Canada's premier a cappella festival

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9TH ANNUAL

September 29 - October 4, 2020

Jackie Richardson

Cadence

Micah Barnes

Tickets and Passes at

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ONLINE

9TH ANNUAL

ONLINE

9TH ANNUAL

20202020

Welcome to SING!On behalf of the SING! Board of Directors and Team, we welcome you to the ninth edition of Canada’s premier a cappella festival, voted in the Top 100 Festivals by Festivals and Events Ontario for six consecutive years. Thank you for joining us. SING! 2020 breaks new ground for our team - a virtual ground. In recognizing the challenges of presenting vocal music to a live audience, we are pivoting to a fully online festival. Here is what you can look forward to during our festival:

Whether you are already a fan of a cappella, a musician who wants to learn more from experts, or simply a patron who enjoys great music, SING! is the place to be - online - as we discover that the voice has no boundaries. SING! is made possible through the generosity of our SING! Champion donors, our partners, our sponsors, and our volunteers. It is because of their support and endorsement as well as the wonderful contributions of our artists that we have been voted in the Top 100 Festivals in Ontario for six consecutive years. On behalf of the entire SING! team, we hope that you and your family are staying safe in these unprecedented times. We look forward to sharing great music and experiences with you at SING!

• Our SING! in Concert - Primetime series will air nightly at 8 pm ET, plus 7 pm EST shows on the weekend, with some of our favourite artists, including FreePlay, Beatsync, Cadence, and Retrocity.

• We’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of one of our founding groups, Countermeasure, in a special retrospective presentation.

• Best-selling author and JUNO Award-winner Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) headlines our annual O Canada! concert.

• We’re taking you on a virtual trip to Las Vegas, entertainment capital of the U.S., with a show that features talents in many styles, headlined by Micah Barnes. At that concert, we are presenting our Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award to the vocal music icon, Jackie Richardson.

• Our popular Mass Choir event from last year is being revived as a virtual InstaChoir.

• Our free SING! in Concert - Throwback series airing nightly from September 29 to October 2 at 7 pm ET are a chance to catch some of the highlights from our first eight festivals.

• SING! and Learn interactive Zoom workshops on October 3 and 4 from 1 pm ET with internationally-acclaimed clinicians will give you the opportunity to expand your knowledge with top experts.

Lettre de BienvenueDe la part de notre Conseil d’Administration et notre équipe organisatrice, nous vous souhaitons la bienvenue à notre neuvième Festival des Arts Vocaux - SING! Ce festival ‘a capella’ principal du Canada a été nommé l’un des Top 100 Festivals in Ontario par Festivals and Events Ontario pour six années consécutives. Nous sommes ravis que vous soyez ici. Cette année, SING! 2020 et notre équipe lançons le festival sur des nouveaux terrains, un terrain virtuel. On est conscient des défis mis en avant par la présentation de la musique vocale à un public en direct, lorsque nous pivotons à un festival complètement virtuel. Alors, allons-y! Tous les spectacles et ateliers seront diffusés sur notre site web: www.singtoronto.com aussi qu’au notre chaîne Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/SingToronto. Voici quelques artistes que vous pourriez anticiper entendre pendant le festival Mardi, 29 septembre - Dimanche, 04 octobre:

Si vous êtes déjà un fan de la musique ‘a capella’, un(e) musicien(ne) qui veut plus apprendre des experts, ou un simple patron qui aime la musique, SING! 2020 Virtuel vous accueille chaleureusement. Nous allons découvrir ensemble que la voix n’a pas de limites. Ce Festival SING! est rendu possible par la générosité de nos Patrons Champions, nos promoteurs et nos bénévoles. C’est grâce à leur soutien et leur approbation, aussi qu’aux contributions de nos artistes merveilleux qu’on nous a nommé l’un des Top 100 Festivals in Ontario pendant six années continues. De la part de toute l’équipe SING!, nous espérons que vous et toute votre famille resterez en sécurité en ces temps sans précédent.

• Notre série SING! in Concert Prime Time va être diffuser tous les soirs à 20:00h HE, et aussi à 19:00h HE les weekends avec des artistes du premier plan comme Beatsync, Cadence, FreePlay et Retrocity.

• Cette année, nous fêtons le 10 ième anniversaire de l’un de nos groupes fondateurs, Countermeasure, avec une présentation spéciale rétrospective.

• L’auteur le plus vendu et un lauréat du prix Juno, Tom Wilson ( Blackie and the Rodeo Kings ) va titrer notre concert O Canada.

• Nous vous proposons une visite virtuelle à Las Vegas, la capitale du divertissement des Etats-Unis avec un spectacle qui présentera des talents de plusieurs styles, titré par Micah Barnes. A ce concert, nous allons présenter notre Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award à l’icône musicale, Jackie Richardson.

• L’événement populaire de l’année passée, Mass Choir, va être relancé comme une Instachorale virtuelle. Vous pourriez rejoindre des chanteurs internationaux dans ce projet collaboratif virtuel.

• Nos Concerts de retour SING! gratis seront diffusés chaque nuit du festival entre Mardi, 29 septembre et Dimanche 02 octobre à 19:00h HE. Là vous aurez la chance de regarder quelques présentations saillantes de nos premiers huit festivals.

• Des ateliers interactifs SING! and Learn, sur Zoom seront présentés 03 octobre et 04 octobre de (13:00h HE) Des cliniciens internationalement acclamés vous y donneront l’occasion de développer vos connaissances chez des experts du premier rang.

SING! Board of Directors: J-M Erlendson, Chair/Manager • Patricia Silver, Co-ManagerRob Sniderman, Secretary • Khethiwe Bhebhe, Treasurer • David Baker • Heather BambrickHon. Sarmite Bulte, P.C. • Kerry Lee Crawford • Craig Hartley • Caroline Horcher, PublicistPatti Jannetta, Development Lead • Michael Latsky, Volunteer Coordinator • Puneet Luthra

Paul Ryan • Leigh Smout

Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran, Co-Artistic Directors Allena Godfrey, Executive Director

Team Members: Josh Bowman, Consultant • Katy Dane, Chair, SING! TexasLeah Gingerich, Stage Manager • Sharon Hershenhorn, Translator • Shandy Kern, Art Design

Heather MacLeod, Marketing Director • Daniela Nardi, Member At LargeChris Ross Allen, Logo Design • Paul Sanderson, Legal

Le Conseil des Directeurs SING!: J-M Erlendson, Président/Gérant • Patricia Silver, Co-gérante • Rob Sniderman, SecrétaireKhethiwe Bhebhe, Trésorier • David Baker • Heather Bambrick • Hon.Sarmite Bulte C.P. • Kerry Lee Crawford • Craig Hartley

Caroline Horcher, PublicistePatti Jannetta, Leader du Développement • Michael Latsky, Coordinnateur des Benévoles • Puneet LuthraPaul Ryan • Leigh Smout

Dylan Bell And Suba Sankaran, Co-directeurs artistiques Allena Godfrey, Directrice executive

Membres de l’Equipe: Josh Bowman, Consultant • Shawna Caspi, Leader en Médias Sociaux • Katy Dane, Présidente SING! TexasLeah Gingerich, Régisseure • Sharon Hershenhorn, Traductrice • Shandy Kern, Dessin d’art • Heather MacLeod, Directrice Marketing

Daniela Nardi, Membre en général • Chris Ross Allen, Conception du logo • Paul Sanderson, Conseil juridique

ONLINE

9TH ANNUAL

• Notre série SING! in Concert Prime Time va être diffuser tous les soirs à 20:00h HE, et aussi à 19:00h HE les weekends avec des artistes du premier plan comme Beatsync, Cadence, FreePlay et Retrocity.

• Cette année, nous fêtons le 10 ième anniversaire de l’un de nos groupes fondateurs, Countermeasure, avec une présentation spéciale rétrospective.

• L’auteur le plus vendu et un lauréat du prix Juno, Tom Wilson ( Blackie and the Rodeo Kings ) va titrer notre concert O Canada.

• Nous vous proposons une visite virtuelle à Las Vegas, la capitale du divertissement des Etats-Unis avec un spectacle qui présentera des talents de plusieurs styles, titré par Micah Barnes. A ce concert, nous allons présenter notre Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award à l’icône musicale, Jackie Richardson.

• L’événement populaire de l’année passée, Mass Choir, va être relancé comme une Instachorale virtuelle. Vous pourriez rejoindre des chanteurs internationaux dans ce projet collaboratif virtuel.

• Nos Concerts de retour SING! gratis seront diffusés chaque nuit du festival entre Mardi, 29 septembre et Dimanche 02 octobre à 19:00h HE. Là vous aurez la chance de regarder quelques présentations saillantes de nos premiers huit festivals.

• Des ateliers interactifs SING! and Learn, sur Zoom seront présentés 03 octobre et 04 octobre de (13:00h HE) Des cliniciens internationalement acclamés vous y donneront l’occasion de développer vos connaissances chez des experts du premier rang.

Tuesday, Sept. 29SING! in Concert - Throwback: Songs and Stories of Migration

7:50-8:008:00-9:00

SING!able MomentsSING! in Concert - Primetime: FreePlay LIVE!

ONLINE9TH ANNUAL CANADA'S PREMIER A CAPPELLA FESTIVAL

7:00-7:50

Wednesday, Sept. 30SING! in Concert - Throwback: SING! Celebrates Gospel

7:50-8:008:00-9:00

SING!able MomentsSING! in Concert - Primetime: InstaChoir and Friends

7:00-7:50

Thursday, Oct. 1SING! in Concert - Throwback: Flower Power Hour!

7:50-8:008:00-9:00

SING!able MomentsSING! in Concert - Primetime: Beatsync

7:00-7:50

Friday, Oct. 2SING! in Concert - Throwback: O Canada! Spotlight on Leonard Cohen

7:50-8:008:00-9:00

SING!able MomentsSING! in Concert - Primetime: O Canada! Featuring Tom Wilson

7:00-7:50

DATE TIME EVENT

FREE CONCERT TICKETED CONCERT WORKSHOP

SINGLE EVENT$15 per concert

$20 for 2 concerts on the weekend$20 per workshop

CONCERT-ONLY PASS$50 ($120 value)

FULL FESTIVAL PASS $75($300 value)

Saturday, Oct. 3

Recording from Home withAnders Edenroth of The Real Group (Sweden)

2:00-2:50

3:00-3:50

Popular Vocal Groups: How They Make Their Soundwith Accent (Canada/US/UK/Europe)

Arranging Roundtable with Deke Sharon and Dylan Bell (US/Canada)

1:00-1:50

Collegiate A Cappella in the USA with Will Chandler (SING! Texas)

7:00-8:00 SING! in Concert - Primetime: Cadence

8:00-9:00 SING! in Concert - Primetime: SING! Salutes Vegas

4:00-4:50

DATE TIME EVENT

Sunday, Oct. 4

Beating The Blank Page: Songwriting with The Swingles (UK)2:00-2:503:00-3:50

Rhythm 'n' Scat with New York Voices (US)Vocal Health with Speech Appeal (Canada)

1:00-1:50

Beatboxing 101 with Mel Daneke (SING! Texas)5:00-5:507:00-8:00

Engaging Virtual Rehearsals with Katy Dane (SING! Texas)SING! in Concert - Primetime: Retrocity "Retro-spective"

4:00-4:50

8:00-9:00 SING! in Concert - Primetime: Countermeasure's 10th Anniversary Special

ONLINE

9TH ANNUAL

SING! Board of Directors: J-M Erlendson, Chair/Manager • Patricia Silver, Co-ManagerRob Sniderman, Secretary • Khethiwe Bhebhe, Treasurer • David Baker • Heather BambrickHon. Sarmite Bulte, P.C. • Kerry Lee Crawford • Craig Hartley • Caroline Horcher, PublicistPatti Jannetta, Development Lead • Michael Latsky, Volunteer Coordinator • Puneet Luthra

Paul Ryan • Leigh Smout

Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran, Co-Artistic Directors Allena Godfrey, Executive Director

Team Members: Josh Bowman, Consultant • Katy Dane, Chair, SING! TexasLeah Gingerich, Stage Manager • Sharon Hershenhorn, Translator • Shandy Kern, Art Design

Heather MacLeod, Marketing Director • Daniela Nardi, Member At LargeChris Ross Allen, Logo Design • Paul Sanderson, Legal

SING! Toronto, now in its 9th season, will be a fully-online festival this year! All shows will be broadcast directly on SING! Toronto’s website at www.singtoronto.com, as well as their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/SingToronto. All

times listed are Eastern Time (ET)

SING!’s online programming comes in three flavours:

“SING! In Concert - Throwback” concerts are 50-minute shows, distilled from our greatest events over the past eight years. Throwback shows are free.

“SING! In Concert - Primetime” concerts are brand-new 50-minute shows

created with Toronto’s finest a cappella vocalists, specially-produced to meet and exceed distancing protocols. Primetime shows are ticketed.

“SING! And Learn - Workshops” are live, interactive 50-minute Zoom

sessions with some of the world’s best a cappella professionals. Workshops are ticketed.

Tickets to all shows can be purchased at singtoronto.com. $15 per concert

$20 per workshop$20 special rate for two concerts each weekend day

$50 concert-only Festival Pass ($120 value!)$75 all-access Festival Pass ($300 value!)

ONLINE9TH ANNUAL

CONCERTS

Tuesday, Sept 297pm - SING! Throwback: Songs and Stories of Migration

From 2019 at Hugh’s Room Live, musicians and storytellers share fascinating tales of migration while weaving words and a cappella music together. Featuring storytellers Dan Yashinsky and Sage Tyrtle, and vocal groups Tapestry, Turkwaz, and Joanna Wallfisch (USA/UK). Hosted by Donna Dudinsky.

8pm - SING! Primetime: FreePlay LIVE!

Artistic Directors Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran present SING!’s opening night primetime concert, and the only live-streamed event of the festival! Using nothing but their voices and innovative live-looping techniques, genre-bending duo FreePlay takes you from the concert halls of Europe, to the jazz clubs of Manhattan,

to the temples of India… all without you leaving your seat.

Wednesday, Sept 307pm - SING! Throwback: SING! Celebrates Gospel

From 2018 at Little Trinity Church, rejoice in the beauty of the human voice and lift the spirit with the purity of a cappella gospel, featuring The Chitans, the University of Toronto Gospel Choir, and RESOUND (USA). Hosted by Kerry Lee Crawford.

8pm - SING! Primetime: InstaChoir and Friends

Think you can’t sing with a choir anymore? Think again! Jordan Travis shows us how it’s done… virtually. Since March, Jordan has taken his InstaChoir online to rave reviews and a feature on the CBC. Supported by his award-winning quartet Supertonic, Planting Pearl, and Vancouver’s Phoenix Chamber Choir,

InstaChoir and Friends shows you that, with a little innovation and inspiration, we can still make music together… even if we’re apart.

Thursday, October 17pm - SING! Throwback: Flower Power Hour!

Jump in the wayback machine to the hazy days of the 1960s with highlights from two concerts: SING! Salutes the Beatles (2015, Dancemakers’ Studio) and the one-of-a-kind reunion of the “Hair Tribe” (2017, Jane Mallett Theatre). Featuring 4SKÖR and Heather Bambrick, Fermata Town (USA), The O’Pears, Toronto

Northern Lights, The Watch… and members of the original Toronto cast of the classic musical “Hair.”

8pm - SING! Primetime: BeatsyncBeatsync is an eight-piece a cappella ensemble combining eclectic repertoire with dynamic beats and sophisticated arrangements. From pop to electronic to

classic soul, Beatsync draws upon diverse influences to craft their unique contemporary sound, interpreting modern hits and deep cuts alike. Beatsync is already making waves internationally, having recently gone on their first ever international tour of China.

Friday, October 2

7pm - SING! Throwback: O Canada! Spotlight On Leonard CohenFrom 2019 at Jane Mallett Theatre, the stunningly beautiful sound of Leonard Cohen’s music stripped down to just voices is simply haunting. Heather Bambrick, david sereda, Patricia O’Callaghan, and a cappella groups The Watch, Hampton Avenue, and The Ault Sisters, pay homage to the iconic songwriter by singing

their favourite Cohen pieces a cappella. With new arrangements of old classics, this is Cohen’s music as you have never heard it before.

