SPRING 2025
“CARMINA BURANA”: Sat., May 10
Join the VOCA Chorus of Toronto for Carl Orff’s monumental “CARMINA BURANA” & other selections on Sat., May 10, 2025.
VOCA’s May 10th concert, our final performance celebrating Jenny Crober’s 20th Anniversary Season as Artistic Director will open with selections by Andrew Balfour, Brian Tate and others, and include choir favourites from past seasons. Our first set will finish with an opera chorus featuring our special guest, tenor Andrew Haji. A former professional lead with VOCA, Andrew is now one of Canada’s most celebrated operatic and concert soloists (Andrew Haji).
We will close our Season ‘with a bang’ when we launch into a performance of Carl Orff‘s epic, electrifying and goosebump-inducing “CARMINA BURANA“! The ancient 11th and 12th Century texts (written in Latin, Middle High German and Old French), which are as relevant today as ever, speak of the often fleeting nature of life, the fickleness of fortune, the joy of love and Spring’s return, and the perils of drinking, gluttony, gambling and lust. The iconic opening and closing chorus, “O Fortuna“, needs to be heard live in order to experience just how truly thrilling and riveting it is! You may think that you’ve never heard this spine-tingling selection, but you very likely have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6TvKJxsjho.
We’ll be performing the “Chamber Version” (Soloists, Chorus, Two Pianos & Percussion), featuring a superb cast of musicians:
Special guest: Andrew Haji, tenor
Soprano: Noelle Slaney
Baritone: Parker Clements
Guest Pianist: Shawn Grenke
Percussionists: Jamie Drake & Richard Burrows (founding members of TorQ Percussion) with Michelle Colton & Timothy Francom
Clarinetist: Martin Van de Ven
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Artistic Director: Jenny Crober
Collaborative Pianist: Dakota Scott-Digout
Professional Leads: soprano Noelle Slaney, mezzo Amanda Weatherall, tenors Jeremy Scinocca, Alain Paquette & Evan Morin and baritones Parker Clements, James Coole-Stevenson & Sean Pentinga (*Find out more about our artistic staff here: VOCAChorusofToronto/ArtisticStaff.)
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Eastminster United, 310 Danforth Ave. at Jackman (near Chester subway; *fully accessible)
Tickets: $35 Gen. Adm.; $15 Students – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voca-chorus-of-toronto-carmina-burana-saturday-may-10-2025-tickets-1286995932479
More info.: 416-947-8487; https://www.vocachorus.ca
Flyer, Promo Design: Jenny Crober
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The VOCA Chorus of Toronto is a registered charitable organization. If you are unable to attend our concert (or even if you’re able to attend), please consider donating to VOCA using this link: https://www.vocachorus.ca/support. Donors will receive a charitable tax receipt and recognition in our concert programmes.
RECENT EVENTS
15th ANNUAL CABARET: Sat., Mar. 1
On Sat., Mar. 1, VOCA presented our 15th Annual Cabaret / Silent Auction – an evening full of fabulous music, fun & fundraising!
Our CABARET presented a wide variety of wonderful acts (solos, duos, ensembles) and instruments (voice, piano, flute, guitar, bass and more) featuring jazz, musical theatre, opera, folk and pop selections – both serious and silly. Numerous, multi-talented VOCA choristers performed that evening, along with most of our professional staff, including artistic director and co-pianist Jenny Crober, pianist Dakota Scott-Digout, soprano Noelle Slaney, tenor Alain Paquette and baritones Parker Clements and James Coole-Stevenson. (*VOCAChorusofToronto/ArtisticStaff)
Host Emily Vick Agnew masterfully led us through a magical evening of music-making and camaraderie in a spacious venue with cabaret seating, sound and lighting.
Savoury appetizers and a cash bar were ‘on the menu’!
VOCA’s SILENT AUCTION featured an eclectic array of items, including tickets & passes to arts events, a house concert featuring violin & piano , one-of-a-kind artwork & crafts, gift cards, scrumptious home-baking, fine wine… & much more. *Payments were made using cash, credit, cheques or e-transfers.
Tickets ($40): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/voca-15th-annual-spring-cabaret-silent-auction-tickets-1230499239349. Tickets were also available via choristers and at the door.
