We were joined by several superb guest artists: Ellen McAteer, soprano Jason Fowler, guitar Jeremy Potts & Jennifer Burford, violin Alex McLeod, viola Mary-Katherine Finch, cello and the VOCA Chamber Strings Orchestra. Gjeilo’s gorgeous “The Lake Isle”, for steel-string guitar, piano and string quartet, with text by William Butler Yeats “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”, Toronto composer Eleanor Daley’s sublime setting of the same text Gordon Lightfoot’s classic, “Pussywillows, Cat-tails”, beautifully arranged by another Toronto composer, Bonnie Penfound Ottawa’s Laura Hawley’s joyful, jazz-inspired setting of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 43 (All Days Are Nights)” and Kingston composer Mark Sirett’s exquisite arrangement of the trad. On Saturday, May 5, 7:30 pm, at our “DREAMSONGS” concert, the VOCA Chorus of Toronto was thrilled and honoured to present the Canadian Premiere of “Dreamweaver” by world-renowned composer, Ola Gjeilo, featuring our accompanist Elizabeth Acker, with soprano soloist Ellen McAteer and the VOCA Chamber Strings Orchestra.Īlso featured that evening was a Toronto (and possibly Canadian) premiere of Ola Gjeilo’s SATB setting of his stunning “Song Of The Universal”, scored for choir, string orchestra and piano, with an exquisite text by Walt Whitman. We’ve also performed a wide variety of contemporary classical repertoire, folk/world/roots music (including concerts featuring Celtic and African selections), jazz, musical theatre and more. The Bach “Magnificat”, the Mozart “Requiem”, Orff’s “Carmina Burana”, Handel’s “Messiah”, the Vivaldi “Gloria”, Winter & Halley’s “Missa Gaia/Earth Mass”, Macmillan & Brickenden’s “Celtic Mass for the Sea”, & most recently, the Fauré “Requiem” are examples of larger works the choir has performed with professional orchestras or instrumental ensembles. The VOCA Chorus of Toronto (founded as The East York Choir in 1986 by Stephanie Piercey-Beames) is a dynamic, mixed-voice, auditioned ensemble which performs an eclectic mix of classical & contemporary music, including several premieres of arrangements by our artistic director & conductor, Jenny Crober in collaboration with various professional artists & ensembles.
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