{"id":112627,"date":"2025-03-13T13:36:50","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T17:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=112627"},"modified":"2025-03-13T14:00:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T18:00:01","slug":"preview-introducing-ichos-collective-new-concert-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/03\/13\/preview-introducing-ichos-collective-new-concert-series\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Introducing \u00edchos Collective In A New Concert Series"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Flutist Jaye Marsh, percussionist Rikki LaCoste and audience drumming participants (Photo courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Based in Toronto, \u00edchos Collective is a group of women-identifying music and arts producers who aim to curate and present a concert series that will bring together artists and works of many different genres. The series kicked off in February 2025, and continues on March 30 at Hope United Church in the city\u2019s east end.<\/p>\n

Both local and international artists will be featured in the diverse music series, with a goal of supporting women in the arts.<\/p>\n

We spoke to musicians Carla Perrotta-Pyrgos<\/strong> and Jaye Marsh<\/strong> of \u00edchos Collective about the organization and their plans.<\/p>\n

\u00edchos Collective: The Interview<\/h2>\n

The origins of the \u00edchos Collective come back to a specific event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt goes back to […] when the KW Symphony<\/a> announced they were folding,\u201d explains Perrotta-Pyrgos.<\/p>\n

A conversation began among the musicians of the KWS about what was possible going forward. \u201cIt\u2019s very apparent that to have a career as a freelancer, you have to forge your own path,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

A woman-based ensemble was an idea that Perrotta-Pyrgos, Marsh, and others had been toying with for a while. The sudden void left by the collapse of the KWS was the catalyst to put their ideas into action.<\/p>\n

Jaye recalls connecting in conversations with other women in the arts, and how isolating it could feel at times to shoulder the responsibilities of motherhood and simultaneously attempt to keep a creative career alive.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarla and I were chatting just after KW announced its troubles,\u201d Marsh recalls.<\/p>\n

Those smaller conversations began to become larger and more frequent, and a decision was made to create the Collective as a means of mutual support. It can be especially difficult to garner the attention of producers and presenters in the classical music world. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to find support if you\u2019re not already important,\u201d Marsh says.<\/p>\n

She describes how overwhelmingly relieved she felt after their first project came together back in 2024. \u201cI didn\u2019t realize how alone I felt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, after a well received first concert, there is more reason for cautious optimism.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think also, the tide seems to be somewhat turning in this economy,\u201d Carla says. Still, people are cautious with their money, and spending more strategically, as she notes. \u201cIt\u2019s a desire to offer not just a concert, but an experience that people will enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

With so many alternatives and other concert experiences vying for audience dollars, a fresh approach is needed to bring in new audiences. \u201cIt\u2019s the new classical way,\u201d Perrotta-Pyrgos says. \u201cYou can\u2019t keep doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlace\u201d is a spoken word piece commissioned by \u00edchos Collective, music by \u00edchos Collective. Presented during the Freestyle Symphony workshop series, June 2024:<\/p>\n