Musicata Chamber Choir presents a program titled Ebony & Melody, featuring music for choir and clarinet. The concert takes place May 3 at the Church of the Ascension in Hamilton, Ontario.
Along with the choir and Artistic Director/Conductor Roger Bergs, the choir will be joined by clarinettist Peter Stoll and pianist Stephen Boda. The mixed program featuring Missa Pax by Timothy Corlis, along with a variety of folk, jazz, and classical music.
Guest Artists
Peter Stoll, clarinet
Based in Toronto, Peter Stoll plays all sizes of the clarinet and saxophone family. He routinely performs with symphonic and opera orchestras, in chamber ensembles as a freelance musician, and in new music ensembles. He has performed as a guest soloist with orchestras across North America, and was invited to Russia to perform with the Saratov Philharmonic’s Volga Wind Ensemble. Other international performances include festivals in Munich, Germany, and in Finland, the UK, Holland, and Belgium.
Peter was the principal clarinetist of the former Toronto Philharmonia for a decade, and he performs with many ensembles in the region, including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Hamilton Philharmonic, Niagara Symphony, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Tapestry Opera, and others. He won a Dora Award in 2019 for Best Ensemble-Opera for his work with Against the Grain Theatre.
As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with a number of prominent Canadian artists and ensembles such as the Gryphon Trio and percussionist Beverley Johnston, and visiting artists such as accordion virtuoso Joseph Macerello.
Peter is a passionate educator, and teaches students clarinet as well as chamber music, woodwind performance, and the business of music at the University of Toronto. He has also presented masterclasses at the State Conservatory in Russia.
Stephen Boda, piano
Pianist, organist and composer Stephen Boda is based in Hamilton, Ontario. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto, where he was awarded the the Arthur Redsell Scholarship, followed by an Artist Diploma from McGill University. He followed with a Master of Music degree from Yale University, where he received the Robert Baker Scholarship.
He has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and collaborated as an accompanist with many choirs and other ensembles in Southern Ontario.
As an organist, he has won several competitions, including 1st prizes in the 2015 Royal Canadian College of Organists’ National Competition, the 2016 Howard Fairclough Competition and the 2014 Osborne Competition.
He has served as organist at Toronto’s Grace Church on-the-Hill and St. Paul’s Bloor Street, St. John the Evangelist in Hamilton, Ontario, and Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, Connecticut. He is currently Principal Organist at Toronto’s Timothy Eaton Memorial Church.
Musicata
The choir is led and by composer, conductor, organist, and teacher Roger Bergs. Bergs is a graduate of The Juilliard School and the University of Toronto. He has more than two decades of experience as a church organist and music director, and his compositions have been performed by orchestras across Canada. His choral music has been performed by The Elmer Iseler Singers and other ensembles.
Bergs’ teaching experience includes The University of Toronto, Redeemer University and Tyndale University College.
Musicata Hamiltons’ Vocies was founded in 1982 as the John Laing Singers, under the direction of John Laing. Dr. Bergs became the Artistic Director in 2011, and has since led the choir in new directions, including several world premiere performances.
The Program
The program for the concert includes a variety of compositions and genres.
- Timothy Corlis: Missa Pax, No. 1. Introit (Soloists: Gabriel Miles, bass Margaret Holmes, alto); 2. Kyrie; 3. Gloria; 4. Sanctus; 5. Hosanna; 6. Benedictus; 7. Agnus Dei
- Cecil Effinger: Three Pastorales, 1. No Mark Poems by: Thomas Hornsby Ferril; 2. Basket; 3. Wood
- Stephen Chatman: June Night, Lyrics: Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)
- Neil Mckay: Folk Song Fantasy; 1. Lots of Fish in Bonavista Harbour; 2. I’ll Give My Love an Apple; 3. Come and Dance with Me
- Allister MacGillivray: Song for the Mira, Arr. Stuart Calvert, Soloists: Nancy Dykstra, alto Pamela Blackwood-Marques, soprano; Joseph Arevalo, tenor
- David L. Brunner: Amazing Grace, Lyrics: John Newton; Soloist: Jane Koopman, soprano
- Stephen Sondheim: Send in the Clowns, Arr. John Leavitt
- Hebridean Rowing Song: Over the Sea to Skye, Arr. Daniel J. Hall
Find tickets for Musicata’s Ebony and Melody on May 3 [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.
- PREVIEW | Hamilton’s Musicata Chamber Choir Presents Ebony & Melody - April 29, 2026
- INTERVIEW | Holla Jazz Founding Artistic Director Natasha Powell Talks About John Coltrane & The Room Upstairs - April 28, 2026
- INTERVIEW | Silver Thread Is Toronto’s New Professional Chamber Choral Ensemble - April 28, 2026
