SHINING NIGHT, Sat., Dec. 15, 2012

On Saturday, December 15th, 2012 at 7:30 PM at Eastminster United Church, we presented ‘SHINING NIGHT’ (Seasonal Songs of Light). Selections ranged from the 16th century gem “O Nata Lux” to a wide variety of contemporary pieces celebrating the season, including rousing wassails, African carols, Hanukkah songs, serene songs of winter, jazz and gospel selections. Composers included Tallis, Lauridsen, Barber, Hatfield, Halley, Gjeilo, Whitacre, Rymal and Gordon.

‘SHINING NIGHT’ featured Mary-Elizabeth Brown, violin, Rachel Pomedli,cello, Ray Dillard, percussion, Daniel Rubinoff, soprano saxophone, and Charlie Roby, guitar/bouzouki.

Artwork for our flyer was “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” by local artist, actor and singer, Randi Helmers.

EARTH, SEA & SKY, Sat., June 9, 2012

On Saturday, June 9 at 7:30 PM at Eastminster United Church (310 Danforth Ave) – at our inaugural concert as the newly-renamed VOCA Chorus of Toronto – we presented ‘EARTH, SEA & SKY’. This concert featured Paul Winter’s extraordinary ‘Missa Gaia/Earth Mass’, integrating world music with sounds from the wild.

We featured an array of selections about earth, sea and sky in the second half of our programme, including several works by Canadian composer Paul Halley.

‘EARTH, SEA & SKY’ featured Shawn Grenke, organ, Daniel Rubinoff, soprano sax, Michael Occhipinti, guitar, Louis Simão, bass, Wendy Solomon, cello, and Ray Dillard & Andy Morris, percussion.