Anglicans will host choirs

A MASSIVE international choral festival scheduled for Toronto from May 31 to June 22 will see significant Anglican participation. Four Anglican churches are among the many venues for The Joy of Singing-Within the Noise of the World, which will feature some 40 concerts by choirs from 10 countries. St. James Cathedral hosts Canada’s Elmer Isler Singers and the Amabile Youth Singers on June 3 and the Toronto Children’s Chorus on June 9. The concert will include world premieres by Canadian composers Derek Holman and Raymond Luedeke. St. Paul’s, Bloor Street presents the St. Louis African Choir from the United States on June 7. St. Mary Magdalene church features the Winnipeg Singers on June 9, appearing in Toronto for the first time. Christ Church, Deer Park, features the Chamber Singers of Algoma from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., presenting an all-Canadian program on June 15. Christ Church will also host the St. Marys Children’s Choir from St. Marys, Ont. on June 22. The opening night gala concert on May 31 at Massey Hall will feature the world premiere of a work by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki written for the Toronto Children’s Chorus. The closing concert on June 22 will feature well-known tenor Ben Heppner and other soloists, choirs and the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra in the Canadian premiere of Franz Schmidt’s oratorio, The Book with Seven Seals. Further information is available at 416-872-4255 or at www.joyofsinging.ca.