CCO ANNOUNCEMENTS NOVEMBER 8 2025

I. NOVEMBER 10 REHEARSAL NOTES FROM GUEST CONDUCTOR DANIEL MANLEY

"7:30 - 8:15 Canada Mosaic

8:15 - 8:30 Xmas sing along

8:30 - 8:40 break

8:40 - 9:00 Fantasia on We Three Kings

9:00 - 9:20 Four Last Songs I, II

Comments on Fantasia on We Three Kings:

• Notes from the Composer: Fantasia on We Three Kings was written as a serious concert piece for the holiday season. The melody is introduced in fragments over a haunting orchestration.  After a short pause, the entire melody is presented by the oboe, who is later joined by the rest of the woodwinds and strings. Several harmonic treatments lead to a powerful brass fanfare, as the woodwinds outline the melody with a rhythmic ostinato. A second carol What Child Is This? is introduced briefly, then emerges into a brilliant countermelody. As the tonality changes to minor, the piece moves toward a chamber feel; violins contribute long melodic phrases above a subtle appearance of the theme. As the horns announce the theme, the piece builds in volume and intensity, and drives toward a powerful and climactic ending”

• 'Powerful brass fanfare' – as a tuba player, I’m here for a brass fanfare, but these feel tense and unresolved. They’re cliffhangers. Making you want to hold on and see what happens.

• This fantasia is full of mystery and intrigue. Christmas carols in a minor key have always fascinated me – for such a happy and joyous time of year, why write songs in minor keys? But they’re so rich and satisfying at the same time!

• Apart from the fanfares, the piece before 156 should be very fluid and flowing, no hard edges.

• But with the coda from 156, mystery gives way to a dance, a gigue, overlapping voices, a frenzy breaks out. Horns come back in half time to try to restore order; trying three times even! Finally, the trumpets flip the script and surprise us with a major chord (Picardy third, anyone?) and the piece ends in a triumphant C major!”

The last edition of CCo Announcements inadvertently omitted a link to the lyrics to Four Last Songs. Here is a programme note from the Boston Symphony providing interesting details around Strauss’ release of his work as well as the lyrics: https://share.google/La4YlIeToKozyuBPo

II. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, NOVEMBER 17 

All Members in Good Standing should have received an email about the AGM, with five attachments: 

• Agenda

• Minutes for the 2024 AGM

• Treasurer’s Report 

• Financial Statements

• Annual Report from the Board of Directors. 

If you did not receive this email, it may be that you were not a “member in good standing” for purposes of the AGM. Article IV. of the CCO By-Laws provides:

"a)    Membership Rights:

Any member in good standing

i)      as at 30 days prior to the date of the AGM or any other meetings of Membership shall be entitled to one vote at such meetings”.

All musicians and volunteers can attend the rehearsal as usual on November 17, and may review the documents and may participate. It is only voting that is affected. Two membership lists will be available at the rehearsal on November 10 - the list that existed 30 days before November 17, and the list as it exists today. “Good standing” is determined by paying fees on time. If you think you have been excluded improperly from the good standing list, please email emitchell1727@gmail.com asap. 

The By-Laws also provide that the Agenda can be amended at the meeting by majority support at a vote, and that nominees for Director positions can be made from the floor, adding to the list of candidates the Board has set out in the Agenda. The By-Laws set the maximum number of Directors at 9. 

There will be a limited number of printed copies of the relevant documents available on November 17, as they have been sent electronically. Please pring and bring your own copies or bring your device, so that you can refer to them if  necessary. 

Music Stands and Anniversary T Shirts will be available at the rehearsals on November 10 and 17. The T shirts are not selling well, and that initiative will be stopped on the 17th unless there is a sudden rush of sales. The Board will make a final decision on the music stands after that date. 

III. WINTER MOSAIC DECEMBER 6, 7:30PM 

Our holiday concert is fast approaching. 

Poster - attached. Please add to your Instagram, Fb and other social media accounts, circulate to friends and family, and post in your neighbourhood. 

Tickets - available on our website, from Helen Li (clarinet) at rehearsals, and by using the QR code on the poster. Everyone is expected to sell at least two tickets. Prices have not changed in years - $20 generally and $12 for Youth - to encourage attendance. Eastminster Church holds an audience of 500 - there’s lots of room for more. 

(Speaking of Instagram, Lee-Ann has created a lovely announcement of Winter Mosaic on the CCO’s Instagram account that you will want to see.) 

Dress Rehearsal on Dec. 5 starts at 7:00pm. The Church doors will open at 6:00 for musicians, 5:00 for the set-up crew. No Green Room. Help with set up is always welcome, and the set-up will remain in place overnight for the concert. 

