R A C H A E L K E R R P I A N I S T
Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Mozart Jupiter Symphony
January 16, 2016
Bernard Labadie, conductor
Alexandre Tharaud, piano
Frédéric Antoun, tenor
Philippe Sly, bass-baritone
Mozart: Arias
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9, K. 271 “Jeunehomme”
Mozart: Symphony No. 41,K. 551 “Jupiter”
This splendid programme displays Mozart’s genius in three quite different musical forms. It offers his last and most invigorating symphony, his first great example of the piano concerto, with its immense charm and many innovations, and several most attractive arias, sung by highly skilled vocalists. Rachael serves as the accompanist for soloist rehearsals in this program.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Mozart's Requiem
January 21, 2016
The magnificent, deeply human drama of Mozart’s Requiem is brought to life as a moving theatrical event, directed by Joel Ivany and conducted by Bernard Labadie. This gripping semi-staged production casts in a whole new light the composer’s soul-stirring final, unfinished masterpiece. Rachael serves as the accompanist for the choir and soloist rehearsals.
Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory: Concerto Competition Finals
February 02, 2016
Six talented finalists compete for a chance to perform a concerto with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in the 2016-2017 academic year. Rachael performs Ciranda das sete notas with bassoonist Bee Ungar. Finals start at 10:00am and are open to the public.
Forget Your Winter Blues
February 20, 2016
Join us for an afternoon of musical highlights from opera to music theatre and beyond! There will be a reception to follow.
Tickets are available at the door or can be pre-booked by emailing allison@allisonarends.com.
$20 for adults, $15 for seniors/students.
Allison Cecilia Arends, Soprano
Michelle Righetti, Soprano
Patrick Jang, Tenor
Rachael Kerr, Pianist
New Creations Festival: Knocking at the Hellgate
March 12, 2016
Brett Dean presents a vocal/instrumental suite of excerpts from his forceful, surreal, and highly praised 2010 opera, Bliss. Russell Braun sings the highly complex vocal role of Harry Joy, the advertising tycoon who descends into a modern Dante's hell on realising the extent of his life's dysfunctionality. Rachael serves as the rehearsal pianist for this piece.
The TSO presents: Alligator Pie
April 02, 2016
The Orchestra is ecstatic to bring to music the beloved children’s poetry collection Alligator Pie by Toronto poet Dennis Lee. Composed by Abigail Richardson (The Hockey Sweater), the familiar lines of this work will spring off the page and onto the concert stage, igniting delight in poetry and music lovers alike. A TSO Co-Commission. Rachael serves as the reh pianist for this piece.
Amadeus Choir presents: Carmina Burana
April 03, 2016
Lydia Adams, conductor and artistic director.
With The Buffalo Master Chorale, Doreen Rao, conductor and the Bach Children’s Chorus, Linda Beaupré, conductor.
Leslie Fagan, soprano
Christopher Mayell, tenor
Peter MacGillivray, baritone
Carmina Burana – Orff
Psalm of David – Dello Joio
Recital: Ann-Merrie Leung, trombone
April 09, 2016
Sulek: Sonata for Trombone and Piano "Vox Gabrieli"
Casterede: Sonatine for Trombone and Piano
Jacob: Concerto for Trombone
Recital: Emily Whittaker, horn
April 23, 2016
Raum: Romance
Mozart: Horn Concerto #2
Dukas: Villanelle
St. Michael's College
7:30pm
Arias & Symphonies
May 07, 2016
Soprano Allison Arends returns to the Neapolitan Connection concert series for an afternoon of arias and songs inspired by the symphonic genre! Tea and cookies plus museum tour included with concert ticket!
Program:
Mozart: Exultate Jubilate
Strauss: Vier Letzte Lieder
Arias from Stravinksy's The Rake's Progress and Verdi's La Traviata
Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Shostakovich 13
May 13, 2016
Setting texts by esteemed Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Shostakovich’s unforgettable Symphony No. 13 (1962) paints a searing portrait of the massacre of many thousands of Jews and other people during World War II at a ravine in Ukraine called Babi Yar. These performances, masterfully conducted by Andrey Boreyko, are a major event in Toronto’s musical season. Rachael will serve as the choral rehearsal pianist for this program.