8pm - SING! Primetime: O Canada! Featuring Tom Wilson Explore the rich cultural heritage of Canada with special guest star Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond), backed up by our own a

cappella “house band,” the SING! Singers. Joining them are singing-swashbucklers Pressgang Mutiny, Canada’s fabulous foursome Cadence, and live-looping sensations FreePlay. Hosted by Heather Bambrick.

Saturday, October 3

7pm - SING! Primetime: CadenceBased in Toronto, this a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for over 20 years. Whether performing at

sold-out jazz clubs and concert halls, at music festivals, for educational outreach, or for corporate functions (or even online!), the members of Cadence bring an infectious energy and uncanny verve to every song they sing.

8pm - SING! Primetime: SING! Salutes Vegas

A Vegas show has it all: swingin’ jazz, magic, dancing… and so does this spectacular concert. Micah Barnes and his SING! Singers “a cappella Big Band” features top hits from his new album “Vegas Breeze.” The Magic of Orion bedazzles, The Watch delights, The Ault Sisters beguile, and the amazing tap dancer

Travis Knights lights up the stage. And a special awards ceremony and performance by 2020 Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award winner Jackie Richardson makes this a night you won’t forget.

CONCERTS (cont’d)

Sunday, October 47pm - SING! Primetime: Retrocity “Retro-spective”

For pure a cappella-tude, look no further than Retrocity. These eight totally rad singers electric boogaloo their way through your favourite tunes from the 80s, without a keytar or drum machine in sight. This debut retrospective includes never-before-seen footage from their CD release at Mod Club Theatre, a virtual

video, personal messages from each member of the band, a special guest appearance by Martha Johnson (of Martha and the Muffins fame) and more!

8pm - SING! Primetime: Countermeasure’s 10th Anniversary SpecialCountermeasure is one of Canada’s leading a cappella ensembles. Under the direction of SING! Artistic Director Emeritus Aaron Jensen, this 13-voice

innovative ensemble has grown from local gigs to headlining international festivals, earning 5 star reviews. Having just released Guest Sessions, their third album, they take us on a retrospective of their 10 incredible years through their favourite music and moments from the journey. Generously sponsored by Dr.

Victoria Lee and Dr. Philip Hébert.

WORKSHOPSWorkshops are live, interactive 50-minute Zoom sessions with some of the world’s best a cappella professionals.

Saturday, October 3

1pm - Recording from Home with Anders Edenroth of The Real Group (Sweden)There’s no better time than now to learn how to record at home! Based on his thirty years of recording with a cappella legends The Real Group, Anders Edenroth will take you through the basics of home-studio recording such as simple acoustic preparation, microphone fundamentals, and special tips and

techniques unique to a cappella recording.

2pm - Popular Vocal Groups: How They Make Their Sound with Accent (Canada/US/UK/Europe) Take a deep-dive into the sounds of vocal jazz groups -- and beyond -- across time with multinational masters Accent. From barbershop to R+B, from

big-band jazz to rock, Accent breaks down the details of each style of vocal group arranging and performance to reveal the secrets behind your favourite sounds and vocal groups.

3pm - Arranging Roundtable with Deke Sharon and Dylan Bell (US/Canada)When it comes to a cappella arranging, these two wrote the book -- literally. “A Cappella Arranging” has become an international best-selling how-to book,

and Deke and Dylan will discuss some of their tried-and-true arranging techniques. Come with questions ready… Deke and Dylan are happy to answer them!

4pm - Collegiate A Cappella in the USA with Will Chandler (SING! Texas)

Join SING! Texas Vice President, Music Educator & DMA Candidate at the University of Kentucky Will Chandler for an inside look at the world’s largest collegiate a cappella scene, featuring the AcoustiKats.

Sunday, October 4 1pm - Beating The Blank Page with The Swingles (UK)

There's nothing more rewarding for a group than singing your own songs or arrangements. And though the idea of writing or arranging can be terrifying, every singer has the capacity to do it. Using fun games and exercises to kick-start creativity, we’ll write original music and lyrics in a matter of minutes. We'll

also look at how to use an arrangement to craft a story, with tips and tricks covering every stage of the arrangement process from choosing a song to formatting your score.

2pm - Rhythm ‘n’ Scat with New York Voices (US)If you were building your musical house, rhythm would be the floor! NYV’s Kim Nazarian will share inspiring videos, and do fundamental exercises to

support your first steps in improvising over swing, bossa, and salsa grooves. If improvising’s your game, Darmon Meader will take you on a crash-course of vocal jazz scat singing and improvisation. Learn the essentials from one of the greatest vocal jazz bands of all time.

3pm - Vocal Health with Speech Appeal (Canada)

Explore your voice from a new perspective with Speech-Language Pathologists Alyssa McCarthy and Daniel Boyle. Learn about vocal injury prevention to keep your voice going strong, including evidence-based warm-ups, cool-downs, and vocal hygiene advice, while addressing common vocal health myths and

frequently asked questions about voice rehabilitation, anatomy, and more.

4pm - Beatboxing 101 with Mel Daneke (SING! Texas)In Beatboxing 101, the student will have a broad knowledge of some beatbox history,

percussion essentials, and a fundamental kit of sounds they can use in their own practice!

5pm - Engaging Virtual Rehearsals with Katy Dane (SING! Texas)As we continue utilizing virtual formats for rehearsals, explore multiple online resources that can help engage all levels of singers through education,

technology, and video components. We'll look at ways to involve each singer & music leadership teams to share in the rehearsal experience, and how to utilize Zoom and Google Meet features to maximize the time spent together. From virtual auditions, to music theory breakout groups, to performance reviews,

there is a little something for everyone to continue building your ensemble culture!

ONLINE

9TH ANNUAL

SING! Toronto, now in its 9th season, will be a fully-online festival this year! All shows will be broadcast directly on SING! Toronto’s website at www.singtoronto.com, as well as their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/SingToronto. All

times listed are Eastern Time (ET)

SING!’s online programming comes in three flavours:

“SING! In Concert - Throwback” concerts are 50-minute shows, distilled from our greatest events over the past eight years. Throwback shows are free.

“SING! In Concert - Primetime” concerts are brand-new 50-minute shows

created with Toronto’s finest a cappella vocalists, specially-produced to meet and exceed distancing protocols. Primetime shows are ticketed.

“SING! And Learn - Workshops” are live, interactive 50-minute Zoom

sessions with some of the world’s best a cappella professionals. Workshops are ticketed.

Tickets to all shows can be purchased at singtoronto.com. $15 per concert

$20 per workshop$20 special rate for two concerts each weekend day

$50 concert-only Festival Pass ($120 value!)$75 all-access Festival Pass ($300 value!)

CONCERTS

Tuesday, Sept 297pm - SING! Throwback: Songs and Stories of Migration

From 2019 at Hugh’s Room Live, musicians and storytellers share fascinating tales of migration while weaving words and a cappella music together. Featuring storytellers Dan Yashinsky and Sage Tyrtle, and vocal groups Tapestry, Turkwaz, and Joanna Wallfisch (USA/UK). Hosted by Donna Dudinsky.

8pm - SING! Primetime: FreePlay LIVE!

Artistic Directors Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran present SING!’s opening night primetime concert, and the only live-streamed event of the festival! Using nothing but their voices and innovative live-looping techniques, genre-bending duo FreePlay takes you from the concert halls of Europe, to the jazz clubs of Manhattan,

to the temples of India… all without you leaving your seat.

Wednesday, Sept 307pm - SING! Throwback: SING! Celebrates Gospel

From 2018 at Little Trinity Church, rejoice in the beauty of the human voice and lift the spirit with the purity of a cappella gospel, featuring The Chitans, the University of Toronto Gospel Choir, and RESOUND (USA). Hosted by Kerry Lee Crawford.

8pm - SING! Primetime: InstaChoir and Friends

Think you can’t sing with a choir anymore? Think again! Jordan Travis shows us how it’s done… virtually. Since March, Jordan has taken his InstaChoir online to rave reviews and a feature on the CBC. Supported by his award-winning quartet Supertonic, Planting Pearl, and Vancouver’s Phoenix Chamber Choir,

InstaChoir and Friends shows you that, with a little innovation and inspiration, we can still make music together… even if we’re apart.

Thursday, October 17pm - SING! Throwback: Flower Power Hour!

Jump in the wayback machine to the hazy days of the 1960s with highlights from two concerts: SING! Salutes the Beatles (2015, Dancemakers’ Studio) and the one-of-a-kind reunion of the “Hair Tribe” (2017, Jane Mallett Theatre). Featuring 4SKÖR and Heather Bambrick, Fermata Town (USA), The O’Pears, Toronto

Northern Lights, The Watch… and members of the original Toronto cast of the classic musical “Hair.”

8pm - SING! Primetime: BeatsyncBeatsync is an eight-piece a cappella ensemble combining eclectic repertoire with dynamic beats and sophisticated arrangements. From pop to electronic to

classic soul, Beatsync draws upon diverse influences to craft their unique contemporary sound, interpreting modern hits and deep cuts alike. Beatsync is already making waves internationally, having recently gone on their first ever international tour of China.

Friday, October 2

7pm - SING! Throwback: O Canada! Spotlight On Leonard CohenFrom 2019 at Jane Mallett Theatre, the stunningly beautiful sound of Leonard Cohen’s music stripped down to just voices is simply haunting. Heather Bambrick, david sereda, Patricia O’Callaghan, and a cappella groups The Watch, Hampton Avenue, and The Ault Sisters, pay homage to the iconic songwriter by singing

their favourite Cohen pieces a cappella. With new arrangements of old classics, this is Cohen’s music as you have never heard it before.

8pm - SING! Primetime: O Canada! Featuring Tom Wilson Explore the rich cultural heritage of Canada with special guest star Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond), backed up by our own a

cappella “house band,” the SING! Singers. Joining them are singing-swashbucklers Pressgang Mutiny, Canada’s fabulous foursome Cadence, and live-looping sensations FreePlay. Hosted by Heather Bambrick.

Saturday, October 3

7pm - SING! Primetime: CadenceBased in Toronto, this a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for over 20 years. Whether performing at

sold-out jazz clubs and concert halls, at music festivals, for educational outreach, or for corporate functions (or even online!), the members of Cadence bring an infectious energy and uncanny verve to every song they sing.

8pm - SING! Primetime: SING! Salutes Vegas

A Vegas show has it all: swingin’ jazz, magic, dancing… and so does this spectacular concert. Micah Barnes and his SING! Singers “a cappella Big Band” features top hits from his new album “Vegas Breeze.” The Magic of Orion bedazzles, The Watch delights, The Ault Sisters beguile, and the amazing tap dancer

Travis Knights lights up the stage. And a special awards ceremony and performance by 2020 Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award winner Jackie Richardson makes this a night you won’t forget.

CONCERTS (cont’d)

Sunday, October 47pm - SING! Primetime: Retrocity “Retro-spective”

For pure a cappella-tude, look no further than Retrocity. These eight totally rad singers electric boogaloo their way through your favourite tunes from the 80s, without a keytar or drum machine in sight. This debut retrospective includes never-before-seen footage from their CD release at Mod Club Theatre, a virtual

video, personal messages from each member of the band, a special guest appearance by Martha Johnson (of Martha and the Muffins fame) and more!

8pm - SING! Primetime: Countermeasure’s 10th Anniversary SpecialCountermeasure is one of Canada’s leading a cappella ensembles. Under the direction of SING! Artistic Director Emeritus Aaron Jensen, this 13-voice

innovative ensemble has grown from local gigs to headlining international festivals, earning 5 star reviews. Having just released Guest Sessions, their third album, they take us on a retrospective of their 10 incredible years through their favourite music and moments from the journey. Generously sponsored by Dr.

Victoria Lee and Dr. Philip Hébert.

WORKSHOPSWorkshops are live, interactive 50-minute Zoom sessions with some of the world’s best a cappella professionals.

Saturday, October 3

1pm - Recording from Home with Anders Edenroth of The Real Group (Sweden)There’s no better time than now to learn how to record at home! Based on his thirty years of recording with a cappella legends The Real Group, Anders Edenroth will take you through the basics of home-studio recording such as simple acoustic preparation, microphone fundamentals, and special tips and

techniques unique to a cappella recording.

2pm - Popular Vocal Groups: How They Make Their Sound with Accent (Canada/US/UK/Europe) Take a deep-dive into the sounds of vocal jazz groups -- and beyond -- across time with multinational masters Accent. From barbershop to R+B, from

big-band jazz to rock, Accent breaks down the details of each style of vocal group arranging and performance to reveal the secrets behind your favourite sounds and vocal groups.

3pm - Arranging Roundtable with Deke Sharon and Dylan Bell (US/Canada)When it comes to a cappella arranging, these two wrote the book -- literally. “A Cappella Arranging” has become an international best-selling how-to book,

and Deke and Dylan will discuss some of their tried-and-true arranging techniques. Come with questions ready… Deke and Dylan are happy to answer them!

4pm - Collegiate A Cappella in the USA with Will Chandler (SING! Texas)

Join SING! Texas Vice President, Music Educator & DMA Candidate at the University of Kentucky Will Chandler for an inside look at the world’s largest collegiate a cappella scene, featuring the AcoustiKats.

Sunday, October 4 1pm - Beating The Blank Page with The Swingles (UK)

There's nothing more rewarding for a group than singing your own songs or arrangements. And though the idea of writing or arranging can be terrifying, every singer has the capacity to do it. Using fun games and exercises to kick-start creativity, we’ll write original music and lyrics in a matter of minutes. We'll

also look at how to use an arrangement to craft a story, with tips and tricks covering every stage of the arrangement process from choosing a song to formatting your score.

2pm - Rhythm ‘n’ Scat with New York Voices (US)If you were building your musical house, rhythm would be the floor! NYV’s Kim Nazarian will share inspiring videos, and do fundamental exercises to

support your first steps in improvising over swing, bossa, and salsa grooves. If improvising’s your game, Darmon Meader will take you on a crash-course of vocal jazz scat singing and improvisation. Learn the essentials from one of the greatest vocal jazz bands of all time.

3pm - Vocal Health with Speech Appeal (Canada)

Explore your voice from a new perspective with Speech-Language Pathologists Alyssa McCarthy and Daniel Boyle. Learn about vocal injury prevention to keep your voice going strong, including evidence-based warm-ups, cool-downs, and vocal hygiene advice, while addressing common vocal health myths and

frequently asked questions about voice rehabilitation, anatomy, and more.

4pm - Beatboxing 101 with Mel Daneke (SING! Texas)In Beatboxing 101, the student will have a broad knowledge of some beatbox history,

percussion essentials, and a fundamental kit of sounds they can use in their own practice!

5pm - Engaging Virtual Rehearsals with Katy Dane (SING! Texas)As we continue utilizing virtual formats for rehearsals, explore multiple online resources that can help engage all levels of singers through education,

technology, and video components. We'll look at ways to involve each singer & music leadership teams to share in the rehearsal experience, and how to utilize Zoom and Google Meet features to maximize the time spent together. From virtual auditions, to music theory breakout groups, to performance reviews,

there is a little something for everyone to continue building your ensemble culture!

