Some of us in Canada are looking to Spring….and others of us are still looking for winter! Whatever your perspective is, by May 25th the sun and warmth should have come to Toronto . We are preparing for our recital at Roy Thomson Hall; an opportunity that we have had postponsed since May 2020. We couldn’t be any more excited. Roy Thomson Hall The concert at Roy Thomson Hall is Thursday May 25th at Noon. This is an organ concert series to highlight the gorgeous organ in RTH, and we are there to compliment it and let it shine. As such, our repertoire will include many organ peices including the ..read more

Have you ever wondered what a rainbow wears for clothes?…..read on to find discover for yourself. Canadian composer David K. MacIntyre has composed a work titled Late Canadian Carols that he has conceived as a response to Britten’s iconic work. This year we will present this work on Saturday December 17th at 2pm at Forest Hill United Church in Toronto. Described by the composer as  “binding music of today with words of long age” his large work, Late Canadian Carols celebrates a diversity of living lives”.  Some of these extraordinary beings include a woman dressed in leaves, a man a ..read more

Here at Cantala our favorite Winter themed concert includes A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. However, we have now presented that work recently and made an outstanding recording of the work with Canadian legend Harpist Erica Goodman, so what could be next to rival that work? Canadian composer David K. MacIntyre has composed a work titled Late Canadian Carols that he has conceived as a response to Britten’s iconic work. This year we will present this work on Saturday December 17th at 2pm. Accompanied by the gorgeous pianist Asal Iranmehr,  this English work includes texts from Inu ..read more

What do you do to keep your mental health where you want it to be? How do you get out of a rut when you’re feeling down? I have exciting news. A study out of Britain suggests that just listening to music for 9 minutes makes you feel happier. Off the top of my mind, I can’t think of anything that would lift my mood quicker than that! Can you? Researchers in Britain are reporting that most of us may benefit from being prescried a daily musical allowance from our doctor to improve our mood. The researchers found that people often use music to make them feel happy, process sadness and to aid their ..read more

This September Cantala continues on its 15th season journey back to choral vibrancy! Please mark these dates! Choral Singing is BACK after two long years of Covid. First Rehearsal: Monday September 12th, 2022, 7pm. Location: Forest Hill United Church, 2 Wembley Road, Toronto. Fall Retreat: TBA Community Appearance: Sunday December 10th, 2022 at Forest Hill United Church. Call 10am. Service at 11am. Seasonal Concert: Saturday December 17th, 2022, 2pm; Call 12:30pm. Location: Forest Hill United Church. January 2023 First Rehearsal: Monday January 9th, 2022 Community Appearance: Sunday April 9t ..read more

Cantala and I had our first in person rehearsal in two years in February 2022. It felt like it had been both eons ago as well as just yesterday that we had been together. (Isn’t that a good indication of good friendships). What a time warp this pandemic has been for me. As I re enter the world of choral music and choral programming I feel I have many new ideas and perspectives. Wall mural vector silhouette of a female head using musical symbols. Its innovation and creativity that is inspiring me forward. Course: Pixals.ca. As I was programming for the May concert with the Canadian Men’s Cho ..read more

Calling all Alum, Returning Cantala Choir Singers and Singing Hopefuls ! istock photo “Choral Singing” As we all come out of hibernation from our latest Canadian winter, as well as look beyond the horizon with more optimism about the pandemic becoming an endemic, Cantala Choir is planning its spring 2022 composers project. We have many pieces that unpublished composers have been waiting for us to learn and record and the opportunity is now upon us to continue this meaningful, good work. Spring Project 2022 starts Monday May 8th-the day after our Spring Harmony concert with the Canadian Men’s ..read more

It has been over two years, but a mini-Cantala has been back singing together prepping for a collaborative project with the Canadian Men’s Chorus. On Saturday May 7th, at 2pm on the lawns of Forest Hill United Church we will gather to celebrate spring in harmony. Collaborative works to be performed with Cantala and the Canadian Men’s Chorus: Little Man in a Hurry-Eric Whitacre Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree -Elizabeth Poston Cantala’s Repertoire: Aai Hai Ho-traditional Chinese, arranged by Tyler Arcari The Sheep in the Meadow-Malcolm Dalglish 5 songs with text by Sylvia Plath-Alejandro Oyuela Ca ..read more

Every year I receive many scores from composers near and far asking Cantala to consider learning and performing their music. Lately these requests have been building up and I just couldn’t ignore their requests any longer! So I decided to add on a spring project every year into Cantala’s season where we will workshop and record this music for these composers. It is exciting work and we are thrilled to do it. This past week saw the final recording of 8 weeks of work learning Beverly Lewis’ Five Texts of William Shakespeare for SSA a cappella Choir. We had a wonderful time learning this music s ..read more

Every year I tell Cantala that they are the closest I’ll ever get to driving a Mercedes Benz. The fit and finish of the choir in May is so smooth, flexible and …well, just plain gorgeous. The choir can accelerate and decelerate quickly- at a moments twitch of my eyebrows too-and its all just plain fun for me now standing on the podium in front of them. But this year Cantala is no longer my Mercedes…..I have upgraded them to a Tesla. They have upped their game and we are so excited to share our sleek, polished performance on Saturday. Two more days until we get to deliver a transformative chora ..read more