Recital: Elisha Willinger, clarinet
May 16, 2016
Morawetz: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
Brahms: Sonata in f minor for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120 No. 1
Schoenfield: Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano
Evening Rhapsody
June 03, 2016
Join us for an evening of Opera, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Art Song, and Popular Favourites!
Friday, June 3rd, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at Heliconian Hall, featuring:
Allison Cecilia Arends, Soprano
Michelle Righetti, Soprano
Patrick Jang, Tenor
Jeremy Ludwig, Baritone
Rachael Kerr, Piano
Recital: Catherine Chen, bassoon with guests from the TSO
June 13, 2016
Works by Bourdeau, Elgar, Dutilleux, Jeanjean, and Weber. Members of the TSO will join in playing the Mozart Quintet for Piano and Winds. Monday, June 13th at 8:00pm at the Toronto Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. Free admission!
Art Song reGENERATION
July 22, 2016
Two concerts cap off the Toronto Summer Music Festival's Art of Song Program. Both concerts take place at Walter Hall.
12:00pm
Selections from Schumann's Frauenliebe und -leben
Ellen McAteer, soprano
Selections from Debussy's Quatre Chansons de Jeunesse
Whitney Mather, soprano
Liszt: Die Lorelai
Strauss: Cäcilie
Marcel D'Entremont, tenor
4:00 pm
Poulenc: Sanglots
Berg: Selections from Sieben frühe Lieder
Simone McIntosh, mezzo-soprano
Brott Festival presents: Verdi's Requiem
August 18, 2016
The viscerally exciting and dramatic operatic performance Requiem by Verdi.
Boris Brott, Conductor
Stephane Potvin, Chorus Preparation
Rachael Kerr, Rehearsal Piano
Featuring
Leslie Ann Bradley, Michèle Bogdanowicz, Ernesto Ramirez, James Westman
$35 (Reg) | $31 (Seniors) | $25 (Brott35) | $15 (Students)
Mohawk College McIntyre Performing Arts Centre- 135 Fennell Ave. W., Hamilton
(905) 575-1212
Recital: Ryan Beach, Trumpet
August 21, 2016
Join us 8 p.m. Sunday in Petree Recital Hall for a free recital by Ryan Beach, principal trumpet of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Accompanied by Toronto-based pianist Rachel Kerr, Beach's concert will feature music by fellow OCU alumnus Jamie Wind Whitmarsh, Eric Ewazen's Sonata, and Caprice by Joseph Turrin. Winner of the Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition, Beach also earned first place in both the solo and orchestral excerpts division @ the 2011 ITG Conference.
Charity Recital: Simon Lee tenor, with Yoora Lee-Hoff, soprano
August 25, 2016
A recital of opera arias, scenes, and Korean folk songs.
7:00pm
4150 Chesswood Dr
North York, ON
MIR Trio Preview Concert
September 12, 2016
Coming Attractions!
Join us for an evening of entertainment previewing some of the wonderful events this year at Temple Sinai, and featuring awesome desserts. Performers include Mark and Louise Camilleri, Darrin Baker (seen in the Academy Award-winning movie Spotlight), the world premiere performance by the MIR TRIO, The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, Cantors Charles Osborne and Katie Oringel, along with the Temple Sinai Ensemble Choir.
The MIR trio consists of Mark Skazenitsky, violin, Igor Gefter, cello, and Rachael Kerr, piano.
Thursdays at Noon: Barton Woomert and Steven Woomert
September 15, 2016
Steven Woomert, Associate Principal Trumpet with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, his father Barton (formerly in that position) and pianist Rachael Kerr perform two commissioned works from their new album.
Walter Hall
Free Admission
2016 Concerts and Events
Sundays @ 3: Tandem CD Release Concert
Islington United Church
October 16, 2016
3:00 pm
As part of the Sundays @ 3 concert series at Islington United Church, you are invited to a recital featuring brand new music for two trumpets. We are also excited to be releasing our new CD, Tandem, at this concert. Come out and enjoy an original collection of pieces for duo trumpet and piano, with works by Toronto's own Ronald Royer and Jim McGrath. Trumpeters Barton and Steven Woomert will be joined by pianists Rachael Kerr and Sonya Sim.
Free admission.
