{"id":113743,"date":"2025-04-21T15:17:37","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T19:17:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=113743"},"modified":"2025-04-21T15:17:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T19:17:37","slug":"preview-upper-canada-choristers-cantemos-celebrate-venezuela-composer-cesar-carrillo-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/04\/21\/preview-upper-canada-choristers-cantemos-celebrate-venezuela-composer-cesar-carrillo-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | The Upper Canada Choristers &#038; Cantemos Celebrate Venezuela With Composer C\u00e9sar Carrillo &#038; Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_113747\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-113747\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113747\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-04-21T151225.739.jpg\" alt=\"The Upper Canada Choristers and Cantemos with Artistic Director\/Conductor Laurie Evan Fraser (Photo courtesy of UCC) \" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-04-21T151225.739.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-04-21T151225.739-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-04-21T151225.739-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-04-21T151225.739-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-113747\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Upper Canada Choristers and Cantemos with Artistic Director\/Conductor Laurie Evan Fraser (Photo courtesy of UCC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Toronto\u2019s Upper Canada Choristers and Cantemos, the chamber choir specializing in Latin American music, celebrate the music of Venezuela for their next concert on May 16. At Venezuela Viva, UCC welcomes special guests La Petite Musicale Of Toronto, a Caribbean chorale, poet Laura Morales Balza, and composer C\u00e9sar Alejandro Carrillo.<\/p>\n<p>Pianist <strong>Hye Won (Cecilia) Lee<\/strong> (also an LvT writer) accompanies the choirs, and Venezuelan-Canadians <strong>Antonio Mata<\/strong> and <strong>Cecilia Salcedo<\/strong>, both former Cantemos members, act as emcees.<\/p>\n<p>The program includes works by Carrillo, including two pieces previously commissioned by UCC. El Pajaro que espero (The Bird I Await) is set to a poem by Morales Balza, who is married to Carrillo. The bittersweet work commemorates the son they lost at a tragically early age. La Rosa de los vientos (The Wind Rose), sets lyrics by the choir\u2019s own Jacinto Salcedo to music. The piece is named after a type of diagram used to chart wind direction and speed, and deals with themes of nostalgia and loneliness.<\/p>\n<p>Carrillo will also conduct three movements from his work Missa sine nomine (1999\/2008). The UCC gave the Canadian premiere of the work in 2012.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVenezuela is a country with a rich, complex, and varied musical history. It has been a thrill to mine the veins going deep into its foundation. It is impossible to convey more than a taste of the delicious variety in a single concert,\u201d says artistic director Laurie Evan Fraser in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the concert, Carrillo will give a choral workshop for the Upper Canada Choristers, Cantemos, and La Petite Musicale Wednesday, May 14, and other city choirs are invited to attend.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_113748\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-113748\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113748\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/La-Petite-Musicale.jpg\" alt=\"La Petite Musicale de Toronto Caribbean choir (Photo courtesy of the artists)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/La-Petite-Musicale.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/La-Petite-Musicale-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/La-Petite-Musicale-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/La-Petite-Musicale-768x515.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-113748\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">La Petite Musicale de Toronto Caribbean choir (Photo courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>La Petite Musicale Of Toronto<\/h2>\n<p>Venezuelan music carries its roots in Spanish, African, and Caribbean traditions, with the influence of Indigenous culture.<\/p>\n<p>La Petite Musicale of Toronto was formed in 1969 after members of a folk choir from Trinidad and Tobago found themselves in a new city. The choir reflects Toronto\u2019s multicultural roots and their repertoire includes calypso, classical works, and other musical genres.<\/p>\n<p>The original La Petite Musicale of Trinidad &amp; Tobago was founded by Olive Walke in 1940. Toronto-based musician and educator Lindy Burgess is celebrating his 50th anniversary year as musical director of La Petite Musicale of Toronto.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_113749\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-113749\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113749\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Cesar-Alejandro-Carrillo-colour.jpg\" alt=\"Venezuelan composer C\u00e9sar Alejandro Carrillo (Photo courtesy of the artist)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Cesar-Alejandro-Carrillo-colour.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Cesar-Alejandro-Carrillo-colour-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Cesar-Alejandro-Carrillo-colour-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Cesar-Alejandro-Carrillo-colour-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-113749\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Venezuelan composer C\u00e9sar Alejandro Carrillo (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Composer C\u00e9sar Carrillo<\/h2>\n<p>C\u00e9sar Carrillo was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He began his musical journey with studies in cello as well as music theory and history at the Jos\u00e9 \u00c1ngel Lamas School of Music. He followed up with studying composition at the Jos\u00e9 Lorenzo Llamozas School with Modesta Bor, a widely respected composer and choral conductor.<\/p>\n<p>He joined the Conservatory of the National Youth Orchestra, where he earned the title of Choir Director in 1987, and later earned a degree in choral conducting, from the Instituto Universitario de Estudios Musicales (IUDEM).<\/p>\n<p>Carrillo continued his studies internationally with conductors such as Robert Sund in Sweden, Vic Nees in Belgium, and Alice Parker in the USA, among others.