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Time: 7:30 pm (*Doors will open at 7:00 pm.)
Venue: RIGA HALL, Latvian Canadian Centre (just S. of Eglinton), 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto (*FREE PARKING!)
Artistic Director / Event Coordinator: Jenny Crober
Collaborative Pianists / Coaches: Jenny Crober & Dakota Scott-Digout
Host: Emily Vick Agnew
Riga Hall Coordinator: Tom Roedding
Sound: Fabio Migotto
Tickets: Naomi Shewchuk & Jenny Crober w. Shen Plum (TPH); Tom Roedding
Flyer Design: Naomi Shewchuk & Jenny Crober w. Shen Plum (TPH)
Promo; Eventbrite: Jenny Crober
More Info.: https://mailchi.mp/bc78788049ea/voca-2025-cabaret-silent-auction-sat-march-1-9574255
Fall 2024
“Season Songs”: December 14
The VOCA Chorus of Toronto presented “SEASON SONGS” on SAT., DEC. 14.
VOCA’s “Season Songs”, the first of two major performances celebrating Jenny Crober’s 20th Anniversary Season as Artistic Director, featured a mix of choir favourites and new works, including two premieres – the world premiere of Penticton, B.C. composer Nicholas Ryan Kelly‘s evocative “Birds in a Looking-Glass”, and an Ontario premiere of Kitchener-based composer Matthew Emery‘s heartwarming “The Garden of Dreams”. Other selections included London, Ontario’s Sarah Quartel‘s newly-published reworking of the Huron Carol, her moving “Iesous ahatonnia'”, renamed to reflect its origins, and featuring texts by Wendat poet Andrée Levesque Sioui; Jenny Crober‘s stirring arrangement of Joni Mitchell‘s iconic “River”; two glorious works by Ola Gjeilo, including his much-loved “Ubi Caritas”, accompanied by transcribed, improvised piano; and two exuberant versions of “In Dulci Jubilo”, including a soprano/alto setting by Edmonton’s Laura Hawley.
We also featured a longtime choir favourite, Guelph singer/songwriter James Gordon‘s poignant “Frobisher Bay”; a serene tenor/bass setting of the 15th Century text “Lullay My Liking” by Vancouver’s Gerda Blok-Wilson; Jenny Crober’s joyous “Winter’s Round”; and a bouncy “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind” by renowned jazz pianist George Shearing.
Two fabulous and versatile guest artists joined us: JUNO Award-winning guitarist MICHAEL OCCHIPINTI and East Coast Music Awards-winning, Dora-nominated percussionist / drummer GREGORY HARRISON.
Our annual carol sing, scrumptious bake sale and raffle perfectly rounded out the evening.
Artistic Director: Jenny Crober
Collaborative Pianist: Dakota Scott-Digout
Professional Leads: Soprano Noelle Slaney, mezzo Amanda Weatherall, tenors David Walsh, Jeremy Scinocca, & Carlo Cormier, baritones Parker Clements & James Coole-Stevenson (*Find out more about our artistic staff here: VOCAChorusofToronto/ArtisticStaff.)
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Eastminster United, 310 Danforth Ave. at Jackman (near Chester subway; fully accessible)
Tickets (EVENTBRITE: “Season Songs”): $30; $15 Students
More info.: 416-947-8487; https://www.vocachorus.ca
Flyer, Promo Design: Jenny Crober
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The VOCA Chorus of Toronto is a registered charitable organization. If you are unable to attend our concert (or even if you’re able to attend), please consider donating to VOCA using this link: https://www.vocachorus.ca/support. Donors will receive a charitable tax receipt and recognition in our concert programmes.
On Sunday, October 27 at 8:00 pm, co-producers Jenny Crober (artistic director/ pianist) & Emily Vick Agnew (host / soprano) presented “Family Ties “, our Fall Cabaret / VOCA Chorus of Toronto fundraiser.
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This annual event featured several of VOCA’s professional section leads and a special guest, performing selections from opera and musical theatre ‘partner productions’ which shared the same titles and/or themes.