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9TH ANNUAL

Artist Bios

4SKÖR is a dynamic and sophisticated vocal quartet that incorporates tight harmonies and smooth arrangements in an energetic and infectious style all their own. The group is equally at home performing a cappella or with their trio. Their unique sound is modern with hints of jazz, latin, R&B, funk, pop, and fusion. Sara, Pete, Kylie and Sean crossed paths during high school in diverse music competitions and ensembles while studying and building their professional music careers. As 4SKÖR, they have performed at various events in and around the Toronto area including The Beaches Jazz Festival, Oakville Downtown Jazz Festival, Musicfest Canada, SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Jazz Bistro, 120 Diner, Villa Caledon Inn, and The Distillery District with Heather Bambrick. www.4skor.ca

Accent Inspired by the wizardly jazz harmonies of TAKE 6 and, before them, The Hi-Lo’s, the six men of Accent, Jean-Baptiste “JB” Craipeau (France), Simon Åkesson (Sweden), Danny Fong (Canada), Andrew Kesler (Canada), James Rose (United Kingdom), and Evan Sanders (USA) are taking their love of close-harmony jazz singing – the denser and more intricate the better – as far as it can go. After becoming long-distance fans of each other’s multi-tracked videos on YouTube, they joined forces in 2011, collaborating online on songs and videos. Since then, they have released four albums, performed at the London A Cappella Festival, played dates across Europe, North America, and Asia, and were featured in a sold-out Christmas show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Their singular blend and arrangements have been acclaimed by a cappella devotees and fellow musicians alike, including Cedric Dent of TAKE 6 and Clark Burroughs of The Hi-Lo’s. www.accentvocal.com Micah Barnes Having cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, Micah became a well-loved singer-songwriter on the Queen Street scene before joining The Nylons and touring the world. Recording with the a cappella pop act brought Micah into the global music scene and landed him in Venice Beach, California where he launched a solo career touring the U.S. which led to his #1 international club hit “Welcome To My Head” and coverage in Rolling Stone Magazine as “an Indie artist to watch”. Returning to the jazz-oriented songwriting of his earlier years has resulted in a series of critically acclaimed solo recordings including his “New York Stories” (eOne Music) which saw him returning to tour across Canada. Micah has recently recorded a new album which transports the listener back to the days of legendary Vegas showrooms when the world’s top entertainers worked the strip: featuring songs first recorded by Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Frank Sinatra. Micah is also a highly respected vocal coach who has coached on CBC TV’s “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” and counts Emmy award winning actress Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) among his many top-level clients. www.micahbarnes.com Heather Bambrick is a JUNO-nominated vocalist, voice actor, broadcaster and educator who has collaborated with Phil Nimmons, Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, among many others. She is also a founding member of the Jazz/Cabaret ensemble Broadsway. Bambrick has released three solo recordings, all of which were nominated for East Coast Music Awards, including You’ll Never Know, which was also nominated for a 2017 JUNO Award. She has been a featured guest on numerous recordings, and has been awarded Canada’s National Jazz Award for Vocalist of the Year. Also a voice actor, Bambrick’s voice has appeared in commercials and various animated series including Emmy-nominated Wild Kratts, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Hotel Translvania – The Series, and Justin Time as well as several others. In 2001 she began broadcasting at JAZZ.FM91, and has twice been named National Jazz Awards’ Broadcaster of the Year. In 2018, she co-founded JAZZCAST, a Jazz-focused internet radio station. Along with all of this, she can often be found in classrooms and music festivals across Canada, acting as an advocate for the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, or fighting to close the “value gap” as a member of the Advisory Committee for Music Canada. www.heatherbambrick.ca Beatsync is an eight-piece a cappella ensemble from Toronto, Ontario combining eclectic repertoire with dynamic beats and sophisticated arrangements. From pop to electronic to classic soul, Beatsync draws upon diverse influences to craft their unique contemporary sound, interpreting modern hits and deep cuts alike via the creative lens of co-directors Daniel Boyle and Nick Kotoulas. Beatsync is already making waves internationally, having been featured as part of Fairchild Television’s Mandarin Profile Awards and having recently gone on their first ever international tour to China. Locally, they debuted at SING! Toronto Vocal Arts Festival and continue to perform for high-profile public and corporate events. www.Beatsyncmusic.com Dylan Bell (SING! Co-Artistic Director) In a word… multifaceted. JUNO-nominated Bell’s musical curiosity keeps him effortlessly crossing and blurring musical boundaries. Bell is an international leader in a cappella music, having sung with many of Canada’s premiere vocal ensembles such as FreePlay, Retrocity, Cadence, The Watch, and Hampton Avenue. He also freelances as a keyboardist and bassist. Behind the mixing board, Bell has produced several award-winning albums, including the JUNO-nominated Cadence album, Twenty for One; Ferris Wheels with the world-renowned Swingles; and the JUNO-nominated Skin Tight, by a cappella legends The Nylons. Bell’s compositions and arrangements have garnered international recognition as winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. When it comes to vocal arranging, Bell wrote the book… literally. “A Cappella Arranging” (co-written with Deke Sharon) was published in 2013 to international acclaim. www.dylanbell.ca

Daniel Boyle cut his teeth in a cappella at University of Toronto in TBA (Tunes, Beats, Awesome), followed by joining Countermeasure. He and Nick Kotoulas formed Beatsync, a young and fresh a cappella group focusing on innovative arrangements of Top 40 and Electronic Music. They have toured to China and played for many prestigious special events. Daniel is a Speech-Language Pathologist who co-owns Speech Appeal Clinic, which offers evidence-based speech, language and voice assessment, and therapy. www.speechappealclinic.com Cadence The stage lights fall, the crowd goes quiet and four harmonious voices rise up and fill the air. Vocal arrangements like you have never heard before – containing all the richness of a full band but performed using just four voices. This is Cadence, Canada’s premier vocal group. Based in Toronto, this a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for over 20 years. Whether performing at sold-out jazz clubs and concert halls, at music festivals, for educational outreach, or for corporate functions, the members of Cadence bring an infectious energy and uncanny verve to every song they sing. They feature a hypnotic blend of complex harmonies, intricate arrangements, vocal dexterity, and just plain fun. The group has five critically acclaimed award-winning studio albums. One listen and you will agree: instruments are for surgeons! www.cadence-unplugged.com Will Chandler has been active in the a cappella community since 2012. He started as a performer in The Spirit of Southern, the tenor/bass a cappella ensemble at The University of Southern Mississippi. Since then, he has directed high school a cappella groups in Texas while also serving as the Texas State Representative for the A Cappella Education Association and the Vice President for SING! Texas. Will holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Millsaps College and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky, where he directs the AcoUstiKats. www.linkedin.com/in/willchandlerchoir David Clayton-Thomas began his amazing journey as a homeless street kid and developed into one of the most recognizable voices in music, selling over 40 million records to date. In 1996, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 2007, his jazz/rock composition “Spinning Wheel” was enshrined in the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. In 2010, David received his star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame. His 1968 debut album with Blood Sweat & Tears sold 10 million copies worldwide. The self-titled record topped the Billboard album chart for seven weeks, and charted for a staggering 109 weeks. It won an unprecedented five Grammy awards, including Album Of The Year and Best Performance By A Male Vocalist. It featured three hit singles, “You Made Me So Very Happy”, “And When I Die”, and “Spinning Wheel” as well as an irresistible rendition of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” that became a signature song for David. A 1969 summary in the Los Angeles Times proclaimed that “Blood Sweat & Tears just may be the most important pop music group of the decade”. Today, living back in Toronto, his boyhood turf and the place where he still feels most at home, David has launched a 10-piece band under his own name. Through the years, he has lost none of the attributes that have made him one of the greatest vocalists of his generation. That unmistakable voice now soaring and sunny, now a dark, somber shade of blue. www.davidclaytonthomas.com Countermeasure Formed in 2010, founding artists of SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Countermeasure’s 13 top Canadian vocal talents have earned standing ovations and critical acclaim worldwide. Led by award-winning composer/arranger Aaron Jensen, the group has headlined numerous international festivals, wowed corporate and private audiences, and shared the stage with legendary artists such as a cappella giants Naturally 7 and The Swingle Singers and top 40 stars like Corey Hart and Blue Rodeo. Their new release is “Guest Sessions”, a concept album of rich musical arrangements and intricate vocal harmonies combined with a powerhouse featured instrumentalist on each track. Performing innovative arrangements of pop favourites, classic jazz standards, and original music, their diverse songbook has equipped the group to headline international choral concerts, play the main stage at jazz festivals, and entice club-goers onto the dance floor. Incorporating innovative live looping, instrument imitation, and vocal percussion, Countermeasure enthralls their audiences with their dramatically choreographed shows and flawless harmonies. They have won multiple awards from The Contemporary A Cappella Society of America, including Best CAL Album, best video, and best original song. They have sold out shows throughout multiple U.S. and Canadian tours, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and tours across the U.K., Italy, and Japan. www.countermeasuremusic.com

Kerry Lee Crawford is a renowned on-air host and co-founder of a unique movement called The LOVE Project. As a founding member of the multi-JUNO nominated Platinum and Gold selling Babyblue Sound Crew whose success aided in the launch of recording artists careers such as Sean Paul, Glenn Lewis, Jully Black, and Kardinal Offishall to name a few, Kerry has lived a lifetime in the world of entertainment. Kerry’s musical exploits carried him all around the world working with the “who’s who” of the urban elite. After stepping aside from the world of music Kerry Lee utilized his education and firsthand experience to bring a unique perspective to the world of News Media as a producer, consultant, and contributor appearing on various programs for broadcasters Discovery Channel, Sportsnet, and theScore while lending his voice to CBC Radio One, T.S.N., and the Raptor Channel. Today Kerry Lee Crawford inspires the minds and empowers the hearts of thousands of people through his speaking and motivational appearances to help guide them to be the best they can be through his mentoring programs across Canada. A tireless devotion to the passionate pursuit of Peace, Joy, and Justice via the advocacy for Love, Tolerance and Inclusion, Kerry Lee Crawford raises his voice for clarity highlighting the plight of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. www.torontocaribbean.com/kerry-lee-crawford-the-evolution-of-a-man-a-voice-and-a-vision

Katy Dane is incredibly active in the a cappella community, including her activity as SING! Texas President, Director of Sweet Adelines International's 2019 Division A Silver medalist chorus, A Cappella Unlimited, Director of Barbershop Harmony Society's Southwestern District 3rd place Chorus A Cappella Texas, and the VP of Music and Performance for the Southwestern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Katy is a 15-year music educator in Orchestra, Choir, Music Theory, and Contemporary A Cappella groups and a member of the Education Faculty for the Great Gulf Coast Region 10 of Sweet Adelines. www.acappellatexas.org/about/our-director

Mel Daneke is a contemporary performer, arranger, producer, and instructor. She owns Viridian Productions, an a cappella recording, arranging, and education company. Mel currently performs with two internationally renowned and award-winning vocal bands, Musae (Beatboxer + DJ) and Six Appeal (singer). She has traveled extensively, headlining and performing at festivals in Hong Kong, Taiwan, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Germany, and all over the United States. Her performances and CARA-nominated production has appeared on compilations like Sing, BOHSA, Voices Only, and Voices Only Forte. www.viridianmusic.com

Nukariik Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona are Nukariik, a duo that carries on the rarely heard Inuit throat singing tradition and other age-old forms of Inuit entertainment such as drum dancing and ja ja songs. A vocal game used to amuse children and women while men were out hunting, Inuit throat singing is an art practiced almost exclusively by women. Two singers stand or crouch facing each other and engage in a bit of friendly competition as one singer takes the lead and the other follows. During the vocal exchange, the voiced sounds and breath of each singer combine to form rhythmic melodies that imitate sounds from nature such as a mosquito or a river. The result is mesmerizing, as the singers playfully compete to see who will stop or laugh first. Born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Canada, Kathy embraced her heritage by learning throat singing and drum dancing from friends and elders. While learning, Kathy practiced her breathing walking around town, timing her breath to each step she took to acquire the skill of breathing continuously without getting light-headed. After mastering breath control and producing sounds with the throat, Kathy took the next traditional step in learning throat singing—practicing with a partner. Skilled singers such as Nukariik blend and synchronize their voices so perfectly that it becomes difficult to distinguish between them. www.nationalfolkfestival.com/acts/nukariik

Patricia O’Callaghan Her fifteen-year career has taken her across genres, continents, and a range of disciplines and passions. Her recording career spans six solo albums and many interesting visits along the way as a guest on other artists’ CDs. A speaker of French, Spanish, and German, her early recordings focused on European cabaret, and she is considered a specialist, most significantly, in the music of Kurt Weill. Patricia has performed his Threepenny Opera, Seven Deadly Sins, and Kleine Mahagonny with Soulpepper Theatre Company, Edmonton Opera, Vancouver Opera, and others. She has sung with some of the world’s great ensembles and artists (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Don Byron Quartet, Bryn Terfel), and has performed in venues that range from London’s Royal Opera House to New York’s Le Poisson Rouge. She has worked with R. Murray Schafer, Dennis Lee, Christos Hatzis, Steve Reich, David Braid, and Steven Page. Her most recent albums are Deepest December, Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, and the recently JUNO-nominated Corona Divinae Misericordiae, by David Braid. www.partricia-ocallaghan.com

Phoenix Chamber Choir Founded in 1983, Phoenix Chamber Choir is entering its 38th season as one of Canada’s finest vocal ensembles, renowned for diverse and eclectic programming from the Renaissance to the contemporary, commissions from Canadian and international composers, and North American premieres of significant new works. The choir has recorded and released eleven CDs throughout its history, including two in 2016/2017 – Why the Caged Bird Sings featuring a collection of contemporary works from composers such as Jake Runestad, Abbie Betinis, and Gabriel Jackson, and When the Earth Stands Still highlighting Phoenix’s penchant for lighter works, from composers such as BC’s own Don Macdonald, Daniel Elder, and Nick Myers. In 2019, the choir released its most recent album: Winter Sun, featuring Phoenix’s new Artistic Director, Dr. Nicholle Andrews. With its long-standing history of success in national and international choral competitions and the talent and training of its members, Phoenix Chamber Choir is enriching and extending its earned reputation as an elite-level ensemble. The choir strives to connect deeply with its audiences by sharing world-class musical experiences, and provides invaluable musical opportunities for British Columbian and Canadian choral artists and composers. Phoenix strives for and achieves the highest level of choral performance and audience engagement. For more than three decades, the Phoenix Chamber Choir has played an integral part in developing young musicians, composers and conductors in Vancouver, and has helped to establish Canada’s West Coast as one of the most important centres of choral music in the world. www.phoenixchoir.com Planting Pearl This quartet is a new up-and-coming jazz vocal group that pays homage to the everlasting influence of Gene Puerling. Though the group Planting Pearl was just recently established in 2018, the four singers have been performing together in various contexts for the last five years. Their goal with Planting Pearl is to deliver cutting edge arrangements and covers of impactful vocal jazz groups, and with each performance, finding a new sense of appreciation for the genre. Planting Pearl is founded by members Megan Vivares, Meagan Luchko, Nathan Martin, and Jackson Welchner, who all bring a unique sense of chemistry not often found in the young members of the Toronto Jazz Scene. The group prides itself on its original arrangements by members Nathan Martin and Jackson Welchner. www.facebook.com/PlantingPearl

Pressgang Mutiny Hailing from the port of Toronto, ON, the members of Pressgang Mutiny have been roaring out songs of the sea since 2013. Local favourites in their hometown and on the Canadian and American East Coasts, they are keeping alive the vital tradition of work songs that represent the world’s first truly multicultural music. www.pressgangmutiny.bandcamp.com

Quartette Since their debut in 1993, the four members of Quartette have been both publicly and critically acclaimed for their lush harmonies and delightfully diverse repertoire. Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick, and Sylvia Tyson are seasoned singer/songwriters whose influences range from blues and gospel to folk and country to jazz and pop. The group’s first appearance, a showcase of Canadian women songwriters, took place at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. What began as a “songwriter in the round” concert of musical friends grew into an inspired collaboration. This initial performance generated an appearance on CBC Radio’s Morningside with host Peter Gzowski. The phones began to ring with requests for a recording, and seven months later in April of 1994, the self-titled album, “Quartette”, was released to rave reviews. This was followed by coast-to-coast tours of theatres, folk festivals, performances with symphony orchestras, and live appearances on radio, including two appearances on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. In 1995 a second album, “Work of the Heart”, was released and, following this, CBC’s Adrienne Clarkson Presents profiled the group in an hour-long special. Quartette has received several Juno nominations, won a Canadian Country Music Award for best vocal collaboration, performed with major symphony orchestras across Canada, and recorded the CMT-TV special, “A Quartette Christmas”. They have also released two Christmas CDs, “It’s Christmas!” in 1996, and “I See A Star” in 2002, both of which are collections of traditional and original Christmas songs, and their Christmas shows have become a tradition with audiences across the country. www.quartette.com

