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Details
Phone: 416-605-8915
Email: highnotesavante@gmail.com
Website: highnotesavante.ca
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About
We at HIGH NOTES AVANTE PRODUCTIONS INC. are using artistic expression to give hope, connect and inspire those touched by mental illness.
IF ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE are currently affected by mental illness, WE ALL HAVE A STORY… We believe in more openly sharing these stories so that we can learn from each other and find hope together.
We invite you to join our community.
Music and artists have the power to create social change, inspire, empower and give hope to those touched by mental illness.
High Notes Avante (HNA) produces larger gala events AND smaller concerts aiming to create a sense of community for everyone (and there is a lot of us!) touched by mental illness. We feature world class performances and speakers, and showcase the lives and talents of artists and personalities who are living good lives despite having an existing or past mental health challenge. We aim to erase stigma, educate and save lives by encouraging others to reach out and share their stories. Our speakers’ and artists’ stories about how they have moved forward successfully despite a current or past lived experience help others move forward on higher notes as well. These accessible concerts help raise funds for our music program but aren’t designed to fundraise but more importantly to ‘image-raise’ and to create a safe community for those of us who are affected.
Recently we have added FREE music making and art discussion to our offering:
Just before the pandemic we started our first choir which then quickly moved online. It is still going strong and meets weekly. We offer an online bi-monthly book club and a monthly movie club. Our in-person choir just started up again and we welcome YOU to also come sing with us. All skill levels are welcome as long as you have a connection to the cause.
We are thrilled to offer FREE MUSIC LESSONS or what we call ‘music by prescription’ to youth (and youthfully minded) individuals, touched by mental illness. There are so many benefits to learning music and I know we don’t have to get into it with this audience. We are not offering music therapy but rather activities that heal as they give those affected something non-illness related to focus on. Right now, our music program is offered in Richmond Hill and include instruction on piano and guitar. Although we think in-person instruction is the best, some can only attend online, so we do offer on-line instruction.
We have ambition to grow and include more instruments, teachers and locations. The High Notes band and Orchestra is only a dream (and a few dollars) away. The sky is really the limit as we have hopes to reach and support people from coast to coast.
We provide an opportunity for a vast range of individuals, businesses and associations to support our vision. We have already been recognized for ‘best creative innovation’ (Richmond Hill Economical Development Council) the Canada Council for the Arts and been awarded various smaller grants that help us carry on. We also receive funding from the Ontario Gaming Centre and welcome individuals to volunteer a few hours of their time to support our vision.
You can also support HNA by purchasing David W. Barber’s hilarious anniversary edition of ‘Bach, Beethoven & the Boys’ retitled ‘We All Have A Story’ here.
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The Folks Behind It All
Founder–Artistic & Executive Director Ingrid Taheri, BA, ARCT, RMT (A communicator, musician and passionate activist inspired by experiences in friends and family) has been awarded Leading Woman in Ontario, ‘Best Creative Innovation’, Queen Platinum Jubilee pin.
For almost 10 years she has gathered a group of enthusiastic followers who together have helped move High Notes Avante to where it is today and is headed tomorrow. Many celebrities and other special people have participated in and supported HNA’s events. Among them Dan Hill, Grammy winning Singer/Songwriter–and legendary Canadian actress Luba Goy have been very loyal. Others include Rick Mercer and Lloyd Robertson, radio hosts Jean Stilwell and Lily Frost, Grammy awarded artist Ron Korb, the Amici Chamber Ensemble, Composers Frank Horvat, Alan Shiner, Saman Shahi and musicians Stephen Sitarski, Erika Nielsen, Michael Bridge, priyana, Giles Tomkins, Ernesto Ramirez, Robert Kortgaard, the St Michael’s Choir School. Dr. David Goldbloom, Author and Chief Medical Advisor at CAMH. Other supporters and participants include Richard and Lauren Margison, Ballet Jorgen, Sebastian Hirtenstein, Paul Radkowski, author David W. Barber, The North York Music Festival, Professor Frank Russo …and so many more!
The current board of director consists of Vlad Solokhine, Shulamit Mor, Andre La Rosa, Rupa Karyampudi, Susan Kagan, Anna Kriewald and Jahnavi Ray.
Too many volunteers to mention but they are invaluable.
Photo Gallery