Concert at 7:30pm. There is a Green Room downstairs to put your things - stairs on the left wall of the Sanctuary. Doors open for musicians at 6:30. 

Fundraisers:  the 50/50 raffle and refreshments at intermission.During the intermission, we offer cookies and water, with donation jars on the tables.  Both initiatives contribute to the enjoyment of the evening, and also significantly to the CCO’s financial bottom line.  

Volunteers: cookie makers (and purchasers)! - CCO musicians provide the cookies for the intermission. Great if you have holiday baking skills you want to show off, or just purchase and donate. Other volunteers always welcome: Concert volunteers (ticket takers, raffle ticket sellers, ushers, cookie servers/hosts, etc.), posting posters in someone else’s neighbourhood, set up and take down. (After the concert, the CCO must strip our stuff from the Sanctuary, and move what needs moving 3 floors up into our storage area - fit stairclimbers most welcome!). 

Canada Mosaic Music Parts: To be left on the music stands at the end of the concert. Librarian Mario Lo Monaco will collect and return the parts to the orchestra that loaned them to the CCO. 

III.  THREE UPCOMING GIGS 

(i) Jude Littlefield Buschien, double bass, is playing with the University of Toronto Opera, performing the Canadian premier of Gaetano Donizetti's Viva la Mamma (Le Convenienze ed Inconvenienze Teatrali) from November 13–16, 2025, at the Elgin Theatre, 7:30 PM on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 2:30 PM Sunday. The opera is a comedy about a traveling opera troupe. 

(ii) New violinist, Paige Raven Wynn, has invited CCO musicians to a workshop on November 15: 

"For all string players looking for new and creative approaches to their instrument, I am offering an opportunity to learn and explore in a low pressure environment. I will be hosting an  educational workshop at Array Space to intuitively introduce new methods of sound production, and ensemble playing on November 15th from 2pm-5pm. The music is written to make  these new techniques as approachable as possible. If you are interested but concerned about skill level please reach out and we can discuss! I hope to see you there!

Here is the link to the workshop. It's free, no preparation needed and the CMC is giving a promo code on their concert after to all  "participants!  https://www.arraymusic.ca/contemporary- strings-workshop/"

(iii) 519 Winter Wonderland Children’s Party, December 13, 12:30-1:00pm  - the CCO has been invited to send musicians to the 519’s children’s holiday party to play non-religious and seasonal music. This is a casual, child-focussed event. If interested in joining, please email emitchell1727@gmail.com. This is a small gig, but a great opportunity to thank the 519 for providing our rehearsal space. 

III. IMPORTANT CCO DATES 

Rehearsals are every Monday, 7:30 to 9:30pm at the 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street, unless otherwise noted here. Please let your section leader know if you cannot attend a rehearsal. Concerts are December 6, March 7 and June 6, with Dress Rehearsals the Friday night before. All concerts will be at Eastminister United Church, 310 Danforth Avenue (Chester subway), 7:30 start.  

Musicians must bring their own music stand and part to each rehearsal.

Snacks are provided for the break by section in rotation: first violins, then seconds, then violas and celli, then winds, brass and piano, then leftovers, and back to the start. 

November 10 - rehearsal. Snacks Nov. 10: leftovers. Nov. 17 - first violins

November 13 - Board meeting, by Zoom. If interested, ask to attend: emitchell1727@gmail.com

November 17 - Annual General Meeting 7:30 to 8:30 at the regular rehearsal. Election of Directors and reports on CCO business.

November 24 - This rehearsal will be at the concert venue, Eastminster Church, 310 Danforth Avenue. 7:30 to 9:30. Snacks second violins.

Rehearsals return to the 519 on Dec. 1.with snacks by viola and celli.

December 5, 7:00 pm - Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster Church. Snacks winds, brass and piano

December 6, 7:30pm -  concert, “Winter Mosaic”, Eastminster Church. Guest Conductor Mr. Daniel Manley. Featured soloist Rebecca Gray, soprano.

Following the concert, the next rehearsal will be in January.

January 5, 2026 - 7:30pm rehearsals resume Mondays at the 519 under our new Guest Conductor, Dr. Samuel Tam.

February 16 - no rehearsal - Family Day

March 6 - 7:00 to 10:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster Church

March 7 - 7:30pm Concert, Eastminster Church, featured soloist Brian Baty, double bass.

March 9 - No rehearsal

March 16 - 7:30pm - rehearsals resume Mondays at the 519 under our new Guest Conductor Mr. Isaac Page.

April 6 - no rehearsal - Easter Monday

May 18 - no rehearsal - Victoria Day

June 5 - 7:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster Church

June 6 - 7:30pm Concert, Eastminster Church, featured soloist, Gemma Donn, violin.