St. Michael's Choir School
St. Michael’s Choir School is an all-boys' semi-private school located in downtown Toronto, Canada that embodies a unique learning environment for its students. The school serves as a union between two distinct institutions: the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music and the Toronto Catholic District School Board. While providing rigorous academic instruction, the Choir School also trains choristers and musicians.
History
St. Michael's Choir School was founded in 1937 by Msgr. John Edward Ronan to facilitate the training of a professional boys' choir for St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto, Canada. The official name of the school at the time was "Cathedral Schola Cantorum" and was a privately-run institution. On May 17, 1955, St. Michael's Choir School was accorded an affiliation with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome, one of only seven choirs and choir schools in the world with such an affiliation. With its affiliation with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, the school has the power to grant degrees in Sacred Music. In 1987, the Choir School completed fifty years of service, and in recognition of this milestone, Art Eggleton, the mayor of Toronto at the time, declared June 15, 1987 as the official "St. Michael’s Choir School Day".
Choral Excellence
Since its founding, the Choir School has provided parishes in the Toronto Diocese and beyond with organists, cantors, conductors, and professional vocalists. The Choir sings at St. Michael's Cathedral every weekend and sing every weekday.
St. Michael's Choir School tours twice a year--a one-week tour in December, and a two to three week concert tour immediately following Easter. Touring commenced in 1971, with the choir performing in England and Italy, and competing in (and winning) the International Choral Festival in Cork. Since then, the choir has toured across Canada and the continental United States, as well as making concert appearances throughout Western Europe and in Trinidad and Tobago.
Besides touring, the choir participates in many local events. The Choir School has given Christmas concerts every year since 1937; currently they are held at Massey Hall in downtown Toronto. The two concerts that the choir performs are popular, and the concert hall is usually filled to capacity. These Christmas Concerts have become a vital tradition to life at St. Michael's Choir School.
The Choir School has performed for many notable individuals, including His Holiness Pope John Paul II during the 1984 Papal Visit and during World Youth Day 2002, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in October 2003 and former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in 2003. The choir also participated in a charity performance at Toronto's Rogers Centre with Jackie Chan, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Wayne Gretzky in November 2001.
The choir's tradition of excellence and high standards of musical achievement have drawn parallels with the Vienna Boys Choir, which St. Michael's Choir defeated in competition at the International Choral Festival.
The most recent tour for the Choir School was in July 2008 when the boys traveled to the Czech Republic for the International Boys and Men’s Choral Festival in Prague.
The 2nd International Boys and Men’s Choral Festival is an outstanding opportunity for St. Michael’s Choir School to participate in rehearsal and concerts with world-renowned conductors and choirs, solo and massed concerts in the historic churches and theatres of Central Europe, including the famous Dvořák Hall in the Rudolfinum, Prague. St. Michael's Choir School is one of four featured choirs at this festival which takes place from June 30 through July 7, 2008.
[Toronto Star article]. The appearances generated press comment from Toronto to Los Angeles.
In the spring of 2006, the choir travelled to Philadelphia and Miami where they performed concerts.
On October 15th 2007, the Senior and Junior Choir performed at Roy Thompson Hall with many of the Choir School alumni including Matt Dusk, Kevin Hearn and The Barenaked Ladies. This event was a success and made possible by the SMCS Alumni to help fundraise for the Choir School.
House system
Students from grades 7 to 12 are divided among four school houses, which are dedicated to notable Choir School community members for their committed service to the school. The house system is used to build team spirit, school spirit, as well as an enjoyable time to complete certain tasks. The school houses are as following:
 Ronan
Somerville
Mann
Armstrong
Distinguished Alumni
John Arpin - musician
Michael Burgess - singer
Geoff Butler
Peter Chin - composer, artist, dancer
Jerzy Cichocki - conductor and musician
Jim Codrington - actor
Michael Colvin - singer
Andrew Craig - composer and producer
The Crew-Cuts - vocal quartet
Leslie Dala - conductor
Peter Dala
Matt Dusk - jazz musician
The Four Lads - vocal quartet
Stewart Goodyear - pianist
Kevin Hearn of the Barenaked Ladies - singer
Anton Holland
John Karapita
Leo Marchildon - composer and conductor
John McDermott - singer
Michael Ontkean
H. R. Martin Phills
Robert Pomakov - opera singer
R. Gregory Ross
Michael Schade - singer
Janko Kastelic - conductor
Rikki LaCoste (nee Ricardo Costa) - singer, composer & director of Panthea
Upcoming Concerts
Friday, December 12th 2008 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 13th 2008 3:00 p.m. - Massey Hall
69th Annual Christmas Concert
More information to follow.
References
External links
Official website of St. Michael's Choir School
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