Orchestra Toronto

Orchestra Toronto Orchestra Toronto is one of Canada's premier community volunteer symphony orchestras. Performing 5 subscription concerts a year.

Orchestra Toronto is the ensemble in residence for the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Our Vision
Orchestra Toronto will entertain and inspire our many communities and strive to ensure the love of symphonic music is embraced by future generations. Our Passion
Our passion is deep rooted in more than a half century of musical history:
Our volunteer organization embraces partnerships with our supporters to fulfill our vision
We seek to provide an inspiring experience in each and every performance
We share our enthusiasm for music making with artistic responsibility and devotion to our art form
We create programs that meet the changing needs of our audiences and deliver a musical experience beyond their expectations
We provide a forum for volunteer and emerging musicians to grow and showcase their talent
We will make symphonic music approachable for audiences of all social and musical backgrounds

You’ve heard this music before. You just might not know its name.Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and especially the hauntingl...
10/08/2026

You’ve heard this music before. You just might not know its name.

Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and especially the hauntingly beautiful “Nimrod”, has travelled far beyond the concert hall. You may recognize it from films like Dunkirk and Elizabeth, as well as television and major public ceremonies.

In the UK, “Nimrod” has become deeply associated with Remembrance Day, memorials and national ceremonies, including the annual Remembrance service at the Cenotaph.

But there’s more to the music than its familiar melody. Each variation is a musical portrait, and Elgar left behind an “enigma” that has puzzled listeners for more than a century.

Come hear the mystery for yourself. Join OT on Sunday, November 1st at 3pm for Turn of the Century: Elgar, Beach & Sibelius �
🎟️ Get your tickets at https://www.ticketmaster.ca/turn-of-the-century-elgar-beach-toronto-ontario-11-01-2026/event/100064BE9AA6AFFE

OT is delighted to welcome our new principal trombone player, Barrington Venables! Barrington is a trombonist based in N...
10/07/2026

OT is delighted to welcome our new principal trombone player, Barrington Venables!

Barrington is a trombonist based in Newmarket, Ontario. As an active freelancer across the GTA, he has performed with groups such as Ontario Philharmonic, Hamilton Philharmonic, the National Ballet of Canada, Casa Loma orchestra, and the Trillium Brass Quintet. Barrington is also a member of the Hannaford Street Silver Band, iTromboni, Luis Franco Worldwide Salsa Band and his family brass ensemble, Venabrass. His playing experience covers orchestral, brass band, chamber and Latin music, and he has worked under conductors including Bramwell Tovey, Julian Pellicano, Jean-Michel Malouf and the late Kerry Stratton. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance with Honours from the University of Toronto and has studied privately with Joseph Alessi of the New York Philharmonic.

We’re delighted to introduce our new principal trumpet player: Sam Cancellara! Sam Cancellara holds a Bachelor of Music ...
09/30/2026

We’re delighted to introduce our new principal trumpet player: Sam Cancellara!

Sam Cancellara holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance from the University of Toronto where he studied with Professor Stephen Chennette. He has studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts with the Canadian Brass, Armando Ghitalla, Robert Nagel and David Hickman as well as in Toronto with Larry Weeks. Further studies have taken him to The Aspen Music Festival in Colorado with members of The American Brass Quintet.

He has performed professionally with The Canadian Opera Company, Hannaford Street Silver Band, numerous brass ensembles and Symphony Orchestras.

We’re pleased to welcome Iranian-Canadian composer, conductor, and pianist Maziar Heidari as a judge for Orchestra Toron...
09/29/2026

We’re pleased to welcome Iranian-Canadian composer, conductor, and pianist Maziar Heidari as a judge for Orchestra Toronto’s Composition Competition.

Based in Toronto, Maziar has built a career spanning composition, conducting, performance, and music education. He has conducted with Orchestra Toronto, the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and currently serves as Music Director and Conductor for Toronto Chinese Orchestra, and previously served as a composer, pianist, and assistant conductor with Iran’s National Music Orchestra.

A co-founder and Music Director of the Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT), Maziar is passionate about creating opportunities for new music and bringing Canadian and Iranian musical traditions together. His honours include an RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award, the Canada 150 Medal, and the Tirgan Festival Trophy. He has also served as a JUNO Awards juror and is an Associate Composer with the Canadian Music Centre.

We’re thrilled to have his experience and perspective on our judging panel as we celebrate the next generation of composers.

🚨Applications for Orchestra Toronto’s 26-27 Conducting Apprenticeships is NOW OPEN! Submissions close on Tuesday, Octobe...
09/29/2026

🚨Applications for Orchestra Toronto’s 26-27 Conducting Apprenticeships is NOW OPEN! Submissions close on Tuesday, October 13 at 11:59pm.🚨

More info & application link: https://www.orchestratoronto.ca/community-education/https/orchestratorontoca/orchestra/conducting-apprenticeships-in-2026-27

For conductors at the early stages of their careers, opportunities to practice their craft with a live orchestra can be difficult to come by. “Podium time” at music schools is in short supply. An apprenticeship with Orchestra Toronto offers emerging conductors the chance to work with the Orchestra throughout the rehearsal cycle for one concert, (from initial read-through to the final performance) giving each Apprentice opportunities to lead the orchestra, in order to perfect their craft. In addition, conductors receive coaching and mentoring from Music Director Michael Newnham.

A huge shoutout to RBC Foundation for sponsoring this year’s Apprentice Conductor program.

We’re thrilled to welcome acclaimed Chinese-Canadian composer Alice Ping Yee Ho as a judge for Orchestra Toronto’s Compo...
09/21/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome acclaimed Chinese-Canadian composer Alice Ping Yee Ho as a judge for Orchestra Toronto’s Composition Competition.

Ho has built a remarkable career spanning opera, orchestral, chamber, dance, theatre, and electroacoustic music. Her work often brings together Eastern and Western musical traditions, creating a distinctive and deeply expressive musical voice.

Her many honours include the 2024 Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music, the 2022 Barlow Endowment Commissioning Award, the 2019 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize, and the 2013 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Original Opera. She is also a three-time JUNO Award nominee, with her music performed by ensembles and orchestras across Canada and around the world.

Orchestra Toronto will be performing Ho’s “Jubilation of Spring” at ‘The Sound of Spring’ on Sunday, April 18, 2027!

We’re thrilled to have her experience and perspective on our judging panel as we discover the next generation of composers.

Join us on Sunday, November 1st at 3pm for our season premiere: TURN OF THE CENTURY - Elgar, Beach & Sibelius. Featuring...
09/17/2026

Join us on Sunday, November 1st at 3pm for our season premiere: TURN OF THE CENTURY - Elgar, Beach & Sibelius.

Featuring a program that centers on three remarkable works composed in 1899, a pivotal year at the threshold to a new century.

On the program:
* Elgar: Enigma Variations
* Beach: Piano Concerto
* Sibelius: Finlandia

Conducted by Michael Newnham and featuring special guest pianist Anya Alexeyev, this is one you won’t want to miss!

Single tickets and subscriptions available now!

Address

5040 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON
M2N6R8

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