It’s no secret that the last two years have been a significant challenge. Our industry faced considerable uncertainties as a result of lost revenue, sustained closures, and decreased audiences and engagement. Yet, despite all this, they also presented us with remarkable opportunities. We adopted a “people come first” approach and as a result of investing in our people and new support systems, we doubled our contracts with our artists and guests, retained and increased our staff, and expanded our education and outreach programs (Explorer Learning Series and an all-new high school curriculum program). Investing in the potential of our artistic, volunteer, and administrative teams has led to new revenue sources and substantial audience growth.
We have you, our dedicated donors, subscribers, and patrons to thank for our successes. Without your unwavering support alongside the government’s pandemic relief funding, we would not be coming out of the pandemic with this strong of a foundation.
Many more details are yet to be confirmed, but scroll this page to learn more about how we’re thriving and celebrating the world of Early Music:
A Glimpse into 2022/2023
What better way to mark our Golden Anniversary Season than with the return to live performances? We’re thrilled to be planning a season filled with celebration. From contemplative and introspective, to exuberant and rollicking, this season’s programming certainly has a little something for everyone. We welcome a cast of familiar faces and rising stars this year, featuring performances with Consort emeriti David Fallis and John Pepper, with guests Canticum Trombonorum, Joel Gonzalez Estrada, Richard Moore, Vania Chan, Rebecca Cuddy, Julia Seager-Scott, Matthew Li, and many, many more!
Subscription renewal packages will be sent out in August and single ticket sales will begin in September.
Until then, have a look at some of what we’ve planned for the 50th-anniversary celebration:
Film Screening: Sons of the Pilgrim Sun
Exploring the South American Sentimiento
Artistic Direction by Esteban La Rotta
Thurs., Nov. 10, 2022, 7:30 PM | Streaming Release Nov. 11, 2022
Praetorius Christmas Vespers
A Holiday Tradition with David Fallis
Fri., Dec. 9 at 8 PM | Sat., Dec. 10 at 2 PM & 8 PM | Streaming Release Dec. 19, 2022
Winter Revels
A New Year Soiree – Come celebrate like it’s 1599!
Artistic Direction by Laura Pudwell and Alison Melville
Fri & Sat Jan 27 & 28, 2023 at 8 PM | Streaming Release Jan 27, 2023
Canticum Canticorum
The Songs of Solomon arranged for soprano and early brass.
Guest performance by Canticum Trombonorum
Fri & Sat, Mar 10 & 11 at 8 PM | Live Event Only
Celestial Revolutions
Twice postponed, the world premiere is finally taking to the stage!
Wed & Thurs, May 3 & 4 at 8 PM | Streaming Release May 3, 2023
Forward Together – A Transformative $1 Million Campaign
The Toronto Consort is proud to launch a transformative $1 million 3-year fundraising campaign to celebrate the return to live concerts during our 50 anniversary, rebuild for the future, and re-affirm our unique position in the global early music community.
In the past 2 years, the disruptions that have been brought on by COVID-19 have made it exceedingly difficult for the performing arts. Concert halls have been closed or restricted; the livelihoods of artists and performers have been negatively impacted, and access to education programs has been reduced.
Through the “Forward Together” campaign the Toronto Consort aims to grow our community and lay the foundation for early music to be appreciated nationally and globally over the next 50 years!
The Future of Early Music is a Hybrid of Live and Digital Experiences
Early Music TV has been a lifeline. At the time of its launch in November 2020, we were optimistic about its future, but also aware that not all new ideas have permanence. Two years later, EMTV has become more than we could’ve imagined. A profit-sharing centre for artists and EM organizations, it is now a global destination for high-quality content and learning. With new groups planning to stream with us later this year, the potential for this service is inspiring. We are committed to seeing EMTV grow and will be producing digital productions for all live performances moving forward.
All-New Education Offerings
In addition to the online Explorer Learning Series (ELS), which will continue throughout 2022-2023, our education team spent the last year developing an all-new, integrated High School education program based on the Ontario curriculum for grades 11 and 12. While the ELS engages with adult learners, the Explorer High School Program is a specially crafted library of lesson plans, activities and assessment rubrics, and audio/video content for high school teachers to integrate into their courses. The way students learn has changed and so must the way we teach. This new library has been carefully planned so that the world of Early Music can be woven into a wide range of high school subjects (i.e. Canadian and World History, Social Sciences, and the Arts, to name a few). By highlighting the lessons Early Music has to teach us through a variety of subjects at the senior high school level, this program aims to broaden the reach of our organization and turn young minds onto the magnificent world of Early Music.
