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Friday, December 11, 2009, 8 p.m
Saturday, December 12, 2009, 3 p.m.
Massey Hall
Tickets: $36.50 - $22.50
Call 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office
www.masseyhall.com
Toronto – Let the joy resound! Toronto’s beloved St.
Michael’s Choir School celebrates the glorious sounds and
spirit of Christmas with its annual Massey Hall concert. One
of this city’s most endearing holiday traditions, this year’s
Christmas performance, Sing We Noël, Noël We Sing, offers
a jubilant program rich with some of the most wonderful melodies
ever written for the Christmas season. The remarkable boys of
St. Michael’s Choir School will take to the Massey Hall
stage on Friday, December 11, 2009 at 8 pm and
Saturday, December 12, 2009, at 3 pm to sing songs of
praise to usher in the holiday season, and to mark this, St.
Michael’s Choir School’s 70th Annual Christmas
concert.
Sing We Noël, Noël We Sing, a splendid musical program
created especially for this anniversary event includes music on
more traditional holiday subjects with excerpts from Rutters’
choral song-cycle, Dancing Day, Lux aurumque from
composer Eric Whitacre and sacred works such as E’en so, Lord
Jesus, quickly come; and Young’s lovely arrangement of
Widor’s Toccata – Gloria. Several popular Christmas
carols are also in store -- Silent night; O come all ye
faithful and Hark the herald angels sing offer
audiences an opportunity to sing along with traditional
favourites.
This year’s concert also features the talents of gifted organist
William O’Meara and the artistry of harpist Sanya Eng.
To further highlight the Choir School’s choral tradition, the
choirs will also perform two works specifically connected with
St. Michael’s Choir School. In addition to a special
arrangement of O Canada by the Choir School’s former
Music Director Monsignor Thomas Barrett Armstrong, the
Senior Choir will present Hodie, Christus natus est an
original work by alumnus Dr. Kola Owolabi.
In December 1939, the Cathedral Schola Cantorum
later to become known as St. Michael’s Choir School, took
to the stage to present their first-ever Christmas concert.
Their annual Massey Hall residencey began 44 years ago. In
addition to the annual Christmas concert, the choirs perform
publicly in an annual tour and at many local events. Dignitaries
such as His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II, and former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
have enjoyed the choir’s performances.
Founded in 1937 with the purpose of providing sacred music for
services at St. Michael’s Cathedral in downtown Toronto, St.
Michael’s Choir School is a centre for musical and academic
excellence. Each student admitted to the Choir School is
trained in vocal, technical, and instrumental music, and sings
in one of the school’s choirs.
For more information:
www.smcs.on.ca
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