ST. MICHAEL’ÄôS CHOIR SCHOOL:

Sing We Noˆ´l, Noˆ´l We Sing
Massey Hall, Friday, December 11, 2009, 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 12, 2009, 3 p.m.
Tickets: $36.50 - $22.50 - Call 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office
www.masseyhall.com

Toronto, October 22, 2009 ’Äì Let the joy resound! Toronto’Äôs beloved St. Michael’Äôs Choir School celebrates the glorious sounds and spirit of Christmas with its annual Massey Hall concert. One of this city’Äôs most endearing holiday traditions, this year’Äôs Christmas performance, Sing We Noˆ´l, Noˆ´l We Sing, offers a jubilant program rich with some of the most wonderful melodies ever written for the Christmas season. The remarkable boys of St. Michael’Äôs Choir School will take to the Massey Hall stage on Friday, December 11, 2009 at 8 pm and Saturday, December 12, 2009, at 3 pm to sing songs of praise to usher in the holiday season, and to mark this, St. Michael’Äôs Choir School’Äôs 70th Annual Christmas concert.

Sing We Noˆ´l, Noˆ´l We Sing, a splendid musical program created especially for this anniversary event includes music on more traditional holiday subjects with excerpts from Rutters’Äô choral song-cycle, Dancing Day, Lux aurumque from composer Eric Whitacre and sacred works such as E’Äôen so, Lord Jesus, quickly come; and Young’Äôs lovely arrangement of Widor’Äôs Toccata ’Äì Gloria. Several popular Christmas carols are also in store -- Silent night; O come all ye faithful and Hark the herald angels sing offer audiences an opportunity to sing along with traditional favourites.

This year’Äôs concert also features the talents of gifted organist William O’ÄôMeara and the artistry of harpist Sanya Eng. To further highlight the Choir School’Äôs choral tradition, the choirs will also perform two works specifically connected with St. Michael’Äôs Choir School. In addition to a special arrangement of O Canada by the Choir School’Äôs former Music Director Monsignor Thomas Barrett Armstrong, the Senior Choir will present Hodie, Christus natus est an original work by alumnus Dr. Kola Owolabi.

In December 1939, the Cathedral Schola Cantorum later to become known as St. Michael’Äôs Choir School, took to the stage to present their first-ever Christmas concert. Their annual Massey Hall residencey began 44 years ago. In addition to the annual Christmas concert, the choirs perform publicly in an annual tour and at many local events. Dignitaries such as His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrˆ©tien have enjoyed the choir’Äôs performances.

Founded in 1937 with the purpose of providing sacred music for services at St. Michael’Äôs Cathedral in downtown Toronto, St. Michael’Äôs Choir School is a centre for musical and academic excellence. Each student admitted to the Choir School is trained in vocal, technical, and instrumental music, and sings in one of the school’Äôs choirs. For more information: www.smcs.on.ca

Massey Hall, Friday, December 11, 2009, 8 PM and Saturday, December 12, 2009, 3 PM.
Tickets: $36.50 - $22.50 - Call 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office
www.masseyhall.com