sax and Jamie Drake, percussion.
We hope to see you at this free concert, our Roy Thomson Hall debut!
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STAR SONGS
Postponed until Spring 2021 – TBC
On Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 7:30 pm, the VOCA Chorus of Toronto will present “STAR SONGS”, our annual Spring concert at Eastminster United Church (310 Danforth Ave. at Jackman/Chester Station).
VOCA will be presenting a choral and instrumental celebration of stars and the night sky, featuring an array of reflective, lively and inspiring selections by Paul Halley, Eleanor Daley, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Kurt Weill and others.
We’re thrilled that our concert will also feature a newly commissioned work, “Anang (The Star)” by the renowned Cree composer, Andrew Balfour. (http://cameratanova.com/16/about-us/artistic-director/)
Our fabulous guest artists, all of whom have previously shared the stage with VOCA, will be Shawn Grenke, organ, Colleen Allen, sax and Jamie Drake, percussion.
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RECENT EVENTS
POPCORN & PLAYBILLS
Friday, October 11, 2019
On Friday, October 11, 7:30 pm at The Social Capital, 154 Danforth Ave., (2nd floor), join VOCA Chorus of Toronto soprano Emily Vick Agnew and artistic director Jenny Crober for “POPCORN & PLAYBILLS”, a music-filled tribute to movie musicals.
We’ll be featuring several special guests, including three of our wonderful professional leads, Lindsay Connolly (mezzo), Parker Clements (baritone) and Kevin Mulligan (tenor), along with several multi-talented grads of Sheridan’s renowned Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program, Liam Crober-Best (tenor), Tevra Plamondon (soprano), Aidan Burke (baritone) and Gunho Kwak (baritone).
Our cabaret / VOCA fundraiser will be a delight for the senses, featuring a huge variety of solos, duets and larger ensembles from movie musicals from past to present, complete with vintage costumes & video projections – all in an intimate setting with cabaret-style seating, fully licensed bar… & FREE POPCORN! ______________________________________________________________________________
COMFORT & JOY
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Mark your calendars for 7:30 pm on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Eastminster United Church (310 Danforth Ave. at Jackman/Chester Station) for VOCA’s eclectic and engaging choral celebration of the season, “COMFORT & JOY”.
We will present Antonio Vivaldi’s magnificent “Gloria”, with soloists Dallas Chorley, soprano and Lindsay Connolly, mezzo soprano, as well as Ralph Vaughan Williams‘ lush setting of folk carols, “Fantasia on Christmas Carols”, featuring baritone Parker Clements, accompanied by guest artists, the VOCA Chamber Orchestra.
A wide variety of seasonal selections in our 2nd half will include works by Ola Gjeilo (“The Rose“), Elise Letourneau (“Ave Maria for Mary Tevlin“), Mark Sirett (“Christmas in Carrick“), Pentatonix (“Carol of the Bells“), Karen Rymal (“Maoz Tzur”), a quirky version of “Jingle Bells”, and our finale by Karl Jenkins (“In Dulci Jubilo”), which will feature all of our performers.
Our ever-popular, annual carol sing-along, fabulous raffle and scrumptious home-baked goods sale will round out this evening of music… a perfect way to welcome the holiday season!
Hope to see you there!
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10th ANNIVERSARY CABARET
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Come celebrate the VOCA Chorus of Toronto’s 10th ANNIVERSARY CABARET / SILENT AUCTION!
VOCA’s major annual fundraiser – our landmark, 10th Anniversary event – will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2020 in The Grand Hall at The Estonian House, 958 Broadview Ave., at Fulton Ave. (*Free parking!)
Our Cabaret will feature performances by numerous choristers, including our professional leads, along with some special guests. Soloists, duos, and larger ensembles will perform a vast array of musical theatre, jazz, classical, folk and other vocal and instrumental selections – both serious and silly. We’ll also be featuring folk dancers in full costume.
Our ever-popular Silent Auction, which will feature a huge array of offerings, will be highlighted at this fully-licensed event, which will also feature complimentary appetizers, as well as a scrumptious 10th Anniversary cake – designed and baked by one of our sopranos – courtesy of Dough Bakery on the Danforth.
Doors will open and the Auction will begin at 7:00 pm. Our Cabaret will begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available online and via choristers.
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SPRING 2019
EARTH, SEA & SKY II
Saturday, April 27, 2019
On Sat., April 27, 2019, 7:30 pm at our “EARTH, SEA & SKY II” concert at Eastminster United, the VOCA Chorus of Toronto presented a spirited choral celebration of Earth Week. Our featured work, jazz musician Paul Winter‘s remarkable – and more timely than ever – tribute to the Earth, the “Missa Gaia / Earth Mass”, combined divergent musical styles and instrumentation with haunting recordings of a lone tundra wolf, singing Humpback whales and harp seal calls.
We also performed Cree composer Andrew Balfour‘s riveting “Ambe“, a wide range of inspiring selections by contemporary Canadian composers Paul Halley, Sarah Quartel and Matthew Emery, and compelling works by Ola Gjeilo and others.
Some of Canada’s most outstanding jazz and classical musicians joined us as our guest artists: Alana Bridgewater, vocalist, Colleen Allen, sax, Shawn Grenke, organ, Roberto Occhipinti, bass, Mark Kelso, drums & percussion and Juan Carlos Medrano, percussion.