Author: tmchoir

TMC media review
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The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir at 125

David Perlman, The Wholenote. Remarkably, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir has had only eight conductors in the course of its 125-year history that will be celebrated in an anniversary gala concert at Koerner Hall this coming October 20. Even more remarkable, five of those – Augustus Stephen Vogt (1894-1917); Herbert A. Fricker 1917-1942; Sir Ernest MacMillan (1942-57); Elmer Iseler (1964-1998); and Noel Edison (1997 to 2018) – account for almost 120 years of the 125. This is not to say, however, that the length of an individual’s tenure is the sole indicator of its importance. There’s an old saying that if you want something done well, give it to a busy person. David Fallis, who took up the reins as the TMC’s interim artistic director in 2018 after the abrupt departure of Noel Edison, and will step down at the end of the coming season, is a case in point. By TMC standards it will have been a very brief tenure, but he will have made his mark at a pivotal moment for the choir. By the time this issue of the magazine has been published, he will have led the Choir’s September 28 Singsation workshop, and the TMC will be at work preparing for the October 20 anniversary concert, which Fallis will conduct, and beyond that, their annual Festival of Carols (December 3 and 4) at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra as their guests.

Singing painters
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Singing painters

In our search through our history we've discovered a couple of acclaimed Toronto artists who were also singers in the TMC - Owen Staples and Herbert S. Palmer - and someone just shared with us a painting by our founder Augustus Vogt.

Singing to the world – TMC webcasts
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Singing to the world – TMC webcasts

In 2012 the TMC found a way to tour its music internationally (without the high airfare) and make choral concerts more accessible - webcasting.  TMC webcasts have brought great choral music to people unable to attend concerts - whether they be in the Toronto area, or living somewhere across Canada, or anywhere in the world with internet access.

Bringing singers together
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Bringing singers together

For five Saturdays every season, beginning in our 1999/2000 season, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir has been inviting those who love to sing, from across the GTA, to attend choral workshops where they can sing through major repertoire with guest conductors and members of the TMC.

Soprano Lois Marshall
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Soprano Lois Marshall

Lois Marshall was internationally regarded as one of the great sopranos of the 20th century. In 1947, at just 22 years old, and at the beginning of her career, she was engaged by Sir Ernest MacMillan as a soprano soloist singing, on three successive nights, the soprano solo work in the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s Bach festival.

Associate Conductors – Where are they now?
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Associate Conductors – Where are they now?

We are proud to be part of the careers of some of the new generation of choral conductors. In 2011 the TMC created the position of Associate Conductor to provide talented and world-class-potential choral conductors at an early stage in their career with coaching, training and mentoring. We've had four Associate Conductors to date.

André Prévost Missa de Profundis
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André Prévost Missa de Profundis

In 1973 the CBC commissioned Canadian composer André Prévost to write a work to be performed by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir under Elmer Iseler, and broadcast on CBC Radio.  The work was Missa de Profundis.