Hart House Singers

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.

08/01/2025

HART HOUSE SINGERS 2025-2026 Academic Year:
I. Rehearsals and Times:
a) Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings during the fall and winter terms, 7:45-9:30 p.m. They are usually held in the Great Hall at Hart House.
b) Fall and Winter Term Open Rehearsals: The first two rehearsals of each term are "open rehearsals." You may come, sing with us, and decide after any of the open rehearsals if you'd like to join for the term or both terms. The open rehearsals this coming academic year are held on Sept. 8 and 15 for the fall term, and Jan. 5 and 12 for the winter term.
c) Summer Term: We often have a summer term which runs from late May to early July. Confirmation of this term is made by the end of March. Rehearsals in the summer term are held on Wednesday evenings, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

II. Dress Rehearsals and Performances:
1) Fall term starts on Monday, September 8, 7:45-9:30 pm rehearsal. All rehearsals are on Monday evenings in Hart House at this time during the academic year, except statutory holiday Mondays (eg: Thanksgiving, Family Day).
2) Fall Term performance dates:
a) dress rehearsal: Friday, Nov. 21, 7-10 p.m.
b) performance: Sunday, Nov. 23, 4:00-5:30 p.m. (warmup 2:30-3:30 p.m.)

3) Winter/Spring term starts on Monday, January. 5, 7:45-9:30 pm rehearsal. There is no rehearsal on Family Day in February.
4) Winter Term performance dates:
a) dress rehearsal: Friday, March 13, 7-10 p.m.
b) performance: Sunday, March 15, 4:00-6:00 p.m. (warmup 2-3:30 p.m.)

III. Repertoire:
a) Fall Term: Repertoire for the "Sacred Winter" concert at the end of the fall term will include (but is not restricted to) the pieces seen below. Additional pieces will be added to the program and these will be announced soon.
1. O magnum mysterium (Victoria) https://youtu.be/9xPh-fXYAc4?si=wgKYboFvfczq6dVi OR
​O magnum mysterium (Lauridsen) - we will try both & choose the favourite
​https://youtu.be/jbiwfpSDu4w (and here it is as a ballet:
​https://youtu.be/KNfAOhMZidg?si=gnvQMID5kFH9d64D&t=179)
2. The Rose (O. Gjeilo): https://youtu.be/Ph44oJ7WpGU?si=MLLgHlZTnk9ohkKa
3. Mary is a Lady Bright (D. Holman): https://youtu.be/BtmKpLcPsUU?si=JvFKsy2kxa6Cv0VF
4. Hymn to the Virgin (B. Britten): https://youtu.be/kmocmreevF8
5. Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind (J. Rutter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ7O4u6hAxg
6. Haleluya (Psalm 150) (S.I. Glick): https://youtu.be/iJh2XOVvLBY?si=7gHwS9yvlzAvEtRn
7. Snowflakes (S. Houston) https://youtu.be/xSUMfK8v-30?si=vk27dk7Xv8kjDWvx
8. Noël des enfants qui n'ont plus de maisons (C. Debussy) https://youtu.be/HEK3-fM03J0?si=JyF_lP9RtNotuDvS
9. L'Ange du ciel (trad. French, arr. D. Arnot-Johnston)
10. Luminous Night of the Soul (O. Gjeilo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OaRZrdoTQ0

-more pieces will be announced soon

b) Winter Term:
We will perform G. F. Handel's Messiah with a full professional orchestra (made of students from the Faculty of Music, Royal Conservatory of Music, and local professionals) and vocal soloists. This will be the first full performance by the Hart House Singers of this iconic work with orchestra and soloists.

IV. Non-Auditioned Choir and Membership:
We are a non-auditioned choir. Our membership includes those who sight-read well, and those who do not read music well. Some of our members have had a lot of experience singing in choirs, while many are just starting to sing in a choir or haven't sung in one for several years. Membership to the Hart House Singers is open to everyone; you can be a student at UofT, a student from another university, or a non-student. You may join for only one term, or both terms. We may have a summer term, which of course is optional.

V. Music and Music to Rehearse at Home:
Hard copies of the music will be distributed at each rehearsal. You must decide if you wish to stay for either the term or the year before the third rehearsal. After the third rehearsal (or anytime after you have registered and paid your membership fee), you may keep your copies of music to study at home. Much of the music will also be provided in an online format for those who wish to practise at home between rehearsals. You will be able to see and hear only your voice part or all voice parts together. You may change the playback speed of the music as you require. This service is optional; many members find it very helpful, while others find they don't need to use it. It's your choice!

