CCO ANNOUNCEMENTS JULY 9

I. THE CCO’S 42^ND SEASON: A Season of Guests

Since the last Announcements, there has been lots of progress on confirming the CCO’s 42^nd season. Concert dates are December 6, 2025, March 7 and June 6, 2026, at Eastminster United Church. As previously announced, the orchestra’s first Guest Conductor is Daniel Manley. CCO Musicians may recognize Daniel, as our tuba player at many, many concerts – although in this photo he looks particularly happy, hopefully about his appointment! Daniel has been conducting since 2013, now primarily in the Haliburton area. Daniel has chosen a programme for December 6 that includes Rebecca Grey, soprano, performing Stauss’ Four Last Songs, Coulthad’s Canadian Mosiacs, and holiday works Fantasia on We Three Kings, by Brian Balmages (a contemporary piece), The March of the Three Kings, by Franz Liszt, and Elfman’s Nightmare Before Christmas.  The programme and the links to the music on IMSLP will be on the Musicians Only portal on the CCO website in early August; a couple of works will need to be distributed at the first rehearsal. 

First rehearsal:  September 8, 2025 (a change from a later date previously announced).

The March and June concerts will be the audition concerts for two Guest Conductors selected from the group of applicants who have applied for the position of CCO Music Director & Conductor. The Job Announcement will be posted this week. For those of you who know conductors who could be interested, and you would recommend, feel free to deliver a copy of the Job Announcement reproduced at the end of these Announcements. The deadline for applications is August 31, 2025. 

II. NEW DIRECTOR & WEBMASTER 

The Board is pleased to announce that we have a new Director and new Webmaster, Lee-Ann Ngu. Many of you, no doubt, have already met Lee-Ann Ngu who has been a volunteer for two years. She was the artist behind the banner project at our anniversary concert, and has been integrally involved this past season with the artwork for our concerts, and with web management. Lee-Ann recently graduated from OCAD University. As the webmaster, Lee-Ann can be contacted at ccorchestrawebmaster@gmail.com.

III. PLAYING IN THE PARK: JULY 27 AND AUGUST 17  Daniel Payne reports that everything is ready for the two concerts in Allan Gardens Park (Children’s Conservatory, west side of the Park, south of Carleton.) The featured small ensembles will perform, then the stage will be turned over to the playing of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by all the CCO members in the audience who have brought their instruments. This part of the programme will be rather spontaneous, depending on timing and the number of CCO musicians. Everyone should come prepared to cheer on the small ensembles, then to play some or all of the four movements (Allegro, Romanze, Menuetto, Rondo).  All instruments are welcome. 

Here are the programmes plus the instructions for obtaining the Eine Kleine Nachtmusik music on our website:

• July 27: 2:00 report time (concert 2:30 to 4:00)

  • Ventilation Octet (Kevin Seymour et al.)

  • CCO Principal Chamber Group (Quartet or Trio depending on David's availability)

  • Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – (all CCO musicians welcome to join in - any or all of the Allegro, Romanze, Menuetto, Rondo.)

• August 17 (concert 2:30 to 4:00)

  • Joana Angeles and Studio

  • Windwerx Quintet (Kevin Seymour et al.)

  • Chamber group under the baton of cellist Matias Espinoza

  • Eine Kleine Nachtmusik -  (all CCO members welcome to join in – likely only the Allegro but maybe more movements if there is time)

For music parts:

• Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525 (woodwinds, strings, brass)

  • select the "Arrangements and Transcriptions" tab, use "For Orchestra (Thomas)" score

  • click "Allegro - Score and Parts" and scroll way down to print out instrument parts:

Following the August 17 concert there will be sandwiches and drinks for CCO members with a Meet and Greet opportunity with our Guest Conductor, Daniel Manley. Hope to see you all there, and hope everyone remembers to bring: instrument, music part, music stand plus page holders against wind, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses.

IV.     WEBSITE UP-DATE Our website, ccorchestra.org has been up-dated for content. Two pages are still under repair, waiting for changes that the carrier is implementing in its programme. The “look” of the website will change once the Logo and Branding Committee finishes its work. 

In the up-dated website, you will find up-dates on the CCO history in the About Us portal, concert dates for our 42nd season, a copy of the Job Announcement, the Important Dates for the upcoming season, concert programmes, and changes to the Musicians Only portal – including the document “What you should know about the CCO” in the General Information box, a document which could be useful for new CCO musicians. (New members need to open an account on the Musicians Only portal as that is where you get directions for music parts – the opening instructions are provided once you click into it.)

