Hart House Singers

08/03/2026

Hart House Singers - Information for the 2026-2027 Academic Year:
Please see the information below regarding membership in the Hart House Singers for the upcoming academic year, 2026-2027.
Article about Hart House Singers:
https://harthouse.ca/blog/director-of-hart-house-singers-on-the-joy-of-diverse-musical-experiences-for-all-ages

1. Rehearsals in the Fall and Winter Terms:
a) Rehearsals in the fall and winter terms are on Monday evenings, 7:45-9:30 p.m. There are no rehearsals on statutory holiday Mondays (e.g.: Thanksgiving Monday, Oct. 12, Family Day Monday, Feb. 15.).
b) There are no rehearsals after the Nov. concert until the winter term. There are no rehearsals after the March concerts until the spring/summer term. (The spring/summer term is not held every year. It is confirmed by the middle of April.)
c) You may join for just one term during the academic year (i.e.: the fall or winter term) or both terms.
New this year: you may sign up for only one term at a time. That is to say: you may sign up / register in September for the fall term, and sign up/register in January for the winter term; there is not a full-year registration option anymore - only one term at a time. (We had many members who signed up for the whole year in September but attended only one of the terms, and this was difficult to consolidate in our registration system.)
d) There may be a spring/summer term, but this is confirmed by mid-April 2027. The spring/summer term is typically held from the end of May to early July.

2. First rehearsal of Fall and Winter Terms:
a) The first rehearsal of the Fall Term 2026 is on Monday, Sept. 14, 7:45 - 9:30 p.m.
b) The first rehearsal of the Winter Term 2027 is on Monday, Jan. 4, 7:45-9:30 p.m.

3. Open Rehearsals:
The first two rehearsals of each term are free "open rehearsals" - you may come, sing, and decide by the third rehearsal of the term if you would like to stay for the term.
a) The open rehearsals of the Fall Term are on Mon., Sept. 14 and Mon., Sept. 21 (7:45-9:30 pm).
b) The open rehearsals of the Winter Term are on Mon., Jan. 4 and Mon., Jan. 11 (7:45-9:30 pm).

4. Dress Rehearsal for the Fall Term:
Friday, Nov. 20, 7:00-10:00 p.m.

5. Performance for the Fall Term:
Sunday, Nov. 22, 4:00-5:30 p.m. (with a warm up probably at 2:00 or 2:30 p.m.)

6. Dress Rehearsal for the Winter Term:
Monday, March 8, 7:00-10:00 p.m.

7. Performances for the Winter Term::
Friday, March 12, 7:30-9:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 14, 4:00-5:30 p.m.

8. Repertoire for Fall Term: (subject to changes)
Concert Title: LUX (Light)
Guests: Sylvia Zhu (guzheng) and the Almerrin String Quartet
i) Serenity (by Ola Gjeilo; for choir and cello)
St Jacobs Vokalensemble: https://youtu.be/Al6CMyLmOvU?si=aOwLXP57tqJPfKHM
ii) Across the Vast, Eternal Sky (by O. Gjeilo; for choir, piano, string quartet)
a) Central Washington University Choir: https://youtu.be/61FaBl-5R_k?si=yfamYKhCALyzgL17
b) Choir of Royal Holloway: https://youtu.be/70OoFZzEOTY?si=fmLnwZSCoxwOTlHg
iii) Northern Lights (O magnum mysterium) (by Ola Gjeilo) - inspired by seeing the aurora borealis; to be sung by a chamber group drawn from the choir
Voces8: https://youtu.be/NspOpsKs8vc?si=zuGFkiqeVKdQhJ2u
iv) Sure on this Shining Night (by Samuel Barber) for choir and piano
Atlanta Master Chorale: https://youtu.be/vSid4Z7DrAo?si=HPo85qADp28rM5uC
And here it is with the music shown: https://youtu.be/pO35-lLMVWw?si=w0Iv_rJzmO94flXY
v) O Serene Light (by Sergei Rachmaninoff; from Rachmaninoff Vespers, Op. 37 no.4") for choir only (a capella)
USSR Ministry of Culture Chamber Choir: https://youtu.be/d6WC3kvW8TA?si=xH3ogoeI5KD--7U-
vi) Vater unser (by Arvo Pärt) - for choir, piano, strings TBC
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir: https://youtu.be/Pr0hMlc_SfM?si=huZqD4vfSudq23wX
vii) Lux aeterna (by Edward Elgar; adapted from his "Nimrod”):
a) with music: https://youtu.be/C7schrYpges?si=ZLUHOKB1YcswtskR
b) Ensemble Altera: https://youtu.be/FRMEczx8E8M?si=OAfwEAB92YM9UgTi
viii) By Night (by Elaine Hagenberg); for choir, piano and strings NOTE: We will decide during rehearsals if we like this well enough to perform it.
https://youtu.be/9nUM5tvIwBM?si=Kd6KZyMLt_7_r9f-
More pieces will be added.
viii) Rehearsal tracks (mp3 and midi) will be available to help you hear and learn the music at home. Use of this is voluntary, but many find it to be very helpful.

