UPCOMING EVENTS
SPRING 2023: “SHINING NIGHT”
* VOCA will be presenting a shortened version of our “Shining Night” concert at Roy Thomson Hall on Fri., Apr. 28, 2023 (orig. schedulled for Apr. 9, 2020), followed by the full performance at Eastminster United on Sat., Apr. 29, 2023. *
Roy Thomson Hall: Fri., Apr. 28
VOCA was thrilled to have been invited to perform in ROY THOMSON HALL’s 23rd Annual Choir & Organ Concert Series on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Roy Thomson Hall! Our concert was postponed due to COVID.
Eastminster United: Sat., Apr. 29
On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 7:30 pm at Eastminster United Church, join the VOCA Chorus of Toronto for “SHINING NIGHT”, a vibrant and eclectic choral and instrumental celebration of stars and the night sky, which will include works by Eleanor Daley, Kurt Weill, Nicholas Ryan Kelly, Frode Fjellheim, Paul Halley, Richard Rodgers, Pärt Uusberg and others.
We will also be featuring a stunning work recently premiered by VOCA, “Anang (A Star)” by the JUNO-nominated Cree composer, Andrew Balfour (https://deadofwinter.ca/about-us/composer-and-artistic-director/). VOCA is thrilled that this new work for choir, piano and percussion has recently been published by Cypress Music Publishing, and that the sound file from our premiere (at our Apr. 30, 2022 “Star Songs” concert) is featured on the webpage: https://cypresschoral.com/…/andrew-balfour/anang-a-star/.
Our fabulous guest artists – all of whom have previously performed with our ensemble – will be Colleen Allen, sax, Shawn Grenke, organ & piano and Jamie Drake, percussion.
VOCA’s wonderful section leads are: soprano Noelle Slaney, mezzo soprano Lillian Brooks, tenors Kevin Mulligan & David Walsh, and baritones Parker Clements & James Coole-Stevenson.
Tickets ($30 Gen. Adm., $15 Students) are available via choristers and Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/vocas-shining-night-spring-concert-tickets-590001589637.
*This concert will also be our choir’s final performance with Elizabeth Acker, who has been VOCA’s absolutely brilliant collaborative pianist for 17 years!
*COVID-19 CONCERT PROTOCOLS
VOCA will be thrilled to welcome you to our live performance! Because the health and safety of our choristers, audience members and volunteers remain our highest priority, *please note that all attendees will be required to wear masks. We sincerely thank you for your cooperation.
RECENT EVENTS
13th Annual Cabaret: Sat., Mar. 4
On Sat., Mar. 4, 2023, VOCA presented our 13th Annual Spring Cabaret / Silent Auction – our first live VOCA Cabaret since March 2020!
Our CABARET presented a wide variety of musical delights – solos, duos, trios, small and large ensembles – featuring jazz, musical theatre, classical, folk and pop selections. Numerous VOCA choristers performed, along with most of our professional staff: artistic director Jenny Crober, collaborative pianist Elizabeth Acker (*in her final cabaret with VOCA), soprano Noelle Slaney, tenor Kevin Mulligan and baritone Parker Clements.
The curtain opened at 7:30, when host Emily Vick Agnew masterfully led us through a magical evening of live music-making, quizzes, and camaraderie, all in a new, spacious venue with cabaret seating, stage, sound, lighting and cash bar. Early admission (7:00 pm) allowed audience members to begin placing bids at the Silent Auction tables beforehand.
Our annual SILENT AUCTION featured an eclectic array of items, including music coaching sessions, a 2-hour sailing trip, a day in a wood shop, scrumptious home-baked goods, one-of-a-kind arts & crafts, jewellery, fine wine & champagne, tickets & passes to museums, galleries & concerts, a variety of gift cards… and much more. (*Payments were made using cash, cheques or e-transfers.)
We welcomed our audience to our event’s new venue, which has tons of free parking onsite: Riga Hall, Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre, 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto.
*Tickets ($30) were available via choristers and online. (Good news! Our live Cabaret ticket prices for this event hadn’t increased since 2011!)
Date: Saturday, March 4, 2023
Time: 7:30 pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm.)
Venue: RIGA HALL, Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre, 4 Credit Union Dr., Toronto
*Tickets: $30.00 (Purchase from choristers or online):
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vocas-13th-annual-live-cabaret-silent-auction-tickets-537973943547
Artistic Director / Event Coordinator: Jenny Crober
Collaborative Pianists / Coaches: Jenny Crober, Elizabeth Acker
Host: Emily Vick Agnew
Riga Hall Coordinator: Tom Roedding (w. Meta Baze)
Silent Auction Organizers: Noelle Slaney, Chrissy Doig, Betsy Wimbs, Leslie Sinclair, Emily Vick Agnew, Mark Gold
Tickets: Naomi Shewchuk; Tom Roedding
Flyer Design: Naomi Shewchuk (w. Jenny Crober)
Eventbrite: Jenny Crober, Emily Vick Agnew
Other Promo & Publicity: Jenny Crober
_______
*This is a key fundraising event for the VOCA Chorus of Toronto. Even if you were unable to attend the Cabaret / Silent Auction, please consider donating using this link: https://www.vocachorus.ca/support.