Our audience heard gems from La bohème and Rent; Roméo & Juliette and West Side Story; La Traviata and Moulin Rouge… and much more!
The intimate setting included cabaret tables, twinkly lights and a bar in the back. Also ‘on the menu’ that evening: a 50-50 draw and brain-testing musical quizzes!
Sincere thanks to all of our performers for their superb singing, and to our audience members for their warm and generous support!
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Co-producers: Jenny Crober and Emily Vick Agnew
Artistic Director; Pianist: Jenny Crober
Host; Soprano: Emily Vick Agnew
Soloists: Noelle Slaney, soprano; Amanda Weatherall, mezzo; Carlo Cormier, tenor; Parker Clements and James Coole-Stevenson, baritones; Liam Crober-Best, guest tenor
Date: Sunday, October 27, 2024
Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: SoCap Comedy Theatre (Social Capital Theatre), 154 Danforth Ave., 2nd Floor (above the Black Swan Tavern, just E. of Broadview); Artistic Director / Owner: Ralph MacLeod
Tickets: $25.00 (Eventbrite) If you prefer to e-transfer, contact artistic director Jenny Crober at https://www.vocachorus.ca/contact. Your paid tickets will be held at the door.
Sound: Rob Bartlett
Flyer; Promo Design: Jenny Crober
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If you’re unable to attend a VOCA event, and even if you can make it and would like to make a direct donation to the VOCA Chorus of Toronto, a charitable organization, we would be very grateful. You can make payments by visiting our “Support Us” page on this website: https://www.vocachorus.ca/support. * Donors will receive a charitable tax receipt, as well as recognition in our concert programmes.
SPRING 2024
“Earth, Sea & Sky III”: May 11
⭐️ On Saturday, May 11, the VOCA Chorus of Toronto presented “Earth, Sea & Sky III”, a vibrant choral & instrumental celebration. ⭐️
Our concert featured stunning selections by JUNO-nominated Cree composer Andrew Balfour, including *“Anang (A Star)” (commissioned and premiered by VOCA and recently published by Cypress Music); glorious works, including “Tundra“ and “Across the Vast, Eternal Sky” by Ola Gjeilo for chorus, string quartet and piano; Cree Dene composer Sherryl Sewepagaham‘s compelling “Waniska (Wake Up!)“; London, Ontario’s Sarah Quartel‘s joyous soprano/alto “Songbird”; and Peter Schickele‘s exuberant tenor/bass sea shanty, “Jonah’s Song“.
Other works included Canadian singer/songwriter Wade Hemsworth‘s classic, the “Log Driver’s Waltz“; a powerful and evocative setting by David Dickau of Canadian poet Archibald Lampman‘s “Voices of Earth“; and spellbinding, sea-themed selections by two Nova Scotians: an excerpt from Scott Macmillan‘s “The Celtic Mass for the Sea” and Donna Rhodenizer‘s “The Love of the Sea”.
(*We were thrilled that the international choral Facebook page ‘The Choir Project’ posted “Anang (A Star)“, featuring VOCA’s April 2022 world premiere and background information by Artistic Director Jenny Crober: https://www.facebook.com/TheChoirProject/posts/Anang/AStar.)
Our fabulous, versatile guest artists were Alex Cheung, violin/fiddle, Suhashini Arulanandam, violin, Laurence Schaufele, viola, mandolin, Sybil Shanahan, cello, and Jamie Drake, percussion. *They also performed lively reels arranged for string quartet by Alex Cheung.
Artistic Director: Jenny Crober
Collaborative Pianist: Dakota Scott-Digout
Professional Leads: Soprano Noelle Slaney, mezzo Amanda Weatherall, tenors Evan Morin, Adam Wicks & Carlo Cormier & baritones Parker Clements & Lachlan Mason (*Find out more about our artistic staff here: VOCAChorusofToronto/ArtisticStaff.)
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Eastminster United, 310 Danforth Ave. at Jackman (near Chester subway; fully accessible)
Tickets (Eventbrite and from choristers): $30; $15 Students
More info.: 416-947-8487; https://www.vocachorus.ca
Flyer, Promo Design: Jenny Crober
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The VOCA Chorus of Toronto is a registered charitable organization. If you are unable to attend our concert (or even if you’re able to attend), please consider donating to VOCA using this link: https://www.vocachorus.ca/support. Donors will receive a charitable tax receipt and recognition in our concert programmes.
