2023 Season

Winter 2023 Concert

Winter Hymn
Sunday, December 3, 3:00 PM
Rosedale Presbyterian Church (129 Mount Pleasant Rd)

Join us for a concert of seasonal music, ranging from ethereal melodies to some familiar favourites.

Tickets are $20 (cash at the door, or can be purchased with a service fee through Eventbrite). Children 12 and under can pay their age, cash at the door.

Bring some cash for our gourmet sweet sale at the end of the concert.

Concert Program

Concert Lyrics

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/winter-hymn-tickets-758468739417?aff=oddtdtcreator

Spring 2023 Concert

In Remembrance: A Tribute to Mary Legge

Sunday, June 11, 2:30pm
Rosedale Presbyterian Church (129 Mount Pleasant Rd)

Alice Malach, Artistic Director
With guests:
Rosedale Presbyterian Church Choir, Chistopher Dawes, Director
Scott Metcalfe, Piano

This concert in honour of our founding director, Mary Legge, will feature some of her favourites from past seasons, as well as music that is new for the choir. Mary was forward-thinking and innovative, so we honour her with a diverse selection of music that we know she would have appreciated.

Tickets are $20 cash at the door, or can be purchased with a service fee through Eventbrite. Children 12 and under can pay their age, cash at the door. Bring some cash for our gourmet sweet sale at the end of the concert.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-remembrance-a-tribute-to-mary-legge-tickets-641733842197

Concert Program

Lyrics

2020-2021 Season

Regretfully, due to COVID-19, there currently are no plans for in person public concerts. In the meantime, we are continuing to express our love of music and invite interested singers to join us! Contact us for more details.

Rehearsals

We will be holding “hybrid” rehearsals led by our Artistic Director, Alice Malach, starting September 9th, 2020. The rehearsals will be online, with an optional outdoor distanced masked rehearsal component, in North York.

A package of music will be emailed to all participating singers prior to the first rehearsal. New music this fall will be focused on accessible music of diverse cultures. The goal here is not to work on complicated repertoire, but to continue the act of singing for personal growth, joy and community. A number of pieces will engage the entire body by including movement. It is music that will appeal to children, for those of you who might have some little (or big) ones singing along with you at home! These are some of the pieces planned for the Fall (subject to change):

• Al Shlosha D’varim, Allan E.. Naplan
• Bring Me Little Water, Silvy, Huddie W. Ledbetter (Lead Belly), arr. Moira Smiley
•  Solstice Carole, Kim Baryluk
• Sesere eeye, Traditional Song and Dance from the Torres Strait Islands
• Wau Bulan, Tracy Wong (Malaysia)
• Ikan Kekek, Tracy Wong (Malaysia)
• Humming Chorus, Puccini
• Stand by Me, arr. Mac Huff
• One Voice, Ruth Moody
• Holiday Music

We will be workshopping the two songs from Malaysia with the arranger, Tracy Wong.

Workshops

Workshop on Russian music with Zimfira Poloz (Tebe Poem and more). February 9, 2021.
Workshop on South Indian music with Suba Sankaran (Mooshika Vaahana, Solkattu Choir). March 8, 2021
Workshop on Arabic choral music with Shireen Abu-Khader (Yamo, Badru Tam). April 21, 2021.

2019-2020 Season

We welcome Acting Artistic Director Nancy Singla for this enriching season.

A Refugee Benefit Concert
Saturday, November 9th

Refugee benefit concert in collaboration with other groups at Forest Hill United Church, to support Eritrean refugees

A private Holiday gig
December 2019

A Ceremony Of Carols
December 8th, 2019
The first half is the titled Ceremony of Carols, Benjamin Britten, with harp accompaniment.

