New Musical Friends: The Bach Chamber Youth Choir

New Musical Friends:

The Bach Chamber Youth Choir

Jane Greenwood, the Choir Administrator approached the parish about the possibility

of their Youth Chamber Choir making St Barnabas their new home. Here is the some of the background Jane provided.

The Bach Chamber Youth Choir is a group of 30 young people aged 13 through 24, mixed voicing. This choir rehearses two hours weekly, September through early May. They perform at the three major performances of all the combined choirs (5-8 solo songs and several songs with the other choirs), at the Toronto Kiwanis Festival and in guest appearances at benefit concerts. They also do a one-day workshop and performance with several other youth choirs from southern Ontario each season.

This coming season is a transitional year for the organization and we want to focus on the growth of BCYC.  It is felt that there is room in Toronto for a good SATB youth choir and that there are many young people who would benefit from the experience of singing with BCYC. 

The hope is that by moving the rehearsals to an accessible location, we would attract more young people from arts schools, university, colleges and children who age-out of the existing children’s choir organizations.  The Board of BCC is in discussion with a young, vibrant conductor to become part of the team to conduct BCYC next season.

A  full rehearsal was held April 28 to test out the space in the Gym and the reviews were positive. We are very excited about the possibilities for BCYC and that St. Barnabas will be  partnering with them starting this Fall.

Contact:  Jane Greenwood

23 Mossbank Drive Toronto ON M1G 2C1

Telephone: 416-431-0790

Fax: 416-431-7554

Email: info@bachchildrenschorus.ca

Visit the St Barnabas website here »

Peter and the Dinosaurs

Musica Reflecta Director Anastasia Tchernikova conducts the performance of Peter and the Wolf, at St Barnabas on the Danforth,  narrated by Fr Jonathan Eayrs.

Earlier this month (May 2013), many families from the Danforth community found themselves in St. Barnabas for a reason they may not have expected. Alas, however unexpected the reason, the results were quite magical. On Sunday May 5th, St. Barnabas played host to the budding chamber orchestra Musica Reflecta, in a team effort with the rising group of visual artists Madeleine Collective, for a night of storytelling and music for an audience of all ages.

Peter and the Dinosaurs, as the event was so called, was a collaboration between the two groups with the goal to bring the wonders of live classical music to a fresh audience, an audience that remains open-minded, yet discerning in their taste; children.

In this vein, who better to kick off the evening than 8-year-old Laurelle Lassonde, who made her piano debut under the baton of Music Director and her piano teacher Anastasia Tchernikova, playing a special commission by Canadian composer Chris Thornborrow,  Mini Piano Concerto No.1.

Most striking though, were the orchestral showcases in Carnival of the Dinosaurs, a piece by Canadian Opera Company children's music composer Dean Burry, as well as the timeless classic, Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, narrated by none other than Father Jonathan Eayrs and complete with a dreamy collection of visuals by the talented Madeleine Collective.

In all, the project and partnership between Musica Reflecta, Madeleine Collective, and St. Barnabas Anglican Church yielded a night of wonder for both kids and adults alike, and continues to resonate as a successful event in the neighbourhood. However, for all the musicians in the orchestra that night, no praise was worth more than when the orchestra hit a dramatic pause in per-formance, and from far back in audience a young voice energetically exclaimed "DINOSAURS!".

Will Callaghan, horn and Musica Reflecta co-producer

• Visit the Musica Reflecta website here »
• Visit the St Barnabas website here »

Good Friday Ecumenical Walk 2013

What a gift to share so many ways of walking with Jesus. Each threshold crossed, each community entered, expressed Christ’s Passion in a unique way.

The ecumenical walk this year started out at the Danforth Church then moved on to Eastminster United, St Barnabas, Riverdale Prebyterian and finished at Holy Name where all enjoyed refreshments and hot cross buns. Hundreds from the community took part.

The walk provided each Christian community an opportunity of expressing their spirituality. St Barnabas’s offering combined elements expressive of our tradition, highlighting our gifts.

The choir, dressed in black, doubled as the crowd surrounding a central cross. They sang a haunting contemporary motet by the Latvian composer Rihards Dubra.

In addition, the Taize tradition of the parish was honoured with a trio of flute, piano and cello accompanying simple choruses that encouraged all to participate.

There were three “stations” marked by the  striking banners St Barnabas is so fortunate to have. Youthful and mature readers representing the diversity of our congregation offered short scripture readings and meditations.

Our contribution showed our way of following Jesus to be one that connects us with the beauty of what is holy and true. We are nourished by roots that draw from the wisdom and spiritual practices of many centuries, and celebrate the creativity and excellence of our Christian choral inheritance.

Visit the St Barnabas website here »