The CCOC kicked off the 24/25 season by travelling to the Cairn Family of Camps in Baysville, Ontario with our Principal Chorus (PC) for five days full of adventure, team building, learning their music and drama, and of course – FUN!

Our PCs headed to PC Camp on August 26 and came back ready to take on the 24/25 season together on August 30, 2024.

PC Camp is proudly one of the CCOC events that is sponsored by the Bingo Gaming Program of Ontario which is a program run by the OLG, the OCGA, and the Rama Gaming House – Toronto East. The CCOC is very thankful to the OLG, OCGA, and the Rama Gaming House for supporting our programs like PC Camp! Without the funding that you provide us with we couldn’t offer the wonderful programs that we’re able to offer to inspire, unite, and help young people discover their full potential, through music, opera, and storytelling.

Our Young Artist Studio choristers were happy to join the YAS Artistic Team up at the YMCA’s Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre for an intensive couple of days of workshops to explore their musical repertoire and perfect their dramatic initiatives.

They headed up to camp on October 4 and worked on developing the upcoming YAS performance and even got the chance to take a few breaks hiking and bonding throughout the experience before heading back to Toronto on October 6, 2024.

Letters to God was a spiritual exploration of the musical threads connecting Canadian and Japanese culture that was held by Soundstreams. It featured the CCOC’s Principal Chorus as well as Japan’s legendary Fujii Percussion (mother Mutsuko Fujii, and daughters Haruka Fujii and Rika Fujii), Soundstreams Choir 21, Gregory Oh (piano), and Ryan Scott (percussion).

Akira Miyoshi’s Letters to God brought to life a collection of letters written by children, notable for their refreshing directness, unexpected humour, and startling clarity of thought; R. Murray Schafer’s evocative Seventeen Haiku is a theatrical composition that sets Japanese poems to music that evokes the singing of birds, crickets, streams, the tolling of a bell, or fireworks at a festival. The program featured other evocative works: Seasons by Toru Takemitsu, river woman by Melody McKiver, and Pulau Dewata by Claude Vivier.

During the 2023/2024 season, the CCOC’s Principal Chorus was invited to perform at the Canadian Opera Company’s, The Canadian Opera Company Presents: Opera’s Greatest Hits. 

On September 7, 2023 the audience was invited to experience the exhilarating power of live opera as COC artists shared a selection of highlights from the company’s upcoming season, featuring classic favourites and rare gems including Beethoven’s Fidelio, Puccini’s La Boheme, Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Cherubini’s Medea, and Donizetti’s Don Pasquale.

This concert of popular selections featured the internationally acclaimed COC Orchestra and a lineup of homegrown Canadian soloists offering a program of unforgettable arias, choral singing, and orchestral music including the CCOC Principal Chorus’s performance of the children’s chorus from the Cunning Little Vixen. 

The CCOC kicked off the 23/24 season by travelling to the Cairn Family of Camps in Baysville, Ontario with our Principal Chorus (PC) for five days full of adventure, team building, learning their music and drama, auditions for the COC’s La Boheme, and of course – FUN!

Our PCs headed to PC Camp on August 28 and came back ready to take on the 23/24 season together on September 1, 2023.

PC Camp is proudly sponsored by the Bingo Gaming Program of Ontario which is program run by the OLG, the OCGA, and the Rama Gaming House – Toronto East. 

Our Principal Chorus acts as the children’s chorus for the Canadian Opera Company (COC) when their productions call for young voices.

During our 2023/2024 season, members of our PC choir had the opportunity to join the talented cast and creative team at the COC in bringing their production of La Bohème to life as it unforlds from a cold but charming apartment in the Latin Quarter to the bustling street scenes at the Café Momus, following the poet Rodolfo and his seamstress neighbour Mimì, struggling artists searching for love and life in Bohemian Paris.

Our chorister’s performed in this classic opera alongside the real-life married couple of tenor Pene Pati and soprano Amina Edris who stared as the show’s tragic young lovers throughout it’s run at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts from October 6 until October 28, 2023.

We couldn’t be more proud of our chorister’s hard work and commitment to the show!

On October 15, 2023 our Apprentice, Intermediate and Youth and Chorus members joined the CCOC’s Artistic Team at the Canadian Opera Company theatre for an intensive day of workshops to explore their musical repetoire and perfect their dramatic initiatives. 

They worked on developing the season’s Junior Opera, the Youth Chorus Cabaret, and even got an exclusive tour of the CCOC and COC office spaces and costume departments from our very own Executive Director, Katherine Semsecen!

The CCOC kicked off the holiday season on Sunday, November 26 as we presented our all-choir concert, Song for a Winter’s Night: ‘Tis the Season, at the St. Clement’s Church!

We were so pleased to be able to celebrate the hard work of our choristers and artistic team as we shared their music with a full house at this sold out show. 

