Toronto Children's Chorus
The Toronto Children's Chorus is a children's choir based in Toronto. It was founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle. The group has over 300 members aged 6 to 17.
History
In 1982, the choir won first prize at the International Eisteddfod in Wales. Other awards followed, including first place in the prestigious Let the Peoples Sing Competition in 1993 and numerous 1st places in the CBC choral competition.
Over the course of its history, the Toronto Children's Chorus has performed throughout the world, including debuts at Carnegie Hall (1994), the Kennedy Center (1995), the Kimmel Center (2002), Royal Albert Hall (2002), Sydney Opera House (1999), Salzburg Cathedral (2006) and the Stephansdom (2006). The Chorus was also honoured to serve as Artist-in-Residence for international children's choir festivals in Tuscany, Italy (1995) and Sydney, Australia (1999).
In August 2007, Elise Bradley, a New Zealand conductor and teacher previously based in Auckland, became the new Artistic Director of the organization.
Levels
The TCC consists of five main groups: Preparatory Choir, Training Choir I, II and III, and the Toronto Children's Chorus (main choir). Children as young as 5 or 6 can audition for the youngest choir, then begin moving up in the training choir levels until they reach the Main Choir. In the Main Choir, there are also several subgroups, including the Cantare and Chorale ensembles. Within Cantare are Apprentices, Senior Apprentices, and main Cantare members. Within the Chorale choir are Chorealis, Chamber, and the Choral Scholars. There is also a touring choir which consists of most members of the Chorale and Chamber choirs, and the Choral Scholars.
Head Choristers
- 2016 - 2017: Nicole Cheung, Vivien Illion, Jessica Nigli, Alisha Suri
- 2015 - 2016: Paula Castillejo, Lydia Frank, Adela Lam, Georgia Lin
- 2014 - 2015: Sherrie Cheng, Annick Read, Sabrina Wasserman (Assistants: Lydia Frank, Adela Lam, Georgia Lin)
- 2013 – 2014: Alison Beckwith, Sara Klebanoff, Michaela Jones, Salina Suri, Tara Suri
- 2012 – 2013: Alex Hetherington, Catherine Laushway, Claire McDonald, Sophie Sutcliffe
- 2011 – 2012: Madeline Atell, Antonietta Emmanuel, Courtney Flanagan, Isabelle Savoie
- 2010 – 2011: Lauren Toccalino, Lian Francis, Michael Johnston, Emily D'Angelo, Alex Jedemann
- 2009 – 2010: Elizabeth Ferguson, Laura Jamieson, Elizabeth Laushway (Deputies: Mackenzie Clark, Lian Francis, Ellen Hayes)
- 2008 – 2009: Grace Athanasiadis, Lizzie Hetherington, Hannah Tarder-Stoll, Danielle Toccalino
- 2007 – 2008: Jonah Schermbrucker, Charlotte Hodgkins (to January 2008), Matthew Bobkin (to October 2007), Joe Osborne
- 2006 – 2007: Joe Osborne, Julia Raffaghello, Claire Renouf, Lauren Saunders
- 2005 – 2006: Mabel Fulford (to March 2006), Kyrie Vala-Webb, Alexandra Rolland
- 2004 – 2005: Shannon Chun, Cassandra Luftspring, Alexandra Rolland
- 2003 – 2004: Rena Ashton, Alexandra Mealia, Hannah Renglich, Kate Van Buskirk, Laura Cameron, Michael Saunders
- 2002 – 2003: Laura Cameron, Michael Saunders
- 2001 – 2002: Aleha Aziz, Katie Mann, Emily Shepard, Heather Hurst
- 2000 – 2001: Heather Hurst, Gabi Epstein (to January 2001), Jenny Morgan (from January 2001)
- 1999 – 2000: Laura Kishimoto
- 1998 – 1999: Lauren Simmons, Vanessa Wiley-Anderson, Christina Chabot, Naomi Shin
- 1997 – 1998: Valerie Kostyniuk, Katie Wylde, Naomi Shin
- 1996 – 1997: Naomi Shin, Alessandra Nosko
- 1995 – 1996: David Stewart, Alessandra Nosko
- 1994 – 1995: Fiona Shand, Giles Tomkins
- 1993 – 1994: Sareen Kevork
- 1992 – 1993: Nick Wilkinson
- 1991 – 1992: Hilary Cameron
- 1990 – 1991: Gillian Howard
- 1989 – 1990: Sharon Berger
- 1988 – 1989: Jennifer McLean
- 1987 – 1988: Susan Astington
- 1986 – 1987:
- 1985 – 1986: Loriann Simpson
- 1984 – 1985: Darleen Hubley
- 1983 – 1984: Maureen Price
Recordings
- Dancing Day (1992)
- Mostly Britten (1993)
- Come Ye Makers of Song (2000)
- My Heart Soars (2004)
- Songs of the Lights (2005)
- How Sweet the Sound (2006)
- A Song for All Seasons (2007)
- A Ceremony of Carols (2009)
- Sounzscapes from Our Lands (2013)