Repertoire:
PART I
A Ceremony of Carols part I: Procession – Wolcum Yole! – There is No Rose – That Yonge Childe – Balulalow
A Ceremony of Carols part II: As Dew in Aprille – This Little Babe – in Freezing Winter Night – Spring Carol – Deo Gracias (Adam Lay YBounden) – Recession

PART II
Les Anges dans nos campagnes
Dirait-on
Gaudete! Gaudete!
Mid-Winter
Mary’s Lullaby
Frobisher Bay
Apple-Tree Wassail
Adam Lay YBounden
Carol of the Bells
O My Dear Heart
Deck the Halls

For Fun
December 22, 2019
Forest Hill United Church service with Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and Britten’s “A Boy is Born”

The Events
Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 7:30
The Guloien Theatre at Streetcar Crowsnest
A theatre production The Events with Neccessary Angel Theatre Company https://www.crowstheatre.com/whats-on/view-all/the-events
Written by David Greig
Original Music by John Browne
Directed by Alan Dilworth
We were grateful to participate in this amazing production in the last show before the run, and our season, drew to a close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2018-2019

Penthelia A Cappella
Dec 2nd, 2018

Shirei Penthelia (Songs of Penthelia)
June 9th, 2019

2017-2018 Season

The Canadian Landscape

Sunday, December 3rd, 2017
Continuing our celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, join Penthelia Singers for an afternoon of Canadian music, including a selection of music based on Inuit poetry and folk songs. Special guest, Raigelee Alorut, will present a throat singing demonstration as part of the concert. Other music includes works by Srul Irving Glick, Mark Sirett, and Meaghan Smith. .  Alice Malach, Artistic Director.

Sing! A Woman’s Work

Sunday, May 27, 2018
Part of the Sing! Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, celebrating Acappella music from around the world, this concert will focus on the beauty, strength, and power of the female voice.

Bach to Broadway

Coming Sunday June 3rd, 2018

2015-2016

Magic and Musical Enchantment

Sunday, November 22nd, 2015
Join Penthelia Singers for an afternoon of musical magic and enchanting songs to inspire and delight you. The concert features a special guest magician/illusionist.  The rich musical selections include a variety of styles of music spanning from the Renaissance to Contemporary, including favourite magical themes from Cinderella and The Wizard of Oz! Alice Malach, Artistic Director.

In the Kitchen with Penthelia Singers

Sunday, June 5th, 2016
Penthelia Singers invite you to join us in the kitchen for an east coast inspired kitchen party! Traditional sea shanties and Acadian reels will blend with modern Canadian classics to get you clapping your hands and stomping your feet. Alice Malach, Artistic Director. Special musical guests Kirk Elliott, fiddle, and Marty Smyth, piano. 

2014-2015

Northern Landscapes

Sunday, November 23^rd, 2014
Penthelia Singers present songs from Scandinavia, Northern Europe, and across Canada.  Join us as we sing the sounds of wind, snow, and ice, as well as the warmth of the hearth and company of friendly folk.

Music of the Americas

Sunday, June 7th, 2015
In celebration of Toronto’s hosting of the 2015 Pan Am Games this summer, Penthelia Singers is pleased to present a concert inspired by the rich musical heritage and cultures of the Americas – from Mexico to Ecuador to Canada and the USA. Join us for an evening of song, featuring works for women’s choir such as Las Amarillas and La Lluvia (Stephen Hatfield), O Susanna, Northwest Passage, and many more! Alice Malach, Artistic Director.

2013-2014

Dancing Day
Sunday November 24 2013, 3:00pm

Seasonal Sing-Along Concert
Wednesday December 18 2013, 7:00pm

A Tribute to Canadian Folk

Wednesday June 4 2014, 7:30pm
A celebration of Canadian folk music with selections both traditional and contemporary.  Featuring the debut of a new arrangement of Farewell to Nova Scotia by our student contest winner Lucas Oikle.  Alice Malach, Artistic Director; Jenny Crober, piano; Brian Katz, guitar

2012-2013

A Ceremony of Carols
Sunday November 25, 2012, 3pm

Seasonal Sing-Along Concert
Wednesday December 12, 2012, 6:30pm

On Broadway

June 2 2013, 7:30pm
An exciting evening celebrating musical theatre and Broadway classics from the early 20th Century to present day. Alice Malach, Artistic Director;  Dan Bickle, piano; Adam David, percussion
Complete Repertoire

2011-2012

Vocal Treasures

Sunday, December 4, 2011, 3:00pm
A variety of a cappella music for women’s choir ranging from Renaissance madrigals to contemporary Canadian compositions.