Our audience joined us in embracing the seasons with the magic of the holidays, the warmth of spring, the splendor of summer, and the coziness of fall, through playful songs and enchanting choral works. It was truly a delightful experience!

The CCOC was proud to have our Principal Chorus perform once again with the Art of Time Ensemble and other featured performers including Thom Allison, Jessica Mitchell, Jackie Richardson, Julian Richings, David Wall, and Tom Wilson at the eighth and final holiday presentation of To All A Good Night, as part of its 25th anniversary final concert season.

Led by Founding Artistic Director Andrew Burashko, the program featured the best of the best taken from the previous seven years, and was presented from December 7 – 9, 2023 at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre.

This unique holiday concert was truly a celebration of the holiday season, spreading the joy and irreverence that audiences had come to expect over the years!

The CCOC was very excited to have our Principal Chorus welcome the winter season at Orchestra Toronto’s second concert of the season, A Winter Festival.

This magical afternoon was perfect for audiences of all ages, filling the George Weston Recital Hall at the Meridian Arts Centre with joy, warmth, and the spirit of the season.

A Winter Festival was all about celebrating the beauty and wonder of winter. The music transported the audience to a world of snowflakes, sleigh rides, and warmth, with pieces from the Nutcracker and other beloved holiday classics.

It was a pleasure to be able to come together as a community and celebrate the holiday season with Orchestra Toronto on December 10, 2023, the perfect way for our Principal Chorus to kick off the holiday season!

Our Principale Chorus was very excited to take part in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of The Cunning Little Vixen in 2024!

When a forest gamekeeper traps a fox and attempts to domesticate her, their encounter leads to a poignant reflection on the natural cycle of life and death, as well as our relationship with the planet. This inspiring opera invites audiences to reflect on the advancing toll of climate change and the importance of cultivating a harmonious interrelationship with the natural world.

The CCOC’s PC choristers performed the roles of the Frog, Cricket, Grasshopper, Dragon Fly, Mushrooms, Rabbit, Fox Cubs and of course the Child Vixen Cub in this exciting opera!

Canadian soprano and COC favourite Jane Archibald stared as the clever fox, Sharp Ears, while COC Music Director Johannes Debus lead the COC Orchestra through Czech composer Leoš Janáček’s lush score. 

Everyone loves a good bad guy.

As one might assume from the title, this 2024 season CCOC Youth Chorus delivered us into a world of villains (and those unfortunate enough to be in their way) in this culminating production.

The audience had a blast joining us for an evening exploring the complex characters of villains, featuring well-known melodies from musical theatre and opera!

This season the CCOC’s Junior Division of Apprentice (AC) and Intermediate (IC) choruses held an afternoon of spelunking down operatic caves on April 21, 2024.

Our audience was very impressed with the world premiere of Spelunk!, an opera written by the AC and IC choruses and local composer, Chris Thornborrow. Throughout the fall season, our IC and AC choristers worked with Chris to write this incredible opera. 

Our Spelunk! audience was even treated to a delightful performance of songs inspired by the opera by our Butterfly and Ruby choruses before the show! 

Originally commissioned and premiered by the Canadian Children’s Opera Company in 2004, the CCOC was proud to announce the return of Dean Burry’s critically acclaimed opera The Hobbit to the mainstage during the 23/24 season!

Our audience joined Bilbo on his adventure with Gandalf and his Dwarven friends, as they seek to outwit Elves, Goblins, wolves, and spiders alike in their quest to restore the Dwarf-king Thorin Oakenshield to his throne. There were riddles in the dark, a mysterious ring, and a terrifying Dragon, Smaug, awaiting these characters as they embarked on this epic journey.

Over 90 CCOC choristers accompanied by singer/songwriter Doug MacNaughton as Gandalf, and a chamber orchestra performed in this incredible, family-friendly opera!

The CCOC kicked off the 22/23 season by travelling to Camp Simpresca in Penetanguishene, Ontario with our Principal Chorus (PC) for five days full of adventure, team building, learning their music and drama, auditions for the COC’s Carmen, and of course – FUN!

Our PCs headed to PC Camp on August 29 and came back ready to take on the 22/23 season together on September 2, 2022.

PC Camp is proudly sponsored by the Bingo Gaming Program of Ontario which is program run by the OLG, the OCGA, and the Rama Gaming House – Toronto East. 

On October 15 – 16, 2022 our Youth and Intermediate Chorus members joined the CCOC at the Canadian Opera Company theatre for an intensive weekend of workshops to explore their musical repetoire and perfect their dramatic initiatives. 

They even got an exclusive tour of the CCOC’s office space and costume department from our very own Executive Director, Katherine Semsecen!

Our Principal Chorus acts as the children’s chorus for the Canadian Opera Company (COC) when their productions call for young voices. During our 2022/2023 season, members of our PC choir had the opportunity to join the talented cast and creative team at the COC in bringing their production of Carmen by Georges Bizet to life.

