The CCOC kicked off the 22/23 season by travelling to Camp Simpresca in Penetanguishene, Ontario with our Principal Chorus (PC) for five days full of adventure, team building, learning their music and drama, auditions for the COC’s Carmen, and of course – FUN!

Our PCs headed to PC Camp on August 29 and came back ready to take on the 22/23 season together on September 2, 2022.

PC Camp is proudly sponsored by the Bingo Gaming Program of Ontario which is program run by the OLG, the OCGA, and the Rama Gaming House – Toronto East. 

On October 15 – 16, 2022 our Youth and Intermediate Chorus members joined the CCOC at the Canadian Opera Company theatre for an intensive weekend of workshops to explore their musical repetoire and perfect their dramatic initiatives. 

They even got an exclusive tour of the CCOC’s office space and costume department from our very own Executive Director, Katherine Semsecen!

Our Principal Chorus acts as the children’s chorus for the Canadian Opera Company (COC) when their productions call for young voices. During our 2022/2023 season, members of our PC choir had the opportunity to join the talented cast and creative team at the COC in bringing their production of Carmen by Georges Bizet to life.

Our chorister’s performed in this classic opera throughout it’s run at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts from October 14 until November 4, 2022.

We couldn’t be more proud of their hard work and commitment to the show, and we can’t wait to see our PC’s join the COC once again next year!

The CCOC welcomed our choristers, family and neighbouring community members at St. Clement’s Church for an evening of games, food, and fun at our Fall Festival on November 5, 2022. 

The event was organized by our Family Club, and all activities were inspired by previous CCOC opera productions.

Check out some more Fall Festival highlights here!

During the 2022/2023 season, the CCOC’s Youth Chorus was invited to partner with the Toronto Korean-Canadian Choir (TKCC) as well as singers from the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for the TKCC’s performance of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy.

The performance was part of their fall concert on October 29, 2022, and was accompanied by an orchestra, held at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. 

The CCOC kicked off the holiday season with an enchanting performance from our choristers at our all-choir concert, Song for a Winter’s Night: Festival of Lights, at St. Clement’s Church on November 26, 2022.

The sold out show was a truly wonderful experience as we embraced the warmth and beauty of the winter season through our chorister’s presentation of spirituals, operatic excerpts, and enchanting choral works.

On December 9 – 10, 2022 the CCOC partnered with with the Art of Time Ensemble for their 7th annual concert, To All a Good Night 7.

The CCOC has been involved in this concert for several years, and this year our Principal Chorus collaborated with the St. James Town Community Arts’ children’s choir to create a mass children’s choir singing two pieces – “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” alongside professional artists.

Along with the CCOC, the lineup of professional artists includes Thom Allison, Jessica Mitchell, Steven Page, Jackie Richardson, and Liam Russell, among others.

Our final performance before the CCOC took a break for the 2022 holiday season, was the Holy Blossom Temple’s annual interfaith holiday concert, Gifts of Light.

On December 11, 2022 our Intermediate, Principal, and Youth choirs performed with the Leo Baeck Choir, Holy Blossom Temple’s YEC and ECC Choirs, students from the Triangle Program, the Community Music Schools of Ontario (Regent Park Music School), Cantor David Rosen, Cantorial Soloist Lindi Rivers, the world-renowned Julie Michels, bandurist Victor Mishalow and other special guests.

Proceeds of this year’s event went to Ukrainian Canadian Social Services, Toronto.

On March 3 and 5 the Youth Chorus performed the yearly YC cabaret – Run Away with Me: An Evening of Travel and Adventure.

Guests came dressed in their gala attire for a cabaret that celebrated home and away, enjoying phenomenal performances from our YC choristers through a collection of favorite musical theatre classics and contemporary counterparts!

The show was directed by CCOC Head of Drama Chelsea Woolley, with music direction from CCOC Head of the Junior Division Cheryll Chung, and piano by Claire Harris. 

This season the Canadian Children’s Opera Company proudly premiered An Opera Yarn, our 2022 – 2023 season Junior Division opera, on April 1, 2023. 

Throughout the fall season, our IC and AC choristers worked with local composer, Chris Thornborrow, to write a libretto inspired by the story “Extra Yarn” by Mac Barnett. Our choristers provided Chris with the opera’s text, which they had produced during their weekly rehearsals, as well as their input on the music including ideas on how it should sound and the feelings the songs should evoke. Inspired by their input, Chris took these details and assembled it into a working libretto.

An Opera Yarn featured 35 choristers in the CCOC’s Intermediate (IC) and Apprentice (AC) Choruses, and started with a delightful opening of songs inspired by the opera by our Butterfly and Ruby Choruses!

The story follows a group of young people who discover how their box of magical yarn can transform a community, and the result is a vibrant opera that shows the power of connection through a simple act of kindness and determination.

The CCOC was very proud to announce the return of our annual main stage production during our 22/23 season with the commission of The Nightingale of a Thousand Songs, based on a beloved Armenian folk tale, by Juno award-winning composer Serouj Kradjian and Dora award-winning playwright and librettist Marjorie Chan.

This inspiring opera follows the journey of two siblings, Leah and Ari, as they emerge from a tragedy in their homeland. The children embark on an adventure to find the Nightingale of a Thousand Songs to bring back life and joy to their world. Along the way, they remember their lost friends and family and face many challenges and obstacles. The story is one of healing and hope, and exploring what it means to be able to move on from a terrible event. The opera represents the rich culture and music that unites the Caucasus & the Middle East. As the lead characters travel from the plains of Mount Ararat, through the region to Lebanon, the music changes to reflect a more distinct Arabic style, incorporating traditional instruments and texts.

This opera was performed by over 80 choristers in the CCOC’s Principal, Youth, Intermediate, and Apprentices choruses alongside a professional chamber orchestra at the Meridian Arts Centre’s Lyric Theatre.