Etobicoke Centennial Choir (ECC) is an auditioned SATB community choir that welcomes choristers, audience members and volunteers from all walks of life, backgrounds, identities and experiences.
We aspire to promote the art of choral singing and enrich the cultural life of our choristers and community through vibrant, diverse choral musical performances. We believe that choral singing fosters joy, harmony and goodwill as individuals join their voices to create beautiful music together.
ECC provides amateur singers with a high-calibre, challenging and supportive choral music experience, facilitated by our professional music director, collaborative pianist and vocal section leads. Choristers improve their vocal skills and musical knowledge, and learn repertoire in wide variety of musical styles over a three-concert season.
A NEW YEAR AND A NEW VENUE!
As the title song goes – “leave your worries on the doorstep” – and join Etobicoke Centennial Choir for a musical stroll “On the Sunny Side of the Street”! We’ll say goodbye to winter and welcome spring with a spirited and eclectic concert of show tunes, folk songs, spirituals and well-loved standards. You’ll hum along to beautiful choral arrangements of classic songs like “When You Wish Upon a Star”, tap your feet to jazzy arrangements of standards from the Great American Songbook, and be moved by stirring renditions of spirituals and uplifting selections from “The King and I”.
Note that we will be performing at a NEW VENUE for this concert – RUNNYMEDE UNITED CHURCH in Bloor West Village. This beautiful space is easily accessible by TTC from Runnymede subway station. Parking is available along Runnymede Road and in the school parking lot across the street. The church is wheelchair accessible from the north side door and there is an elevator to accessible washrooms on the lower level. We look forward to sharing the fine choral acoustics of this hall with our audience for the first time.
As we’ll sing in Bill Withers’ uplifting song, “Its’ Gonna Be a Lovely Day”! We promise an evening that will send you home with a smile on your lips and a song in your heart.
A Night to Remember
It’s a wrap! What a fantastic concert we had – a jubilant evening of sharing beautiful music of the season. With thanks to our 20 instrumentalists, the Cantabile Choir of Young Voices Toronto and our full and enthusiastic audience for making it a festive event to remember.
Remembering Susan LeTendre
Susan LeTendre, ECC’s longest-standing member of more than 50 years, died on Wednesday, August 24th.
Susan participated in the original choir assembled in 1967 for Etobicoke’s celebration of Canada’s centenary, and sang with ECC from its inception until she moved to Alberta a few years ago.
Susan’s contribution to ECC extended well beyond her participation as a chorister. She was a devoted volunteer who committed endless time and energy to the activities of the choir, including auditioning, programming, promotion, organizing rehearsal-a-thons, as well as rehearsal and concert plans and preparations.
Susan served on the ECC board for many years. She was President for several terms throughout her 50 years in the choir, most recently in the 2010 – 2011 season. She served as programming director for many years and, from 2014, worked closely with Henry as Artistic Liaison. She was a repository of ECC history and governance, providing a connection to the past and perspective on its evolution over time.
Her family’s involvement with ECC spanned four generations. Her mother, Marjorie Hewitt was an active ECC supporter who is remembered for her enthusiastic encouragement of ticket sales and gracious support; her daughter, Jennine and granddaughter Halla came to concerts to help out.
ECC was such an integral and important part of Susan’s life from a young age. She loved singing with ECC and with other choirs. She cared deeply about ECC and dedicated her time and talents to it until she was no longer able to do so.
We will dedicate our December concert to her memory and contributions.
May she rest in peace.
ECC’s beloved holiday concert went virtual!
Etobicoke Centennial Choir’s first-ever virtual concert, entitled “How can we keep from singing?,” was recorded live at Humber Valley United Church on December 4, and debuted online December 16. In addition to performing for our dedicated followers, we reached new audiences both regionally and around the globe, including listeners in the United States, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand! The reviews have been glowing, praising both the quality of the performance and the production. We are proud of the results of this rewarding new venture.
The concert remains available to view free of charge:
Etobicoke Centennial Choir in the Globe and Mail
Freelance journalist Ben Mussett interviewed ECC choristers and music director Henry Renglich for his outstanding feature article on a choir’s experience during the Covid pandemic. The article was published in the Globe and Mail online on December 8, and in print in the Arts and Leisure section on Saturday, December 11. In addition to acknowledging the challenges and disappointments of the past two years, he beautifully conveys the passion that choristers have for singing and making music together. The result is an uplifting article that highlights our efforts and commitment to keep on singing!
The article can be found here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-despite-hurdles-caused-by-covid-19-toronto-choir-remains-intact-and/
Supported by the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and Rama Toronto East Gaming Centre
Etobicoke Centennial Choir gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Jackman Foundation.
