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Writer's pictureTetsuya K

CCO ANNOUNCEMENTS AUGUST 25th 2023

Ending a successful 2022-’23 season, and beginning the CCO’s 40th Anniversary Season! 1. CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCCESSFUL 2022-’23 SEASON The last musical event in CCO’s season, Playing in the Park on August 13, was followed by a well-attended picnic. The wrap-up was as successful as the performances that preceded it. Thanks to the organizers, the musicians, volunteers, and guest musicians who spent their often wet Sunday afternoons in Allan Gardens sharing the joy of making music together. The orchestra overcame a lot of difficulties this past year: how to return safely at the end of a pandemic, finding and funding temporary rehearsal space, building a small core of returning musicians into a larger, viable symphony orchestra, educating new Board members on their new duties, replacing a sick soloist at the very last moment before a concert, and more. Now that the season is finished, we can see that we tackled all these hurdles with panache. We found new venues, and welcomed many, many new, talented musicians. All three concerts were special; we sounded increasingly better - according to our Music Director - and won back the audience we enjoyed pre-pandemic! We deepened our roots in the LGBTQIA+ community, and in the musical community in Canada, by honouring a trans woman appointed to the Order of Canada, by performing a work at each concert commissioned by the CCO from Canadian composers, and by enhancing our summer season, adding wind and brass members to the PIP afternoons, and performing at a new festival in Allan Gardens Park Well done everyone! 2. THE CCO’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON Andrew Chung, the Programme Committee, and the Directors have been busy this summer planning a wonderful new season, culminating in a truly celebratory 40th Anniversary Concert. All of our concerts will be at Eastminster United Church, on its raised stage, and holding more audience seating than our previous venues. (Start thinking TICKET SALES!) The full programme for the year is attached to these Announcements. Here are some highlights: December 9. 2023: former CCO violinist, and current professional opera singer, Rebecca Gray is our featured soloist, and the extra holiday treat will be a reading by drag queen star Fay Slift of “'Twas the Night Before Christmas”; March 23, 2024: CCO’s principal flautist, Tetsuya Kobayashi, will perform a flute concerto, Konzert Stuck, written in 1898 by Heinrich Hofmann, and arranged for the CCO by Tetsuya himself, along with 2 works by Beethoven; June 15, 2024: the programme for the 40th Anniversary Concert is made up entirely of composers who are members of the LGBTQIA community, and the evening will include memorabilia from the orchestra’s 40 years of programming. Our star that night is Jaedon Daly, performing Barber’s Violin Concerto. 3. GETTING REHEARSALS STARTED When: Monday September 11, 2023, 7:30pm to 9:30pm Where: the CCO’s long-standing home: the ballroom at the 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street, Toronto

Music Links: The CCO’s Librarian, Bob Mitchell, has provided some of the links to the music for the December concert and is purchasing the music for Rebecca’s arias: “Hello Everyone: Here is the repertoire and where to find parts mostly using IMSLP. If a player is unable to download their part for some reason, they can contact me and I will bring a part for them or send them a PDF. 1. Die Fledermaus Overture. - J. Strauss 11 - Breitkopf & Hartel Publisher https://imslp.org/wiki/Die_Fledermaus_(Strauss_Jr.,_Johann) 2. The Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a - P. Tchaikovsky - Kalmus publisher https://imslp.org/wiki/The_Nutcracker_(suite)%2C_Op.71a_(Tchaikovsky%2C_Pyotr) 3. The Night Before Christmas - with Narrator - Will be handed out September 11th. 4. Aria Quando m’en vo - G. Puccini - La Bohheme https://imslp.org/wiki/La_boh%C3%A8me%2C_SC_67_(Puccini%2C_Giacomo) Click on “parts” and scroll down to the aria and parts. There are three more arias planned for Rebecca Gray Soprano “ Bob’s email address if you need help with your part is robertmitchell@rogers.com. Music to Rehearse for September 11: Nutcracker Suite and Die Fledermaus Overture. The 519 is a very busy place; we will not be able to access the ballroom early, and will have to leave promptly at 9:30. We cannot store anything there. Please bring your music and music stand, and set up promptly. Very short break expected.

4. MEMBERSHIP PROCESS You can now renew your membership or join the CCO. Musician members and non-playing members are welcome. To renew your membership or to become a member you must: complete an application for membership (form attached), sign a Media Consent (form attached), and pay fees. You can return your forms by email to emitchell1727@gmail.com or give them to a Door Volunteer at a rehearsal. Potential musician members can attend two trial rehearsals before they need to make a decision about joining, and their fees become due. Other things you need to know: (i) Fees - a small increase since last year. $120 before the December concert (3 concerts), $80 between January and the March concert (2 concerts), and $40 from March 24 to the June concert (1 concert). Students pay one half of this amount. Financial hardship should never interfere with being welcomed into the CCO community - please email or speak to the Chair if you need a reduction or waiver: emitchell1727@gmail.com (ii) Paying fees - first choice: pay your fees by e-transfer to treasurer@ccorchestra.org, Please include a note with your e-transfer saying “Membership fees for _______________(your name”. Fees can also be paid by cheque or cash to the Door Volunteer or any Director you see at the rehearsals; (iii) Membership Application - required (attached). Please give to a Door Volunteer; (iv) Media Consent Form - required (attached). Please give to a Door Volunteer; (v) The CCO’s Vaccination Policy and its COVID Safety Policy are currently in abeyance. For now, the Door Volunteers will not check vaccination status and face masks are strongly recommended, not required. A surge of infections is expected in the fall - musicians should self-monitor and not attend rehearsals if they are ill or have symptoms. The Door Volunteer will have extra masks.


5. IMPORTANT CCO DATES Monday September 11, 7:30pm to 9:30pm - CCO’s 2023-’24 season starts. Rehearsals at The 519, 519 Church Street. Rehearsals continue 7:30 Mondays, unless otherwise noted. Monday October 9 - no rehearsal, Thanksgiving Monday November 6 - 7:00pm to 10:00pm - AGM + Rehearsal. Location: Holy Name Parish, 71 Gough Ave. (Gough and the Danforth, 1 block west of Pape Station) (The 519 is not available) Friday December 8 - 7:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster United, 310 Danforth Saturday December 9 - 7:30pm Concert, Eastminster United Church (No rehearsals Dec. 11, 18, 25, or Jan. 1) Monday January 8, 2024 - Rehearsals resume Mondays, 7:30pm at The 519 Friday March 22 - 7:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster United Saturday March 23 - 7:30pm Concert, Eastminster United Monday March 25 - no rehearsal Monday April 1 - Easter Monday. Discussion required re rehearsal or not. Monday April 8, 7:30pm - rehearsals resume at The 519 Monday May 20 - no rehearsal, Victoria Day. Friday June 14 - 7:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster United Saturday, June 15 - 7:30pm 40th Anniversary Concert, Eastminster United

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