CCO ANNOUNCEMENTS OCTOBER 23 25

This edition of Announcements contains an exciting announcement, as well as rehearsal notes, and up-dates of interest. 

I. OCTOBER 27 REHEARSAL NOTES FROM GUEST CONDUCTOR DANIEL MANLEY

Thanks for such a wonderful rehearsal last week with Rebecca, and everything we worked on! We are going to need to work on lighter dynamics in FLS, which are a universal challenge, no matter where  you  go. But I'm feeling super chuffed with it already. It's going to be gorgeous!

7:30 - 7:50 March of the Three Kings (from rehearsal F)

7:50 - 8:15 Nightmare Before Christmas

8:15 - 8:30 Fantasia on We Three Kings

8:30 - 8:40 break

8:40 - 9:05 Canada Mosaic (Mamselle Québecoise, Harbour Sounds, Happy New Year)

9:05 - 9:20 Four Last Songs (mvts 1 and 2)

II. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW GUEST CONDUCTORS 

As reported many times, the CCO has been seeking Guest Conductors for all of this season’s concerts. We posted a Job Announcement in June 2025, advising that the CCO was holding a series of audition concerts as our process for selecting a longer-term Music Director/Conductor. Subsequently, many talented Conductors applied for the Guest Conductor positions, and the Board was able to reach its decision. 

We are pleased to announce the appointments of: Dr. Samuel Tam as the Guest Conductor for the CCO’s March 7 concert, and Mr. Isaac Page for our June 6 concert. These two now join our current Guest Conductor, Daniel Manley, as the candidates to be considered for the CCO’s long-term position of CCO Music Director/Conductor. 

We proudly present the CCO’s conducting line-up in photos. You can find out much more about their excellent qualifications m on-line: 

Daniel Manley, December 6  Concert

Samuel Tam, March 7 Concert

Isaac Page, June 6 Concert

Two matters of interest to members. 

First, Members’ opinions will be surveyed by the Search Committee at the end of each concert, and again after all three concerts are completed. The Board will use the survey results in making its final decision on who will lead the CCO for the next several years. 

Secondly, regarding programming. Creating good concert programmes is very much part of a Conductor’s job;  at the CCO, that job is done in conjunction with the Programme Committee and the Board. The CCO had already committed to three soloists for our 2025-’26 season before the Job Announcement was posted last spring. Accordingly, each Guest Conductors has had to create a concert programme around the featured soloist’s work.  While normally members' suggestions for works will be considered when programmes are being created, for the 2025-’26 season, our Guest Conductors need to be free to plan the remaining parts of their programmes unimpeded. 

The programming for the CCO’s 43rd season - 2026-’27 - will start as soon as possible after the Music Director is awarded following the last audition concert and the members’ survey. Accordingly, if any CCO members have ideas they would like considered for next year’s concerts, please forward them to emitchell1727@gmail.com, including a Re line of “Programme Idea for ’26-’27”. Those ideas will be forwarded to the Programme Committee at the appropriate time. 

III. ITEMS OF INTEREST 

(I) Volunteers for Winter Mosaic  on Dec. 6 - serious concert planning has begun. If you, or someone you know, would like to volunteer in advance or at the concert, please email emitchell1727@gmail.com with the volunteer’s contact information. Our Front of House Volunteer, Robert, will contact them. We always need poster distributors and others in advance of the concert; at the concert we need door volunteers, cookie servers, 50/50 ticket sellers, ushers, and others. Thankfully our Stage Manager, Rowan, is returning and we are expecting Enza Anderson to host once again. New volunteers welcome. 

(ii) AGM - November 17, at the beginning of the rehearsal. If you are considering joining the Board as a Director, please let any current Director know. Three vacancies already exist, plus nominations will be received from the floor; 

(iii) CCO 40th Anniversary T Shirts & Used Music Stands - there will be used music stands available for purchase for $15 at the rehearsals until November 17, after which date they will be donated. If there is sufficient interest (26 orders) before November 17, we will do a new order for CCO 40th Anniversary shirts - right now we only have about 9 orders. Interested purchasers can sign a list kept by the Door Volunteers at rehearsals indicating the number of shirts they want. Sizing will follow later if the order goes in. 

(iv) Library Storage -  a group of volunteers helped make the final shift of the CCO’s Music Library into our storage space at Eastminster. Thank you’s from our new Librarian, Mario Lo Monaco, to the volunteers who helped us, Rick, Russell, Terry, and Robert. They built shelves then moved many many boxes of music parts up three very long flights of stairs. Our previous, long-serving Librarian, Bob Mitchell, seemed pretty thankful that all that CCO stuff had finally moved out of his home. Bob and his successor both look pretty happy about finishing this task:

(v) Notice from the Librarian - The music for Canada Mosaic has been loaned to the CCO from another orchestra. Only pencil markings are allowed. All copies (and most especially the originals) must be returned to Mario on concert night. 

IV. IMPORTANT CCO DATES 

Musicians are expected to bring their own music stand and part to each rehearsal. Rehearsals are every Monday evening, 7:30 to 9:30 at the 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street, unless otherwise noted here. Please let your section leader know if you cannot attend a rehearsal. Snacks are provided for the break by section in rotation: first violins, then seconds, then violas and celli, then winds, brass and piano. Concerts this season are on Saturdays December 6, March 7 and June 6, with Dress Rehearsals the Friday night before at the concert venue. All concerts this season will be at Eastminister United Church, 310 Danforth Avenue (Chester subway), 7:30 start.  

October 27 - rehearsal. Snacks: viola, cello and double bass.

Nov. 3 - winds and brass.

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 other CCO business.

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

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

December 6, 7:30pm -  concert, “Winter Mosaic”, Eastminster Church. Featured soloist Rebecca Grey, soprano

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

January 5, 2026 - 7:30pm rehearsals resume Mondays at the 519

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

April 6 - no rehearsal - Easter Monday

May 18 - no rehearsal - Victoria Day

June 6 - 7:00pm Dress Rehearsal, Eastminster Church

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