Thank you from the performers and volunteers of the Toronto Bach Consort.
For 20 years the Bach Consort has performed
the music of J.S. Bach, exploring the riches of his more than 200 secular and
religious cantatas. This self - run musicians’
cooperative combines the talents of some of Canada’s finest singers and
instrumentalists who come together to perform Bach’s music AND to benefit local
charitable organizations. The singers consist of some of Canada’s finest
vocalists and have included the likes of soprano Monica Whicher, mezzos
Elizabeth Turnbull and Allyson McHardy, tenors John Tessier, Michael Schade, Colin
Ainsworth and Lawrence Wiliford and baritones Russell Braun , Brett Polegato
and Kevin MacMillan. These and many
other Bach Consort soloists have appeared with the Canadian Opera Company, with
most Canadian orchestras, and with major opera companies in North America and
Europe. The instrumentalists include
fine freelance musicians and players from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and
the Canadian Opera Company orchestra.
All of our performers sing and play gratis,
coming together to raise money for important local charities. The first charity that brought the group
together was Camphill Village Ontario, an international group of communities
for adults with disabilities. Such was
the connection with Camphill that the Bach Consort recorded its first CD for
them, called the Bach Consort at
Camphill. Sales of this disc quickly
paid back the $10,000 recording costs and went on to raise many additional
thousands of dollars for Camphill.
On the strength of this first “hit” CD the
Bach Consort was invited to record a second CD for L’Arche, another important
organization for adults with disabilities.
It was aptly named the Bach
Consort at L’Arche. The CD was
launched at the annual L’Arche fundraiser where it helped L’Arche to raise over
$100,000 that evening.
Over the years the Bach Consort has
continued its focus on community. Every
concert has been connected with two different local Toronto charities. Over $400,000 has been raised for these
various organizations. This tradition continues with our November 2014 concert
(see details on the concert page).
Bach’s profound faith is evident in all his
works, resonating with the idea of charity; of helping one another. One hears the repeating message that the
riches of this world are not gold – they are the love that we bear for one
another. This message couldn’t be timelier
today. We, in our small corner, wish to
make it a reality at least for one night a year. We invite you to join us in our quest of Giving Bach to the Community.
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Head Dreamer Over the years Timothy has been instrumental in starting several chamber music groups. One of them, the Bach Consort, continues to this day. This group now performs an annual presentation of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Timothy also organizes concert series at two churches in Toronto’s east end. He is music director of the Kingston Road Village Concert Series (www.kruc.ca) and the Seicho-No-Ie Chamber Music Series (.www.thewholenote.com/index.../25001-opening-night-at-seicho-no-ie) Teaching is a big part of Timothy’s life. He is busy at the University of Toronto, the National Music Camp of Canada, and in his own home studio. For twenty years he was involved with the TSO Adopt a Player programme, acting as the music director for its last three years. Timothy lives with his wife Kim in the Beach, and together they enjoy their active family life. |
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Founding Member Ms. Ranti is an active chamber musician and a founding member of the Bach Consort. She maintains a busy teaching studio, coaches the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra flute section, is on faculty at National Music Camp, and has taught at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. In her spare time, when not pursuing postdoctoral studies in astrophysics, freediving in Hawaii, or rebuilding a 1968 Chevelle SS 396 convertible, she enjoys walking her dog in High Park. |
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Founding Member Keith Atkinson has been Associate Principal Oboe of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 1985. In addition to his symphonic duties, Mr. Atkinson is an active recitalist and chamber musician. He is a founding member of the Meridian Trio which specializes in unusual wind chamber music and has a CD featuring music for flute, oboe and piano. He plays with the Bach Consort which has recorded two CDs of Bach arias and cantatas. He also performs with New Music Concerts in Toronto and Music at Metropolitan United Church, Toronto, and he has played Principal Oboe with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa, and the Hamilton Philharmonic. In demand as a teacher and chamber music coach, he is on the faculties of the University of Toronto and the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and he has been on the faculty of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. He is also the woodwind coach for the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Atkinson began piano studies at age 5, clarinet at age 9, and oboe at age 12. His first oboe teachers included Richard Johnson, William Harrod, and Adrian Gnam. He earned a Bachelor of Music with High Distinction from Indiana University, studying with Jerry Sirucek, and a Master of Music from Northwestern University, where he was a student of Ray Still. While in graduate school, he was Principal Oboe of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and played extra with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Upon graduation in 1981, he joined the San Francisco Symphony as Second Oboe. |
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Founding Member Monica Whicher Style and musical elegance combined with an intuitive theatrical sense are the hallmarks of |
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