ST. MICHAEL’ÄôS CHOIR SCHOOL releases their 10th recording IN MIDNIGHT’ÄôS STILLNESS at this year’Äôs 70th annual Christmas performance

Toronto, ON Monday, December 7, 2009

Just in time for Christmas, St. Michael’Äôs Choir School announces the upcoming release of its 10^th recording. In Midnight’Äôs Stillness is one of this celebrated choir’Äôs most moving Christmas albums to date. With music ranging from sacred to secular this collection offers a host of traditional carols, sacred melodies and new contemporary Christmas favourites. In the hands of the Choir School conductors Jerzy Cichocki, Caron Daley and Teri Dunn, along with the choristers of the Elementary, Junior and Senior choirs, these timeless Christmas melodies are fresh, interesting, and soaring with jubilation. Special guest artist, award-winning quintet the True North Brass adds a special festive sparkle throughout the glorious new recording.

In Midnight’Äôs Stillness takes its name from the breathtaking traditional Polish carol, ’ÄúW‰õrˆ„d Nocnej Ciszy’Äù. Arranged by St. Michael’Äôs Choir School’Äôs Artistic Director, Dr. Jerzy Cichocki, ’ÄúIn Midnight’Äôs Stillness’Äù displays the lyrical beauty and charm of Polish folklore. Other musicians featured on this exceptional recording include St. Michael’Äôs Choir School alumnus Dr. Kola Owolabi, who contributed several striking compositions including the award-winning ’ÄúHodie Christus natus est’Äù, a setting of a Christmas antiphon stylistically reminiscent of the double choir motets of Heinrich Schˆºtz; and a festive arrangement of ’ÄúJoy to the World’Äù written for CBC Radio’Äôs 1997 Christmas Sing-In. Kola’Äôs brother Kunle Owolabi contributed the beautiful piece ’ÄúMedieval Carol’Äù, which he penned at the remarkable age of 15.

In Midnight’Äôs Stillness is dedicated to Monsignor Thomas Barrett Armstrong, a priest of the Archdiocese of Toronto, a graduate of St. Michael's Choir School and former Director of Music of this world-renowned institution. Although he passed away on November 14, 2009, Monsignor Armstrong’Äôs contributions to music will never be forgotten. Included in this recording is Monsignor’Äôs rich, reverent and soaring setting of ’ÄúTo One That is So Fair and Bright’Äù. This setting of the XV^th century Marian text is a wonderful tribute to the memory of Monsignor Armstrong.

The release of In Midnight’Äôs Stillness will coincide with St. Michael’Äôs Choir School’Äôs 70^th annual Christmas concert Sing We Noˆ´l, Noˆ´l We Sing at Massey Hall on Friday, December 11^th and Saturday December 12, 2009. Tickets are $36.50 - $22.50 and can be purchased by calling 416-872-4255 or by visiting the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office, 60 Simcoe Street, Toronto, www.masseyhall.com. The CD will be available for purchase at these concerts, and from the school by calling 416-398-5518, or by visiting the school’Äôs website at www.smcs.on.ca.

About St. Michael’Äôs Choir School

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. It is one of only six choir schools in the world affiliated with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. Each student admitted to the Choir School is trained in vocal, technical, and instrumental music, and sings in one of the school’Äôs choirs.

Balancing the sacred and the secular is customary for the school. St. Michael’Äôs Choir School is not only known for its music program, but also academic achievement, consistently ranking at the top of Fraser Institute surveys. For seventy years, graduates of the Choir School have pursued studies in science, education, medicine, law, and business and, of course, music. In the last group are the Crew Cuts and Four Lads of the 1950s and present-day musical artists Michael Schade, John McDermott, Stewart Goodyear, Kevin Hearn (of The Barenaked Ladies), Robert Pomakov, Matt Dusk, Michael Colvin, Claude Morrison (of The Nylons), and Michael Burgess.

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. 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’Äî$22.50 - Call 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office

www.masseyhall.com