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)
VOCA’s 2019 – 2020 SEASON
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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!
This landmark event will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2020 in the Grand Hall at the Estonian House, 958 Broadview Ave.
VOCA’s major musical fundraiser will feature several of our multi-talented choristers, including some of our professional leads – soloists, duos, and larger ensembles – performing a vast array of musical theatre, jazz, classical, folk and other selections… both serious and silly.
Our ever-popular Silent Auction will be highlighted at this fully licensed event, which will also feature complimentary appetizers.
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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ROY THOMSON HALL!
Thursday, April 9, 2020
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 in 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, Ēriks Esenvalds, Kurt Weill and others. We’re also thrilled that this event will feature a world premiere by renowned Cree composer, Andrew Balfour (http://cameratanova.com/16/about-us/artistic-director/).
We will be joined by 3 fabulous guest artists, all of whom have performed with VOCA: Shawn Grenke, organ, Colleen Allen, sax and Jamie Drake, percussion. We hope to see you at this free concert, a milestone event for our ensemble!
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STAR SONGS
Saturday, May 9, 2020
On Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 7:30 pm, the VOCA Chorus of Toronto will present our annual Spring concert, “STAR SONGS” 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 selections by Paul Halley (“Ubi Caritas“), Ēriks Esenvalds (“Stars“), Kurt Weill (“Lost in the Stars“). We’re thrilled that this event will feature a commissioned work by the renowned Cree composer, Andrew Balfour (http://cameratanova.com/16/about-us/artistic-director/).
Our fabulous guest artists, all of whom have previously performed with VOCA will be Shawn Grenke, organ, Colleen Allen, sax and Jamie Drake, percussion.
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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.