V. IMPORTANT DATES THIS SUMMER

July 27 – Playing in the Park, 2:00, Allan Gardens Park

August 17 – Playing in the Park, 2:00, Allan Gardens Park with a picnic for CCO members and an opportunity to meet our first Guest Conductor, Daniel Manley

September 8 – First rehearsal. 7:30 to 9:30 at The 519, 519 Church Street 

The Important Dates for the next season are on the website, Musicans’ Only portal, and will be reproduced in August’s Announcements. 

VI. INVITATIONS TO SUMMER PERFORMANCES 

From Concertmaster Gemma Donn: Come see me, CCO concertmaster Gemma Donn, perform in the TO Fringe Festival where I will be playing in Iris (says goodbye), a new musical and winner of the 2025 Adams prize for musical theatre, at the Michael Young Theatre at Soulpepper. Tickets still remain for shows on Friday July 11 at 10:00pm and Saturday July 12 at 5:45pm, with a possibility of a further show on Sunday. Here’s the link: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/iris-says-goodbye

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Attached: Job Announcement for Conductor Position

CCO JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR

Counterpoint Community Orchestra (CCO) is a not-for-profit, charitable organization committed to building strong community networks through the celebration of music. Established in downtown Toronto in 1984, the CCO is proud of its history as the first 2SLGBTQIA+ symphonic orchestra internationally. As a high-level, non-auditioned orchestra, it creates spaces where people are inspired to explore musicality in a welcoming and supportive environment among other musicians of diverse persuasions, skills, and backgrounds. Guided by a dedicated, volunteer Board of Directors, the orchestra ensures that it creates spaces of safety, acceptance, and inspiration so that all can pursue creative excellence. Through making music, we make community.

The CCO is seeking a new Music Director and Conductor and, in its upcoming season, will be holding audition concerts on March 7 and June 6, 2026; for each, a finalist candidate will be engaged as the Guest Conductor. Each finalist will fulfill a concert cycle, from programming, through 8 to 10 regular Monday night CCO rehearsals, the Dress Rehearsal (March 5 or June 6), culminating in the Concert. The regular rehearsals are held at the 519 Church St. Community Centre, the Dress Rehearsal and the Concert at Easminster United Church. Depending on the number of short-listed candidates, the CCO may offer audition concerts in its 2026/27 season as well.

The Music Director & Conductor reports directly to the Board of Directors and works closely with the Chair, Program Committee, Librarian, and Concertmaster. The successful candidate will be an original and innovative thinker who can bring new ideas, while embracing and building upon the achievements of the CCO as a community orchestra.

Education, Skills and Experience: The successful candidate will demonstrate high artistic standards including

• Significant knowledge of orchestral repertoire

• Strong understanding of musical techniques and instrumentation

• Experience in conducting community ensembles

• Evidence of exemplary leadership and communication skills - a personable, approachable team player

• Demonstrated ability to bring out the best in the musicians and inspire audiences

• Preferred minimum Master’s degree in music or equivalent

Roles and Responsibilities:

• On-podium Performance and Preparation:

  • Present compelling performances that connect with a variety of audiences

  • Assure high standards through inspiration of musician abilities, critical evaluation, and optimization of CCO’s creative potential

  • Provide clear interpretation of music through encouraging individual expression of musicians

  • Identify special production needs and co-ordinate with appropriate personnel in a timely fashion

  • Develop concert programs that respect and enhance the CCO’s mission as a 2SLGBTQIA+ orchestra

• Off-podium:

  • Collaboratively develop and manage artistic projects, particularly the season’s programme and the orchestra’s long-range artistic plans

  • Serve as a community ambassador and work in partnership with the Board

  • Review input from musicians, audience feedback, performance and programming success

The Application Process:

By the deadline of August 31, 2025:

Submit electronically (as PDF’s) to counterpointapplication@gmail.com:

(i) a letter of application

(ii) a curriculum vitae or resume

(iii) the names and contact information for two references

plus, if available:

(iii) a 10 minute video, or link to a video, of a work the Applicant conducted at a concert.

Other Terms:

1. The CCO is scheduling audition concerts through at least its 2025-26 season and possibly longer. Accordingly, the CCO Music Director and Conductor position will not be awarded before September 2026 or January 2027.

2. The finalist candidates will each be offered a contract for one audition concert cycle, and, as a CCO Guest Conductor and independent contractor, will receive an honorarium of $3,000.00 for the concert cycle (ie, the programming, rehearsing and presentation of the audition concert).

3. The successful finalist for the CCO Music Director and Conductor position will be offered a multi-year contract, as an independent contractor, with an annual honorarium of $9.000.00.

4. The CCO will treat the names of all Applicants responding to this Job Announcement as confidential although the CCO will announces and publicize the name of the successful candidate for the Music Director & Conductor position as soon as a contract has been signed.

Note: The CCO is committed to providing an inclusive, diverse, and respectful environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without discrimination, consistently with Ontario’s Human Rights Code.

Announcement posted July 2025.