{"id":123791,"date":"2026-04-28T15:35:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T19:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=123791"},"modified":"2026-04-28T15:35:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T19:35:24","slug":"interview-silver-thread-torontos-new-professional-chamber-choral-ensemble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/04\/28\/interview-silver-thread-torontos-new-professional-chamber-choral-ensemble\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Silver Thread Is Toronto\u2019s New Professional Chamber Choral Ensemble"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Silver
Silver Thread chamber choral ensemble (Photo: Calvin Thomas)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u2019d been singing together for years.<\/p>\n

Each member brings their individual background as professional singers, composers, conductors, poets, theatre performers, educators, and administrators to the collective table. The ensemble\u2019s repertoire is wide ranging, including everything from Renaissance to contemporary music, with a special interest in the work of young Canadian composers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSilver Thread\u201d was chosen as the choir\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

The group\u2019s debut performance came as part as part of the Early Music at St. James Series in November 2025. They\u2019ve since performed at series that include Music at St. Basil\u2019s, Metropolitan United Church\u2019s \u2018Noon at Met\u2019 Series, Tapestry Opera\u2019s new Free Underground Concerts and Friends of Music at St. Thomas.<\/p>\n

They\u2019\u2019ll be leading a workshop as well as performing at the upcoming Choral Canada\u2019s National Choral Conference, Podium 2026, in Victoria, BC from May 14 to 17.<\/p>\n

Before that, they\u2019ll perform a farewell concert in Toronto on May 5; see details below<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Silver Thread\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

LV caught up with members Sarah Mole, Kai Leung, Anika Venkatesh, and Nathan Gritter to talk about the choir.<\/p>\n

Sarah Mole, Kai Leung, Anika Venkatesh, and Nathan Gritter: The Interview<\/h2>\n

How did the choir come together?<\/p>\n

\u201cSilver Threadis under the organization Modern Sound Collective,\u201d explains Sarah Mole. \u201cIt’s a by youth, for youth choral organization based in Toronto. Silver Thread is the professional arm of Modern Sound Collective.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of us have been singing together for several years,\u201d adds Kai Leung.<\/p>\n

One of the choirs Leung conducts via Modern Sound Collective is called Concreamus, the young adult division. That\u2019s where most Silver Thread members met, along with other city choirs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs MSC has been growing, we’ve been getting these opportunities for national collaborations, international collaborations,\u201d Leung says. Recording projects have also been proposed.<\/p>\n

Silver Thread was set up to essentially make up a defined group of artists that wanted to work towards those goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt its core, Silver Thread aims to prioritize fostering connection between its members\u2019 identities and how that informs their music-making,\u201d Kai says.<\/p>\n

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. \u201cI feel that makes us very special in that each person has their own skill set,\u201d they say. \u201cWe have a lot of different skills between us.\u201d<\/p>\n

While they have different lived experiences, each found art as an outlet. \u201cWe also care about each other a lot,\u201d Anika says. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

It creates a close knit dynamic.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 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,\u201d says Sarah.<\/p>\n

Within Silver Thread, every member has input into its operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that’s also a really special aspect of it,\u201d Mole says.<\/p>\n

\"Silver
Silver Thread chamber choral ensemble (Photo: Kiley Venables)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Podium<\/h3>\n

\u201cPodium is always a ton of fun,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all feel that it’s important for Silver Thread to be part of that experience,\u201d Leung adds.<\/p>\n

Through MSC, a program publishes the work of young area composers. Silver Thread is hoping to launch those works beyond the GTA. \u201cWe initially got invited to podium to present this intercession,\u201d Kai explains, \u201cwhere we’re sharing all these works with Canadian choral audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silver Thread will be performing a program that includes those compositions in various locations around the conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d Mole says.<\/p>\n

For Silver Thread in particular, it\u2019s a debut at the conference, and a chance to make new connections.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it’s my third Podium,\u201d says Nathan Gritter. As Nathan explains, each one has been different. \u201cI did my first Podium as a member of the National Youth Choir,\u201d Gritter adds. \u201cNow I\u2019m in a different role in an ensemble \u2014 that’s exciting. It\u2019s a new ensemble that has a lot of potential, and is getting people excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think for me the most exciting thing about Podium is geting to connect with friends I’ve made,\u201d states Leung. \u201cThere is a young generation in the choral scene, and it seems we get to see each other every two years.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he relates, Kai has made friends via Podium six or even eight years ago as choristers, and nowadays, they\u2019re executive and artistic directors in their own right.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe possibility of real high impact collaboration gets closer and closer each time we get together,\u201d Kai adds.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s difficult, especially with Canada\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe energy for this generation has always been there,\u201d Leung says, \u201cand I think we’re creative enough and scrappy enough to get there.\u201d He\u2019s hoping to set some concrete plans while in Victoria.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne 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,\u201d Mole says. \u201cThe conference amplifies this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah says that the feedback from audiences at previous concerts demonstrates how that working relationship has translated into dynamic performances.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s so clear how much you guys love singing together.\u201d Mole says it\u2019s a typical comment.<\/p>\n

\u201dI’m excited to be on the West coast,\u201d Anika says. \u201cI’m from Vancouver originally.\u201d Venkatesh has attended the last two Podium conferences, one as a performer, and another as an audience member. \u201cThere’s always a concert that really blows me away.\u201d Silver Thread\u2019s performances may just serve that purpose for their own audiences. \u201cI’m excited to share this music and this group that we’ve come to grow and put so much care into.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anika says that, while Silver Thread is in the early stages yet, it\u2019s members are excited to share their new adventures with the choral community.<\/p>\n

New Music<\/h3>\n

\u201cOne of the collective feelings and ideas about Silver Thread is the passion for presenting young composers and new works,\u201d Mole says.<\/p>\n

Many of the young composers are friends and colleagues of Silver Thread members, who are grateful to be trusted to share their works. \u201cI feel great to be in the position that we’re in.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next, after the conference?<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking ahead, even beyond podium, to complete our first artistic year together […] we\u2019re even more excited to getting to even more events, and curations, to explorer another season next year as well,\u201d Gritter says. \u201cI’m looking forward to new and exciting projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are new projects in the works,\u201d Sarah adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we’re all interested and excited to see how it goes,\u201d Anika says, \u201cnow that we’ve had our first season.\u201d They add that part of the initial challenge was finding out how to work in a formation of only nine singers, when previously, they\u2019d been singing in a much larger group. Sharing leadership with Silver Thread is also a new experience.<\/p>\n

Scheduling and prioritizing specific tasks was also part of the learning curve.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re excited to be targeting next season with that foundation,\u201d Nathan says.<\/p>\n

Leung adds that one of the major issues that\u2019s emerged among the members is how to bring choral music to a broader audience. \u201cWho in the community is going to be interested in this, and how do we get them in this space?\u201d<\/p>\n

The ensemble has come up with some creative strategies. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to launch those ideas,\u201d Kai adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you reimagine [choral singing and performance] in a way that’s accessible and interesting to everyone?\u201d Mole asks.<\/p>\n

Silver Thread Send-Off & Fundraising Concert<\/h2>\n

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, R\u00e9mi 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 \u2014 payment at the door.<\/p>\n