RESOUND believes that God brought them together around a kitchen table. The three singers Jessica, Joseph, and Mariah had known each other for years before one day having an informal rehearsal and creating their first “arrangement.” Little did they know, this would lead them to a career of creating and arranging music together. Now, seven years later, they’ve had opportunities from singing on national television shows such as Good Morning America, to singing in some of the biggest arenas along with some of the greatest artists of their time. With hundreds of thousands of online followers, their debut album “First Christmas” reached number sixteen on the gospel Billboard charts. Resound hopes to continue creating music of various styles while pouring their hearts into every note and chord. Their goal is to inspire others to use their God-given talents and keep the ripple effect going, and to echo God’s love, joy, and hope throughout the world. www.officialresound.com

Deke Sharon Heralded as “The Father of Contemporary A Cappella”, Deke Sharon is credited by many as being responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella. While at college, he pioneered the dense vocal-instrumental sound that we today take for granted as the sound of contemporary a cappella. Deke founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society while in college, and is contemporary a cappella’s most prolific arranger, having arranged over 2,000 songs, with many of them in print worldwide. Deke has produced dozens of award-winning a cappella albums, and frequently tours the world teaching a variety of topics to students and professional singers. He helped popularize a cappella in the mainstream by producing five seasons of The Sing Off for NBC, and through his involvement as arranger, on-site music director, and vocal producer for all three films in the Pitch Perfect franchise. As the founder, director, and arranger for the House Jacks for almost 25 years, the original “Rock Band Without Instruments,” Deke shared the stage with countless music legends, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Crosby Stills and Nash, Run DMC, The Temptations, LL Cool J, and the Four Tops, and performed for luminaries including President Bill Clinton. The House Jacks have eight albums, and dozens of international tours to their names, including multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall, and even a performance of the “Monday Night Football Theme” with Hank Williams Jr. in 2011. www.singers.com/arrangers/Deke-Sharon

The Ault Sisters are a Canadian vocal trio featured on Zoomer Media’s hit TV show “Your All-Time Classic Hit Parade”. The Ault Sisters apply their close vocal harmonies to their original songs as well as jazz standards that have been reimagined to provide a contemporary flair and fresh appeal. Intricately interwoven harmonies are a signature part of their performances. Their latest album, “Sisters In Song”, reached #1 on the Canadian iTunes jazz chart in 2018 and pays homage to the great sister acts who inspired them, such as the Andrews Sisters, McGuire Sisters, and Pointer Sisters. The Ault Sisters have performed at many festivals, such as The Beaches International Jazz Festival, The Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, and the Brantford International Jazz Festival concert series. The Ault Sisters’ music has touched people around the world, most recently in Soroti, Uganda, where they had the opportunity to give a concert as World Vision Canada Ambassadors. And in case you were wondering, yes – they really are sisters! www.aultsisters.com The Chitans They are Layne, Karen, Kaiziah, Kayandra, L. Jesse, L. Jayden, and Karlainah. They are a family in full-time ministry from Toronto, Canada. They are excited about singing wherever they are called upon to do so, and sharing The Love of Jesus with all people, especially the children of the world. They serve the community through activities such as ministering in churches, hospitals, nursing homes, senior homes, community centers, prisons, slums, and on the streets (feeding the homeless). We also sing at religious, cultural, human rights and civic gatherings throughout Canada, the U.S.A., Kenya (Africa), the United Kingdom, the Caribbean including Bermuda, and to heads of state in Jamaica, Grenada, Bermuda, and Canada. They were invited to and have also ministered at The White House and the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill. They received a Congressional Award in July 2012 from the United States of America, for volunteer work done on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. www.thechitans.com

The Magic of Orion A graduate of the Chavez School of Magic and holding the magic degree of A.I.M.C from the Magic Circle of London England, Orion has been mesmerizing audiences for over 30 years. He has performed for the Deputy Counsel General of the People’s Republic of China, the Governor General of Canada and many large corporations such as Bombardier, I.B.M, Toshiba and worked Magic Bars in Japan as the house magician. From Canada, to the UK, to Japan where he was given the nickname of ‘The Technician’, Orion’s magic is a perfect blend of class and mystery. www.magicoforion.com

The O’Pears With the homegrown musicality of The Wailin’ Jennys, the sibling-like blend of the Andrews Sisters, and the lyrical sensibility of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The O’Pears, with their signature jaw-dropping harmonies, hold listeners captive with a sound and style that is both classic and contemporary. They have most notably performed at NXNE, SING! Toronto and SING! Austin, Texas, and the 2015 Lunenberg Folk Harbour Festival. After the success of their debut EP, “Our Own”, they released their first full-length CD and toured Europe. www.theopears.com The Swingles For more than half a century, The Swingles have pushed the boundaries of vocal music. At a time when a cappella music is more popular than ever, The Swingles are recognised as masters of their craft. Since their 1963 debut, Jazz Sebastian Bach, the group's repertoire has grown to include a huge variety of music including new original songs. They have made more than 50 recordings; appeared on numerous film and TV soundtracks including Sex and the City, Glee, and Downsizing; and collaborated with artists as diverse as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum, and Luciano Berio. In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly takes them to North and South America, Europe, and Asia, The Swingles present their own London A Cappella Festival each January in partnership with Ikon Arts Management. www.theswingles.co.uk

The Watch This multifarious foursome of a cappella veterans Dylan Bell, Art Mullin, Daniel Galessiere, and Aaron Jensen celebrates a songbook that ranges from swinging bebop tunes, to R&B anthems – from contemporary choral originals to classic pop songs. Their innovative arrangements delight, their vocal-instrument sounds amaze, and their high-energy performance will find you singing your soul out in your seat. Collectively, the individual members of the Watch have recorded numerous celebrated albums and toured worldwide with many of Canada's favourite vocal groups, including Retrocity, Cadence, FreePlay, Countermeasure, and Hampton Avenue. www.thewatch.ca

Toronto Northern Lights Chorus Formed in 1998, The Toronto Northern Lights is the 2013 International Chorus Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society. TNL has represented Ontario 13 times at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Competition, winning medals 12 times and earning consecutive silvers from 2001 to 2005. In 2000, the chorus won the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. TNL has also performed in Germany, England, Holland, and China. Most recently, last April, TNL headed to Europe on a “Gold Medal Tour” that saw them perform in England, Germany, and Sweden. The chorus attracts members of all ages, backgrounds and employment. Although Toronto based, members also come from Montreal, Ottawa, London, Buffalo and Detroit! TNL’s repertoire ranges from Barbershop to Broadway, Vocal Jazz to Doo-Wop, and Gershwin to the Beatles. They have five CDs, including their most recent, “Dare To Dream”, and a two-disc DVD set, “Welcome to the Sandbox”. www.northernlightschorus.com

Jordan Travis is the musical director of A Cappella Showcase. Music and teaching are Jordan's passions, especially when it comes to vocal music. Jordan started his extensive training at a young age leading to a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto. While there, he studied with some of the finest teachers in vocal performance, vocal pedagogy, and choral conducting. In addition to performing and conducting, Jordan is sought after as a premier vocal coach to numerous groups and individuals across Canada, United States, and Europe. Jordan was also the Associate Director and Primary Vocal Coach for the celebrated Toronto Northern Lights Chorus, The Barbershop Harmony Society's 2013 Gold Medal Chorus Champions. www.instachoir.ca

Donna Dudinsky A former documentary television producer, Donna tells old tales to the young at heart. Specializing in folk and fairy tales from around the world, Donna tells at storytelling festivals, schools, libraries and concerts across Canada. Known primarily as a children’s storyteller, she can be heard on Dial-A-Story sponsored by The Toronto Public Library system. Donna was a featured teller at Buffalo Jump, Razzmatazz and Performers for Literacy’s Second Story. She is on the Executive of Storytellers for Children and tells stories in English and French. www.storytellingtoronto.org/story/dudinsky-donna

Anders Edenroth Born in Stockholm, Anders Edenroth started playing piano and singing in choirs at an early age. While studying at The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, he and his fellow students formed an a cappella quintet – The Real Group. Anders has written and published many original songs for The Real Group which include arrangements of well-known standards, constantly exploring the development of new vocal textures and the integration of vocal percussion and rhythmic effects. He has engineered and produced albums for many artists as well as arranging music for other vocal groups, for big bands, symphony orchestras, and stage shows. Anders’ off-stage interests include cooking (which leaks into some of his compositional ideas) and environmental conservation. One of his favourite influences is Stevie Wonder although he listens to all kinds of music. He thinks that if not a musician, his creative instincts might have manifested as an inventor and he plans to one day publish a book entitled ‘Incredible Inventions’ or ‘Totally Ingenious’. www.andersedenroth.com Fermata Town Since their founding in 2009, the Townies have made a name for themselves in the a cappella community, recording multiple award-winning albums while competing and placing in several competitions including the National Harmony Sweepstakes and WGBH's Sing That Thing. They’ve been featured on national news programs and radio shows, and have partnered with organizations from Universal Pictures to the Alzheimer’s Association. They’ve participated in and performed at national and international festivals such as the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in Memphis, Tennessee, the London A Cappella Festival (LACF) in the United Kingdom and SING! Toronto in Canada, bringing their passion for vocal harmony to new communities far and wide. Comprised of 12 singers from varying backgrounds and career fields, the Townies strike a healthy balance between their music and active lifestyles as full-time working professionals. They’re a close community of friends and family, brought together by a shared passion for making music that moves the soul. www.fermatatown.com FreePlay Using nothing but their voices and innovative live-looping techniques, genre-bending FreePlay takes you from the concert halls of Europe, to the jazz clubs of Manhattan, to the temples of India, and back to their native Toronto, Canada, all without you leaving your seat. Partners onstage and off, Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran first met in Toronto in 1993, singing in a jazz choir at York University. What started as a typical voice-and-piano jazz duo began to evolve: more instruments were added, and more musical styles explored, to create a duo unique in its musical depth and variety. In 2007, FreePlay created the uniquely innovative, all-a cappella live looping performance style that has earned them international recognition, taking them across Canada and around the world, with performances at major music festivals spanning six continents. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009, and their most recent album, Go Back Forward, was released in 2018. www.freeplayduo.com Hampton Avenue Close-harmony jazz quartet Hampton Avenue dazzles with their unique timbre, impeccable musicianship and jazz chops to boot. From fresh originals to cool standards, they've been compared to such vocal giants as The New York Voices and Singers Unlimited. Hampton Avenue features founder/director Debbie Fleming, Dylan Bell, Suba Sankaran and Tom Lillington.

Travis Knights Leave your preconceptions at the door and discover the richness of tap dance and jazz improvisation. Having performed as a professional Tap Dancer since 2000, Knights has had the incredible opportunity to work alongside and grow from many of the best talents in the business, including Jackie Richardson, Arthur Duncan, and Gregory Hines. This dance has taken Knights all over the world performing in a language that transcends the spoken work, rhythm. Knights is pleased to invite you into his world of music, dance, and pure being. www.citydancecorps.com/travis-knights

Alyssa McCarthy is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Voice Therapist with Speech Appeal, and is also a Singing Voice Specialist. She is registered nationally with Speech-Language Audiology Canada (SAC) and provincially with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Originally an East Coaster, Alyssa obtained her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Dalhousie University following her Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Performance). Alyssa works passionately in the areas of voice therapy and gender affirming voice training. www.speechappealclinic.com

musica intima In 1992, a group of friends wanted to sing together. They started gathering in one another’s homes to make music while they shared the artistic values that fed into what musica intima has become today: a vocal ensemble that has performed around the country and around the world. www.musicaintima.org

New York Voices Celebrating more than 30 years of touring and recording, this critically acclaimed vocal group has refined their musical story to a high art. They are known for their close-knit voicings, inspired arrangements, and unparalleled vocal blend. With deep interests rooted in jazz, Brazilian, R & B, classical, and pop, their music mixes traditional sensibilities with more than a dash of the unexpected. NYV has traveled the globe with their elegant music, amazing audiences the world over with their impeccable voices and stunning arrangements. They are one of the top vocal groups in the world. www.newyorkvoices.com

Retrocity Born in 1998, the eight totally rad singers of Retrocity electric boogaloo their way through your favourite tunes from the 80s and beyond, without a keytar or drum machine in sight. What started as a one night only concert morphed into an established and well-loved vocal band that continues to hit audiences squarely in their nostalgia cortex. Retrocity’s repertoire covers musical vintages and styles of all kinds, but their hearts still belong to the Me Decade. The bold, textured a cappella arrangements capture an astonishing range of instrumental imitation. Righteous guitar riffs, sensual sax solos, dope drum beats and sizzling synths… all performed with the human voice. Retrocity’s high calibre musicianship and kinetic performance style are popular with audiences of all kinds. The group offers professional vocal clinics and workshops, and has delivered their high-energy show in venues around the world.www.retrocity.ca Jackie Richardson – see feature page on Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award Ruach Singers Creating innovative liturgical and Hebrew vocal music, this eight-voice ensemble offers a new take on the traditional Jewish choral sound, with style cues from contemporary jazz/pop a cappella and modern world music. Their music can be heard at Shabbat Services, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and music festivals worldwide. Their highly-lauded CD Crossroads is available from CD Baby. Ruach Singers launched the first SING! festival in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City. The group will be performing at a special SING! Concert at Beach Hebrew Institute at a later date. www.ruachsingers.com

Suba Sankaran (SING! Co-Artistic Director) DORA award-winning, JUNO-nominated world/fusion vocalist Sankaran effortlessly combines musical worlds, performing across North America, Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia, and Africa with Autorickshaw, master drummer Trichy Sankaran, FreePlay, and Retrocity. Performance highlights include performing for Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and performing with Jane Siberry, Lorraine Segato, Bobby McFerrin, and the Swingles. She has composed, recorded, and produced music for theatre, film, radio, and for south Indian and modern dance, including collaborations with Oscar-nominee Deepa Mehta. Recently, Sankaran made her acting debut at Stratford Festival where she has served for two seasons as vocal coach/arranger and sound designer. Sankaran is in demand as a private teacher, educator, choral director, arranger, adjudicator, and composer, and has given numerous workshops to choirs around the world. www.subasankaran.com

david sereda He is one of Canada’s most distinctive voices, a singer, songwriter and composer – and one of Canada’s first openly gay singer-songwriters. He is passionate about the power of song and the importance of singing your truth. sereda is a collaborator who loves to mix it up, working in different combinations of music and theatre: he has written musicals, a 13-minute opera, and commissions for choirs, released CDs, and has performed in concerts, at festivals (Winnipeg, Vancouver and Regina Folk Festivals, the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival, and the Toronto International Festival of Authors), and with choirs (Youth Outreach Mass Choir, Montreal Jubilation Choir, Nova Scotia Mass Choir). He has produced almost 40 Stray Dog Salons in Toronto, a “mongrel mix” of music, theatre, and poetry. He has been Associate Artist with Sheatre since 2002. david recently received an Ontario Arts Council grant to write songs about living in our turbulent world. Ongoing projects are community a cappella call and response Song Circles, and dialogues with poet and novelist Anne Michaels, including a concert inspired by the art, passion, and life of Tom Thomson, The Woods Are Burning. He lives in Annan, Ontario. www.facebook.com/davidseredamusic

