Concert Season 2009-10
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Al Green Theatre and Andrew Craig Productions present: Andrew Craig's Celebrate Love 2010:
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Stars on Spadina Monday April 26, 2010
A Musical Gala Celebrating the Heart and Soul of the MNjcc! Read more about the star studded event here |
The Al Green Theatre and the MNjcc wish to thank the many artists who have graced our stage over the years. Special appreciation for those artists who participated in Stars on Spadina 2008 and 88 Keys 2009. We wish you all continued success.
Thank you to Yamaha Music Gallery and Yamaha Canada for their support in our campaign to purchase a new grand piano for the Al Green Theatre!
Become a patron or sponsor for the 2009-10 Concert Season. Give us your feedback. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Director of Programming, 416-924-6211 x 133.
Small World Music Festival and the Al Green Theatre/MNjcc present:
Omnesia - Live!
Saturday, September 26, 2009 8 PM
Thank you to Omnesia Live! and the Small World Music Festival for a concert to remember!
Lead by producer/composer Anuj Rastogi, Omnesia is a dynamic ensemble of some of the finest young global musicians anywhere. Omnesia’s music is characterized by unique paradoxes that blend technology with tradition, ancient with modern, and east with west. Omnesia will feature diverse musical virtuosity, engaging production, and atmospheric visuals on a 30 foot screen. The entire group is set on putting Canada on the map for innovative world music. The group and its members have performed several successful events across Canada, the US and Europe to thousands of music lovers. "Omnesia - Live!" will raise awareness for ‘Spread the Net’, an initiative focused on the eradication of malaria in Sub-saharan Africa.
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The Glick Society and the Al Green Theatre/MNjcc present:
Srul Irving Glick: A Tribute Concert
Thursday October 29, 2009 7:30 PM
featuring Elmer Iseler Singers, Jacques Israelievitch, Susan Hoeppner, Jeanie Chung, Ramona Carmelly, MNjcc Suzuki Quartet
Ramona Carmelly has captivated audiences in more than a dozen languages. Ramona won 3rd place in the first annual Christina and Louis Quilico competition, and won a coveted position in the Apprentice Artist Program with Des Moines Metro Opera. Ramona debuted with Toronto’s Opera in Concert in 1999. She has sung with choirs and orchestras, in cabaret and jazz as well as the great masses by Dvorak, Haydn and Mozart. She was featured soloist in Mahler’s symphony #3 with conductor Richard Bradshaw. Ramona created the title role in Emily, the Way You Are, a one woman chamber opera written for her.
Jeanie Chung enjoys an active musical life. She has given concerts across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Recent highlights include solo and collaborative performances in Banff, Berlin, Oslo, and Pyongyang, North Korea. Jeanie has been a prizewinner in several international piano competitions and chamber music competitions including the Busoni International Piano Competition, the International Chamber Music Competition of Caltanissetta, and the Premio Gui International Chamber Music Competition. Upon completion of her studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Jeanie obtained her bachelor of music, masters of music, and doctor of musical arts degrees from the Juilliard School. Her principal teachers have been Boris Lysenko, Leon Fleisher, John Perry, and Herbert Stessin. Jeanie is currently based in Toronto.
Susan Hoeppner is in great demand as an international solo recitalist and chamber musician and has performed as guest soloist with orchestras around the world including the New York Chamber Orchestra, Takefu International Festival orchestra, and orchestras in Lisbon and Buenos Aires. She was Grand Prize Winner of the C.M. Competition, the CBC Young performer’s Competition and first Prize in the Olga Koussevitsky Competition. At 20 years old she gave her Town Hall recital and then performed at the famous Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires to critical acclaim. She records for the Marquis Classics label and can be frequently heard on CBC Radio 2. Ms Hoeppner graduated from The Juilliard School and is on the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto.
