The Hart House Singers is a non-auditioned choir at the University of Toronto that provides an opportunity for first-time and experienced singers to share in the joy of choral singing, to learn the art of song, to have fun, and to sing culturally and historically diverse repertoire.
May 26-2017
The Hart House Singers is a non-auditioned choir at the University of Toronto that provides an opportunity for first-time and experienced singers to share in the joy of choral singing, to learn the art of song, and to sing historically and culturally diverse repertoire. Typically, the choir performs music from around the world in its summer or fall terms, and one of the great choral works in the winter term. The Hart House Singers has performed at Toronto’s “Nuit blanche,” and in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Holst’s The Planets with the Hart House Orchestra. In the past few seasons, we have performed such famous choral works as Bruckner’s Mass in e minor, Dvorak’s Mass in D and Stabat Mater, Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, and Beethoven's Mass in C with orchestras made of students and recent graduates from the Faculty of Music and the Royal Conservatory of Music, and local professionals.
DAVID ARNOT-JOHNSTON has directed many vocal and instrumental groups, including at Canada's National Ballet School and Tafelmusik's Baroque Summer Institute at the University of Toronto. He completed the graduate program in early music at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, The Netherlands, and holds a Masters degree in music history and performance from the University of Toronto.
As a tenor soloist, David has performed with several early and contemporary ensembles, including Tafelmusik, the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, Opera Atelier, Dancemakers, Utrecht Barok Consort, La Capriola of Amsterdam, Utrecht Bach Society, Ottawa Choral Society, and The Toronto Consort. He has sung as a soloist under Sigiswald Kuijken, Andrew Parrott, William Christie, and with Emma Kirkby in works by Mozart, Handel, Bach, Lully, and Monteverdi.
David has recorded as a soloist and ensemble performer on the Naxos, CBC, Marquis, RCA/BMG, and Analekta labels with the Aradia Ensemble, Tafelmusik Orchestra, Toronto Consort, Canadian Brass, and the Theatre of Early Music. A dedicated instructor of music, David directed the music education program at the National Ballet School for ten years. He has been conductor of the Hart House Singers since 2003.
CONRAD GOLD, holds a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music from McGill University. He undertook additional keyboard performance studies in Italy. Mr. Gold also serves as the accompanist for the Brampton Festival Singers, and has collaborated with the Tallis Choir and the Cantabile Chamber Singers of Toronto, and the Laudate Dominum Choir of Chatham. Currently living in Toronto, Mr. Gold plays organ regularly at Lorne Park Baptist Church in Mississauga, St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto, and several other Toronto area churches. His other musical activities include playing organ recitals and teaching piano.
The Hart House Singers' 2017 summer session begins on Wednesday, May 31, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Rehearsals are on each Wednesday evening, 7:30-9:30 p.m., from May 31 to July 12. The summer concert will be on Thursday, July 13, 7:00 p.m. Registration will be on May 31 and June 7, starting at 6:30 p.m. just outside the Music Room at Hart House. The first two rehearsals (May 31 and June 7) are also "open rehearsals" - you may attend either rehearsal and decide if you would like to join afterwards. For further information about registration and fees.
| Notes | Summer May-July 2017 | Fall Sept-Nov 2017 | Winter Jan.-Mar 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30 Music Deposit *(REFUNDABLE upon returning music) |
New members only | New members only | New members only |
| First Rehearsal Date | Wednesday, May 31, 7:30 pm | Monday Sept. 11, 7:45 pm | Monday Jan. 15, 7:45 pm |
| Concert | Thursday July 13, 7:30 p.m. | Nov. 19, 4:00 p.m. | March 18, 7:00 p.m |
| Membership Fee* | $15: Good for Summer term | $15: Good for Fall, Winter, Summer | $15: Good for Winter, Summer |
| Student T-card or current Hart House Membership Card**(must be ready by next rehearsal) |
Everyone | Everyone | Everyone |
| REGISTRATION BY EMAIL (waiting list only) |
Opens May 26 | Opens Sept. 8 | Opens Jan. 5 |
| REPERTOIRE | See Repertoire page. | See Repertoire page. | See Repertoire page. |
| REHEARSALS | Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30 PM | Mondays, 7:45-9:45 PM | Mondays, 7:45-9:45 PM |
*Cash, debit or credit card are all acceptable forms of payment. **To join the Singers, you must provide proof that you are ONE of the following by the next rehearsal after you register (one week later): 1) a current full- or part-time University of Toronto student (with a valid student T-card) 2) a current non-student member of Hart House. You can find out more about Hart House memberships (there are different kinds) at the Hart House website. The Clubs membership is the lowest cost membership that fufills this requirement (additional Singers registration fee and deposit are still required). Even if you were a member of the Singers last term, you are still required to register for this term! Registration will be granted on a first come, first served basis. Note: If you are a soprano or alto, come especially early! Spots in the choir for these voices tend to fill up quickly. There is no audition. Singers of all levels are welcome to join!
Please drop off any outstanding music ASAP at the Hart House Hub (Main Desk) and email us so that we can process your return. The last day to pick up your music deposit is TBA, provided you have returned all your music. If you paid your deposit in cash then at the conclusion of the Summer term, whether or not you intend to rejoin the Singers for the Fall term (Sep 2017), you are required to pick up your deposit by August 31st, 2017. Drop by the Accounts Office (hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00) on the second floor of Hart House to pick up your deposit, if you paid in cash. Deposits paid by credit card will be credited to your account.