VI. Registration and Fees:
a) You can register either before the first rehearsals each term, or right after either of the two open rehearsals (see above). You must register and pay your fee before the third rehearsal if you choose to sing with us for either the term or the full academic year. The easiest way to register is to go to the main reception desk at Hart House (on the main level). There is an online link to register, but this works only for those with a UofT student number: https://harthouse.ca/clubs/singers
b) The fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is listed below. You may join for just one term or for the entire academic year***.
i) Joining for Both Terms (Fall and Winter)
-Student*/Member**: $15 (You must be either a University of Toronto student or you must have an athletic membership at Hart House for this rate)
-Non-Student and Non-Member of Hart House: $240
-Non-Student/Member, but age 29 and under or 65 and older: $180
ii) Joining for One Term (either fall or winter terms)
-Student/Member (i.e., you have a Hart House Athletic Membership)-: $10
-Non-Student and Non-Member of Hart House: $130
-Non-Student/Member, but age 29 and under or 65 and older: $100
iii) Summer Session: tba

*“Student” means any student who has paid ancillary fees as part of their academic program.
**"Member” refers to those who also have a full Hart House fitness centre membership.
***Academic Year is the period from September 1 through April 30.

VII. Questions?:
If you have any questions, the best way to reach us is through email: [email protected]. You can also ask any questions you may have during rehearsals (preferably during the breaks or immediately before or after the rehearsals).

07/06/2025

Please join us for a concert of music taught to us by our mothers! Music includes folk songs from around the world and Stephanie Martin’s "Mother". Free admission.

04/22/2025

HART HOUSE SUMMER SINGERS 2025: There is a summer session of the Hart House Singers, June-July 2025. All rehearsals and the performance are at Hart House, University of Toronto. No audition is required.

Dates:
Wed., June 4 - Music Room
(7:30-9:30 pm; same time each Wed. rehearsal)
Wed., June 11 - East Common Room
Wed., June 18 - Great Hall
Wed., June 25 - Music Room
Wed., July 2 - Music Room
Wed., July 9 - Music Room
Fri., July 11 - Music Room / Dress rehearsal tbc (7:30-9:30 pm)
Sun., July 13 - Great Hall; 2:30 warmup for 4 pm performance

Open Rehearsals: The first two rehearsals of June 4 & 11 are "open rehearsals" - you can come, sing, see if you like the repertoire, and decide by the third rehearsal if you'd like to join for the whole session (and pay the fee).

Fees:
1) Student/Current Member (i.e.: you were a student during the last academic year 2024-2025 - you do not have to be taking a summer course; OR you paid for the non-student membership in the fall-winter terms): $5.00
2) 29 and under/over 65/recent graduate of UofT: $45.00
3) General Price (i.e.: if you are not a student, not a recent grad, not a current HH Singers member of the past fall and winter terms, and you are of an age between and including 30 to 64): $60.00
Fees may be paid at the main reception desk at Hart House.
There is a link to pay the fees online, but this is still to be activated. You do not have to pay the fee until the third rehearsal of June 18.

Repertoire: The theme of the concert is "Songs My Mother Taught Me". (This is in reverence to our mothers and grandmothers who taught us songs.)
The repertoire list is still being compiled, but will include the following:
1) Loch Lomond (arr. Vaughan Williams; yes, my mother was Scottish; she loved this song!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDPDTAgrgmg
2) Ca' the yowes (arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams): https://youtu.be/pKwYkVykHSs
3) Black is the Colour of My True Love's Hair (arr. Stuart Churchill): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfiob3bx8-s
4) Mother (a composition by the Canadian composer Stephanie Martin)
5) Songs My Mother Taught Me (Dvorak; both a solo and choral version): https://youtu.be/pUQAWi6-Vjg?si=6eNI7EwnFpeKJdzg (solo version)

Other arrangements of songs our mothers taught us will be in French, Mandarin, Japanese, German, English, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, and more. Stephanie Martin’s beautiful composition "Mother" anchors the program.

Copies of Music: Copies of the music will be given out at the first rehearsals. You may keep these copies during the summer session. Please return them at the end of the concert!

Practising from home: You will be able to practise from home, if you like. (It is voluntary.) Access to a streamed software, or Youtube videos, or MIDI files will be given once you have registered. All of these enable you to rehearse from your home computer.

Questions? Please send an email to: [email protected]

03/24/2025

The cast of our "Carmina Burana" performances: Hart House Singers, Soloists, CLP dancers from the National Ballet School, HHS Children’s Chorus, Royal Canadian Navy HMCS York & Star Bands. Fantastic job, everyone!