Silver Thread, a Toronto-based professional chamber choral ensemble, was founded in 2025. It came together via a group of friends and choir colleagues who’d been singing together for years.
Each member brings their individual background as professional singers, composers, conductors, poets, theatre performers, educators, and administrators to the collective table. The ensemble’s repertoire is wide ranging, including everything from Renaissance to contemporary music, with a special interest in the work of young Canadian composers.
“Silver Thread” was chosen as the choir’s name because of its deep layers of meaning. It symbolizes the interconnectedness of nature and human life, and the links between lived experiences and how each of us make our way in the world. Silver Thread looks to develop the connections between the identities and backgrounds of each of its members, and consider how it infuses music-making.
The group’s debut performance came as part as part of the Early Music at St. James Series in November 2025. They’ve since performed at series that include Music at St. Basil’s, Metropolitan United Church’s ‘Noon at Met’ Series, Tapestry Opera’s new Free Underground Concerts and Friends of Music at St. Thomas.
They’’ll be leading a workshop as well as performing at the upcoming Choral Canada’s National Choral Conference, Podium 2026, in Victoria, BC from May 14 to 17.
Before that, they’ll perform a farewell concert in Toronto on May 5; see details below.
Silver Thread’s members are: Rayna Crandlemire; Emily Parker; Ineza Mugisha; Sarah Mole; Anika Venkatesh; Nathan Gritter; Joshua Sutherland; Kai Leung; and Martin Gomes. Kai Leung is also Artistic Director of Modern Sound Collective, the organization where Silver Thread members met and sang together previously.
LV caught up with members Sarah Mole, Kai Leung, Anika Venkatesh, and Nathan Gritter to talk about the choir.
Sarah Mole, Kai Leung, Anika Venkatesh, and Nathan Gritter: The Interview
How did the choir come together?
“Silver Threadis under the organization Modern Sound Collective,” explains Sarah Mole. “It’s a by youth, for youth choral organization based in Toronto. Silver Thread is the professional arm of Modern Sound Collective.”
“Many of us have been singing together for several years,” adds Kai Leung.
One of the choirs Leung conducts via Modern Sound Collective is called Concreamus, the young adult division. That’s where most Silver Thread members met, along with other city choirs.
“As MSC has been growing, we’ve been getting these opportunities for national collaborations, international collaborations,” Leung says. Recording projects have also been proposed.
Silver Thread was set up to essentially make up a defined group of artists that wanted to work towards those goals.
“At its core, Silver Thread aims to prioritize fostering connection between its members’ identities and how that informs their music-making,” Kai says.
Anika Venkatesh points out that many members are also musicians, and work within multiple genres, including Renaissance, contemporary, jazz, pop, romanticism, poetry, acting, and more. “I feel that makes us very special in that each person has their own skill set,” they say. “We have a lot of different skills between us.”
While they have different lived experiences, each found art as an outlet. “We also care about each other a lot,” Anika says. “It feel special to be able to sing with a group of poole, who, without one of us or the contributions of one of us, it doesn’t feel the same.”
It creates a close knit dynamic.
“In having people with all of these different experiences, with music, choral singing, art, et cetera, it brings a very valuable perspective in terms of what music we’ll be presenting,” says Sarah.
Within Silver Thread, every member has input into its operations.
“I think that’s also a really special aspect of it,” Mole says.
Podium
“Podium is always a ton of fun,” says Kai. Choirs from across the province, who seldom meet in person, have the opportunity to connect. Naturally, there are also opportunities to network with other choirs from across Canada.
“We all feel that it’s important for Silver Thread to be part of that experience,” Leung adds.
Through MSC, a program publishes the work of young area composers. Silver Thread is hoping to launch those works beyond the GTA. “We initially got invited to podium to present this intercession,” Kai explains, “where we’re sharing all these works with Canadian choral audiences.”
Silver Thread will be performing a program that includes those compositions in various locations around the conference.