9. Repertoire for Winter Term:
Karl Jenkins' “The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace”
Accompaniment will be by the Royal Canadian Navy Bands HMCS York and HMCS Star
Here is information about this piece:
a) The theme is about wishing for peace in a violent world. The work is a reflection on the horrors of war and a message of hope for the future. It was written to commemorate the victims of the war in Kosovo in the 1990's.
b) The piece debuted in 2000 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and has had thousands of performances since then, in different parts of the world.
c) It holds the distinction of being the first choral piece and the first work by a living composer to top the Classic FM Hall of Fame.
d) This piece spent over 1,000 weeks on the UK Official Albums Chart.
e) Since its premiere in 2000, it has been performed over 4,000 times globally. (For some reason, it hasn't been performed much here in Canada.) It is immensely popular in Europe and has been performed many times at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre in New York City.)
NOTE: The Royal Canadian Navy Bands (who will accompany us) are certain we will be able to fill the Hart House Great Hall on two nights, so our performance week will look like this:
1) Dress Rehearsal: Monday, March 8, 7-10 (9:30?) pm
2) Performance #1: Friday, March 12, 7:30 or 8:00-9:30 pm
3) Performance #2: Sunday, March 14, 4:00-5:30 pm
Here are some excerpts of this piece:
a) Sanctus: https://youtu.be/JB_qwrHdia0?si=605FX5fnMr8bp0k8
b) Hymn Before Action: https://youtu.be/TzsJFcZOIvs?si=NXNI5DV71Ae3p0ah
c) Charge! https://youtu.be/NfOLKep5EJo?si=qaJ7zEDJUrAlhBUu
d) Agnus Dei: https://youtu.be/EQTjpREgDjY?si=Dk2qhjZaGc1oW3Hf
e) Better is Peace: https://youtu.be/77bp0fYnvWk?si=W1Ky_lrkXqVbg0m1

10. Registration:
New this year: You may sign up for only one term at a time. That is to say: you may sign up / register in September for the fall term, and sign up/register in January for the winter term; there is not a full-year registration option anymore - only one term at a time. (We had many members who signed up for the whole year in September but attended only one of the terms, and this was difficult to consolidate in our registration system.) The first two rehearsals of each term are free. You must register and pay your membership fee by the third rehearsal of each term if you choose to join for the term. (You may also register before the first two rehearsals, but registration will be open starting only on Sept. 1, 2026.) The easiest way to register is to go to the main reception desk at Hart House (on the main level) or register online with this link: https://harthouse.ca/clubs/singers
NOTE: Registration (both in person and online) will be open on Sept. 1, 2026.

