The SMCS Alumni Choir is an independent group of graduates of St. Michael’s Choir School, many of whom have been singing together for over 40 years. We are all volunteers without exception, and we welcome anyone who attended St. Michael’s Choir School for any period of time over the past 80 years to sing with us. We have even welcomed some who were not alumni, but who share a common passion and joy of singing together.
The primary mission of the SMCS Alumni Choir is to support fellow alumni and friends in their time of joy or sorrow by singing at the weddings or funerals respectively, of alumni and alumni family members.
Every Lenten Season at selected churches across the Greater Toronto Area, the SMCS Alumni Choir continues a tradition of singing the Tenebrae Responsories written by their school founder, Monsignor John Edward Ronan. Since 2008, another group of alumni gathers together with other choristers from the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica in Ottawa, to sing the Ronan Tenebrae Responsories.
Please note that the SMCS Alumni Choir is an independently organized group, and not affiliated with the administration of St. Michael’s Choir School, the Archdiocese of Toronto or the Toronto District Catholic School Board.
Conductors: Paul Townshend, Douglas Tranquada, Gerry Litster, Philip Sarabura
Website: smcsalumni.com or smcsalumnichoir.com
The namesake of the Victoria Scholars, Tomás Luis de Victoria, was an outstanding composer of the Renaissance period whose music is renowned for both its spirituality and emotional expressiveness. The essence of the Victoria Scholars’ music is an emphasis on the clarity and balance of sound so characteristic of Renaissance music. Their repertoire encompasses medieval plainchant, works from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras, contemporary and newly commissioned works.
Past winners of the Canada Council Healey Willan Grand Prize in the CBC Radio National Competition for Amateur Choirs, the Victoria Scholars have performed with many of Canada’s exceptional vocal soloists, and have toured both in eastern and western Canada. They have produced three widely acclaimed recordings and have been broadcast nationally on CBC Radio, most recently an all Canadian programme for In Performance.
Conductor: Dr. Jerzy Cichocki
Website: victoriascholars.ca
The SMCSAA Choir is a choir made up of alumni from St. Michael’s Choir School. The choir sings at selected services throughout the year at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica in Toronto. This choir which is affiliated with the administration of St. Michael’s Choir School, sings Tenebrae with the changed voices of the Choir School at the annual service held on the Wednesday of Holy Week at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica in Toronto.
Conductor: Joshua Tamayo
Website: smcsaa.com
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa
The Cathedral is proud of its four choirs. They sing on Sundays from the beginning of September to mid-June, as well as on special occasions. In addition to leading the congregation in song, they perform 2 motets at each mass. The repertoire is classical, with organ accompaniment.
The English Choir sings on Sundays at the noon mass. It also joins with the French Choir to sing on occasions such as Christmas Midnight Mass, the Chrism Mass, the Good Friday liturgy, the Easter Vigil and the Diocesan Feast in June. An audition is required in order to join the choir.
The French Choir sings on Sundays at the 10:30 AM mass. It also joins with the English Choir to sing on occasions such as Christmas Midnight Mass, the Chrism Mass, the Good Friday liturgy, the Easter Vigil and the Diocesan Feast in June.
Conductor: Michel Guimont
Website: notredameottawa.com/music