Tom Wilson A three-time JUNO winning musician with multiple gold records, Tom Wilson has written for and recorded songs with Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Jason Isbell, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mavis Staples, and the Rankin Family to name a few. Tom currently tours with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and his band, Lee Harvey Osmond. Tom Wilson was raised in the rough-and-tumble world of Hamilton – Steeltown – in the company of World War II vets, factory workers, fall-guy wrestlers, and the deeply guarded secrets kept by his parents. He built an international music career and became a father, he battled demons and addiction, and he waited, hoping for the lies to cease and the truth to emerge. It would. And when it did, it would sweep up the St. Lawrence River to the Mohawk reserves of Quebec, on to the heights of the Manhattan skyline. With a rare gift for storytelling and an astonishing story to tell, Tom writes with unflinching honesty and extraordinary compassion about his search for the truth. It is a story about scars, about the ones that hurt us, and the ones that make us who we are. www.tomwilsononline.com Dan Yashinsky Known internationally he is one of the founders of Storytelling Toronto (formerly the Storytellers School) and the founder of the Toronto Festival of Storytelling, he also began the longest-running open mic storytelling session in North America – 1,001 Friday Nights of Storytelling – in 1978. He has performed and taught at festivals in Israel, Wales, England, Germany, Brazil, Austria, France, the U.S., Singapore, Ireland, and across Canada. He is the editor of four acclaimed collections of Canadian storytelling and the author of Suddenly They Heard Footsteps – Storytelling for the Twenty-first Century and Swimming with Chaucer – A Storyteller's Logbook. He developed and hosted Talking Stick, a national storytelling radio show on CBC. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for UNICEF Canada, Queen's University, Toronto Public Library, and Baycrest Health Sciences. www.tellery.com and www.storycare.ca

Turkwaz is a unique combination of four singers, immersed in diverse traditions. Each performer brings a special flavour to the group: Maryem draws on her Arabic language heritage, Jayne and Sophia bring their experience with Greek music, and Brenna adds her Turkish fascination. They have a collective interest in Balkan traditions and add Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and whatever else strikes their fancy to their repertoire. www.turkwaz.ca

Sage Tyrtle A professional storyteller, she has performed for audiences of all ages all over the world, from true stories to traditional folktales to interactive improvised fairy tales. Her stories have been featured on NPR and CBC radio. According to the Toronto Star, “When Sage talks, people don’t just listen, they hang on her every word.” Tyrtle has taught the Art of Storytelling at Second City, Seneca College, at schools, and in corporate settings. www.tyrtle.com

Supertonic is an a cappella quartet whose roots are based in the barbershop style. Featuring four members of the 2013 BHS International Chorus Champion, Toronto Northern Lights, they bring a high energy sound showcasing all kinds of music, ranging from the golden age of Broadway to the radio hits of today. Whether it's headlining a show, or as a surprise act for a business conference, Supertonic will make an event unforgettable. www.supertonicqt.com

University of Toronto Gospel Choir Founded in February 1995, the University of Toronto Gospel Choir was formed in celebration of Black History Month. The Choir was initially created to unite students with a shared interest in praising the Lord through song. Soon, however, the weekly choir rehearsals became not only a meeting place, but also a refuge for those looking for a non-threatening and empowering environment. Over the years, the Choir has grown to include members from all races and Christian denominations and celebrates not only in the diversity of its members, but also its audiences. Less than six weeks after its inception, UTGC had its first major performance at Toronto’s Hart House Theatre. The sold out concert also showcased some of the best college gospel choirs from the state of New York. Since that time, the powerhouse that is UTGC has burst onto the international scene, as well as continuing to serve the greater Toronto community in local concerts and university events held throughout the year. The Choir was provided with the unique experience of being the only Canadian choir to participate in Annual Gospel festivals in both Stockholm, Sweden and Barbados, West Indies. In addition to these opportunities, in 2003 the Choir travelled to Tokyo, Japan where they participated in a gospel music festival, performed in local churches, and held their own concert for the mayor of Sagamihara. As UTGC continues to spread their ministry through song, they have been welcomed by groups in New York, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Germany. www.utgc.org

Joanna Wallfisch Described by Downbeat Magazine as “an exquisite singer-songwriter” with a “crystalline voice”, London born singer-songwriter, Joanna Wallfisch comes from a long line of musicians. Raised by classical musician parents Elizabeth and Raphael Wallfisch, her grandmother Anita Lasker Wallfisch, now 94, survived Auschwitz and was selected to play cello in the camp’s women’s orchestra. Joanna’s unique musical heritage shines through in her own compositional style, evoking her classical roots and blending them with her love of jazz, art-song, folk, and pop. After completing her masters in Jazz at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Joanna moved to NYC where she forged an indelible musical path, collaborating with musicians including Dan Tepfer, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, and Lee Konitz. A master in the art of live vocal looping, Joanna creates mesmerising soundscapes to accompany her poetic lyrics. In 2019 she released her fifth album, “Far Away From Any Place Called Home” – a self-penned musical memoir about her solo travels through the USA by bicycle. Global appearances include: Woodford Folk Festival; London Jazz Festival; National Sawdust; MONA; National Concert Hall, Dublin; Salisbury Arts Festival; Boston Court Theatre, Los Angeles; and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK. www.joannawallfisch.com

ONLINE

9TH ANNUAL

4SKÖR is a dynamic and sophisticated vocal quartet that incorporates tight harmonies and smooth arrangements in an energetic and infectious style all their own. The group is equally at home performing a cappella or with their trio. Their unique sound is modern with hints of jazz, latin, R&B, funk, pop, and fusion. Sara, Pete, Kylie and Sean crossed paths during high school in diverse music competitions and ensembles while studying and building their professional music careers. As 4SKÖR, they have performed at various events in and around the Toronto area including The Beaches Jazz Festival, Oakville Downtown Jazz Festival, Musicfest Canada, SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Jazz Bistro, 120 Diner, Villa Caledon Inn, and The Distillery District with Heather Bambrick. www.4skor.ca

Accent Inspired by the wizardly jazz harmonies of TAKE 6 and, before them, The Hi-Lo’s, the six men of Accent, Jean-Baptiste “JB” Craipeau (France), Simon Åkesson (Sweden), Danny Fong (Canada), Andrew Kesler (Canada), James Rose (United Kingdom), and Evan Sanders (USA) are taking their love of close-harmony jazz singing – the denser and more intricate the better – as far as it can go. After becoming long-distance fans of each other’s multi-tracked videos on YouTube, they joined forces in 2011, collaborating online on songs and videos. Since then, they have released four albums, performed at the London A Cappella Festival, played dates across Europe, North America, and Asia, and were featured in a sold-out Christmas show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Their singular blend and arrangements have been acclaimed by a cappella devotees and fellow musicians alike, including Cedric Dent of TAKE 6 and Clark Burroughs of The Hi-Lo’s. www.accentvocal.com Micah Barnes Having cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, Micah became a well-loved singer-songwriter on the Queen Street scene before joining The Nylons and touring the world. Recording with the a cappella pop act brought Micah into the global music scene and landed him in Venice Beach, California where he launched a solo career touring the U.S. which led to his #1 international club hit “Welcome To My Head” and coverage in Rolling Stone Magazine as “an Indie artist to watch”. Returning to the jazz-oriented songwriting of his earlier years has resulted in a series of critically acclaimed solo recordings including his “New York Stories” (eOne Music) which saw him returning to tour across Canada. Micah has recently recorded a new album which transports the listener back to the days of legendary Vegas showrooms when the world’s top entertainers worked the strip: featuring songs first recorded by Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Frank Sinatra. Micah is also a highly respected vocal coach who has coached on CBC TV’s “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” and counts Emmy award winning actress Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) among his many top-level clients. www.micahbarnes.com Heather Bambrick is a JUNO-nominated vocalist, voice actor, broadcaster and educator who has collaborated with Phil Nimmons, Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, among many others. She is also a founding member of the Jazz/Cabaret ensemble Broadsway. Bambrick has released three solo recordings, all of which were nominated for East Coast Music Awards, including You’ll Never Know, which was also nominated for a 2017 JUNO Award. She has been a featured guest on numerous recordings, and has been awarded Canada’s National Jazz Award for Vocalist of the Year. Also a voice actor, Bambrick’s voice has appeared in commercials and various animated series including Emmy-nominated Wild Kratts, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Hotel Translvania – The Series, and Justin Time as well as several others. In 2001 she began broadcasting at JAZZ.FM91, and has twice been named National Jazz Awards’ Broadcaster of the Year. In 2018, she co-founded JAZZCAST, a Jazz-focused internet radio station. Along with all of this, she can often be found in classrooms and music festivals across Canada, acting as an advocate for the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, or fighting to close the “value gap” as a member of the Advisory Committee for Music Canada. www.heatherbambrick.ca Beatsync is an eight-piece a cappella ensemble from Toronto, Ontario combining eclectic repertoire with dynamic beats and sophisticated arrangements. From pop to electronic to classic soul, Beatsync draws upon diverse influences to craft their unique contemporary sound, interpreting modern hits and deep cuts alike via the creative lens of co-directors Daniel Boyle and Nick Kotoulas. Beatsync is already making waves internationally, having been featured as part of Fairchild Television’s Mandarin Profile Awards and having recently gone on their first ever international tour to China. Locally, they debuted at SING! Toronto Vocal Arts Festival and continue to perform for high-profile public and corporate events. www.Beatsyncmusic.com Dylan Bell (SING! Co-Artistic Director) In a word… multifaceted. JUNO-nominated Bell’s musical curiosity keeps him effortlessly crossing and blurring musical boundaries. Bell is an international leader in a cappella music, having sung with many of Canada’s premiere vocal ensembles such as FreePlay, Retrocity, Cadence, The Watch, and Hampton Avenue. He also freelances as a keyboardist and bassist. Behind the mixing board, Bell has produced several award-winning albums, including the JUNO-nominated Cadence album, Twenty for One; Ferris Wheels with the world-renowned Swingles; and the JUNO-nominated Skin Tight, by a cappella legends The Nylons. Bell’s compositions and arrangements have garnered international recognition as winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. When it comes to vocal arranging, Bell wrote the book… literally. “A Cappella Arranging” (co-written with Deke Sharon) was published in 2013 to international acclaim. www.dylanbell.ca

Daniel Boyle cut his teeth in a cappella at University of Toronto in TBA (Tunes, Beats, Awesome), followed by joining Countermeasure. He and Nick Kotoulas formed Beatsync, a young and fresh a cappella group focusing on innovative arrangements of Top 40 and Electronic Music. They have toured to China and played for many prestigious special events. Daniel is a Speech-Language Pathologist who co-owns Speech Appeal Clinic, which offers evidence-based speech, language and voice assessment, and therapy. www.speechappealclinic.com Cadence The stage lights fall, the crowd goes quiet and four harmonious voices rise up and fill the air. Vocal arrangements like you have never heard before – containing all the richness of a full band but performed using just four voices. This is Cadence, Canada’s premier vocal group. Based in Toronto, this a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for over 20 years. Whether performing at sold-out jazz clubs and concert halls, at music festivals, for educational outreach, or for corporate functions, the members of Cadence bring an infectious energy and uncanny verve to every song they sing. They feature a hypnotic blend of complex harmonies, intricate arrangements, vocal dexterity, and just plain fun. The group has five critically acclaimed award-winning studio albums. One listen and you will agree: instruments are for surgeons! www.cadence-unplugged.com Will Chandler has been active in the a cappella community since 2012. He started as a performer in The Spirit of Southern, the tenor/bass a cappella ensemble at The University of Southern Mississippi. Since then, he has directed high school a cappella groups in Texas while also serving as the Texas State Representative for the A Cappella Education Association and the Vice President for SING! Texas. Will holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Millsaps College and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky, where he directs the AcoUstiKats. www.linkedin.com/in/willchandlerchoir David Clayton-Thomas began his amazing journey as a homeless street kid and developed into one of the most recognizable voices in music, selling over 40 million records to date. In 1996, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 2007, his jazz/rock composition “Spinning Wheel” was enshrined in the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. In 2010, David received his star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame. His 1968 debut album with Blood Sweat & Tears sold 10 million copies worldwide. The self-titled record topped the Billboard album chart for seven weeks, and charted for a staggering 109 weeks. It won an unprecedented five Grammy awards, including Album Of The Year and Best Performance By A Male Vocalist. It featured three hit singles, “You Made Me So Very Happy”, “And When I Die”, and “Spinning Wheel” as well as an irresistible rendition of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” that became a signature song for David. A 1969 summary in the Los Angeles Times proclaimed that “Blood Sweat & Tears just may be the most important pop music group of the decade”. Today, living back in Toronto, his boyhood turf and the place where he still feels most at home, David has launched a 10-piece band under his own name. Through the years, he has lost none of the attributes that have made him one of the greatest vocalists of his generation. That unmistakable voice now soaring and sunny, now a dark, somber shade of blue. www.davidclaytonthomas.com Countermeasure Formed in 2010, founding artists of SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Countermeasure’s 13 top Canadian vocal talents have earned standing ovations and critical acclaim worldwide. Led by award-winning composer/arranger Aaron Jensen, the group has headlined numerous international festivals, wowed corporate and private audiences, and shared the stage with legendary artists such as a cappella giants Naturally 7 and The Swingle Singers and top 40 stars like Corey Hart and Blue Rodeo. Their new release is “Guest Sessions”, a concept album of rich musical arrangements and intricate vocal harmonies combined with a powerhouse featured instrumentalist on each track. Performing innovative arrangements of pop favourites, classic jazz standards, and original music, their diverse songbook has equipped the group to headline international choral concerts, play the main stage at jazz festivals, and entice club-goers onto the dance floor. Incorporating innovative live looping, instrument imitation, and vocal percussion, Countermeasure enthralls their audiences with their dramatically choreographed shows and flawless harmonies. They have won multiple awards from The Contemporary A Cappella Society of America, including Best CAL Album, best video, and best original song. They have sold out shows throughout multiple U.S. and Canadian tours, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and tours across the U.K., Italy, and Japan. www.countermeasuremusic.com

Kerry Lee Crawford is a renowned on-air host and co-founder of a unique movement called The LOVE Project. As a founding member of the multi-JUNO nominated Platinum and Gold selling Babyblue Sound Crew whose success aided in the launch of recording artists careers such as Sean Paul, Glenn Lewis, Jully Black, and Kardinal Offishall to name a few, Kerry has lived a lifetime in the world of entertainment. Kerry’s musical exploits carried him all around the world working with the “who’s who” of the urban elite. After stepping aside from the world of music Kerry Lee utilized his education and firsthand experience to bring a unique perspective to the world of News Media as a producer, consultant, and contributor appearing on various programs for broadcasters Discovery Channel, Sportsnet, and theScore while lending his voice to CBC Radio One, T.S.N., and the Raptor Channel. Today Kerry Lee Crawford inspires the minds and empowers the hearts of thousands of people through his speaking and motivational appearances to help guide them to be the best they can be through his mentoring programs across Canada. A tireless devotion to the passionate pursuit of Peace, Joy, and Justice via the advocacy for Love, Tolerance and Inclusion, Kerry Lee Crawford raises his voice for clarity highlighting the plight of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. www.torontocaribbean.com/kerry-lee-crawford-the-evolution-of-a-man-a-voice-and-a-vision

Katy Dane is incredibly active in the a cappella community, including her activity as SING! Texas President, Director of Sweet Adelines International's 2019 Division A Silver medalist chorus, A Cappella Unlimited, Director of Barbershop Harmony Society's Southwestern District 3rd place Chorus A Cappella Texas, and the VP of Music and Performance for the Southwestern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Katy is a 15-year music educator in Orchestra, Choir, Music Theory, and Contemporary A Cappella groups and a member of the Education Faculty for the Great Gulf Coast Region 10 of Sweet Adelines. www.acappellatexas.org/about/our-director

Mel Daneke is a contemporary performer, arranger, producer, and instructor. She owns Viridian Productions, an a cappella recording, arranging, and education company. Mel currently performs with two internationally renowned and award-winning vocal bands, Musae (Beatboxer + DJ) and Six Appeal (singer). She has traveled extensively, headlining and performing at festivals in Hong Kong, Taiwan, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Germany, and all over the United States. Her performances and CARA-nominated production has appeared on compilations like Sing, BOHSA, Voices Only, and Voices Only Forte. www.viridianmusic.com

