Details

56 The Esplanade, Suite 203A, Toronto ON M5E 1A7

Phone: 416.923.7052

Website: www.wmct.on.ca

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About

WMCT Artistic Mandate

The Women’s Musical Club of Toronto presents an annual series of world-class chamber music concerts that include both well-established international and Canadian performers, as well as exceptional musicians on the threshold of their careers. An integral part of the WMCT’s programming is the presentation of its Career Development Award winner every three years, as well as the annual commissioning of a new work by a Canadian composer.

Music in the Afternoon Concert Series

The Women’s Musical Club of Toronto presents Music in the Afternoon, an annual series of five world-class chamber music concerts, a dynamic mix of international and Canadian musicians, established performers and soon-to-be greats. The WMCT – founded in 1898 – is the oldest music-presenting organization in Ontario.   It supports young Canadian musicians with annual scholarships, awards, master classes and performance opportunities. New works from Canadian composers are commissioned annually.

Historically, the Music in the Afternoon concert series brings international talent to Toronto. In 2012 superstar Paul Lewis made his Toronto debut and last season performers from France (Trio Wanderer), the USA (Dover Quartet) and the Netherlands (Christianne Stotijn) made theirs. Alisa Weilerstein performed the weekend she won the MacArthur Fellowship, and Kaori Yamagami was introduced to Toronto audiences three years before she won the Virginia Parker Prize.

Canadian stars James Ehnes, Russell Braun, Glenn Gould and Maureen Forrester all performed for Music in the Afternoon.

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The Folks Behind It All

Dedicated volunteers and one part-time arts administrator are the heart and soul of the WMCT and always have been. The WMCT Foundation supports the work of the club, managing finances, awards and scholarships.

Simon Fryer is the Artistic Director and heads the Artists’ Selection Committee.

Artistic Director Simon Fryer

Simon Fryer is an artist of the utmost versatility, at home with the demands of the music of our time and of historical performance, with collaboration and solo recital. In demand for his teaching, coaching, and master class skills he is principal cellist of the Regina Symphony Orchestra. Soloist appearances in Canada with the Regina, Mississauga, and Okanagan symphonies, as well as the Esprit Orchestra have been complemented by performances as guest principal with the Hamilton Philharmonic and internationally with the Orqestra Sinfonica de Tenerife and the United Kingdom’s Northern Sinfonia.

Formerly a member of the JUNO-winning Penderecki String Quartet and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Simon Fryer collaborates regularly with such musicians as the Silver Birch String Quartet, Duo Concertante, and pianist Michael Kim.

His discography of more than 20 recordings includes the solo CD Music of a life so far… acclaimed as “a fascinating collection” by the Toronto Star. His most recent recording of Victorian Cello Sonatas with pianist Leslie De’Ath, released by Centaur, is credited with “expansive playing that never resorts to overly Romantic indulgence” by The Wholenote and “a seductive blend of depth and restraint” by Musical Toronto.

Simon Fryer is Head of Strings at the Regina Conservatory for the Performing Arts and founder and director of the Prairie Cello Institute. He has held faculty positions at Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Toronto and The Glenn Gould School.

He performs on a Masa Inokuchi cello, an instrument completed in 1998.

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Photo Gallery

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Events

2015-2016 Music in the Afternoon

concert series

118th Season

All concerts in Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, U of T
80 Queen’s Park (Museum Subway Station)
1:30 pm on Thursdays

The season at a glance…

OCTOBER 15, 2015
Caroline Léonardelli – harp
Afiara String Quartet

NOVEMBER 19, 2015
Isabel Leonard – Mezzo-soprano
Vlad Iftinca – piano

MARCH 3, 2016
Daedalus String Quartet
Romie de Guise-Langlois – clarinet
World Première – Vivian Fung – New work for Clarinet and String Quartet

APRIL 7, 2016
Dannthology – Steven Dann and friends
World Première – Zosha di Castri – WMCT commission

MAY 5, 2016
Pavel Kolesnikov – piano

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