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We would like to express our appreciation to the Ontario Arts Council and The Rotary Club of Toronto for their invaluable support of ‘VOCA SiX’, an outreach and community engagement initiative involving our choir’s professional leads.
WINTER 2024
14th Cabaret/Silent Auction: March 2
⭐️❣️Come to the Cabaret! Tickets are still available: online until 2:30, then at the door. Hope to see you there! ⭐️
Join the VOCA Chorus of Toronto on Sat., Mar. 2 for our 14th Annual Cabaret / Silent Auction!
Our CABARET will present a wide variety of wonderful acts (solos, duos and ensembles) and instruments (voice, piano, flute, guitar and harmonica) featuring jazz, musical theatre, opera, folk and pop selections. Numerous, multi-talented VOCA choristers will be performing that evening, along with most of our professional staff, including artistic director/pianist/coach Jenny Crober, soprano Noelle Slaney, mezzo Amanda Weatherall, tenors David Walsh, Evan Morin and Adam Wicks, and baritone Lachlan Mason.
At 7:30 pm, Host Emily Vick Agnew will masterfully lead us through a magical evening of music-making & camaraderie in a spacious venue with cabaret seating, stage, sound, lighting & cash bar. At 7:00 pm, audience members can begin placing bids at the Silent Auction.
VOCA’s SILENT AUCTION will feature an eclectic array of items, including music coaching sessions, tickets & passes to museums, galleries & concerts (including an opening night gala), a house concert, a day in the wood shop, a sailing trip, one-of-a-kind artwork & crafts, toy store gift card, flower arranging workshop, scrumptious home-baking, fine wine… & much more. *Payments can be made using cash, credit, cheques or e-transfers.
Savoury appetizers will be presented at each table, along with some sweet treats from the wonderful DOUGH Bakeshop (https://www.doughbakeshop.ca).
Tickets ($35) can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/vocas-14th-annual-cabaretsilent-auction-tickets-821735201107. (If there is a particular table, group or performer you’d like to sit with, please note this in your ticket purchase. For more info., contact John Meadows (jgmeadows@gmail.com.) *Tickets will also be available at the door.
Date: Saturday, March 2, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm {*Doors will open at 7:00 pm.}
Venue: RIGA HALL, Latvian Canadian Centre (just S. of Eglinton), 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto (*FREE PARKING!)
Artistic Director / Event Coordinator: Jenny Crober
Collaborative Pianist / Coach: Jenny Crober
Host: Emily Vick Agnew
Riga Hall Coordinator: Tom Roedding {w. Mara Berzins}
Silent Auction Organizers: Betsy Wimbs, Leslie Sinclair, Chrissy Doig, Holly LeClair, Emily Vick Agnew
Sound: Fabio Migotto, Jack Tassé
Stage Manager: Jack Tassé
Tickets: John Meadows
Flyer Design: Naomi Shewchuk, w. Jenny Crober
Eventbrite, Other Promo & Publicity: Jenny Crober
This is a key fundraising event for the VOCA Chorus of Toronto. If you are unable to attend our Cabaret / Silent Auction (or even if you’re able to attend), please consider donating using this link: https://www.vocachorus.ca/support. (Donors will receive a charitable tax receipt and recognition in our concert programmes.)
FALL 2023
“Songs for a Winter’s Night”: Dec. 16
*We were thrilled that our “Songs for a Winter’s Night” concert was officially SOLD OUT! A huge thank you to the many people who purchased tickets for what was a wonderful evening of seasonal music!
On Saturday, December 16 at 7:30 pm at Eastminster United Church, the VOCA Chorus of Toronto presented “Songs for a Winter’s Night”, a vibrant, warm and eclectic Winter celebration.
We were thrilled to introduce Dakota Scott-Digout, a highly in-demand pianist, coach and clinician, who is also the principal and touring pianist with the Toronto Children’s Chorus, in his concert debut as VOCA’s collaborative pianist.