Nukariik Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona are Nukariik, a duo that carries on the rarely heard Inuit throat singing tradition and other age-old forms of Inuit entertainment such as drum dancing and ja ja songs. A vocal game used to amuse children and women while men were out hunting, Inuit throat singing is an art practiced almost exclusively by women. Two singers stand or crouch facing each other and engage in a bit of friendly competition as one singer takes the lead and the other follows. During the vocal exchange, the voiced sounds and breath of each singer combine to form rhythmic melodies that imitate sounds from nature such as a mosquito or a river. The result is mesmerizing, as the singers playfully compete to see who will stop or laugh first. Born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Canada, Kathy embraced her heritage by learning throat singing and drum dancing from friends and elders. While learning, Kathy practiced her breathing walking around town, timing her breath to each step she took to acquire the skill of breathing continuously without getting light-headed. After mastering breath control and producing sounds with the throat, Kathy took the next traditional step in learning throat singing—practicing with a partner. Skilled singers such as Nukariik blend and synchronize their voices so perfectly that it becomes difficult to distinguish between them. www.nationalfolkfestival.com/acts/nukariik

Patricia O’Callaghan Her fifteen-year career has taken her across genres, continents, and a range of disciplines and passions. Her recording career spans six solo albums and many interesting visits along the way as a guest on other artists’ CDs. A speaker of French, Spanish, and German, her early recordings focused on European cabaret, and she is considered a specialist, most significantly, in the music of Kurt Weill. Patricia has performed his Threepenny Opera, Seven Deadly Sins, and Kleine Mahagonny with Soulpepper Theatre Company, Edmonton Opera, Vancouver Opera, and others. She has sung with some of the world’s great ensembles and artists (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Don Byron Quartet, Bryn Terfel), and has performed in venues that range from London’s Royal Opera House to New York’s Le Poisson Rouge. She has worked with R. Murray Schafer, Dennis Lee, Christos Hatzis, Steve Reich, David Braid, and Steven Page. Her most recent albums are Deepest December, Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, and the recently JUNO-nominated Corona Divinae Misericordiae, by David Braid. www.partricia-ocallaghan.com

Phoenix Chamber Choir Founded in 1983, Phoenix Chamber Choir is entering its 38th season as one of Canada’s finest vocal ensembles, renowned for diverse and eclectic programming from the Renaissance to the contemporary, commissions from Canadian and international composers, and North American premieres of significant new works. The choir has recorded and released eleven CDs throughout its history, including two in 2016/2017 – Why the Caged Bird Sings featuring a collection of contemporary works from composers such as Jake Runestad, Abbie Betinis, and Gabriel Jackson, and When the Earth Stands Still highlighting Phoenix’s penchant for lighter works, from composers such as BC’s own Don Macdonald, Daniel Elder, and Nick Myers. In 2019, the choir released its most recent album: Winter Sun, featuring Phoenix’s new Artistic Director, Dr. Nicholle Andrews. With its long-standing history of success in national and international choral competitions and the talent and training of its members, Phoenix Chamber Choir is enriching and extending its earned reputation as an elite-level ensemble. The choir strives to connect deeply with its audiences by sharing world-class musical experiences, and provides invaluable musical opportunities for British Columbian and Canadian choral artists and composers. Phoenix strives for and achieves the highest level of choral performance and audience engagement. For more than three decades, the Phoenix Chamber Choir has played an integral part in developing young musicians, composers and conductors in Vancouver, and has helped to establish Canada’s West Coast as one of the most important centres of choral music in the world. www.phoenixchoir.com Planting Pearl This quartet is a new up-and-coming jazz vocal group that pays homage to the everlasting influence of Gene Puerling. Though the group Planting Pearl was just recently established in 2018, the four singers have been performing together in various contexts for the last five years. Their goal with Planting Pearl is to deliver cutting edge arrangements and covers of impactful vocal jazz groups, and with each performance, finding a new sense of appreciation for the genre. Planting Pearl is founded by members Megan Vivares, Meagan Luchko, Nathan Martin, and Jackson Welchner, who all bring a unique sense of chemistry not often found in the young members of the Toronto Jazz Scene. The group prides itself on its original arrangements by members Nathan Martin and Jackson Welchner. www.facebook.com/PlantingPearl

Pressgang Mutiny Hailing from the port of Toronto, ON, the members of Pressgang Mutiny have been roaring out songs of the sea since 2013. Local favourites in their hometown and on the Canadian and American East Coasts, they are keeping alive the vital tradition of work songs that represent the world’s first truly multicultural music. www.pressgangmutiny.bandcamp.com

Quartette Since their debut in 1993, the four members of Quartette have been both publicly and critically acclaimed for their lush harmonies and delightfully diverse repertoire. Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick, and Sylvia Tyson are seasoned singer/songwriters whose influences range from blues and gospel to folk and country to jazz and pop. The group’s first appearance, a showcase of Canadian women songwriters, took place at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. What began as a “songwriter in the round” concert of musical friends grew into an inspired collaboration. This initial performance generated an appearance on CBC Radio’s Morningside with host Peter Gzowski. The phones began to ring with requests for a recording, and seven months later in April of 1994, the self-titled album, “Quartette”, was released to rave reviews. This was followed by coast-to-coast tours of theatres, folk festivals, performances with symphony orchestras, and live appearances on radio, including two appearances on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. In 1995 a second album, “Work of the Heart”, was released and, following this, CBC’s Adrienne Clarkson Presents profiled the group in an hour-long special. Quartette has received several Juno nominations, won a Canadian Country Music Award for best vocal collaboration, performed with major symphony orchestras across Canada, and recorded the CMT-TV special, “A Quartette Christmas”. They have also released two Christmas CDs, “It’s Christmas!” in 1996, and “I See A Star” in 2002, both of which are collections of traditional and original Christmas songs, and their Christmas shows have become a tradition with audiences across the country. www.quartette.com

RESOUND believes that God brought them together around a kitchen table. The three singers Jessica, Joseph, and Mariah had known each other for years before one day having an informal rehearsal and creating their first “arrangement.” Little did they know, this would lead them to a career of creating and arranging music together. Now, seven years later, they’ve had opportunities from singing on national television shows such as Good Morning America, to singing in some of the biggest arenas along with some of the greatest artists of their time. With hundreds of thousands of online followers, their debut album “First Christmas” reached number sixteen on the gospel Billboard charts. Resound hopes to continue creating music of various styles while pouring their hearts into every note and chord. Their goal is to inspire others to use their God-given talents and keep the ripple effect going, and to echo God’s love, joy, and hope throughout the world. www.officialresound.com

Deke Sharon Heralded as “The Father of Contemporary A Cappella”, Deke Sharon is credited by many as being responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella. While at college, he pioneered the dense vocal-instrumental sound that we today take for granted as the sound of contemporary a cappella. Deke founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society while in college, and is contemporary a cappella’s most prolific arranger, having arranged over 2,000 songs, with many of them in print worldwide. Deke has produced dozens of award-winning a cappella albums, and frequently tours the world teaching a variety of topics to students and professional singers. He helped popularize a cappella in the mainstream by producing five seasons of The Sing Off for NBC, and through his involvement as arranger, on-site music director, and vocal producer for all three films in the Pitch Perfect franchise. As the founder, director, and arranger for the House Jacks for almost 25 years, the original “Rock Band Without Instruments,” Deke shared the stage with countless music legends, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Crosby Stills and Nash, Run DMC, The Temptations, LL Cool J, and the Four Tops, and performed for luminaries including President Bill Clinton. The House Jacks have eight albums, and dozens of international tours to their names, including multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall, and even a performance of the “Monday Night Football Theme” with Hank Williams Jr. in 2011. www.singers.com/arrangers/Deke-Sharon

The Ault Sisters are a Canadian vocal trio featured on Zoomer Media’s hit TV show “Your All-Time Classic Hit Parade”. The Ault Sisters apply their close vocal harmonies to their original songs as well as jazz standards that have been reimagined to provide a contemporary flair and fresh appeal. Intricately interwoven harmonies are a signature part of their performances. Their latest album, “Sisters In Song”, reached #1 on the Canadian iTunes jazz chart in 2018 and pays homage to the great sister acts who inspired them, such as the Andrews Sisters, McGuire Sisters, and Pointer Sisters. The Ault Sisters have performed at many festivals, such as The Beaches International Jazz Festival, The Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, and the Brantford International Jazz Festival concert series. The Ault Sisters’ music has touched people around the world, most recently in Soroti, Uganda, where they had the opportunity to give a concert as World Vision Canada Ambassadors. And in case you were wondering, yes – they really are sisters! www.aultsisters.com The Chitans They are Layne, Karen, Kaiziah, Kayandra, L. Jesse, L. Jayden, and Karlainah. They are a family in full-time ministry from Toronto, Canada. They are excited about singing wherever they are called upon to do so, and sharing The Love of Jesus with all people, especially the children of the world. They serve the community through activities such as ministering in churches, hospitals, nursing homes, senior homes, community centers, prisons, slums, and on the streets (feeding the homeless). We also sing at religious, cultural, human rights and civic gatherings throughout Canada, the U.S.A., Kenya (Africa), the United Kingdom, the Caribbean including Bermuda, and to heads of state in Jamaica, Grenada, Bermuda, and Canada. They were invited to and have also ministered at The White House and the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill. They received a Congressional Award in July 2012 from the United States of America, for volunteer work done on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. www.thechitans.com

The Magic of Orion A graduate of the Chavez School of Magic and holding the magic degree of A.I.M.C from the Magic Circle of London England, Orion has been mesmerizing audiences for over 30 years. He has performed for the Deputy Counsel General of the People’s Republic of China, the Governor General of Canada and many large corporations such as Bombardier, I.B.M, Toshiba and worked Magic Bars in Japan as the house magician. From Canada, to the UK, to Japan where he was given the nickname of ‘The Technician’, Orion’s magic is a perfect blend of class and mystery. www.magicoforion.com

The O’Pears With the homegrown musicality of The Wailin’ Jennys, the sibling-like blend of the Andrews Sisters, and the lyrical sensibility of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The O’Pears, with their signature jaw-dropping harmonies, hold listeners captive with a sound and style that is both classic and contemporary. They have most notably performed at NXNE, SING! Toronto and SING! Austin, Texas, and the 2015 Lunenberg Folk Harbour Festival. After the success of their debut EP, “Our Own”, they released their first full-length CD and toured Europe. www.theopears.com The Swingles For more than half a century, The Swingles have pushed the boundaries of vocal music. At a time when a cappella music is more popular than ever, The Swingles are recognised as masters of their craft. Since their 1963 debut, Jazz Sebastian Bach, the group's repertoire has grown to include a huge variety of music including new original songs. They have made more than 50 recordings; appeared on numerous film and TV soundtracks including Sex and the City, Glee, and Downsizing; and collaborated with artists as diverse as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum, and Luciano Berio. In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly takes them to North and South America, Europe, and Asia, The Swingles present their own London A Cappella Festival each January in partnership with Ikon Arts Management. www.theswingles.co.uk

The Watch This multifarious foursome of a cappella veterans Dylan Bell, Art Mullin, Daniel Galessiere, and Aaron Jensen celebrates a songbook that ranges from swinging bebop tunes, to R&B anthems – from contemporary choral originals to classic pop songs. Their innovative arrangements delight, their vocal-instrument sounds amaze, and their high-energy performance will find you singing your soul out in your seat. Collectively, the individual members of the Watch have recorded numerous celebrated albums and toured worldwide with many of Canada's favourite vocal groups, including Retrocity, Cadence, FreePlay, Countermeasure, and Hampton Avenue. www.thewatch.ca

Toronto Northern Lights Chorus Formed in 1998, The Toronto Northern Lights is the 2013 International Chorus Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society. TNL has represented Ontario 13 times at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Competition, winning medals 12 times and earning consecutive silvers from 2001 to 2005. In 2000, the chorus won the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. TNL has also performed in Germany, England, Holland, and China. Most recently, last April, TNL headed to Europe on a “Gold Medal Tour” that saw them perform in England, Germany, and Sweden. The chorus attracts members of all ages, backgrounds and employment. Although Toronto based, members also come from Montreal, Ottawa, London, Buffalo and Detroit! TNL’s repertoire ranges from Barbershop to Broadway, Vocal Jazz to Doo-Wop, and Gershwin to the Beatles. They have five CDs, including their most recent, “Dare To Dream”, and a two-disc DVD set, “Welcome to the Sandbox”. www.northernlightschorus.com

Jordan Travis is the musical director of A Cappella Showcase. Music and teaching are Jordan's passions, especially when it comes to vocal music. Jordan started his extensive training at a young age leading to a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto. While there, he studied with some of the finest teachers in vocal performance, vocal pedagogy, and choral conducting. In addition to performing and conducting, Jordan is sought after as a premier vocal coach to numerous groups and individuals across Canada, United States, and Europe. Jordan was also the Associate Director and Primary Vocal Coach for the celebrated Toronto Northern Lights Chorus, The Barbershop Harmony Society's 2013 Gold Medal Chorus Champions. www.instachoir.ca

Donna Dudinsky A former documentary television producer, Donna tells old tales to the young at heart. Specializing in folk and fairy tales from around the world, Donna tells at storytelling festivals, schools, libraries and concerts across Canada. Known primarily as a children’s storyteller, she can be heard on Dial-A-Story sponsored by The Toronto Public Library system. Donna was a featured teller at Buffalo Jump, Razzmatazz and Performers for Literacy’s Second Story. She is on the Executive of Storytellers for Children and tells stories in English and French. www.storytellingtoronto.org/story/dudinsky-donna

Anders Edenroth Born in Stockholm, Anders Edenroth started playing piano and singing in choirs at an early age. While studying at The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, he and his fellow students formed an a cappella quintet – The Real Group. Anders has written and published many original songs for The Real Group which include arrangements of well-known standards, constantly exploring the development of new vocal textures and the integration of vocal percussion and rhythmic effects. He has engineered and produced albums for many artists as well as arranging music for other vocal groups, for big bands, symphony orchestras, and stage shows. Anders’ off-stage interests include cooking (which leaks into some of his compositional ideas) and environmental conservation. One of his favourite influences is Stevie Wonder although he listens to all kinds of music. He thinks that if not a musician, his creative instincts might have manifested as an inventor and he plans to one day publish a book entitled ‘Incredible Inventions’ or ‘Totally Ingenious’. www.andersedenroth.com Fermata Town Since their founding in 2009, the Townies have made a name for themselves in the a cappella community, recording multiple award-winning albums while competing and placing in several competitions including the National Harmony Sweepstakes and WGBH's Sing That Thing. They’ve been featured on national news programs and radio shows, and have partnered with organizations from Universal Pictures to the Alzheimer’s Association. They’ve participated in and performed at national and international festivals such as the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in Memphis, Tennessee, the London A Cappella Festival (LACF) in the United Kingdom and SING! Toronto in Canada, bringing their passion for vocal harmony to new communities far and wide. Comprised of 12 singers from varying backgrounds and career fields, the Townies strike a healthy balance between their music and active lifestyles as full-time working professionals. They’re a close community of friends and family, brought together by a shared passion for making music that moves the soul. www.fermatatown.com FreePlay Using nothing but their voices and innovative live-looping techniques, genre-bending FreePlay takes you from the concert halls of Europe, to the jazz clubs of Manhattan, to the temples of India, and back to their native Toronto, Canada, all without you leaving your seat. Partners onstage and off, Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran first met in Toronto in 1993, singing in a jazz choir at York University. What started as a typical voice-and-piano jazz duo began to evolve: more instruments were added, and more musical styles explored, to create a duo unique in its musical depth and variety. In 2007, FreePlay created the uniquely innovative, all-a cappella live looping performance style that has earned them international recognition, taking them across Canada and around the world, with performances at major music festivals spanning six continents. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009, and their most recent album, Go Back Forward, was released in 2018. www.freeplayduo.com Hampton Avenue Close-harmony jazz quartet Hampton Avenue dazzles with their unique timbre, impeccable musicianship and jazz chops to boot. From fresh originals to cool standards, they've been compared to such vocal giants as The New York Voices and Singers Unlimited. Hampton Avenue features founder/director Debbie Fleming, Dylan Bell, Suba Sankaran and Tom Lillington.

