V e s p e r a  C h o i r 


About
   

Performances  

Media     

Contact   

Past Events  

All Canadian Call for Scores

The Composer Fund

VesperaBlog


Our 2012-2013 season is complete!  Thanks to everyone who supported us!

Check back for information about next season and about auditioning for Vespera.

Have a great summer!

xoxo

Vespera

 

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

 

 


The Composer Fund

In each of the 7 seasons that Vespera has been together we've had many composers write works for the choir. For the most part their efforts have been volunteer and for that we are most grateful. However, as of June 2013 we will be starting a Composers Fund to ensure we are able to offer some remuneration to those that write works specifically for Vespera. Look to this space for more information about how to donate to the Vespera Composers Fund 2013/14.

COMPOSERS FUND DONATE HERE COMING SOON!


ABOUT VESPERA

The Vespera Chamber Choir is an auditioned choir of exceptional singers dedicated to performing new music. For 6 years Vespera has shown itself as a leader in the Toronto choral community by it's continued commitment to performing new works, especially those by Canadian composers. Each season Vespera dedicates an entire concert to works by Canadians especially those from the Toronto area.  Canadian composers featured:  Fiona Ryan, Cecilia Livingston, Susanne Maziarz, Stephanie Martin, Jessica Stuart, Yvette Tollar, Wendy Stuart, Eleanor Daley, Rachel Sauvé, Stephen Hatfield, Imant Raminsh, Violet Archer and others. 2012-2013 marks Vespera's 7th season of performing new music.

Soundcloud        MySpace        YouTube

Rehearsals - Wednesdays 7:00-9:30 At Bloor Street United, Toronto
Membership Fees:  $250 (in 3 installments)
*The Vespera season is comprised of approximately 31 rehearsals (77 hours) and 4 performances.
*A limited number of (partial) scholarships are available to cover membership fees.

For enquiries or to book an audition please contact our 
Music Director Sarah John sarahjohn64@gmail.com 

 

Our Director:  Sarah John conductor, vocalist and teacher, is the Founder and Music Director of the Vespera Chamber Choir and Vespera Instrumental Ensemble.  She grew up on the west coast of B.C. and currently resides in Toronto, Canada.

In addition to the Vespera ensembles, Sarah has conducted ensembles ranging from community choirs to college and professional symphony orchestras.   
Sarah has conducted at various festivals and workshops including the Conductors Retreat at Medomak, the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific, the Eastman School of Music Summer Conducting Institutes, conducting workshops with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Orchestra London, and Festival 500 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

In addition, she studied conducting with some of North America's most distinguished teachers, including Kenneth Kiesler, Arthur Arnold, Gustav Meier, George Corwin, Susan Haig, Dale Warland, William Weinert, Joseph Flummerfelt and Elmer Iseler.

Sarah studied oboe with Jerry Domer and Paul Emond and voice with Verna MacDonald, Judith Dowling and Susan Young. During her undergraduate degree she focused her studies first on choral conducting with Donald James and Bruce More and then orchestral conducting with George Corwin.  She has held positions with the Powell River Academy of Music, Echo Women’s Choir, Scarborough Music Theatre, the Windsor Symphony, the Windsor Symphony Chorus and Heliconian Choir and Orchestra and the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1997 Sarah received a grant from the Canada Council of the Arts for her work as Conductor-in-the-Community with the Windsor Symphony. 
Sarah holds a Master’s degree in Performance (Conducting) from the University of Victoria.

www.sarahjohn.com

CONTACT   sarahjohn64(at)gmail.com
PAST EVENTS

Sunday, May 12, 2013
Mother's Day Concert
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation (in the Beaches)
79 Hiawatha Road
2:00pm
Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door. ($8 in advance, $10 at the door for NUUC members)

Sunday, April 28, 2013
Morning Worship Service

Windermere United Church 
Free will offering


Thursday, April 11, 2013
SPRING SONG 2013 

8:00 pm
Windermere United Church
with special guests Tova Kardonne and The Thing Is.
Music by Luengen, Kardonne, Ryan, Maziarz and Pearce

Sunday, November 4th, 2012
Soulful Sundown Service
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation (in the Beaches)
79 Hiawatha Road
6:30 pm
Music by Joni Mitchel, Matt Van Brink and Ramona Luengen

Sunday, November 25, 2012
WINTER SONG 2012 
8:00 pm
St. Martin-in-the-Fields Anglican Church
151 Glenlake Avenue (eas of Keele/north of Bloor)
with special guests The Cantala Women's Choir

September 29, 2012
Busking Night at Nuit Blanche
7-9 various locations

Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE JONI VESPERS 
Featuring the Music of Joni Mitchell 
with special guest JESSICA STUART
www.jessicastuartmusic.com 
Church of the Redeemer, Toronto

Thursday, March 29th, 2012: 
4th Annual Spring Song 
with The Ton Beau String Quartet.
Ryan, Maziarz, Livingston, Raminsh, Lau 
www.tonbeauquartet.com
MUSIC GALLERY, Toronto

March 4, 2012
Celebrating the Sacred Feminine/ International Women's Day
Raminsh, Livingston, Joni Mitchell, Maziarz
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation
http://www.nuuc.ca/ 

December 4th, 2011
Vespers Service
Biebl, Ahbez, John, Martin
Church of the Redeemer, Toronto

November 6, 2011
Sunday Morning Service
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Poulenc, Biebl and Maziarz!
http://www.nuuc.ca 

Sunday, May 8 · 7:00pm
Gospel Vespers 
Church of the Redeemer, Toronto
Special guests: Mark Kieswetter,piano; Jordan O'Connor, bass and Kevin Coady on drums

Thursday, March 24, 2011
SPRING SONG - 3RD ANNUAL ALL CANADIAN CONCERT
Works by Stuart, Daley, Ryan, Livingston, Donkin
with Special Guests the Element Choir under the direction of Christine Duncan

Monday, Nov 29, 2010
WINTER SONG
Works by R. Vaughan Williams, Matt Van Brink and Björk
with Special Guests the Cantabile Chamber Singers,
Olga Tylman, Jaye Marsh Graham, Nancy Tam, Mark Kieswetter, Ross MacIntyre

Sunday, October 24th, 2010
CHORAL JAZZ VESPERS
Church of the Redeemer, Toronto
Mark Kieswetter (piano), Jordan O'Connor (bass), Kevin Coady (drums)
Works by Ellington, Björk, Burke, O'Connor

Thursday, May 6th, 2010
SPRING SONG 2010 - THE ALL CANADIAN  SPRING CONCERT!
Joint concert with Cantala Women's Ensemble
Music Gallery, Toronto
Works by: Fiona Ryan, Jessica Stuart, Rachel Sauvé, Karen Burke, Stephen Hatfield and others

Friday, April 30, 2010
Open Your Ears: New Choral Sounds 
Vespera Women's Choir and Toronto Choral Artists perform 
contemporary works for choir. http://www.musicgallery.org/

Sunday, Feb. 14th, 2010 
Gospel Service St. Philip's Lutheran Church
Special Guest Pianist - Mark Kieswetter

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

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

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008
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)
Heliconian Hall, Toronto, Ontario

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

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

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

 

© 2006-2013 Vespera Ensemble