This year, Canada Music Week takes place on the week of November 18-22. Members of the ORMTA are busily chipping in to assist in the preparations.

An event that is coordinated by Branch members, Janet Fothergill & Wendy Potter, is Contemporary Showcase. This non-competitive festival of contemporary Canadian classical music is the main endeavour of the Alliance for New Canadian Music Projects. Classes are conducted in a workshop atmosphere where adjudicators work with students, offering suggestions and encouragement.

To obtain an entry form or syllabus, contact the ACNMP office at 416-963-5937 or email acnmptor@ica.net. Hurry, the deadline is October 15.

Within Central Toronto Branch, Canada Music Week is celebrated at the Fall Recital on November 23. Students who are invited to perform works by Canadian composers could win one of two Sir Ernest MacMillan Scholarships for their efforts.

If any member would like to contribute a report of CMW happenings for our next newsletter, please contact Frank Horvat.

Recently, my wife and I returned from a great trip to Vancouver Island, British Columbia where we did a significant amount of hiking, backpacking and camping on a remote part of the island. Even though we had an amazingly unique experience where we fell asleep each night to the sound of the ocean and whistling of the wind, something did not feel right.

I quickly realized that the only problem I had with our splendid surroundings was that I had gone days without hearing any music. The only instrument I had room to carry on our trek was my voice. But I felt that to contain my own sanity and those around me, I would hold back from "belting" out any tunes to entertain myself.

The experience made me realize how much I rely on hearing music to function in my everyday life. Why, while typing up this very message, I am listening to a CD!

My outdoor adventure also made me realize how I take our fine city of Toronto for granted. On top of the immense amount of music that emanates from my studio, I realized that having the ability to attend concerts on any given night, hear eclectic street musicians or be in walking distance from any number of CD stores is what I cherish most about our city.

I have had people tell me in the past that you have to go away from home to truly appreciate how special home can be. I can safely say that I am now a believer in this statement. I think it’s time to hit "repeat" on my CD player now.

- Frank Horvat

The Central Toronto Branch is pleased to present Teachers-In-Concert in early March 2003. This year, our coordinator for the event, Kathleen Gorman, is enthusiastic about organizing another successful concert.

Teachers are welcome to perform repertoire of their choice. Chamber groups are very much welcome. Non-Branch members are also welcome provided that they perform with a member of the Branch.

This event is an excellent opportunity for teachers to keep their performance skills in check while being a good role model for their students.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Kathleen with your ideas.

Since announcing the creation of the Fanny Levitan Bursary last year, the Executive Committee has been actively spreading the word and collecting donations.

The Bursary will be awarded each December to an outstanding vocalist or instrumentalist (other than piano) who competed at the Metro Toronto Zone Competition. The Bursary would go towards covering the expenses of an accompanist since that student would earn the right to advance to the Provincial level and incur tremendous costs. The idea has much favour because Fanny herself was an accomplished accompanist and vocal teacher. Also no such financial help currently exists.

We would like to thank the following for their recent contributions to the fund: Jean Collins, Bill Vaisey, Valerie Latz, Etobicoke-Mississauga Branch, Bolton-Brampton-Caledon Branch and the Past Council Members Association of the ORMTA.

If you would like to make a donation, please send a cheque payable to ORMTA ­ Central TO Branch, to Mary Mexis Lumsden, 393 Main St., East York, M4C 4X9. Please indicate in the memo section, "Levitan Scholarship".

November is just around the corner and that means it’s time for the Fall Auditions & Recital.

The Branch is pleased to announce our adjudicators: Alayne Hall for the Auditions and Marjorie Beckett for the Recital.

Remember to mail in your completed entry form by the deadline (October 29). Please review the rules that were mailed to you last month before you mail in the entry form.

It is a regular gesture on the part of teachers whose students participate in the Auditions to donate their time. If you are able to lend some of your time for either event or if you have any questions, please contact Ford Barker.

Central Toronto Branch is proud to award Theory Scholarships for outstanding results from the May session to students of Branch members:

• Caitlin McGarry ­ Grade 3 Harmony 87% (student of William Griffiths)
• Stephen Hum ­ Grade 3 Harmony 89% (student of Rosalind Johnson)
• Kira Steiner ­ Grade 3 History 89% (student of Maria Case)
• Jessica Young ­ Grade 3 History 85% (student of Maria Case)

For more information, please refer to the Awards & Scholarships list from last month’s mailing. If you would like another copy, please click here or contact Frank @ 416-214-9534. Successful results from August Theory exams must be submitted no later than December 10. Please send results to Frank Horvat, 922-155 Dalhousie St., Toronto, ON, M5B 2P7

We are only weeks away from the Branch’s first get together of the year! Sunday, October 6 will be an opportunity for you to visit with colleagues and enjoy some insight in the area of Music Publicity.