Travis Knights Leave your preconceptions at the door and discover the richness of tap dance and jazz improvisation. Having performed as a professional Tap Dancer since 2000, Knights has had the incredible opportunity to work alongside and grow from many of the best talents in the business, including Jackie Richardson, Arthur Duncan, and Gregory Hines. This dance has taken Knights all over the world performing in a language that transcends the spoken work, rhythm. Knights is pleased to invite you into his world of music, dance, and pure being. www.citydancecorps.com/travis-knights

Alyssa McCarthy is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Voice Therapist with Speech Appeal, and is also a Singing Voice Specialist. She is registered nationally with Speech-Language Audiology Canada (SAC) and provincially with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Originally an East Coaster, Alyssa obtained her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Dalhousie University following her Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Performance). Alyssa works passionately in the areas of voice therapy and gender affirming voice training. www.speechappealclinic.com

musica intima In 1992, a group of friends wanted to sing together. They started gathering in one another’s homes to make music while they shared the artistic values that fed into what musica intima has become today: a vocal ensemble that has performed around the country and around the world. www.musicaintima.org

New York Voices Celebrating more than 30 years of touring and recording, this critically acclaimed vocal group has refined their musical story to a high art. They are known for their close-knit voicings, inspired arrangements, and unparalleled vocal blend. With deep interests rooted in jazz, Brazilian, R & B, classical, and pop, their music mixes traditional sensibilities with more than a dash of the unexpected. NYV has traveled the globe with their elegant music, amazing audiences the world over with their impeccable voices and stunning arrangements. They are one of the top vocal groups in the world. www.newyorkvoices.com

Retrocity Born in 1998, the eight totally rad singers of Retrocity electric boogaloo their way through your favourite tunes from the 80s and beyond, without a keytar or drum machine in sight. What started as a one night only concert morphed into an established and well-loved vocal band that continues to hit audiences squarely in their nostalgia cortex. Retrocity’s repertoire covers musical vintages and styles of all kinds, but their hearts still belong to the Me Decade. The bold, textured a cappella arrangements capture an astonishing range of instrumental imitation. Righteous guitar riffs, sensual sax solos, dope drum beats and sizzling synths… all performed with the human voice. Retrocity’s high calibre musicianship and kinetic performance style are popular with audiences of all kinds. The group offers professional vocal clinics and workshops, and has delivered their high-energy show in venues around the world.www.retrocity.ca Jackie Richardson – see feature page on Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award Ruach Singers Creating innovative liturgical and Hebrew vocal music, this eight-voice ensemble offers a new take on the traditional Jewish choral sound, with style cues from contemporary jazz/pop a cappella and modern world music. Their music can be heard at Shabbat Services, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and music festivals worldwide. Their highly-lauded CD Crossroads is available from CD Baby. Ruach Singers launched the first SING! festival in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City. The group will be performing at a special SING! Concert at Beach Hebrew Institute at a later date. www.ruachsingers.com

Suba Sankaran (SING! Co-Artistic Director) DORA award-winning, JUNO-nominated world/fusion vocalist Sankaran effortlessly combines musical worlds, performing across North America, Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia, and Africa with Autorickshaw, master drummer Trichy Sankaran, FreePlay, and Retrocity. Performance highlights include performing for Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and performing with Jane Siberry, Lorraine Segato, Bobby McFerrin, and the Swingles. She has composed, recorded, and produced music for theatre, film, radio, and for south Indian and modern dance, including collaborations with Oscar-nominee Deepa Mehta. Recently, Sankaran made her acting debut at Stratford Festival where she has served for two seasons as vocal coach/arranger and sound designer. Sankaran is in demand as a private teacher, educator, choral director, arranger, adjudicator, and composer, and has given numerous workshops to choirs around the world. www.subasankaran.com

david sereda He is one of Canada’s most distinctive voices, a singer, songwriter and composer – and one of Canada’s first openly gay singer-songwriters. He is passionate about the power of song and the importance of singing your truth. sereda is a collaborator who loves to mix it up, working in different combinations of music and theatre: he has written musicals, a 13-minute opera, and commissions for choirs, released CDs, and has performed in concerts, at festivals (Winnipeg, Vancouver and Regina Folk Festivals, the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival, and the Toronto International Festival of Authors), and with choirs (Youth Outreach Mass Choir, Montreal Jubilation Choir, Nova Scotia Mass Choir). He has produced almost 40 Stray Dog Salons in Toronto, a “mongrel mix” of music, theatre, and poetry. He has been Associate Artist with Sheatre since 2002. david recently received an Ontario Arts Council grant to write songs about living in our turbulent world. Ongoing projects are community a cappella call and response Song Circles, and dialogues with poet and novelist Anne Michaels, including a concert inspired by the art, passion, and life of Tom Thomson, The Woods Are Burning. He lives in Annan, Ontario. www.facebook.com/davidseredamusic

Tom Wilson A three-time JUNO winning musician with multiple gold records, Tom Wilson has written for and recorded songs with Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Jason Isbell, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mavis Staples, and the Rankin Family to name a few. Tom currently tours with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and his band, Lee Harvey Osmond. Tom Wilson was raised in the rough-and-tumble world of Hamilton – Steeltown – in the company of World War II vets, factory workers, fall-guy wrestlers, and the deeply guarded secrets kept by his parents. He built an international music career and became a father, he battled demons and addiction, and he waited, hoping for the lies to cease and the truth to emerge. It would. And when it did, it would sweep up the St. Lawrence River to the Mohawk reserves of Quebec, on to the heights of the Manhattan skyline. With a rare gift for storytelling and an astonishing story to tell, Tom writes with unflinching honesty and extraordinary compassion about his search for the truth. It is a story about scars, about the ones that hurt us, and the ones that make us who we are. www.tomwilsononline.com Dan Yashinsky Known internationally he is one of the founders of Storytelling Toronto (formerly the Storytellers School) and the founder of the Toronto Festival of Storytelling, he also began the longest-running open mic storytelling session in North America – 1,001 Friday Nights of Storytelling – in 1978. He has performed and taught at festivals in Israel, Wales, England, Germany, Brazil, Austria, France, the U.S., Singapore, Ireland, and across Canada. He is the editor of four acclaimed collections of Canadian storytelling and the author of Suddenly They Heard Footsteps – Storytelling for the Twenty-first Century and Swimming with Chaucer – A Storyteller's Logbook. He developed and hosted Talking Stick, a national storytelling radio show on CBC. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for UNICEF Canada, Queen's University, Toronto Public Library, and Baycrest Health Sciences. www.tellery.com and www.storycare.ca

Turkwaz is a unique combination of four singers, immersed in diverse traditions. Each performer brings a special flavour to the group: Maryem draws on her Arabic language heritage, Jayne and Sophia bring their experience with Greek music, and Brenna adds her Turkish fascination. They have a collective interest in Balkan traditions and add Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and whatever else strikes their fancy to their repertoire. www.turkwaz.ca

Sage Tyrtle A professional storyteller, she has performed for audiences of all ages all over the world, from true stories to traditional folktales to interactive improvised fairy tales. Her stories have been featured on NPR and CBC radio. According to the Toronto Star, “When Sage talks, people don’t just listen, they hang on her every word.” Tyrtle has taught the Art of Storytelling at Second City, Seneca College, at schools, and in corporate settings. www.tyrtle.com

Supertonic is an a cappella quartet whose roots are based in the barbershop style. Featuring four members of the 2013 BHS International Chorus Champion, Toronto Northern Lights, they bring a high energy sound showcasing all kinds of music, ranging from the golden age of Broadway to the radio hits of today. Whether it's headlining a show, or as a surprise act for a business conference, Supertonic will make an event unforgettable. www.supertonicqt.com

University of Toronto Gospel Choir Founded in February 1995, the University of Toronto Gospel Choir was formed in celebration of Black History Month. The Choir was initially created to unite students with a shared interest in praising the Lord through song. Soon, however, the weekly choir rehearsals became not only a meeting place, but also a refuge for those looking for a non-threatening and empowering environment. Over the years, the Choir has grown to include members from all races and Christian denominations and celebrates not only in the diversity of its members, but also its audiences. Less than six weeks after its inception, UTGC had its first major performance at Toronto’s Hart House Theatre. The sold out concert also showcased some of the best college gospel choirs from the state of New York. Since that time, the powerhouse that is UTGC has burst onto the international scene, as well as continuing to serve the greater Toronto community in local concerts and university events held throughout the year. The Choir was provided with the unique experience of being the only Canadian choir to participate in Annual Gospel festivals in both Stockholm, Sweden and Barbados, West Indies. In addition to these opportunities, in 2003 the Choir travelled to Tokyo, Japan where they participated in a gospel music festival, performed in local churches, and held their own concert for the mayor of Sagamihara. As UTGC continues to spread their ministry through song, they have been welcomed by groups in New York, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Germany. www.utgc.org

Joanna Wallfisch Described by Downbeat Magazine as “an exquisite singer-songwriter” with a “crystalline voice”, London born singer-songwriter, Joanna Wallfisch comes from a long line of musicians. Raised by classical musician parents Elizabeth and Raphael Wallfisch, her grandmother Anita Lasker Wallfisch, now 94, survived Auschwitz and was selected to play cello in the camp’s women’s orchestra. Joanna’s unique musical heritage shines through in her own compositional style, evoking her classical roots and blending them with her love of jazz, art-song, folk, and pop. After completing her masters in Jazz at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Joanna moved to NYC where she forged an indelible musical path, collaborating with musicians including Dan Tepfer, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, and Lee Konitz. A master in the art of live vocal looping, Joanna creates mesmerising soundscapes to accompany her poetic lyrics. In 2019 she released her fifth album, “Far Away From Any Place Called Home” – a self-penned musical memoir about her solo travels through the USA by bicycle. Global appearances include: Woodford Folk Festival; London Jazz Festival; National Sawdust; MONA; National Concert Hall, Dublin; Salisbury Arts Festival; Boston Court Theatre, Los Angeles; and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK. www.joannawallfisch.com

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9TH ANNUAL

4SKÖR is a dynamic and sophisticated vocal quartet that incorporates tight harmonies and smooth arrangements in an energetic and infectious style all their own. The group is equally at home performing a cappella or with their trio. Their unique sound is modern with hints of jazz, latin, R&B, funk, pop, and fusion. Sara, Pete, Kylie and Sean crossed paths during high school in diverse music competitions and ensembles while studying and building their professional music careers. As 4SKÖR, they have performed at various events in and around the Toronto area including The Beaches Jazz Festival, Oakville Downtown Jazz Festival, Musicfest Canada, SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Jazz Bistro, 120 Diner, Villa Caledon Inn, and The Distillery District with Heather Bambrick. www.4skor.ca

Accent Inspired by the wizardly jazz harmonies of TAKE 6 and, before them, The Hi-Lo’s, the six men of Accent, Jean-Baptiste “JB” Craipeau (France), Simon Åkesson (Sweden), Danny Fong (Canada), Andrew Kesler (Canada), James Rose (United Kingdom), and Evan Sanders (USA) are taking their love of close-harmony jazz singing – the denser and more intricate the better – as far as it can go. After becoming long-distance fans of each other’s multi-tracked videos on YouTube, they joined forces in 2011, collaborating online on songs and videos. Since then, they have released four albums, performed at the London A Cappella Festival, played dates across Europe, North America, and Asia, and were featured in a sold-out Christmas show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Their singular blend and arrangements have been acclaimed by a cappella devotees and fellow musicians alike, including Cedric Dent of TAKE 6 and Clark Burroughs of The Hi-Lo’s. www.accentvocal.com Micah Barnes Having cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, Micah became a well-loved singer-songwriter on the Queen Street scene before joining The Nylons and touring the world. Recording with the a cappella pop act brought Micah into the global music scene and landed him in Venice Beach, California where he launched a solo career touring the U.S. which led to his #1 international club hit “Welcome To My Head” and coverage in Rolling Stone Magazine as “an Indie artist to watch”. Returning to the jazz-oriented songwriting of his earlier years has resulted in a series of critically acclaimed solo recordings including his “New York Stories” (eOne Music) which saw him returning to tour across Canada. Micah has recently recorded a new album which transports the listener back to the days of legendary Vegas showrooms when the world’s top entertainers worked the strip: featuring songs first recorded by Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Frank Sinatra. Micah is also a highly respected vocal coach who has coached on CBC TV’s “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” and counts Emmy award winning actress Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) among his many top-level clients. www.micahbarnes.com Heather Bambrick is a JUNO-nominated vocalist, voice actor, broadcaster and educator who has collaborated with Phil Nimmons, Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, among many others. She is also a founding member of the Jazz/Cabaret ensemble Broadsway. Bambrick has released three solo recordings, all of which were nominated for East Coast Music Awards, including You’ll Never Know, which was also nominated for a 2017 JUNO Award. She has been a featured guest on numerous recordings, and has been awarded Canada’s National Jazz Award for Vocalist of the Year. Also a voice actor, Bambrick’s voice has appeared in commercials and various animated series including Emmy-nominated Wild Kratts, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Hotel Translvania – The Series, and Justin Time as well as several others. In 2001 she began broadcasting at JAZZ.FM91, and has twice been named National Jazz Awards’ Broadcaster of the Year. In 2018, she co-founded JAZZCAST, a Jazz-focused internet radio station. Along with all of this, she can often be found in classrooms and music festivals across Canada, acting as an advocate for the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, or fighting to close the “value gap” as a member of the Advisory Committee for Music Canada. www.heatherbambrick.ca Beatsync is an eight-piece a cappella ensemble from Toronto, Ontario combining eclectic repertoire with dynamic beats and sophisticated arrangements. From pop to electronic to classic soul, Beatsync draws upon diverse influences to craft their unique contemporary sound, interpreting modern hits and deep cuts alike via the creative lens of co-directors Daniel Boyle and Nick Kotoulas. Beatsync is already making waves internationally, having been featured as part of Fairchild Television’s Mandarin Profile Awards and having recently gone on their first ever international tour to China. Locally, they debuted at SING! Toronto Vocal Arts Festival and continue to perform for high-profile public and corporate events. www.Beatsyncmusic.com Dylan Bell (SING! Co-Artistic Director) In a word… multifaceted. JUNO-nominated Bell’s musical curiosity keeps him effortlessly crossing and blurring musical boundaries. Bell is an international leader in a cappella music, having sung with many of Canada’s premiere vocal ensembles such as FreePlay, Retrocity, Cadence, The Watch, and Hampton Avenue. He also freelances as a keyboardist and bassist. Behind the mixing board, Bell has produced several award-winning albums, including the JUNO-nominated Cadence album, Twenty for One; Ferris Wheels with the world-renowned Swingles; and the JUNO-nominated Skin Tight, by a cappella legends The Nylons. Bell’s compositions and arrangements have garnered international recognition as winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. When it comes to vocal arranging, Bell wrote the book… literally. “A Cappella Arranging” (co-written with Deke Sharon) was published in 2013 to international acclaim. www.dylanbell.ca

