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 fifth season Vespera has shown it's continued commitment to performing new works, especially those by Canadian composers.  Since 2009 the choir has dedicated it's spring concerts to performing works by only Canadian composers.  Rehearsals - Wednesdays 7:30-9:30
Contact Vespera: 
sarahjohn64(at)gmail.comfo

Membership: $200+music deposit
*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)

 NEWS

Highlights for the 2010/2011 concert season. 
-October 2010 - Choral Jazz Vespers Concert with guest pianist Mark Kieswetter works by Daniela Nardi, Karen Burke and others!
-November 2010 - Winter Concert featuring works by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Björk!
-March 2011 - Spring Song: All Canadian Spring Concert featuring works by Ramona Luengen, Fiona Ryan and others!

AUDITIONS:  Auditions for the 2010-2011 season will be held on Wed, September 1st & 8th 2010.  
Contact us to book your audition!  
sarahjohn64(at)gmail.com 

Skills and Requirements:
-Exceptional singing ability
-formal training as a musician
-commitment to excellence
-willing to work to ensure a fun team environment
-interest in contemporary music both classical and popular
-great sense of humour!

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
sarahjohn64(at)gmail.com 


LEADERSHIP

Sarah John, M.Mus, B.Mus 
Music Director/Founder 
 

Sarah John has been conducting orchestras and choirs in both British Columbia and Ontario for nearly three decades. 

A native of British Columbia, Ms. John received a Bachelor's of Music degree
from the University of Victoria in 1990 She subsequently completed a
Master's degree in Performance (Conducting) in Victoria in 1995.
In addition, she studied with some of North America's most distinguished conductors
and teachers, including Jerry Blackstone, Dale Warland, William Weinert,
Joseph Flummerfelt, Gustav Meier, George Corwin, and Elmer Iseler.

In 1996, after having spent a year as Apprentice Conductor with the Windsor
Symphony, she was appointed Assistant Conductor. In 1997 she was awarded a
Canada Council Grant that allowed her to continue with the Windsor Symphony
as Conductor-in-the-Community.

In 1992, she co-founded the Echo Women's Choir in Toronto with Becca Whitla which she lead for 2 two years. The choir endures in 2010 under the direction of Becca Whitla and Alan Gasser and remains one of Toronto's most successful and vital amateur women's choirs.
In 2006 she founded Vespera - a contemporary choral ensemble based in Toronto, Canada.  www.vesperaensemble.com 
Most recently, Ms. John has been guest conductor with the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra. She will return to conduct its Spring Pops! concert
in late March 2011.
Nancy Tam, B.Mus
Accompanist/Composer

Nancy Tam is interested in sharing thoughts, sound and time with her listeners and does so through musical performances, compositions and improvisations. When she is not practicing, playing, composing or teaching music, Nancy makes guitars and hones her woodworking skills. Her influences range from Samuel Beckett, fluxus, Frank Zappa, Bjork, Louis Andreissen, Steve Reich and Arvo Part.  Nancy studied with Elaine Lau, Peter Hatch, Linda Catlin Smith, and Boyd McDonald at Wilfrid Laurier University where she received her BMus in composition and improvisation.  She is an active board member of NUMUS and composes with the Toronto based collective, The Toy Piano Composers.
Michelle Dussard
Apprentice Conductor

Michelle started playing piano at the age of four. She started playing the double bass at the age of ten and has a very sultry jazz voice. She loves to compose various kinds of music primarily in the jazz and gospel idiom. Her love of music has led her to pursue conducting. Michelle conducted Trinity College's adaptation of the musical The Wiz. She is also an avid improvisatory artist who loves to improvise in many different genres of music from classical and baroque to Klezmer, blues to the avant-garde and beyond.

She is presently attending the University of Toronto and pursuing a bachelor's degree in classical piano and music education with a minor in English literature. She has studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music and has competed in various festivals including the Toronto Music Festival, Peel Festival, Kiwanis Festival and the Davenport Festival.

SELECTED REPERTOIRE  
Archer, Violet* - Sweet Jesu, King of Bliss
Beckow, Joan* - The Other side of Nowhere
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, 
Fauré, Gabriel - Tantum Ergo, 
Fauré, Gabriel - Ave Verum Corpus
Hatfield, Stephen - Uberlebensgrosse
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
Ryan, Fiona ***  - Chasing after the Wind
Santamaria, Mongo - Afro Blue
Sauvé, Rachel * - Automne
Stuart, Jessica * - Climb the Mountain
Tollar, Yvette * - IMA

*Canadian composer
**World Premiere

 PAST EVENTS

Thursday, May 6th, 2010
SPRING SONG 2010 - THE ALL CANADIAN  SPRING CONCERT!
Joint concert with Cantala Women's Ensemble
8:00 pm  Music Gallery - 197 John Street
works by: Fiona Ryan, Jessica Stuart, Rachel Sauve, 
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 and others
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, Raminish, Orbŕn, 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

 

 


 

© 2006-2010 Vespera Ensemble