The Royal School of Church Music Toronto Branch

“Joyful Hymn of Praise” Free Concert by St. Michael’s Choir School (Junior and Elementary Choirs).Please join the wonderful young voices of St. Michael's Choir School in their fall concert, "Joyful Hymn of Praise" at St. Michael's Cathedral. The Elementary Choir, conducted by Teri Dunn, and the Junior Choir, conducted by Caron Daley, will present a variety of treble classics and favourites. Free admission. For more information, please visit www.smcs.on.ca or call (416) 393-5518.

St. Michael’s Choir School OPEN HOUSE.Please join us for an introductory presentation highlighting the many benefits of a Choir School education. Alumni, parent, student and staff representatives will also answer questions about the Choir School community and commitment. The Open House will be followed by 5 p.m. Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral, where all may witness first hand the culmination of the boys’ dedication and hard work through the beautiful sound of the Senior Choir of St. Michael’s Choir School. For more information, please visit www.smcs.on.ca or call (416) 393-5518.

“St. Matthew Passion” Free Concert by St. Michael’s Choir School (Senior Choir). A gathering of faiths, an orchestra

of voices, an understanding of religions, a celebration of music, an architectural vision of beauty – so many reasons to make your way to St. Paul’s Basilica for St. Michael’s Choir School’s performance of St. Matthew Passion by composer and Most Reverend Hilarion Alfeyev – Russian Orthodox Archbishop of Vienna.

This North American premiere performance, sung in English text, will feature guest soloists Wanda Thorne, Soprano, James McLennan, Tenor, Robert Pomakov, Narrator/Bass, with the Senior Choir of St. Michael’s Choir School and accompanied by a string orchestra, conducted by Dr. Jerzy Cichocki. Archbishop Alfeyev will also be in attendance and this performance will be recorded for broadcast by Salt & Light Television.

This St. Michael’s Choir School concert will be held at St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power St. (Queen & Parliment) at 7:30 pm on Friday, October 24, 2008. Admission is free. This concert is generously supported by The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation & Jim and Margaret Fleck. For more information, please visit www.smcs.on.ca or call (416) 393-5518.

Sunday October 26, 7:30 p.m.

Music at Glenview Sunday Evening Series presents "Brass Attack" with "I Tromboni" on Sunday October 26th at 7:30pm at Glenview Presbyterian Church (Glenview and Yonge, 3 blocks South of Lawrence Subway). Known as the "Team Canada of Trombones", the Vancouver-based ensemble will perform works ranging from Baroque to Romantic

to Jazz to Popular. A reception will follow. A freewill offering to cover expenses will be collected afterward. This is the first of five musical events in the "Music at Glenview" series. For further information, visit www.glenviewchurch.ca or

Mass for All Souls at St. John's Norway. This annual service is a memorial for all those who have died in the past year

and many earlier. We'll be doing parts of the Faure Requiem within the context of the mass, and a simple motet. If you would like to join in singing for this service please contact Ted Reid at ehrwrites@sympatico.ca. 6 p.m. rehearsal.

Saturday, November 8th, 7.30 p.m.

Massed Choir Concert on behalf of the East End Refugee Committee at St. John's Norway. EERC is an organization maintained by eight area churches. The EERC asked their member choirs to put on a fund-raising concert for the organization. Six choirs, plus a local independent ensemble, have put this together. The programme consists of

a "sacred half" and a "secular half", including 3 massed choir numbers, and pieces performed by the participating choirs.

Help is needed with the pieces St. John's choir is doing on its own. If any guest singers wanted to participate in the massed choir pieces as well , that would be fine, although there's no shortage of voices. The massed choir pieces are "With a Voice of Singing" (M.Shaw), "Hallelujah" (from Messiah, Handel) and "We'll Rant and we'll Roar" (Canadian Folk Song arr. Godfrey Ridout). I will rehearse the St. John's pieces immediately following the Mass for All Souls on the 5th. There are two massed choir rehearsals, Thursday, October 30th, 8.30 p.m. and Saturday November 8th (concert day), 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday November 9, 7 p.m.

All Saints' Church Kingsway presents the Toronto premiere of Karl Jenkins `Requiem`. This special performance will involve the All Saints' Choral Society, the High Park Choirs, and Orchestra. Click here for directions, etc.

Karl Jenkins` Requiem has been widely performed throughout his native U.K. and received international acclaim for its sensitive writing, stirring melodies and the combination of international culture. Jenkins takes the traditional Latin Text of the Requiem Mass (mass for the souls of the dead) and combines it with deeply moving Japanese Haiku texts, merging disparate sounds and emotive musical effects to challenge and uplift his audience. Jenkins` combination of eastern and western traditions symbolizes the shared outcome of war and violence. We all suffer, we all grieve, we must all remember. Please join us on Sunday November 9^th as we remember those who have been affected by war and violence both past and present. For more information please contact: Shawn Grenke, Director of Music music@allsaintskingsway.ca 416-233-1125

The Canadian Orpheus Male Choir, an internationally known Canadian Male Voice Choir of some 70 members, directed by Fred Numan, will perform a wonderful rendition of eclectic works. Guest soloist, Heather Plewes. Tickets $15 adults, $10 seniors/students. Children under 12 free. Wexford Heights United Church, 2102 Lawrence Ave E.

The Scarborough Choralaires, directed by Shek Ko, accompanied by William Turnbull will perform some lovely works to usher in the Christmas season. Tickets $10, children under 12 free. Wexford Heights United Church, 2102 Lawrence Ave E. 416-757-0676 The choir's website for your information is: http://www.choralaires.ca

Hymn Festival. The choir of St. Margaret’s New Toronto will present a Hymn Festival in honour of Rebecca Wang’s 40th Anniversary as their Music Director and Organist. The choir extends an invitation to other choristers to join with them in this special tribute to a dedicated and faithful musician. Please contact Beth Gibson at bgibson @dfs.ca if you can attend.

Directions: St. Margaret's Anglican Church is located at 156 Sixth Street in New Toronto, Etobicoke, near the intersection of Islington Road and Lake Shore Boulevard West. Detail directions can be found on the church’s website http://stmargaretsnewtoronto.ca