11. Membership Fees:
The first two rehearsals of each term are "open (free) rehearsals." You may come, see if you like the music, but you must decide by the third rehearsal of each term (i.e. by Sept. 21 for the fall term; Jan. 18 for the winter term) if you'd like to join for the term and pay the membership fee.
Any one of university age or older may join the Hart House Singers. You may be a UofT student or you may be a non-student.
Membership fee amounts for the 2026-2027 academic year are described below. NOTE: You may join for just a term or for the academic year.
a) Per Term (fall or winter terms):
Student or Hart House Member*: $10
Non-students and non-Members: $120
Under 29 and over 65: $90
c) spring/summer term**:
Student or Hart House Member**: $5
Non-students and non-Member: $60
Under 29 and over 65: $45

*”Student” means any University of Toronto student who has paid ancillary fees as part of their academic program; "Hart House Member” refers to those who have a full Hart House fitness centre membership.
**The Spring/Summer session is confirmed by mid-April.

12) Questions?
Please email us a [email protected] if you have any questions.

07/05/2026

After the Hart House Singers’ concert, July 5/2026. Thank you for a great show, Singers and guests!

06/28/2026

This is a fun concert of music taught to us by our fathers! Sun., July 5, 4 pm.

04/27/2026

The Hart House Singers will hold a summer session again this year. Here are details:
1) Rehearsals: Rehearsals are held Wednesday evenings, 7:30-9:30 pm, in one of the large rooms at Hart House, from May 20th until June 24. The performance is on Sunday, July 5. There is no rehearsal on Wed., July 1, as this is Canada Day (a holiday). Please check at the reception desk for the notice of the location of each rehearsal when you arrive at Hart House. (Most of the rehearsals will be in the Music Room, on the second floor, west side, overlooking the sports field. Please note: locations can change at the last minute, so it's good to always check at the reception desk on the main floor.)
2) Open Rehearsals: The first two rehearsals of Wed., May 20 and May 27 are "open rehearsals" - you may attend both or either of these rehearsals and sing with us (for free), see if you like the repertoire and choir, and decide later if you'd like to stay for the term. If you choose to stay for the summer term, you must register and pay your membership fee before the third rehearsal of June 3. (See below for information on how to register and the membership fees.)
3) Dress rehearsal is on Thursday, July 2
4) Performance is on Sunday, July 5, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
5) Repertoire:
a) Repertoire is still being organized. The theme of the concert is "Songs My Father Taught Me." (Last summer, we performed "Songs My Mother Taught Me", which was very well received.)
b) Members are encouraged to give suggestions to the conductor, who will look for or make an arrangement of your suggestions, if possible.
c) Songs or instrumental pieces can be music your father or grandfather loved, in any language. (We can bend the rules and include mothers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles!)
c) If you play an instrument well, please tell the conductor.
d) Please email your suggestions, if you have any, to the conductor at [email protected]
e) Here are some suggestions and pieces that have already been sent to the conductor (or which the conductor has chosen): NOTE: We "test" the pieces during the first few rehearsals, and choose which we like best. Several more pieces will be added soon.
i) Amazing Grace (arr. Ron Small or Richard Proulx) (Sorry - I can't find a good Youtube recording of the version we have.)
ii) One Hand, One Heart (Bernstein, from West Side Story):
https://youtu.be/i5Mi6-AiXI4?si=DvEpDSCyspL0fhZk&t=84
iii) My Lord What A Morning (spiritual); an arrangement similar to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FixTWmCQ8&list=RDV3FixTWmCQ8&start_radio=1
iv) Nothin' Gonna Stumble My Feet (spiritual): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSSRP2cdy7o&list=RDWSSRP2cdy7o&start_radio=1
v) Scarborough Fair / Canticle (Simon & Garfunkel): We have a choral arrangement of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jj4s9I-53g&list=RD-Jj4s9I-53g&start_radio=1
vi) Bach: a choral arrangement made by the conductor of this piece by Bach:
https://youtu.be/a0n99OopdpA?si=-9TyxJRSm9t74Ar6&t=215
vii) Bach chorale (with instrument accompaniment arranged by the conductor):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fcosDOncAo&list=RD-fcosDOncAo&start_radio=1
viii) Jerusalem (words by William Blake):
https://www.youtube.com/watchv=h6HRgmZmY8E&list=RDh6HRgmZmY8E&start_radio=1
ix) There will also be pieces sung in Mandarin accompanied by the guzheng, played by Sylvia Zhu, who performed beautifully with us last year.
x) Again, more pieces will be added and "tested" soon.
6) Learning Music at Home: Audio / rehearsal files of most of the songs will be posted so that you can learn the music at home.
7) Members: Anyone of university age or older may join the Hart House Singers. You may be a UofT student or you may be a non-UofT student.
8 ) Sight-reading Skill Level: There is a wide range of sight-reading skills in our membership. We have members who are new to sight-reading music notation, and those who are skilled at reading music. It is helpful if you understand the value of notes and rests.
9) Registration: Registration may be made in person at the main reception desk at Hart House. There is also a link to register online (though this works best if you have a UofT student number). Here is the link (look for "Singers - summer registration" on the webpage):
https://www.harthouseregistration.ca/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=8c4dc827-8c2b-452d-ab15-67566309255f&semesterId=26efa3ac-9ef0-4b52-a391-66c619d739c1
10) Fees:
A reminder: The first two rehearsals (May 20 and 27) are "open (free) rehearsals." You may come, see if you like the music, but you must decide by the third rehearsal of June 3 if you'd like to join for the term and pay the membership fee.
a) $5 for UofT students in the past academic year (Sept.-May) who register before May 21 or for UofT students who are enrolled in summer courses. If you find you do not like the repertoire and wish to stop your membership, you may get a refund.
b) $45 if you are not a student and you are 29 or under / 65 or older, or a recent graduate of UofT (i.e.: you graduated sometime in the past 12 months.)
c) $60 if you are not a student, not a recent graduate of UofT, and your age is between and including 30 to 64.

