conducting

performance: voices in the dark

Voices in the Dark Earth Hour Arts Celebration Saturday, March 31, 2012 7pm to 10pm Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square, by the Eaton Centre) Silent Auction and Cash Bar Tickets $25/Sponsors $100 To reserve/for more info: 416-462-9400 or mitsecho@gmail.com this flyer can be downloaded from http://www.echowomenschoir.ca Usually I’m not a fan of being in the dark, but if this year is going to be anything like last year, spending $25 to sit in a candle-lit 100-yr old church listening to music and stories could possibly be the best way to spend your 2012 earth hour. The event… Read More »performance: voices in the dark

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new singing experiences for 2012

Tonight is the first rehearsal of Echo Women’s Choir’s Spring concert season: their 20th Anniversary concert. I’m thrilled to be a guest conductor, alongside the wonderful Alan Gasser, while the choir’s other wonderful conductor, Becca Whitla, pursues her Masters research in Cuba. Echo is a community-based choir in Toronto. There are no auditions to particicpate, though you might have to have your name on a waitlist for a little while. If you’re interested in singing, there are probably hundreds of choirs in the city to choose from, many of which do not require auditions. Most choirs have fees to participate,… Read More »new singing experiences for 2012

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David and Goliath Fundraiser Rocked the Dark!

Wow. What an amazing sold-out fundraiser on Saturday night for Echo and by Mariposa in the Schools. In honour of Earth hour, the first half of the concert was performed with lights out. Holy Trinity Church looked beautiful in tiny pools of candlelight stretching all the way back. Just how dark was it? Well, I got to open the show with my colleagues and co-conductors, Becca Whitla and Alan Gasser, singing a just-learned arrangement of the Afro-Cuban “Obbatala” by Glenda del Monte Escalante. You can judge for yourself: Yep. Pretty dark. That darkness brought a huge gift, though: intense listening.… Read More »David and Goliath Fundraiser Rocked the Dark!

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Echo/Mariposa Fundraiser March 26, 2011

David & Goliath Earth Hour Arts Celebration Fundraiser an Evening of Music, Song and Story to support the Echo Women’s Choir and Mariposa In The Schools Saturday,March 26, 2011 7 to 10 p.m. Church of Holy Trinity, Toronto Such an exciting line-up:Ken Whiteley, David Anderson, Michael St George, Njacko Backo, Marylyn Peringer, Chris Rawlings, and the Cuban Percussion Ensemble. And of course, Echo Women’s Choir (the wonderful choir that I serve as a guest conductor this season). Come join us! Silent Auction plus  Nibbles and Cash bar. Tickets $25 Sponsors $100 Proceeds support 2 great organizations: Echo and Mariposa in… Read More »Echo/Mariposa Fundraiser March 26, 2011

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Performance Echo Women’s Choir: Dec 12

Come to Holy Trinity Church in downtown Toronto on Sunday December 12 at  7:30 pm to see Echo Women’s Choir perform our concert “Gardens of Song.”  It features songs from Margaret Atwood’s latest novel In the Wake of the Flood and new choral arrangements for songs written by the Juno-award-nominated Jennifer Foster. And it featurs my conducting debut with Echo. This is a totally fabulous group of women from all walks of life and all corners of Toronto.  I’m so honoured to sing with them, and thrilled to conduct. And Margaret Atwood may ACTUALLY ATTEND THE CONCERT.  At least, she… Read More »Performance Echo Women’s Choir: Dec 12

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if i collapse onstage, just drag me off and keep singing

last night I saw a documentary about an incredible group of singers: young @ heart. I was in the library with my kids, and my two-year-old pulled the DVD off a library shelf and handed it to me saying “der you go!”  Seemed like a sign, so I took it out and watched it.  I laughed and cried.  I was inspired and challenged. If you’re not familiar with the doc, it’s about a  chorus of seniors in Massechussetts that sings surprising repertoire.  Surprising in the choices (80-yr-olds singing Sonic Youth? The Ramones? David Bowie?) and surprising in how poignant and… Read More »if i collapse onstage, just drag me off and keep singing

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conducting myself accordingly

I just got back from my first rehearsal of the season with Echo Women’s Choir. I’ve sung with Echo for many years. I love the world music and community-minded, loving atmosphere.  Plus, it’s really amazing to sing with 80 other women in the incredibly resonant Holy Trinity Church in downtown Toronto (yes, this is the same Church of the Trinity Session by the Cowboy Junkies!).   I haven’t been able to sing with Echo for the last year because of school, so it feels even more lovely to be back. Like reuniting with an old, dear friend. But this year is… Read More »conducting myself accordingly

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