Jacques Israelievitch was born in 1948 in Cannes, France. At age 11 he was the youngest graduate in the history of Le Mans Conservatory. He continues his studies at the Conservatoire in Paris where he received 3 first prizes at age 16, and at University of Indiana. As both soloist and chamber musician he has collaborated with artists such as conductor Giulini, pianist Emanuel Ax and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In 1972, Solti appointed him Assistant Concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony; at age 24 he was their youngest member. From 1988 to 2008 he was concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony. In 2004 he was honoured by France with the title of Officer of the Order of Arts and Literature.
The Elmer Iseler singers a professional mixed choir of 20-25 voices was founded in 1979 by Elmer Iseler and was under his direction until his death in 1998 when Lydia Adams was appointed Music director. They perform an average of 100 engagements a year, many of them broadcast on CBC radio. The choir has been awarded several Canadian Music Council Grand Prix du Disques and has provided music for various television and film productions. They have commissioned and performed choral works such as Srul Irving Glick’s “Sing Unto The Lord A New Song.” The Elmer Iseler Singers received the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for the Arts in 1992.
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Daniel and Micah Barnes in Concert, with Special Guest Lorraine Segato
Saturday, December 5 8:00 PM
Micah and Daniel bring you a night of original music that ranges in expression from acoustic jazz to cabaret, blues to adult pop.
The Daniel Barnes Quartet comprised of award winning musicians William Sperandei on trumpet, Robi Botos on piano, Paul Novotny on bass and Daniel on drums perform selections off of his recordings “Culmination” and “Classic Beauties”. Daniel’s group has played the Montreal International, the Downtown Toronto, The All Canadian and Distillery Jazz Festivals among others. The Toronto Star has said “Barnes’ compositions specialize in relentlessly thrusting music of broad appeal and warmth that give bandsmen broad latitude to wail” allaboutjazz.com says “Barnes knows his way with a tune".
The Micah Barnes Trio with Micah on piano and vocals, Daniel on drums and vocals, Paul Novotny on bass is joined by special guest vocalist Lorraine Segato for a dynamic set of original music that ranges in style from cabaret to blues to pop. "Micah Barnes eludes all the musical cliches. His lyrics often dryly comic, are a producto of his quick intellience, a mischevious sense of humour and a bubbling show biz savvy". Globe and Mail. "...has real life and wit". NY Times.
Daniel Barnes Biography
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www.danielbarnes.net
“stands with the best of (his) generation in Canada" Mark Miller, Globe and Mail.
Drummer, Composer, Producer and Singer Daniel Barnes was born into an artistic family in Toronto, Canada in 1965. His father Milton Barnes; a classical music composer with symphonic, chamber and choral works for concert stage and dance to his legacy, Mother Lilly a published author and script-writer for television and radio. Brother Micah is a singer songwriter formerly with pop group The Nylons.
Daniel found his calling by age 5 and began regular professional work at age 16. He studied drums with Claude Ranger, Jim Blackely and Marvin “Smitty” Smith, piano with Bob Fenton and theory with Professor Paul Read, faculty, University of Toronto. Daniel twice attended the Banff Centre’s Jazz Workshop in the late 1980’s with bassist -educator David Holland as Artistic Director.
Career Highlights:
As a teenager in the 1980’s Daniel and his brother Micah rose to local prominence as The Micah Barnes Band, playing their own jazz/blues/pop music in clubs, on national TV and in major halls opening for Natalie Cole, Nik Kershaw and Jane Siberry. Daniel continued on his jazz stream establishing The Daniel Barnes/David Restivo Quintet in the early '90's on to drumming for a top echelon of jazz talent in Canada inlcuding Holly Cole, Jane Bunnett, Joe Sealy, Carol Welsman, Molly Johnson, Hilario Duran, Jake Langley and others. His contribution to Joe’s “Africville Suite” helped win the JUNO award in ‘96 for best contemporary jazz Cd. In 2007 Richard Underhill’s “Moment in Time” (with Daniel on drums) was nominated for same. The National Jazz Awards in Toronto Canada nominated Daniel “Drummer of the Year” in 2003 and 2007. His work in “World” music is extensive; throughout the ‘90’s touring and recording with “Ethiopia’s Aretha Franklin” (TIME magazine) Ms. Aster Aweke in Europe, U.S., Caribbean and Africa. Back in Toronto writing, recording and drumming for David Buchbinder’s Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band (Juno nominated Cd) and with Theresa Tova, Frank London and SoCalled also in this genre.