Ottawa Choral Society: New Discoveries Auditions
St. Michael's Choir School
October 18, 2016
The Ottawa Choral Society Presents New Discoveries:
A World Class Platform for Emerging Vocal Artists
The Ottawa Choral Society’s New Discoveries Auditions are held in alternating years to provide emerging young vocal artists with a professional platform, broad audience exposure, and career development. The Choral Society is proud to have encouraged many of Canada’s most exciting young singers to find success. Many of our past laureates are now appearing on opera and concert stages across North America and Europe.
Jury: Ben Heppner, Joel Ivany, Robert Cooper, Jean-Sebastien Vallee, MD
Pianists: Rachael Kerr and Suzy Smith
An Evening of Giving
Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, Georgetown
October 29, 2016
7:30 pm
You'll want to experience this evening of song and celebration to raise funds to support Syrian refugee family, the Agobians.
Musical guests include the Georgetown Bach Chorale, Miriam Khalil - a soprano soloist, Ablett & Cooper - a blues/contemporary folk duo from Georgetown, and the choirs from the three sponsoring churches - Norval United, St. Alban's Anglican, and Holy Cross Roman Catholic.
Tickets are Adults $20, Children $10, Family of four $50.
You can contact Beth Hawley at hawleybeth@gmail.com for details.
Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church is located at 14400 Argyll Road in Georgetown South.
Opera Pub -- November Edition
The Amsterdam Bicycle Club
November 03, 2016
9:00 pm
Free!
AtG's OPERA PUB returns!
Running the first Thursday of every month
"It can all get a little wild"
Want to perform at the upcoming Opera Pub? Email toph@againstthegraintheatre.com
Thursday, November 3 at 9pm
at The Amsterdam Bicycle Club
54 The Esplanade, Toronto, ON
(December's event: Thursday, December 1, 2016)
AtG Opera Pub nights are relaxed nights out that offer up your favourite beer on tap with a side of operatic arias and ensembles, performed by both established and emerging opera talent. Free admission, $3.50 beer.
"[Opera Pub] has the feeling of an after party when musicians kick back, loosen up and playfully make music with their friends."
http://www.musicaltoronto.org/2016/10/14/against-the-grain-opera-pub-night/
Toronto Symphony Orchesra Presents: Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony
Roy Thomson Hall
November 17, 2016
8:00 pm
The combined sounds of orchestra and organ give this program an awesome foundation! Gianandrea Noseda leads the Saint-Saëns blockbuster, plus a towering work by a composer he strongly champions: Alfredo Casella. The colourful Italian pianist (and musical “Renaissance man”) Stefano Bollani channels every delightful twist and cheeky turn of Ravel’s glittering concerto. Rachael plays piano in the Saint-Saëns.
Pre-Concert Chat
Join host Tom Allen in the Roy Thomson Hall lobby at 7:15pm on November 17 for a pre-concert chat.
Performance Schedule
Thursday's performance running time is approximately two hours.
Program
Casella: Elegia eroica
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G
Intermission
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 "Organ Symphony"
Performers
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Stefano Bollani, piano
Patricia Krueger, organ
Toronto Symphony Orchestra Presents: Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony
Roy Thomson Hall
November 19, 2016
7:30 pm
The combined sounds of orchestra and organ give this program an awesome foundation! Gianandrea Noseda leads the Saint-Saëns blockbuster, plus a towering work by a composer he strongly champions: Alfredo Casella. The colourful Italian pianist (and musical “Renaissance man”) Stefano Bollani channels every delightful twist and cheeky turn of Ravel’s glittering concerto. Rachael plays piano in the Saint-Saëns.
Performance Schedule
There will be no intermission on Saturday, and the estimated running time is 90 minutes.
Program
Casella: Elegia eroica
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G
Intermission
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 "Organ Symphony"
Performers
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Stefano Bollani, piano
Patricia Krueger, organ
Chorus York Holiday Concert
Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church
December 10, 2016
7:30 pm
Stephane Potvin, Artistic Director
Rachael Kerr, piano
Chorus York's inaugural season begins with a concert celebrating the holiday season! Join us for an afternoon of traditional carols from all around the world.
Visit http://www.chorusyork.ca for full details and for ticket purchases.
Chorus York Holiday Concert
Thornhill Presbyterian Church
December 11, 2016
2:00 pm
Stephane Potvin, Artistic Director
Rachael Kerr, piano
Chorus York's inaugural season begins with a concert celebrating the holiday season! Join us for an afternoon of traditional carols from all around the world.
Visit http://www.chorusyork.ca for full details and for ticket purchases.