Our chorister’s performed in this classic opera throughout it’s run at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts from October 14 until November 4, 2022.

We couldn’t be more proud of their hard work and commitment to the show, and we can’t wait to see our PC’s join the COC once again next year!

The CCOC welcomed our choristers, family and neighbouring community members at St. Clement’s Church for an evening of games, food, and fun at our Fall Festival on November 5, 2022. 

The event was organized by our Family Club, and all activities were inspired by previous CCOC opera productions.

Check out some more Fall Festival highlights here!

During the 2022/2023 season, the CCOC’s Youth Chorus was invited to partner with the Toronto Korean-Canadian Choir (TKCC) as well as singers from the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for the TKCC’s performance of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy.

The performance was part of their fall concert on October 29, 2022, and was accompanied by an orchestra, held at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. 

The CCOC kicked off the holiday season with an enchanting performance from our choristers at our all-choir concert, Song for a Winter’s Night: Festival of Lights, at St. Clement’s Church on November 26, 2022.

The sold out show was a truly wonderful experience as we embraced the warmth and beauty of the winter season through our chorister’s presentation of spirituals, operatic excerpts, and enchanting choral works.

On December 9 – 10, 2022 the CCOC partnered with with the Art of Time Ensemble for their 7th annual concert, To All a Good Night 7.

The CCOC has been involved in this concert for several years, and this year our Principal Chorus collaborated with the St. James Town Community Arts’ children’s choir to create a mass children’s choir singing two pieces – “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” alongside professional artists.

Along with the CCOC, the lineup of professional artists includes Thom Allison, Jessica Mitchell, Steven Page, Jackie Richardson, and Liam Russell, among others.

Our final performance before the CCOC took a break for the 2022 holiday season was the Holy Blossom Temple’s annual interfaith holiday concert, Gifts of Light.

On December 11, 2022 our Intermediate, Principal, and Youth choirs performed with the Leo Baeck Choir, Holy Blossom Temple’s YEC and ECC Choirs, students from the Triangle Program, the Community Music Schools of Ontario (Regent Park Music School), Cantor David Rosen, Cantorial Soloist Lindi Rivers, the world-renowned Julie Michels, bandurist Victor Mishalow and other special guests.

Proceeds of this year’s event went to Ukrainian Canadian Social Services, Toronto.

On March 3 and 5 the Youth Chorus performed the yearly YC cabaret – Run Away with Me: An Evening of Travel and Adventure.

Guests came dressed in their gala attire for a cabaret that celebrated home and away, enjoying phenomenal performances from our YC choristers through a collection of favorite musical theatre classics and contemporary counterparts!

The show was directed by CCOC Head of Drama Chelsea Woolley, with music direction from CCOC Head of the Junior Division Cheryll Chung, and piano by Claire Harris. 

This season the Canadian Children’s Opera Company proudly premiered An Opera Yarn, our 2022 – 2023 season Junior Division opera, on April 1, 2023. 

Throughout the fall season, our IC and AC choristers worked with local composer, Chris Thornborrow, to write a libretto inspired by the story “Extra Yarn” by Mac Barnett. Our choristers provided Chris with the opera’s text, which they had produced during their weekly rehearsals, as well as their input on the music including ideas on how it should sound and the feelings the songs should evoke. Inspired by their input, Chris took these details and assembled it into a working libretto.

An Opera Yarn featured 35 choristers in the CCOC’s Intermediate (IC) and Apprentice (AC) Choruses, and started with a delightful opening of songs inspired by the opera by our Butterfly and Ruby Choruses!

The story follows a group of young people who discover how their box of magical yarn can transform a community, and the result is a vibrant opera that shows the power of connection through a simple act of kindness and determination.

The CCOC was very proud to announce the return of our annual main stage production during our 22/23 season with the commission of The Nightingale of a Thousand Songs, based on a beloved Armenian folk tale, by Juno award-winning composer Serouj Kradjian and Dora award-winning playwright and librettist Marjorie Chan.

This inspiring opera follows the journey of two siblings, Leah and Ari, as they emerge from a tragedy in their homeland. The children embark on an adventure to find the Nightingale of a Thousand Songs to bring back life and joy to their world. Along the way, they remember their lost friends and family and face many challenges and obstacles. The story is one of healing and hope, and exploring what it means to be able to move on from a terrible event. The opera represents the rich culture and music that unites the Caucasus & the Middle East. As the lead characters travel from the plains of Mount Ararat, through the region to Lebanon, the music changes to reflect a more distinct Arabic style, incorporating traditional instruments and texts.

This opera was performed by over 80 choristers in the CCOC’s Principal, Youth, Intermediate, and Apprentices choruses alongside a professional chamber orchestra at the Meridian Arts Centre’s Lyric Theatre.