“The goal of the trip for Modern Sound Collective is to share these works, and get the names of these works and composers out to the broader choral community,” Mole says.
For Silver Thread in particular, it’s a debut at the conference, and a chance to make new connections.
“For me, it’s my third Podium,” says Nathan Gritter. As Nathan explains, each one has been different. “I did my first Podium as a member of the National Youth Choir,” Gritter adds. “Now I’m in a different role in an ensemble — that’s exciting. It’s a new ensemble that has a lot of potential, and is getting people excited.”
“I think for me the most exciting thing about Podium is geting to connect with friends I’ve made,” states Leung. “There is a young generation in the choral scene, and it seems we get to see each other every two years.”
As he relates, Kai has made friends via Podium six or even eight years ago as choristers, and nowadays, they’re executive and artistic directors in their own right.
“The possibility of real high impact collaboration gets closer and closer each time we get together,” Kai adds.
It’s difficult, especially with Canada’s geographical challenges and the kind of funding they entail, for choirs from across the country, or even across the same province, to physically get together on any kind of regular basis.
“The energy for this generation has always been there,” Leung says, “and I think we’re creative enough and scrappy enough to get there.” He’s hoping to set some concrete plans while in Victoria.
“One thing I really cherish about Silver Thread is getting to make music that I really love and care about with people to I really love and care about,” Mole says. “The conference amplifies this opportunity.”
Sarah says that the feedback from audiences at previous concerts demonstrates how that working relationship has translated into dynamic performances.
“It’s so clear how much you guys love singing together.” Mole says it’s a typical comment.
”I’m excited to be on the West coast,” Anika says. “I’m from Vancouver originally.” Venkatesh has attended the last two Podium conferences, one as a performer, and another as an audience member. “There’s always a concert that really blows me away.” Silver Thread’s performances may just serve that purpose for their own audiences. “I’m excited to share this music and this group that we’ve come to grow and put so much care into.”
Anika says that, while Silver Thread is in the early stages yet, it’s members are excited to share their new adventures with the choral community.
New Music
“One of the collective feelings and ideas about Silver Thread is the passion for presenting young composers and new works,” Mole says.
Many of the young composers are friends and colleagues of Silver Thread members, who are grateful to be trusted to share their works. “I feel great to be in the position that we’re in.”
What’s next, after the conference?
“Looking ahead, even beyond podium, to complete our first artistic year together […] we’re even more excited to getting to even more events, and curations, to explorer another season next year as well,” Gritter says. “I’m looking forward to new and exciting projects.”
“There are new projects in the works,” Sarah adds.
“I think we’re all interested and excited to see how it goes,” Anika says, “now that we’ve had our first season.” They add that part of the initial challenge was finding out how to work in a formation of only nine singers, when previously, they’d been singing in a much larger group. Sharing leadership with Silver Thread is also a new experience.
Scheduling and prioritizing specific tasks was also part of the learning curve.
“We’re excited to be targeting next season with that foundation,” Nathan says.
Leung adds that one of the major issues that’s emerged among the members is how to bring choral music to a broader audience. “Who in the community is going to be interested in this, and how do we get them in this space?”
The ensemble has come up with some creative strategies. “We’re excited to launch those ideas,” Kai adds.
“How can you reimagine [choral singing and performance] in a way that’s accessible and interesting to everyone?” Mole asks.
Silver Thread Send-Off & Fundraising Concert
Silver Thread is presenting a concert and fundraiser prior to setting out for Victoria. The program includes music by Nicholas Wanstall, Francesca Hauser, Sami Anguaya, Rémi St-Jacques, Andrew Balfour, Kai Leung, Stephanie Martin, and more. Tickets are offered on a Pay What You Can basis, with a suggested donation of $30 — payment at the door.
- It takes place May 5 at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene (477 Manning Avenue) from 7 to 8 p.m. Find details [HERE].
- Find out more about Silver Thread [HERE].
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