The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, with vocalist Sean Jones, both offer alternatives (and additions) to Handel’s Messiah.
It’s the 25th season for TMChoir’s Festival of Carols, an established holiday tradition for many music lovers. This year, the concert also features the world premiere of a new work by composer-in-residence Aaron Manswell. In Hamilton, the HPYO and R&B/soul singer Sean Jones team up for Holiday Soul, diving into that rich musical tradition.
There’s nothing like music to get your spirit into a holiday mood.
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir: Festival of Carols (December 3 & 4)
TMChoir will be performing in the atmospheric Yorkminster Park Baptist Church for their annual holiday celebrations. The Choir will be performing in full, with more than 160 voices, and organ accompaniment by musician Jonathan Oldengarm.
The Choir will sing contemporary choral works, along with traditional carols that the audience can sing along to.
Also on the program is the world premiere of Good News by TMChoir’s Composer-in-Residence Aaron Manswell.
Yorkminster Park will also be playing a role in the concert by way of its newly expanded carillon. The new set consists of 37 bells with brilliant tones. It’s only the 12th carillon of its kind in Canada, and the first new installation in nearly a half century.
In the spirit of the season, audience members are invited to bring a non-perishable food item to donate in support of Daily Bread Food Bank.
Maestro Jean-Sébastien Vallée leads the choir, with organist Jonathan Oldengarm, and Composer-in-Residence Aaron Manswell.
- Find tickets and more information [HERE].
Jean-Sébastien Vallée will also be leading TMChoir, along with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, for performances of The Messiah December 17 to 22. Info here.
Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra with Sean Jones: Holiday Soul (November 30)
JUNO Award-winner and Hamiltonian Sean Jones returns to his hometown with a showcase of holiday soul. He’ll be sharing the stage with special guest vocalists Gemini, Dora Award-winner and Order of Canada recipient Jackie Richardson, and JUNO Award-winning Divine Brown.
“I am overjoyed to create some holiday magic in my hometown of Hamilton with a soulful showcase and share my stage with some powerhouse award winning talent as well as local young musicians. This event celebrates the power of community, and I hope it will become an annual on the City of Hamilton’s calendar,” said Sean Jones in a statement.
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Music Education Manager and HPYO General Manager Megan Benjafield notes, “It was such a treat to have Sean reach out to ask about a collaboration with the HPYO on his ‘Holiday Soul’ concert. This is a fantastic opportunity to give some of our youth players an experience working in a professional setting.
“Not only that, since joining the organization, our HPYO Music Director David Willms has been choosing a variety of orchestral repertoire that stretches beyond the conventional orchestral canon. This gig with Sean Jones feels like a continuation of exploring and expanding what is possible in orchestral music while still honouring some of the traditional classics in our regular season programming.”
Audience members are invited to bring non-perishable items for donation to the Hamilton Food Share, a not-for-profit organization operating in the Greater Hamilton Region.
The concert takes place at the McIntyre Performing Arts Centre at Mohawk College.
- Find details and tickets [HERE].
The HYPO will also be performing alongside the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra for their Home for the Holidays concert on December 14. Info here.
Are you looking to promote an event? Have a news tip? Need to know the best events happening this weekend? Send us a note.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.
Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! — local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox HERE.
- THE SCOOP | Two Canadian Projects Take Home OPERA America 2024 Awards For Digital Excellence In Opera - December 3, 2024
- PREVIEW | Artistic Director Tatiana Stepanova Talks About Toronto International Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker - December 3, 2024
- PREVIEW | Latin American Christmas: Toronto Consort Celebrates The Season With Navidad - December 2, 2024