Daniel’s 2007 release “CLASSIC BEAUTIES” is a visit with the jazz tradition, a pillar of his creative personhood. Writing all 8 tracks he harkens back to cool and hard bebop sounds. Assembling an awesome band allowed for "jazz magic" to happen. Airplay is strong on the CBC (coast to coast) and at Jazz.Fm in T.O.
Daniel’s 2003 debut release “Culmination” features his writing, arranging, drumming, producing and some singing in a diverse yet cohesive contemporary jazz setting. Reaching #9 in Jan 2004 on the National College Chart it played coast to coast on The CBC and ranked 7th favorite Cd of 2004 (DJ pick) at JazzFm 91.1. Daniel's live band played major Ontario Jazz Festival’s (Toronto Downtown, All Canadian, Distillery) as well as being broadcast in performance on TV Ontario's Studio Two program.
Micah Barnes Biography Media Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.micahbarnes.com
Vocalist :: Composer :: Recording Artist
Singer/pianist/composer Micah and his brother Daniel Barnes have a rich musical history together reaching back to early childhood, where they played the piano and drums respectively in their family living room with plenty of encouragement from their father classical composer Milton and their mother Television writer Lilly Barnes.
In their teens the brothers had established themselves as The Micah Barnes Trio, regularly played to packed houses in the top Jazz and Cabaret rooms of Toronto. By the mid 80's the brothers had found a home on Toronto's blossoming Queen Street Scene as The Micah Barnes Band. They shared stages nationally with Jane Siberry, Carole Pope and The Parachute Club joining established jazz acts like Holly Cole and Molly Johnson in concert. Much Music, CBC and the national press helped created a huge buzz about The Micah Barnes Band, resulting in opening gigs for international acts such as Natalie Cole at The O'Keefe Centre.
In 1989 Micah joined the internationally popular recording and concert act The Nylons, replacing founding member Paul Cooper. He wrote, arranged and recorded the CD's "Four On The Floor" and "Live To Love" with the A Capella group, helping lead to Urban Radio play and heavy rotation on BET in the USA, as well as 1993's Juno nomination for R&B single for their hit cover of "Don't Look Any Further". Their recording of "Oh Canada" with Micah singing Baritone in both French and English is still played every morning in schools across Canada to this day. The Nylons' busy touring and performing schedule brought Micah to concert audiences all over the world including Asia, Europe, Australia and the U.S.A., and found him sharing stages with performers like Harry Connick Jr, Gladys Knight, Michael Bolton, The Spinners and The Commodores. Micah appeared with The Nylons on dozens of television shows in North America, Europe and Australia as well as a popular PBS special "Live From Chataqua".
In 1996 Micah left The Nylons and relocated to California where he released his first solo recording, "LoudBoy Radio" in 1999. This collection of hard hitting club tracks, created with N' Sync's producer, Brad Daymond, won him a new fan base, TV play on "Party Of Five" and the critics' praises in the U.S., including a nod from Rolling Stone as an indie pop artist worth watching. His tour dates included hot underground venues across the nation from the legendary CBGB's in New York to LA's Viper room and his adventures are covered in the chapter "Revenge Of The Canadian Loudmouth" in the book "Homocore" published by Alyson Books in 2005The success of Micah's first solo recording caught the attention of hot remix team Thunderpuss, (responsible for over top 10 crossover hits for the likes of Whitney Houston and Christina Aguilera ), who in 2003 created the song "Welcome To My Head” especially written for Micah. "Welcome To My Head" became a favorite of the club DJ's internationally and was included on countless club disc's, as well being played on the top rated TV show "Will and Grace" which helped push the song into the number one position on Billboard's club chart. Micahs touring schedule expanded to include top club and concert performances in Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.
