choristers, alum, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala choir, nancy singla, choral singing, toronto holiday concert, winter concert, choral singing torontoComment

Late Canadian Carols

choristers, alum, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala choir, nancy singla, choral singing, toronto holiday concert, winter concert, choral singing torontoComment

Have you ever wondered what a rainbow wears for clothes?…..read on to find discover for yourself.

Canadian composer David K. MacIntyre has composed a work titled Late Canadian Carols that he has conceived as a response to Britten’s iconic work. This year we will present this work on Saturday December 17th at 2pm at Forest Hill United Church in Toronto.

Described by the composer as  “binding music of today with words of long age” his large work, Late Canadian Carols celebrates a diversity of living lives”.  Some of these extraordinary beings include a woman dressed in leaves, a man as a rainbow using colour and light for clothes, a moon rabbit, and a girl turning to stone.

Accompanied by  pianist Asal Iranmehr and conducted by our Founder and Artistic director, Nancy Singla, this english work includes texts from various times and places, including Inuit and First Nations peoples, 18 and 19th century European settlers and the Ancient Chinese. It is a work that is full of personification, vivid, descriptive poetry and glamorous imagery of nature. Perhaps the most beautiful piece on the program is movement 5, titled Land of Vast Hills, where you succumb to a repeating narrative in the piano so gracefully complimenting the two part voices singing of the great Canadian winter landscape. As well, listen for immaculate examples of tone painting. It is magical.

Our 2019 recording with Erica Goodmas on Harp available on your favorite music streaming service or our website.

You will be thrilled to delight in the vast talent inherent in our choir in the second half of the concert…with a quintet of Deck the Halls, a duet of Still, Still, Still; Past Three O’clock, The Christmas Song, a trio of There is No Rose, Walking in the Air (an original arrangement by one of our choristers!), and a gathering of voices for White Christmas. It is sure to be a lovely afternoon spent enjoying the slower things in life. Art. Singing. Conversations. Come in from the mall and relax. Enjoy what the season has to offer. We will be here to welcome you!  

Tickets are $20 and are available online or from singers in Cantala.

Reception to follow!

See you there for the reunion we have been waiting for!

choristers, concerts, Conductors, composerNancy Singlacantala women's choir, toronto women's choir, toronto choir, toronto choirs, choral singing, toronto, nancy singla, john rutter, dancing day, david schotzko, david simon, roy thompson hall, choral musicComment

The Beginning of our 12th Season

The beginning of our 12th Season at Cantala has begun! If you haven’t auditioned yet for Cantala please do be in touch. We are always interested in meeting new and talented singers and musicians. Between a Fall weekend retreat to Haliburton to Banff in February and Roy Thompson Hall in May-it will be an exhilarating year in Cantala. Come and sing with us!

choristers, concerts, Conductors, composerNancy Singlacantala women's choir, toronto women's choir, toronto choir, toronto choirs, choral singing, toronto, nancy singla, john rutter, dancing day, david schotzko, david simon, roy thompson hall, choral musicComment
alum, choristers, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlachoiristers, cantala choir, cantala women's choir, toronto choral singing, toronto choral scene, Nancy Singla, choral singing, choral sound, sacred musicComment

New Beginnings

Cantala Choir and I had our first in person rehearsal in two years in February 2022 and for so many reasons, it feels like a new beginning. For one, as I re enter the world of choral music and choral programming I feel I have many new ideas and perspectives. So consider this: what about changing “hundred of years-old sacred text” to a sacred text that is relevant to our human society today? Radical idea? Read on.

alum, choristers, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlachoiristers, cantala choir, cantala women's choir, toronto choral singing, toronto choral scene, Nancy Singla, choral singing, choral sound, sacred musicComment
choristers, alum, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala choir, nancy singla, choral singing, toronto holiday concert, winter concert, choral singing torontoComment

Saturday December 17th 2pm

Here at Cantala our favorite Winter themed concert includes A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. However, we have now presented that work recently and made an outstanding recording of the work with Canadian legend Harpist Erica Goodman, so what could be next to rival that work? Read on to find out.

choristers, alum, composer, concerts, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala choir, nancy singla, choral singing, toronto holiday concert, winter concert, choral singing torontoComment
Conductors, concerts, composer, choristers, alumNancy Singlachoral singing toronto, choral singing concert, toronto choral concert, organ and choral series roy thomson hall, roy tomsom hall, TOronto singing choir, gender neutral choir, treble voices, cantala choir, nancy singla, Toronto choral concertsComment

Cantala ends its 15th Season

Have you ever swirled around in a big ball gown on a concert stage that is all yours? We did this past May at Roy Thomson Hall. We can report back that it is a fantastic experience and highly recommend it.

Conductors, concerts, composer, choristers, alumNancy Singlachoral singing toronto, choral singing concert, toronto choral concert, organ and choral series roy thomson hall, roy tomsom hall, TOronto singing choir, gender neutral choir, treble voices, cantala choir, nancy singla, Toronto choral concertsComment
alum, choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlawinter concert, choral singing, nancy singla, cantala, cantala choir, toronto choral singing, toronto choral concert, sarah quartelComment

Ending the year 2023

Do you ever think about death? I do. Death was an underlying theme at the concert this past December 2nd. It was a powerful night of wonder.

alum, choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlawinter concert, choral singing, nancy singla, cantala, cantala choir, toronto choral singing, toronto choral concert, sarah quartelComment