Vespera Women's Choir 

Sarah John, Music Director
Nancy Singla, Accompanist

News      About      Call for Scores      Repertoire      Membership      Events      Contact

 

 NEWS

November 22, 2009
Vespera is looking for a few good singers!

Auditions for our winter/spring choral projects will be Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Requirements:
- Excellent singing voice  - choral experience  - ability to read music well and work on music between rehearsals
- great sense of humour and professionalism  - interest in contemporary music including classical, jazz and gospel.

For more information about Vespera or to book an audition please contact our 
Music Director Sarah John at
sarahjohn64@gmail.com  

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November 22, 2009
Upcoming concerts

Sunday, Feb. 14th, 2010 
Gospel Service St. Philip's Lutheran Church
Details:  TBA

April 30, 2010
Music Gallery concert
Details: TBA

May 2010
All Canadian joint spring concert with Cantala Women's Ensemble.
Details: TBA

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October 26, 2009
Vespera Sings!

The Vespera Women's Choir will be singing two works by contemporary Hungarian composers Miklos Kocsar and Gyrgy Orban during the 10:30am service on Sunday, November 1st, 2009
Location:  St. Patrick's Anglican Church, 1087 Lillian St, North York

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July 1, 2009 - Fall 09 Auditions take place Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
Location: TBA
Please check back for specific audition requirements
For more information please email:
audition@vesperaensemble.com 

June 16, 2009
We welcome Nancy Singla as accompanist for Vespera starting September 2009!

May 4th, 2009 
Vespera performs all Canadian program in 'Spring Song' at the Heliconian Hall, Toronto.

December 3rd, 2008
Performance of winter concert with guest reader Dennis Hayes.

 ABOUT VESPERA

The Vespera Ensemble of Toronto is an auditioned group of exceptional singers dedicated to performing new music.  
Along with their classical focus, Vespera embraces popular genres of music from the 20th century, including jazz, gospel and beyond.  We are very fortunate to have a unique blend of excellent singers, both choral and soloists of many styles.

Now entering it's fourth season Vespera has shown it's continued commitment to performing new works, especially those by Canadian composers.  In spring 09 Vespera presented an concert of all Canadian works.  As a result of it's success, we will also dedicate the 2010 spring concert to works by Canadian composers.

Rehearsals - Wednesdays 7:30-9:30

Contact Vespera: 
info@vesperaensemble.com 

Sarah John, M.Mus, B.Mus 
Music Director: 
 
A native of British Columbia, Sarah completed both her M.Mus in Performance (Conducting) and B.Mus at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Previous appointments prior to forming Vespera have been: Assistant Conductor of the Windsor Symphony, Co-Founder and Conductor of the Echo Women's Choir of Toronto.
Sarah has studied with such esteemed teachers as Dr. Jerry Blackstone, Dr. Dale Warland, Dr. William Weinert, Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt, Dr. Gustav Meier, Dr. George Corwin, Dr. Elmer Iseler.  Sarah's website:
www.sarahjohn.com 

 

Nancy Singla, M.Mus, ARCT, AVCM
Accompanist
Nancy recently completed her Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Toronto.  Her undergraduate studies in Vocal and Piano performance were completed at the University of Victoria and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.  In addition to teaching privately, Nancy is actively pursuing her conducting career. Earlier this year, she founded her own choir, the Cantala Women's Ensemble.  Nancy's website:  www.nancysingla.com 
 MEMBERSHIP
Membership: $150
*It is required that members each pre-sell 5 tickets for our spring concert.

The Vespera season is approximately 30 sessions over 8 months.  (fees will be pro-rated for those joining us mid-year)
 SELECTED REPERTOIRE LIST
Britten, Benjamin - A Ceremony of Carols
Burk, Janet * - How Sweet the Name, Thank You
Cherian, Jackie * - Higher Ground
Charpentier, Gabriel * - Messe I
Cohen, Leonard * - Dance Me to the End of Love
Fauré, Gabriel - Messe Basse, Tantum Ergo, Ave Verum Corpus
Holst, Gustav - Hymn to Vena
Kocsar, Miklos - Salve Regina
Lang, K.D. * - Save Me
Lee, Peggy - Fever
Mitchell, Joni * - Help Me, River
Orban, Gyrgy - Mass No. 6
Pesci, Frank ** - Ave Maria
Poulenc, Francis - Litanies Ŕ la Vierge Noir 
Raminsh, Imant * - Ave Verum Corpus
Ryan, Fiona *** - Icicles
Santamaria, Mongo - Afro Blue
Sauvé, Rachel * - Automne

*Canadian composer
**World Premiere
 CALL FOR SCORES

Vespera is always looking for new works for women's choir.  If you would like to submit a piece for consideration please email our music director Sarah John at scores@vesperaensemble.com 

 PAST EVENTS
  • Mass No. 6 by Gyrgy Orban
    Sunday, November 1st, 2009
    St. Patrick's Anglican Church, North York
    Nancy Singla - piano

  • Spring Song '09 - All Canadian Concert
    Works by: Fiona Ryan, Rachel Sauvé, Gabriel Charpentier, Leonard Cohen and others
    Special guests Mark Kieswetter (piano) and Ross MacIntyre (bass)
    Wednesday, May 6, 2008
    Heliconian Hall, Toronto, Ontario

  • Winter Concert '08
    Works by Britten, Santamaria, Restivo, Willan, Boulanger, Cherian and others
    Readings of O.Henry and Langston Hughes
    Special guests Dennis Hayes (reader), Stacey Clark (soprano), Dave Restivo (piano) and Ross MacIntyre (bass)
    Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008
    Heliconian Hall, Toronto, Ontario

  • Spring Concert '08
    Works by Holst, Raminish, Orbŕn, Fauré, Burke
    Special guest pianist, Dave Restivo
    Guest Painter:  Carolanne MacLean
    Sunday, May 4, 2008
    First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

  • Winter Concert '07
    Works by Poulenc, Rachel Sauvé, Joni Mitchell and others
    Special guest pianist, Dave Restivo
    Wednesday, November 28, 2007
    Elliott Hall- Christ Church Deer Park, Toronto

  • Spring Concert '07
    Works by Pesci, Fauré, Charpentier, Bowman, Burke
    Special guest pianist, Ron Davis
    Tuesday, April 24th, 2007
    Latvian Hall, Toronto


 

© 2006-2009 Vespera Ensemble