St. Michael's Choir School
Encyclopedia
St. Michael’s Choir School is a boys' semi-private school located in downtown Toronto
's Garden District, embodying a unique learning environment for its students. The school serves as a union between two distinct institutions: the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
in Rome and the Toronto Catholic District School Board
. While providing rigorous academic instruction for university entrance, the Choir School trains choristers and musicians. The school's small student population lends to a tight-knit community of teachers, Choir School families, and alumni, as well as academic enrichment found in small class sizes.
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
, and is 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 1966, the Choir School entered into an agreement with the Metropolitan Separate School Board to place secular, non-music courses under the publicly funded separate school system. By 1987, the school was fully funded by government with the exception of the music programme, for which students pay fees. This administrative structure remains today, though Choir School teachers continue to instruct students beyond the confines of Ontario's public education curricula.
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".
St. Michael's Choir School is affiliated with the University of St. Michael's College
, one of the federated colleges
at the University of Toronto
. Their boards share many trustees, and many graduates of the Choir School have selected St. Michael's College as their choice college at the University.
s, cantor
s, conductors
, and professional vocalists. The school has 3 choirs, the elementary choir (grades 3-4), the junior choir (grades 5-6), and the senior choir (grades 7-12). The elementary choir is conducted by Teri Dunn, the junior choir by Caron Daley, and the senior choir by Dr. Jerzy Cichocki. The elementary choir is training as they do not sing masses regularly. The junior choir sings at the 10:00 mass on Sundays. The senior choir is made up of two separate choirs, the Saturday choir and the Sunday choir. The Saturday choir sings at Saturday masses at 5:00PM. The Sunday choir sings at the 12:00 mass on Sunday.
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 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 Trinidad and Tobago
.
Besides touring, the choir participates in many local events. The Choir School has given Christmas concerts every year since 1937, which are currently held at Massey Hall
in downtown Toronto. The two concerts 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.
In the spring of 2006, the choir travelled to Philadelphia and Miami where they performed in various concerts.
On October 15, 2007, the Senior and Junior Choir performed at Roy Thompson Hall with many Choir School alumni, including Matt Dusk, Kevin Hearn and The Barenaked Ladies. This event was organised by the SMCS Alumni Association, with proceeds going to the Choir School.
The most recent international 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 was 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 was one of four featured choirs at the festival, which took place from June 30 through July 7, 2008.
The boys went to Ottawa
, Montreal
and Quebec City
in May 2009 to perform concerts named Cantate Domino, in translation, Sing to the Lord. The program featured sacred music written by some of the best composers like Gabriel Faure
and Felix Mendelssohn
.
An April 2010 tour also took place, with the choir touring in London, Canada; Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo. In Chicago, the boys performed the American national anthem at a Chicago Cubs game.
In May 2011, St. Michael's Choir School went on tour visiting New York
, Philadelphia, Princeton
, and Washington
, and held concerts in Newark
, Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr
, Princeton, and Crofton
. They sang mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
in Washington.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's Garden District, embodying a unique learning environment for its students. The school serves as a union between two distinct institutions: the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music or Pontificio Instituto de Música Sagrada is an institution of higher education of the Roman Catholic Church specifically dedicated to the study of sacred music. It is based in Rome, Italy.-History:...
in Rome and the Toronto Catholic District School Board
Toronto Catholic District School Board
The Toronto Catholic District School Board is the publicly-funded Catholic school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada, headquartered in North York. It is one of the two English boards of education in the City of Toronto, serving the former municipalities of Scarborough, North York, York, East York,...
. While providing rigorous academic instruction for university entrance, the Choir School trains choristers and musicians. The school's small student population lends to a tight-knit community of teachers, Choir School families, and alumni, as well as academic enrichment found in small class sizes.
History
St. Michael's Choir School was founded in 1937 by Msgr. John Edward Ronan to facilitate the training of a professional boys' choirChoir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
for St. Michael's Cathedral
St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto
St. Michael's Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, Canada, and one of the oldest churches in the city. It is located at 200 Church Street in Toronto's Garden District. St. Michael's was designed by William Thomas, designer of eight other churches...