03/17/2026

The “Hallelujah Chorus” from our Messiah concert of March 15/2026:

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

03/15/2026

Hart House Singers with soloists and orchestra at our first full performance of Handel’s Messiah today (March 15/2026). It was grand!

02/18/2026

Come to our Handel Messiah concert! Sun., March 15, 4 pm.

12/08/2025

Join the Hart House Singers for our winter term, Jan.-March 2026! Below is more information.
1) Repertoire: We will rehearse and perform Handel's Messiah with soloists and full orchestra.
2) Rehearsals: We rehearse each Monday, beginning Mon., Jan. 5, from 7:45-9:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at Hart House, University of Toronto. NOTE: There is NO rehearsal on Family Day, Mon., Feb. 16.
3) Optional Extra Saturday Rehearsal: There is an optional extra rehearsal on Sat., Feb. 28, 2-4 p.m.
4) "Open Rehearsals" - You may attend one or both of the "open rehearsals on Mon., Jan. 5 and Mon., Jan 12. You may come, sing, and decide later if you'd like to join for the term.
5) Music: Hardcopies of the music will be made available at the rehearsals. Members will have the option of buying their own copy for about $15 (to be confirmed). We are using the Novello edition, edited by Watkins Shaw.
6) Rehearsal Tracks: There will be rehearsal tracks of the music available online, which you can use to help you learn the music at home. Using these tracks is optional, but many find them to be very helpful.
7) Dress Rehearsal: Friday, March 13, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
8 ) Performance: Sunday, March 15, 4:00-6:00 p.m., with a warm up at 2:30-3:30 p.m.
9) Registration: You must decide by the third rehearsal if you would like to join for the term and sing in the performance. You must register and pay your membership fee by the third rehearsal if you choose to join.
10) Fees: Memberships fees for the winter term only (Jan.-March 2026) are:
a) Student or Hart House Member (i.e. with athletic membership): $10
b) Non-student or non-Member: $130
c) Non-student or Non-Member, age 29 and under or 65 and over: $100
If you have a UofT student number, you may register and pay online https://harthouse.ca/clubs/singers
If you do not have a UofT student number, you may register and pay in person at the main reception desk at Hart House.

11/24/2025

A photo of the Hart House Singers with the Almerrin String Quartet and flautist Laura Bolt just before our Nov. 23rd concert. Thank you Hart House Singers for a glorious show!

11/08/2025

Come to our concert on Sunday, Nov. 23, 4 pm! Wondrous songs with flute, piano, and string quartet.