While touring with his club hit, Micah was developing material for a new direction, going back to his roots as a songwriter and singing at the piano. He started trying out the new songs at intimate hot spots like Les Deux Café in Hollywood and The Living Room in New York City before cutting the self titled C.D. "Micah Barnes" in Los Angeles with legendary producer Geza X.,(Meridith Brooks, Black Flag etc.).
Moving back to his hometownToronto in 2006 Micah has found himself embraced by fans and critics alike for the intense passion of his matured song-writing and performances, including dates at the Toronto Jazz Festival and a standing room only CD release concert at the prestigious Hugh's Room. In summer of '07 CBC Radio's highest rated national program "Sunday Edition" created and broadcast a 1/2 hour documentary about Micah's career to date including his years with "The Nylons" and his solo journey. Most recently, Micah has been on tour opening for his pal jazz diva Molly Johnson on her Canadian concert dates.
Lorraine Segato
She's charismatic. She possesses one of the most recognizable voices in Canadian music, and she's got a new solo CD luminous city. As the co-founder and lead singer of The Parachute Club,one of the most critically lauded and commercially successful groups of the eighties, Segato enjoyed a run in the music industry few can match.
Utimately, as Canada's most internationally renowned 'worldbeat" band, The Parachute Club garnered five Juno's,five BMAC Awards, five CASBY's, two Platinum and one Gold record. To this day, the group's hits "Rise Up" and "At The Feet Of The Moon" remain staples on Canadian radio.
Lorraine performs with a trio for intimate venues; concert or festival performances feature a five piece band.
and Al Green Theatre/MNjcc present
Habanot Nechama
Wednesday January 13 8:00 PM
HaBanot Nechama are a live band in the deepest sense. They built themselves a hugh and very dedicated following before releasing even one single. HaBanot Nechama are three experienced singers, maintaining separate musical careers in addition to the group: Karolina, Dana Adini and Yael Deckelbaum.
The three first performed together at an women singer-writers acoustic night at the famous Jah-Pan club in Tel-Aviv. The band's name came from the soothing and comforting element of the group's sound (Nechama in Hebrew means consolation). At first, each singer sang her own compositions, but later they started composing and writing all the songs for the show together. Their act performed many times in Israel and abroad, and was named "act of the year" in "DJ Ha'ir" magazine.
August 2007 saw the release of HaBanot Nechama's self-titled debut. The album went gold after only three weeks, and platinum immediately afterwards, with the first single - "So Far" – topping the charts on every major radio station for weeks. All concerts on the first Israeli tour were quickly sold-out with an unprecedented demand by European summer festivals. The girls received great media exposure, performing on prime-time TV shows, and eventually getting them a nomination for the "Best New Act" award at the Israeli Music Channel annual awards.
In February 2008 the girls won the ACUM (Israel's ASCAP) achievement award for "So Far". The judges: "You simply can't think about the passing year without this song... it has a unique quality of a harmony sang by three incredible singers, warming every listener's heart".
Watch Habanot Nechama on Youtube
Promotional Sponsors 
Al Green Theatre and Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation present
Big Bands! Israel's Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts and Toronto's JazzFM91 Youth Big Band
Sunday January 17, 2010 3:00 PM
Pay What You Can, Suggested Donation $10. Tickets available the day of the event.
About the JazzFM91 Youth Big Band
Comprised of students from across Toronto and the surrounding region, the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band rehearses at the JAZZ.FM91 studios, under the musical direction of Jules Estrin. The group had their premier performance at the JAZZ LIVES 2008 concert on Thursday, May 8th at Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto. They also appeared at JAZZ LIVES 2009. Uniforms and instruments are provided, and participation of youth from marginalized areas is expressly encouraged.
About the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts Big Band
Thelma Yellin is a national high school; its students come from all over the country to learn in an open, supportive atmosphere whose professional staff is commited to the ideal of helping artistically gifted young people develop skills in their chosen field of specialization, while at the same time furthering their academic education. The Big Band has performed twice at the prestigious annual convention of The International Association for Jazz Educators, in New York City and Toronto. They also wowed audiences at Toronto's Rex jazz club in 2008.
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