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UPCOMING EVENTS

March 8th, 2012:  Service for International Women's Day - NUUC, Toronto

March 29th, 2012:  "Spring Song" - Concert of Canadian composers

May 2012:  Recording Project

We have one spot open for SOPRANO 1 (high).  If interested please contact Sarah John at sarahjohn64@gmail.com

Skills and Requirements:
-Exceptional singing ability
-formal training as a musician
-Ability to read music well
-Available to attend all rehearsals
-Commitment to excellence
-Willing to work to ensure a fun team environment
-Interest in contemporary music both classical and popular
-Great sense of humour!

The Vespera Choir of Toronto is an auditioned group of exceptional female 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.

Rehearsals - Wednesdays 7:00-9:30 At Bloor Street United, Toronto
Fees for those joining in January to mid May: $120 + $20 music deposit

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

ABOUT

The Vespera Ensemble of Toronto is an auditioned group of exceptional female 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 in it's 6th 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 7:00-9:30 At Bloor Street United, Toronto

CALL FOR SCORES

Contact Vespera:  sarahjohn64(at)gmail.com

MEMBERSHIP  

Cost to Join:  $200 + music deposit (Sept- Mid May)
 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!

*It is required that members each pre-sell 2 tickets for our spring concert.
The Vespera season is approximately 30 sessions over 8 months. 

Fees for those joining January to mid May: $120 + $20 music deposit

CONDUCTOR

Sarah John   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 of Music degree from the University of Victoria in 1990.  She subsequently completed a Master's degree in Conducting Performance in Victoria in 1995.
In addition, she studied with some of North America's most distinguished conductors and teachers, including Arthur Arnold, Gustav Meier, George Corwin, Susan Haig, Dale Warland, William Weinert, Joseph Flummerfelt and Elmer Iseler.

She was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Windsor Symphony in 1996 and in 1997 she was awarded a Canada Council Grant that allowed her to continue with the Windsor Symphony as Conductor-in-the-Community. She also served for 3 years as Chorus Master of the Windsor Symphony Chorus (1995-1998).

Ms. John has held positions of conductor of the Heliconian Choir and Orchestra and guest conductor with the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra.

She currently holds the position of Conductor/Founder of Vespera Choir (2006) and will embark on the creation of a new string orchestra project V.I.E. starting in the fall of 2011.

MEDIA

Vespera on MySpace        

CONTACT   sarahjohn64(at)gmail.com
PAST EVENTS
December 4th, 2011
Vespers Service
Biebl, Ahbez, John, Martin
Church of the Redeemer
Bloor/Avenue Road
7:00 pm

November 6, 2011
Sunday Morning Service
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Poulenc, Biebl and Maziarz!
79 Hiawatha Road, Toronto        http://www.nuuc.ca/
10:30 am

Sunday, May 8 · 7:00pm
Gospel Vespers 
 Church of the Redeemer
162 Bloor Street West (Bloor and Avenue Rd)
Join us for a Gospel Vespers service the evening of May 8th.
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
7:00 pm Church of the Redeemer, 162 Bloor Street West
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
8:00 pm  Music Gallery - 197 John Street
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 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

 
   

 

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