<\/p>\n<p>His compositions have received several awards, and today he is one of the most prominent composers and arrangers in Venezuela. He holds the position of conductor of Cantarte Coro de C\u00e1mara, the award-winning choir he founded in 1991, and assistant conductor of Orfe\u00f3n Universitario, the musical wing of the Universidad Central de Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>C\u00e9sar Alejandro Carrillo\u2019s Gloria (Missa sine nomine) performed by Entrevoces in Havana, Cuba (2011):<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lPqPKnSK3xA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>C\u00e9sar Alejandro Carrillo: In Conversation<\/h3>\n<p>Upper Canada Chorister\u2019s member (and lyricist) <strong>Jacinto Salcedo<\/strong> translated C\u00e9sar\u2019s words in a conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Carrillo\u2019s path was set for composition and conducting from an early age. That comes from his first experience with music, which was through singing in harmony in smaller groups.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was so attractive to me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>As a young boy, he was self taught. Though he says his approach was largely intuitive in the beginning, he began to understand harmonies, and how to put them together in a choral ensemble. He didn\u2019t want to play by ear forever, though, and looked to understand music on a deeper level, and studied arranging, composition, harmony and counterpoint through a formal music education.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wanted to be a professional,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Today, he values both the intuitive and the more formal aspects of understanding music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel that less formal way of understanding music is very important,\u201d he says. \u201cThere is intuition, and instinct \u2014 and you can&#8217;t learn that in school,\u201d he adds. \u201cA composer should never stop relying on intuition and instinct.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Formal schooling provides structure, context, a broader understanding of history and other reference points. Both are essential, he says.<\/p>\n<p>Like most composers, he finds it difficult to describe his own style. \u201cStyle is very important,\u201d he says. He\u2019s developed his own contemporary language, as he describes it, for composition. When it comes to inspiration, his own musical tastes are broad. \u201cParticularly, jazz.\u201d That\u2019s jazz as it\u2019s performed in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t consider himself a jazz musician,\u201d he explains. Nonetheless, some jazz harmonies and other compositional elements find their way into his compositions.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, he counts his former teacher Modesta Bor as one of his early influences. He would listen to her music as he wrote his very first works as a child.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I discovered her music, I felt a huge connection,\u201d he says. He calls the opportunity to study and be mentored by her a great gift.<\/p>\n<p>He cites Francis Poulenc, English composer Herbert Howells, and Tom\u00e1s Luis de Victoria, a Spanish composer of the Renaissance period as other influences, the latter in particular because of his use of counterpoint.<\/p>\n<h3>The Music<\/h3>\n<p>The program includes both sacred and secular works. Carrillo enjoys working with both. He says the way he treats the underlying emotions of secular vs sacred works differs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe range of emotions is larger,\u201d he says of secular songs. In sacred music, he believes in keeping some emotional constraints in keeping with the source material. It\u2019s a more formal approach.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoth songs, the two secular songs they will sing, are kind of relevant especially for Latin American people,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p>In particular, La Rosa de los vientos (The Wind Rose), evokes the feelings of nostalgia common to immigrants, of having family members who are so far away. \u201cI cannot see you right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The workshop on May 14 will work through his Missa sine nomine. It&#8217;s one of his better known pieces, part of a larger commission.<\/p>\n<p>While he doesn\u2019t consider himself a singer, his main works have involved choirs. To that end, Carrillo has built a kit of vocal production tools he\u2019ll share at the workshop, including problem solving skills.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m very pleased to come to Toronto to hear people perform my music,\u201d he finishes. He\u2019s hoping he will make more connections to the city at the workshop and concert.<\/p>\n<p>For the concert finale, both choirs united will sing Alma llanera (Soul of the Plains) from a 1914 zarzuela (operetta), often said to be Venezuela\u2019s unofficial national anthem.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Register for the vocal workshop on May 14, which includes a ticket to the performance on May 16, [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.ca\/e\/vocal-workshop-with-cesar-alejandro-carrillo-tickets-1275085307479?aff=oddtdtcreator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<li>Register for Viva Venezuela on May 16 [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.ca\/e\/venezuela-viva-choral-music-from-venezuela-and-the-caribbean-tickets-1248219300529\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<li>Free Streaming at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.uppercanadachoristers.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.uppercanadachoristers.org<\/a> or their YouTube channel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a;\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Toronto\u2019s Upper Canada Choristers and Cantemos, the chamber choir specializing in Latin American music, celebrate the music of Venezuela for their next concert on May 16.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":113747,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[41660,11,76,18,19,29,4557,63],"tags":[40560,40562,37910],"yst_prominent_words":[28959,6616,14118],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-PREVIEW-2025-04-21T151225.739.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-tAz","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113743"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113743"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113750,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113743\/revisions\/113750"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113743"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=113743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}