Branch member, Elizabeth Parker will present a talk on simple and easy ways to create a strategy for publicizing a budding performance career. Liz has handled publicity for the Vancouver Symphony and is currently employed by the Toronto Symphony in a similar capacity. If Branch members have advanced students who are contemplating a career in music, the information that will be presented will be most valuable.

A short General Meeting will also take place, where you, the members can voice your comments, questions or concerns to the Executive.

The date of the Autumn Tea has been changed to allow members the opportunity to attend the David Duke Workshop (see sheet behind White Membership List) which promises to be an excellent event in itself!

If you would like to bring along a small plate of baked goods to the Tea, if it is not too much trouble to prepare, it would be very much appreciated. Special thanks to Marjorie Francoz for hosting the event yet again this year!

The Central Toronto Branch is proud to be presenting a workshop by Art Levine featuring various ear-training development techniques on Monday, October 28th at the Women’s Art Association. Please note the morning start time of 9:30.

Mr. Levine has an ARCT in Theory from the RCM, a few years as a performance major on classical guitar, and a Master's in Musicology from the University of Toronto. Since 1970, he has taught both privately and at U. of T., York U., McMaster U. Since 1986, he has been a faculty member of the Glenn Gould Professional School teaching musicianship and theory. He has also studied North Indian vocal music for ten years, and is a founding member of Gamelan Toronto, a central Javanese-style ensemble. He also has an interest in jazz (mainly vocal standards) and Brazilian music. Since 1991, Mr. Levine has been the host of "This is Art" on CBC Radio, where all of his musical experiences, "smash into each other and produce something, ah, like splitting the atom."

Help in publicity for this event from the General Membership would be much appreciated. If you know of some locales, senior students or colleagues that might like a flyer, please contact Frank Horvat so he can make copies available to you.

Announcements were recently made on the locales of upcoming CFMTA Conventions:

• 2003 ­ St.John’s, Newfoundland
• 2005 ­ Calgary, Alberta

The CFMTA is a national body that acts as a federation between all the Provincial Music Teacher Associations across Canada including the ORMTA. CFMTA Conventions feature National Competitions and high level workshops amongst many other events.

Our website has quickly become a key tool of communication with the general public.

Generally, the website is used by the public to find a teacher, seek information on becoming a member, or to look for other online resources related to music.

Recent additions to the site include an immense amount of information and printable entry forms for the Metro Toronto Zone Competitions. The website is also an excellent way to find out the goings on in our neighbouring branches, who we share the website with.

65% of Central Toronto Branch members currently have their contact and/or biographical information posted on the website. If you do not have a presence but would like one, you must submit a "Website Information Form" to Frank Horvat. If you do not have a form, feel free to contact Frank. Happy Surfing!

Asbury & West United Church is located at 3180 Bathurst St., Toronto (North of Lawrence Ave. W.) Admission is Adults $15.00 & Seniors/Students $10.00

This concert will feature the Asbury & West Senior Choir, and T.R. Schadl, Organist and Choir Director. Musical highlights will include Sacred Songs, Musicals & Organ Works. Proceeds to the Organ Fund.

Thomas is an organ graduate from the University of British Columbia and earned Associate Diplomas from the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the Royal Conservatory of Toronto. He has given many recitals at St. Paul’s Anglican & Yorkminster Park Baptist Churches.

ORMTA Branches in the Greater Toronto Area also have upcoming informative and enlightening workshops:

ORMTA - Bolton-Brampton-Caledon Branch presents Theory Syllabus, 2002 edition workshop with Janet Lopinski Monday, September 30, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Heartlake Baptist Church, 10245 Kennedy Road North, Brampton. Admission is free. RSVP: Wanda Hicke (905) 857-3256 The workshop will present an overview of the changes to each grade and subject and presents an in-depth discussion on the new history curriculum.

ORMTA - Etobicoke Mississauga Branch presents " How Musicianship is Developed From Beginner to Pianist", a workshop featuring Marina Geringas. Sunday, October 27th 1:30-4:30PM. Noel Ryan Auditorium, Mississauga Central Library, 301 Burnhamthorpe Road West near Living Arts Center. For more information, please call Virginia Taylor at 416-742-6429. Admission is $20 non-members, $15 members and $10 students. This workshop will include demonstrations by her students at different stages of development.

Members wishing to order their own ORMTA business cards at a competitive price, please contact Astro Printing Service in Cornwall, Ontario. 613-932-9281.

Members interested in ORMTA promotional items such as T-Shirts, golf shirts, fleece shirts or pins can obtain further ordering information by seeing NOTES or the provincial website: www.ormta.org.

The next Newsletter will be distributed in mid January. Members are welcome to submit announcements to Frank Horvat.

Back to Top