Our programme included a tribute to the legendary Gordon Lightfoot: artistic director Jenny Crober‘s choral arrangement of his heartwarming Song for a Winter’s Night, featuring guitarist Jason Fowler (https://jasonfowler.ca/bio), a highly regarded singer/songwriter, session/touring guitarist and producer, who also performed solo selections by this iconic Canadian musician along with other works with our choir. Frequent VOCA guest Jamie Drake (https://jamiedrake.ca/bio), a renowned percussionist, drummer and composer who is now Assistant Professor of Percussion at Queen’s University, will also joined us that evening.
We presented a variety of winter-themed music, including traditional tunes and selections evoking the Northern Lights, star-laden skies, travelling carollers and songs about peace by composers Ola Gjeilo, Mark Sirett, Don MacDonald, Morten Lauridsen, Ed Henderson, Jake Runestad, Donald Patriquin and Conrad Susa.
Our carol sing with audience rounded out the evening – a perfect way to welcome the holiday season!
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Artistic Director/Conductor: Jenny Crober
Collaborative Pianist: Dakota Scott-Digout
Guest Artists: Jason Fowler, guitar; Jamie Drake, percussion
Section leads: soprano Noelle Slaney; mezzo soprano Zoitsa (Zoë) Gotziaman; tenors David Walsh & Carlo Cormier; baritones James Coole-Stevenson & Lachlan Mason
Tickets: $30 Gen. Adm., $15 Students at Eventbrite
Flyer, Promo Design: Jenny Crober
RECENT EVENTS
FALL 2023
“It’s About Time” Fall Cabaret: Oct. 29
On Sunday, October 29 at 7:30 pm, join co-producers Jenny Crober and Emily Vick Agnew for “It’s About Time”, our Fall Cabaret / VOCA Chorus of Toronto Fundraiser.
This annual event will feature VOCA’s professional section leads along with a special guest, performing a wide variety of musical theatre, pop, folk and classical selections about time.
Host/soprano Emily Vick Agnew and artistic director/collaborative pianist Jenny Crober will be joined by soprano Noelle Slaney, mezzo Zoitsa Gotziaman, tenors David Walsh and Carlo Cormier, and baritone Lachlan Mason, as well as special guest, tenor Kevin Mulligan. Some of the myriad mix of selections will include songs by Kurt Weill, Claude Debussy, Jason Robert Brown, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Gaetano Donizetti, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Stephen Sondheim and Rodgers & Hammerstein, along with Newfoundland and Acadian folk songs.
*Try your luck with our 50-50 draw! *Challenge your mind with our musical quizzes.
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Co-producers: Jenny Crober & Emily Vick Agnew
Artistic Director / Collaborative Pianist: Jenny Crober
Host / Soprano: Emily Vick Agnew
Date: Sunday, October 29, 2023
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: SoCap Comedy (Social Capital) Theatre, 154 Danforth Ave., 2nd Floor (above Black Swan Tavern, just E. of Broadview); Artistic Director/Owner: Ralph MacLeod
Sound: Rob Bartlett
Tickets: $25.00 at Eventbrite
Flyer, Promo Design: Jenny Crober
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*If you are unable to attend this special fundraising event – and even if you can make it – and would like to make a direct donation to the VOCA Chorus of Toronto, we would be very grateful. You can make payments by visiting our “Support Us“ page on this website.
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 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. Our concert was postponed due to COVID.
Our guest artists – some of Canada’s finest instrumentalists, all of whom have previously performed with VOCA – were Shawn Grenke, organ & piano, Colleen Allen, sax and Andy Morris, percussion.
Eastminster United: Sat., Apr. 29
VOCA’s wonderful section leads are: soprano Noelle Slaney, mezzo soprano Lillian Brooks, tenors Kevin Mulligan, Evan Morin & Lyndon Ladeur, and baritones Parker Clements & James Coole-Stevenson.
*This concert will be our choir’s final performance with Elizabeth Acker, who has been VOCA’s brilliant and much-loved collaborative pianist for 18 seasons!*
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
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*This was a key fundraising event for the VOCA Chorus of Toronto. If you are unable to attend our Cabarets / Silent Auctions, please consider donating to VOCA: https://www.vocachorus.ca/support.