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
Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music or Pontificio Instituto de Música Sagrada is an institution of higher education of the Roman Catholic Church specifically dedicated to the study of sacred music. It is based in Rome, Italy.-History:...
, and is 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 1966, the Choir School entered into an agreement with the Metropolitan Separate School Board to place secular, non-music courses under the publicly funded separate school system. By 1987, the school was fully funded by government with the exception of the music programme, for which students pay fees. This administrative structure remains today, though Choir School teachers continue to instruct students beyond the confines of Ontario's public education curricula.
In 1987, the Choir School completed fifty years of service, and in recognition of this milestone, Art Eggleton
Art Eggleton
Arthur "Art" C. Eggleton, PC is a former Canadian Cabinet minister and Mayor of Toronto, and is currently a Senator representing Ontario.-City council:...
, the mayor of Toronto at the time, declared June 15, 1987 as the official "St. Michael's Choir School Day".
St. Michael's Choir School is affiliated with the University of St. Michael's College
University of St. Michael's College
The University of St. Michael's College is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1852 by the Congregation of St. Basil of Annonay, France. While mainly an undergraduate college for liberal arts and sciences, St. Michael's retains its Roman Catholic affiliation through its postgraduate...
, one of the federated colleges
Federated school
An affiliated school is an educational institution that operates independently, but also has a formal collaborative agreement with another, usually larger institution that may have some level of control or influence over its academic policies, standards or programs.While a university may have one...
at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. Their boards share many trustees, and many graduates of the Choir School have selected St. Michael's College as their choice college at the University.
Choral Programme
Since its founding, the Choir School has provided parishes in the Toronto Diocese and beyond with organistOrganist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
s, cantor
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
s, conductors
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, and professional vocalists. The school has 3 choirs, the elementary choir (grades 3-4), the junior choir (grades 5-6), and the senior choir (grades 7-12). The elementary choir is conducted by Teri Dunn, the junior choir by Caron Daley, and the senior choir by Dr. Jerzy Cichocki. The elementary choir is training as they do not sing masses regularly. The junior choir sings at the 10:00 mass on Sundays. The senior choir is made up of two separate choirs, the Saturday choir and the Sunday choir. The Saturday choir sings at Saturday masses at 5:00PM. The Sunday choir sings at the 12:00 mass on Sunday.
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 the International Choral Festival in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. Since then, the choir has toured across Canada and the continental United States, as well as making concert appearances throughout Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
and Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
.
Besides touring, the choir participates in many local events. The Choir School has given Christmas concerts every year since 1937, which are currently held at Massey Hall
Massey Hall
Massey Hall is a venerable performing arts theatre in the Garden District of downtown Toronto. The theatre originally was designed to seat 3,500 patrons but, after extensive renovations in the 1940s, now seats up to 2,765....
in downtown Toronto. The two concerts 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
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
during the 1984 Papal Visit and during World Youth Day
World Youth Day
World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, the invitation to attend extends to all youth, regardless of religious convictions....
2002, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in October 2003 and former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
in 2003. The choir also participated in a charity performance at Toronto's Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
with Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
, Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
, and Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
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.
In the spring of 2006, the choir travelled to Philadelphia and Miami where they performed in various concerts.
On October 15, 2007, the Senior and Junior Choir performed at Roy Thompson Hall with many Choir School alumni, including Matt Dusk, Kevin Hearn and The Barenaked Ladies. This event was organised by the SMCS Alumni Association, with proceeds going to the Choir School.
The most recent international 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 was 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 was one of four featured choirs at the festival, which took place from June 30 through July 7, 2008.
The boys went to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in May 2009 to perform concerts named Cantate Domino, in translation, Sing to the Lord. The program featured sacred music written by some of the best composers like Gabriel Faure
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
and Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
.
