In this Fall blog series we are taking a moment to look individually at all of the pieces we will be presenting in our winter concert on December 12th, 7pm. In this edition, we are looking at the beautiful piece Lullay My Liking, by Gerda Blok WIlson. She is a Canadian composer living in Vancouver. What makes this text special that every composer enjoys setting it to music? Let’s dive in.
On our winter concert program we will be singing Noël Nouvelet, a beautiful arrangement by Canadian composer and arranger Erica Phare-Bergh. What is the story behind this hauntingly beautiful French Canadian carol, and who is the composer who brought this enchanting setting to life?
Cantala will be singing one of the most beloved Christmas melodies of Catalonia, El Cant dels Ocells ("The Song of the Birds") in our upcoming concert. This piece is a traditional folk carol whose origins date back to the seventeenth century. Rather than on the Nativity itself, the carol focuses on nature-creation- rejoicing.
Marie-Claire Saindon's Méditations de la Vierge Marie ("Meditations of the Virgin Mary") is the largest work on our program. We are thrilled to have a guest string quartet performing with us to lend a richeness to the vocal lines that already present in Saindon’s music.
Here at Cantala, we have been celebrating a tremendously successful year. From performing in the atrium of the Four Seasons to singing with the North York Concert Orchestra, our season has been filled with beautiful music-making, artistic growth, and lasting friendship.
Cantala Choir: where diverse voices unite, stories come alive, and music becomes magic. Read more.
Mark your calendars: Cantala is presenting its spring concert on Saturday May 2nd, at 2pm.
At Cantala, music is more than notes on a page—it is a vessel for stories, emotions, and strength. This season, our repertoire shines a light on a theme that resonates deeply with our choir and our community: feminine resilience and perseverance.
Andrew Balfour, a Cree composer and conductor from Winnipeg, has garnered national and international acclaim for his innovative choral compositions that seamlessly blend Indigenous storytelling with Western choral traditions. We are honored to bring his voice to our Cantala concert stage.
At Cantala, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not just ideals—they are integral to our identity and mission.
Come and rediscover the magic of the natural world with Cantala during our winter seasonal concert, Saturday December 7th at 7pm. It will feature parts from a larger work called Lost words: A Spell book, which features one poet (Robert Macfarlane), ten composers (many of our Canadian favorites!) and twenty choral compositions.
Carnegie Hall here we come!
We are over the moon about our upcoming tour to NYC to perform our debut recital at Carnegie Hall. It will take place in Weill Recital hall, an intimate hall that is perfect for small ensembles like Cantala. Mark your calendar-the recital is on Friday April 11, 2025. Tickets are available online through the Carnegie Hall website.
Cantala gathers at Forest Hill United Church (2 Wembley road) on Monday evenings. Many people arrive early (6:30pm) to chat, have a bite to eat or practise. The vibes are fun and focused-people are ready to sing and work hard. There is an exciting energy in the air-let’s get singing. Book your audition today.
We finished up our spring recording project this past week. The piece titled Lullaby, is a musical audioscape by Toronto composer James Rolfe. Listen to our recording below.
Cantala is now well into its 2024 Spring project. This year we are recording James Rolfe’s Lullaby with Michelle Colton on Marimba in Walter Hall at the end of June 2024. This will be released on our next album, titled Songbird, this coming Fall 2024.
This spring we will be learning Canadian Folk songs. I was inspired recently by the work titled Woodsmoke and Oranges (Tamblyn). (Psst…. For those that know me, don’t be surprised to also anticipate other pieces that are not Canadian folk as well).
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.
Cantala’s seasonal concert is one month away! We are excited to share with you works by Quartel, Geilo and Schubert. A magical experiences awaits….
Cantala is rethinking its commitment to provide an equitable, inclusive and diverse musical experience for any and all that want to sing. To see our initiative through, we have started a mentorship program.