15th Anniversary Gala Celebration

Sunday, June 3, 2012, 7:30pm
Featuring an all-Canadian repertoire of favourite pieces from years past as well as some new gems. Composers represented included Ruth Watson Henderson, Eleanor Daley, Donald Patriquin, Srul Irving Glick, and Stephen Hatfield. The choir also sang arrangements of African songs by Suba Sankaran of ‘Autorickshaw’ fame. Special guest conductor: Mary Legge
Complete Repertoire

2010-2011

Scenes from Childhood

Sunday, November 28, 2010, 3:00pm (pre-concert) & 4:00pm
Women’s choral arrangements of nursery rhymes, lullabies and other texts reminiscent of childhood memories. The child-friendly version of the concert at 3:00pm features props and treats and a sing-along!

A Night At the Opera

Sunday, May 29, 2011, 7:30pm
An evening of operatic favourites featuring tenor soloist Mitchell Pady. Repertoire includes choral arrangements for the Overture to Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro, choruses from operas by Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Wagner and many more! Judith deHaney, accompanist; Alice Malach, conductor. Heliconian Hall.

2009-2010

Neighbourhood Voices

Sunday, November 29, 2009 3:00pm
Penthelia Singers with Nancy Olfert and the Branksome Hall Choir. Both choirs are featured individually and jointly as they unite the neighbourhood in song. Alice Malach, and Nancy Olfert conductors. Rosedale Presbyterian Church.

Journey to the Middle East and Beyond

Sunday, May 30, 2010, 3:00pm
A varied selection of choral repertoire based on texts and music from the Middle East, singing in languages such as Arabic, Turkish, Persian and Hebrew. Featuring collaborations with musician and composer Aaron Lightstone and belly dancing from the Shades of Araby dance troupe. Alice Malach, conductor. Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre.

2008-2009

Christmas with Penthelia

Sunday, November 30, 2008, 3:00pm
A concert full of seasonal music including such favourites as Carol of the Bells, Candlelight Carol, Wassalin’ and many more. Includes a carol sing-along. Alice Malach, conductor; Mary Legge, organ; Judith deHaney, piano. Rosedale Presbyterian Church.

Love Song

Sunday, February 8, 2009, 3:00pm
Repertoire revolving around the theme of Love. Works include excerpts from Liebeslieder (Songs of Love) by Brahms and the premiere of Birdsongs by Canadian composer Timothy Sullivan. Alice Malach, conductor; Judith deHaney, piano. Rosedale Presbyterian Church.

Live at Lula!

Sunday, June 14, 2009, doors at 5:30pm, performance at 7:00pm.
Jazz, classical and world music meet and meld when Penthelia Singers takes to the stage of the Lula Lounge. Featuring Suba Sankaran of Autorickshaw and The Brian Katz Trio. Alice Malach, conductor. Lula Lounge.

2007-2008

Season of Light

Sunday December 9, 2007, 3:00 pm. Featuring works for women’s voices by Glick, Raminsh, Telfer and more. Debbie Pady, violin; Senya Trubashnik, oboe; Alice Malach, conductor. Rosedale Presbyterian Church.
Complete Repertoire

A Victorian Salon

Sunday June 1, 2008, 2:00pm.
A varied program of music including works by Brahms, Schumann, Gilbert and Sullivan, and others. Join with the choir in a Victorian parlour song sing-a-long! Emilie Lom, harp; Judith deHaney, accompanist; Alice Malach, conductor. St. Lawrence Hall. Complete Repertoire

1997-2007

For concerts from our first ten seasons under the artistic direction of Mary Legge, please click here.