An April 2010 tour also took place, with the choir touring in London, Canada; Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo. In Chicago, the boys performed the American national anthem at a Chicago Cubs game.
In May 2011, St. Michael's Choir School went on tour visiting New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, and Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and held concerts in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
, Princeton, and Crofton
Crofton, Maryland
Crofton is a census-designated place and planned community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. Established in 1964, Crofton held its 40th birthday celebration in 2004....
. They sang mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Latin Rite Catholic basilica located in Washington, D.C., honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States...
in Washington.
Notable alumni
- John ArpinJohn ArpinJohn Francis Oscar Arpin was a Canadian composer, recording artist and entertainer, best known for his work as a virtuoso ragtime pianist....
- musician - Michael BurgessMichael Burgess (singer)Michael Burgess is a popular Canadian actor and singer .Burgess is best known for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in the Toronto production of Les Misérables. He appeared as one of the 17 Jean Valjeans at the end of the Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert...
- singer - Geoffrey Butler - conductor and singer
- Janko KastelicJanko KastelicJanko Kastelic is a conductor from Canada who is currently the music director for the Opera House of Maribor, Slovenia.- Biography :...
- conductor - Vienna State Opera - The Crew-CutsThe Crew-CutsThe Crew-Cuts were a Canadian vocal quartet, that made a number of popular records that charted in the United States and worldwide. They named themselves after the then popular crew cut haircut, one of the first connections made between pop music and hairstyle...
- vocal quartet - Matt DuskMatt DuskMatthew-Aaron Dusk is a Canadian jazz musician / vocalist. He currently has two certified gold albums: Two Shots and Good News, and three number one radio hits: "Back in Town," "All About Me", and "Good News."-Biography:From an early age, Matt Dusk wanted to become a performer. At the age of...
- jazz musician - The Four LadsThe Four LadsThe Four Lads is a popular Canadian male singing quartet. In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the group earned many gold singles and albums. Its million-selling signature tunes include "Moments to Remember," "Standin' on the Corner," "No, Not Much," "Who Needs You," and "Istanbul."The Four Lads makes...
- vocal quartet - Kevin HearnKevin HearnKevin Neil Hearn is a Canadian musician who is currently the keyboardist of Barenaked Ladies and his own group, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle. He is also a former member of Rheostatics.-Early life:...
of the Barenaked LadiesBarenaked LadiesBarenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
- keyboardist - Keram Malicki-SánchezKeram Malicki-SanchezKeram Malicki-Sánchez is a Canadian actor, singer, writer, new media guru, and music and film producer.-Early life & acting career:...
- singer, producer, actor, who has appeared in films such as American History XAmerican History XAmerican History X is a 1998 American drama film directed by Tony Kaye and starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. It was distributed by New Line Cinema.... - Leo MarchildonLeo MarchildonLeo Marchildon is a film/theatre music composer and producer. His first commercial album, To Each is Given, based on inspirational poetry was released in 1998. He and co-writer Adam-Michael James teamed up to create the stage musical "The Nine Lives of L.M. Montgomery" based upon the life of the...
- composer and conductor - John McDermottJohn McDermott (singer)John Charles McDermott is a Scottish-Canadian tenor best known for his rendering of the song "Danny Boy". Born in Glasgow, Scotland, John moved with his family to Willowdale, Ontario, Canada in 1965. Growing up in a musical family, his only formal musical training was at St...
- singer - Robert PomakovRobert PomakovRobert Pomakov is a Canadian operatic bass.Born in Toronto, Pomakov graduated from St. Michael's Choir School, Toronto, in 1999, and later studied at the Curtis Institute of Music. He performed at the LuminaTO "Luna Gala"...
- opera singer - Michael SchadeMichael SchadeMichael Schade is a Canadian operatic tenor, who was born in Geneva and raised in Germany and Canada. He and his four children live in Oakville, Ontario; a city just outside of Toronto, Canada. The family has a second home in Vienna, Austria.Schade is considered a leading Mozart tenor...
- operatic tenor