Daniel Boyle cut his teeth in a cappella at University of Toronto in TBA (Tunes, Beats, Awesome), followed by joining Countermeasure. He and Nick Kotoulas formed Beatsync, a young and fresh a cappella group focusing on innovative arrangements of Top 40 and Electronic Music. They have toured to China and played for many prestigious special events. Daniel is a Speech-Language Pathologist who co-owns Speech Appeal Clinic, which offers evidence-based speech, language and voice assessment, and therapy. www.speechappealclinic.com Cadence The stage lights fall, the crowd goes quiet and four harmonious voices rise up and fill the air. Vocal arrangements like you have never heard before – containing all the richness of a full band but performed using just four voices. This is Cadence, Canada’s premier vocal group. Based in Toronto, this a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for over 20 years. Whether performing at sold-out jazz clubs and concert halls, at music festivals, for educational outreach, or for corporate functions, the members of Cadence bring an infectious energy and uncanny verve to every song they sing. They feature a hypnotic blend of complex harmonies, intricate arrangements, vocal dexterity, and just plain fun. The group has five critically acclaimed award-winning studio albums. One listen and you will agree: instruments are for surgeons! www.cadence-unplugged.com Will Chandler has been active in the a cappella community since 2012. He started as a performer in The Spirit of Southern, the tenor/bass a cappella ensemble at The University of Southern Mississippi. Since then, he has directed high school a cappella groups in Texas while also serving as the Texas State Representative for the A Cappella Education Association and the Vice President for SING! Texas. Will holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Millsaps College and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky, where he directs the AcoUstiKats. www.linkedin.com/in/willchandlerchoir David Clayton-Thomas began his amazing journey as a homeless street kid and developed into one of the most recognizable voices in music, selling over 40 million records to date. In 1996, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 2007, his jazz/rock composition “Spinning Wheel” was enshrined in the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. In 2010, David received his star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame. His 1968 debut album with Blood Sweat & Tears sold 10 million copies worldwide. The self-titled record topped the Billboard album chart for seven weeks, and charted for a staggering 109 weeks. It won an unprecedented five Grammy awards, including Album Of The Year and Best Performance By A Male Vocalist. It featured three hit singles, “You Made Me So Very Happy”, “And When I Die”, and “Spinning Wheel” as well as an irresistible rendition of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” that became a signature song for David. A 1969 summary in the Los Angeles Times proclaimed that “Blood Sweat & Tears just may be the most important pop music group of the decade”. Today, living back in Toronto, his boyhood turf and the place where he still feels most at home, David has launched a 10-piece band under his own name. Through the years, he has lost none of the attributes that have made him one of the greatest vocalists of his generation. That unmistakable voice now soaring and sunny, now a dark, somber shade of blue. www.davidclaytonthomas.com Countermeasure Formed in 2010, founding artists of SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Countermeasure’s 13 top Canadian vocal talents have earned standing ovations and critical acclaim worldwide. Led by award-winning composer/arranger Aaron Jensen, the group has headlined numerous international festivals, wowed corporate and private audiences, and shared the stage with legendary artists such as a cappella giants Naturally 7 and The Swingle Singers and top 40 stars like Corey Hart and Blue Rodeo. Their new release is “Guest Sessions”, a concept album of rich musical arrangements and intricate vocal harmonies combined with a powerhouse featured instrumentalist on each track. Performing innovative arrangements of pop favourites, classic jazz standards, and original music, their diverse songbook has equipped the group to headline international choral concerts, play the main stage at jazz festivals, and entice club-goers onto the dance floor. Incorporating innovative live looping, instrument imitation, and vocal percussion, Countermeasure enthralls their audiences with their dramatically choreographed shows and flawless harmonies. They have won multiple awards from The Contemporary A Cappella Society of America, including Best CAL Album, best video, and best original song. They have sold out shows throughout multiple U.S. and Canadian tours, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and tours across the U.K., Italy, and Japan. www.countermeasuremusic.com

Kerry Lee Crawford is a renowned on-air host and co-founder of a unique movement called The LOVE Project. As a founding member of the multi-JUNO nominated Platinum and Gold selling Babyblue Sound Crew whose success aided in the launch of recording artists careers such as Sean Paul, Glenn Lewis, Jully Black, and Kardinal Offishall to name a few, Kerry has lived a lifetime in the world of entertainment. Kerry’s musical exploits carried him all around the world working with the “who’s who” of the urban elite. After stepping aside from the world of music Kerry Lee utilized his education and firsthand experience to bring a unique perspective to the world of News Media as a producer, consultant, and contributor appearing on various programs for broadcasters Discovery Channel, Sportsnet, and theScore while lending his voice to CBC Radio One, T.S.N., and the Raptor Channel. Today Kerry Lee Crawford inspires the minds and empowers the hearts of thousands of people through his speaking and motivational appearances to help guide them to be the best they can be through his mentoring programs across Canada. A tireless devotion to the passionate pursuit of Peace, Joy, and Justice via the advocacy for Love, Tolerance and Inclusion, Kerry Lee Crawford raises his voice for clarity highlighting the plight of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. www.torontocaribbean.com/kerry-lee-crawford-the-evolution-of-a-man-a-voice-and-a-vision

Katy Dane is incredibly active in the a cappella community, including her activity as SING! Texas President, Director of Sweet Adelines International's 2019 Division A Silver medalist chorus, A Cappella Unlimited, Director of Barbershop Harmony Society's Southwestern District 3rd place Chorus A Cappella Texas, and the VP of Music and Performance for the Southwestern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Katy is a 15-year music educator in Orchestra, Choir, Music Theory, and Contemporary A Cappella groups and a member of the Education Faculty for the Great Gulf Coast Region 10 of Sweet Adelines. www.acappellatexas.org/about/our-director

Mel Daneke is a contemporary performer, arranger, producer, and instructor. She owns Viridian Productions, an a cappella recording, arranging, and education company. Mel currently performs with two internationally renowned and award-winning vocal bands, Musae (Beatboxer + DJ) and Six Appeal (singer). She has traveled extensively, headlining and performing at festivals in Hong Kong, Taiwan, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Germany, and all over the United States. Her performances and CARA-nominated production has appeared on compilations like Sing, BOHSA, Voices Only, and Voices Only Forte. www.viridianmusic.com

Nukariik Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona are Nukariik, a duo that carries on the rarely heard Inuit throat singing tradition and other age-old forms of Inuit entertainment such as drum dancing and ja ja songs. A vocal game used to amuse children and women while men were out hunting, Inuit throat singing is an art practiced almost exclusively by women. Two singers stand or crouch facing each other and engage in a bit of friendly competition as one singer takes the lead and the other follows. During the vocal exchange, the voiced sounds and breath of each singer combine to form rhythmic melodies that imitate sounds from nature such as a mosquito or a river. The result is mesmerizing, as the singers playfully compete to see who will stop or laugh first. Born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Canada, Kathy embraced her heritage by learning throat singing and drum dancing from friends and elders. While learning, Kathy practiced her breathing walking around town, timing her breath to each step she took to acquire the skill of breathing continuously without getting light-headed. After mastering breath control and producing sounds with the throat, Kathy took the next traditional step in learning throat singing—practicing with a partner. Skilled singers such as Nukariik blend and synchronize their voices so perfectly that it becomes difficult to distinguish between them. www.nationalfolkfestival.com/acts/nukariik

Patricia O’Callaghan Her fifteen-year career has taken her across genres, continents, and a range of disciplines and passions. Her recording career spans six solo albums and many interesting visits along the way as a guest on other artists’ CDs. A speaker of French, Spanish, and German, her early recordings focused on European cabaret, and she is considered a specialist, most significantly, in the music of Kurt Weill. Patricia has performed his Threepenny Opera, Seven Deadly Sins, and Kleine Mahagonny with Soulpepper Theatre Company, Edmonton Opera, Vancouver Opera, and others. She has sung with some of the world’s great ensembles and artists (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Don Byron Quartet, Bryn Terfel), and has performed in venues that range from London’s Royal Opera House to New York’s Le Poisson Rouge. She has worked with R. Murray Schafer, Dennis Lee, Christos Hatzis, Steve Reich, David Braid, and Steven Page. Her most recent albums are Deepest December, Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, and the recently JUNO-nominated Corona Divinae Misericordiae, by David Braid. www.partricia-ocallaghan.com

Phoenix Chamber Choir Founded in 1983, Phoenix Chamber Choir is entering its 38th season as one of Canada’s finest vocal ensembles, renowned for diverse and eclectic programming from the Renaissance to the contemporary, commissions from Canadian and international composers, and North American premieres of significant new works. The choir has recorded and released eleven CDs throughout its history, including two in 2016/2017 – Why the Caged Bird Sings featuring a collection of contemporary works from composers such as Jake Runestad, Abbie Betinis, and Gabriel Jackson, and When the Earth Stands Still highlighting Phoenix’s penchant for lighter works, from composers such as BC’s own Don Macdonald, Daniel Elder, and Nick Myers. In 2019, the choir released its most recent album: Winter Sun, featuring Phoenix’s new Artistic Director, Dr. Nicholle Andrews. With its long-standing history of success in national and international choral competitions and the talent and training of its members, Phoenix Chamber Choir is enriching and extending its earned reputation as an elite-level ensemble. The choir strives to connect deeply with its audiences by sharing world-class musical experiences, and provides invaluable musical opportunities for British Columbian and Canadian choral artists and composers. Phoenix strives for and achieves the highest level of choral performance and audience engagement. For more than three decades, the Phoenix Chamber Choir has played an integral part in developing young musicians, composers and conductors in Vancouver, and has helped to establish Canada’s West Coast as one of the most important centres of choral music in the world. www.phoenixchoir.com Planting Pearl This quartet is a new up-and-coming jazz vocal group that pays homage to the everlasting influence of Gene Puerling. Though the group Planting Pearl was just recently established in 2018, the four singers have been performing together in various contexts for the last five years. Their goal with Planting Pearl is to deliver cutting edge arrangements and covers of impactful vocal jazz groups, and with each performance, finding a new sense of appreciation for the genre. Planting Pearl is founded by members Megan Vivares, Meagan Luchko, Nathan Martin, and Jackson Welchner, who all bring a unique sense of chemistry not often found in the young members of the Toronto Jazz Scene. The group prides itself on its original arrangements by members Nathan Martin and Jackson Welchner. www.facebook.com/PlantingPearl

Pressgang Mutiny Hailing from the port of Toronto, ON, the members of Pressgang Mutiny have been roaring out songs of the sea since 2013. Local favourites in their hometown and on the Canadian and American East Coasts, they are keeping alive the vital tradition of work songs that represent the world’s first truly multicultural music. www.pressgangmutiny.bandcamp.com

Quartette Since their debut in 1993, the four members of Quartette have been both publicly and critically acclaimed for their lush harmonies and delightfully diverse repertoire. Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick, and Sylvia Tyson are seasoned singer/songwriters whose influences range from blues and gospel to folk and country to jazz and pop. The group’s first appearance, a showcase of Canadian women songwriters, took place at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. What began as a “songwriter in the round” concert of musical friends grew into an inspired collaboration. This initial performance generated an appearance on CBC Radio’s Morningside with host Peter Gzowski. The phones began to ring with requests for a recording, and seven months later in April of 1994, the self-titled album, “Quartette”, was released to rave reviews. This was followed by coast-to-coast tours of theatres, folk festivals, performances with symphony orchestras, and live appearances on radio, including two appearances on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. In 1995 a second album, “Work of the Heart”, was released and, following this, CBC’s Adrienne Clarkson Presents profiled the group in an hour-long special. Quartette has received several Juno nominations, won a Canadian Country Music Award for best vocal collaboration, performed with major symphony orchestras across Canada, and recorded the CMT-TV special, “A Quartette Christmas”. They have also released two Christmas CDs, “It’s Christmas!” in 1996, and “I See A Star” in 2002, both of which are collections of traditional and original Christmas songs, and their Christmas shows have become a tradition with audiences across the country. www.quartette.com

RESOUND believes that God brought them together around a kitchen table. The three singers Jessica, Joseph, and Mariah had known each other for years before one day having an informal rehearsal and creating their first “arrangement.” Little did they know, this would lead them to a career of creating and arranging music together. Now, seven years later, they’ve had opportunities from singing on national television shows such as Good Morning America, to singing in some of the biggest arenas along with some of the greatest artists of their time. With hundreds of thousands of online followers, their debut album “First Christmas” reached number sixteen on the gospel Billboard charts. Resound hopes to continue creating music of various styles while pouring their hearts into every note and chord. Their goal is to inspire others to use their God-given talents and keep the ripple effect going, and to echo God’s love, joy, and hope throughout the world. www.officialresound.com

Deke Sharon Heralded as “The Father of Contemporary A Cappella”, Deke Sharon is credited by many as being responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella. While at college, he pioneered the dense vocal-instrumental sound that we today take for granted as the sound of contemporary a cappella. Deke founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society while in college, and is contemporary a cappella’s most prolific arranger, having arranged over 2,000 songs, with many of them in print worldwide. Deke has produced dozens of award-winning a cappella albums, and frequently tours the world teaching a variety of topics to students and professional singers. He helped popularize a cappella in the mainstream by producing five seasons of The Sing Off for NBC, and through his involvement as arranger, on-site music director, and vocal producer for all three films in the Pitch Perfect franchise. As the founder, director, and arranger for the House Jacks for almost 25 years, the original “Rock Band Without Instruments,” Deke shared the stage with countless music legends, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Crosby Stills and Nash, Run DMC, The Temptations, LL Cool J, and the Four Tops, and performed for luminaries including President Bill Clinton. The House Jacks have eight albums, and dozens of international tours to their names, including multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall, and even a performance of the “Monday Night Football Theme” with Hank Williams Jr. in 2011. www.singers.com/arrangers/Deke-Sharon

The Ault Sisters are a Canadian vocal trio featured on Zoomer Media’s hit TV show “Your All-Time Classic Hit Parade”. The Ault Sisters apply their close vocal harmonies to their original songs as well as jazz standards that have been reimagined to provide a contemporary flair and fresh appeal. Intricately interwoven harmonies are a signature part of their performances. Their latest album, “Sisters In Song”, reached #1 on the Canadian iTunes jazz chart in 2018 and pays homage to the great sister acts who inspired them, such as the Andrews Sisters, McGuire Sisters, and Pointer Sisters. The Ault Sisters have performed at many festivals, such as The Beaches International Jazz Festival, The Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, and the Brantford International Jazz Festival concert series. The Ault Sisters’ music has touched people around the world, most recently in Soroti, Uganda, where they had the opportunity to give a concert as World Vision Canada Ambassadors. And in case you were wondering, yes – they really are sisters! www.aultsisters.com The Chitans They are Layne, Karen, Kaiziah, Kayandra, L. Jesse, L. Jayden, and Karlainah. They are a family in full-time ministry from Toronto, Canada. They are excited about singing wherever they are called upon to do so, and sharing The Love of Jesus with all people, especially the children of the world. They serve the community through activities such as ministering in churches, hospitals, nursing homes, senior homes, community centers, prisons, slums, and on the streets (feeding the homeless). We also sing at religious, cultural, human rights and civic gatherings throughout Canada, the U.S.A., Kenya (Africa), the United Kingdom, the Caribbean including Bermuda, and to heads of state in Jamaica, Grenada, Bermuda, and Canada. They were invited to and have also ministered at The White House and the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill. They received a Congressional Award in July 2012 from the United States of America, for volunteer work done on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. www.thechitans.com

The Magic of Orion A graduate of the Chavez School of Magic and holding the magic degree of A.I.M.C from the Magic Circle of London England, Orion has been mesmerizing audiences for over 30 years. He has performed for the Deputy Counsel General of the People’s Republic of China, the Governor General of Canada and many large corporations such as Bombardier, I.B.M, Toshiba and worked Magic Bars in Japan as the house magician. From Canada, to the UK, to Japan where he was given the nickname of ‘The Technician’, Orion’s magic is a perfect blend of class and mystery. www.magicoforion.com

The O’Pears With the homegrown musicality of The Wailin’ Jennys, the sibling-like blend of the Andrews Sisters, and the lyrical sensibility of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The O’Pears, with their signature jaw-dropping harmonies, hold listeners captive with a sound and style that is both classic and contemporary. They have most notably performed at NXNE, SING! Toronto and SING! Austin, Texas, and the 2015 Lunenberg Folk Harbour Festival. After the success of their debut EP, “Our Own”, they released their first full-length CD and toured Europe. www.theopears.com The Swingles For more than half a century, The Swingles have pushed the boundaries of vocal music. At a time when a cappella music is more popular than ever, The Swingles are recognised as masters of their craft. Since their 1963 debut, Jazz Sebastian Bach, the group's repertoire has grown to include a huge variety of music including new original songs. They have made more than 50 recordings; appeared on numerous film and TV soundtracks including Sex and the City, Glee, and Downsizing; and collaborated with artists as diverse as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum, and Luciano Berio. In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly takes them to North and South America, Europe, and Asia, The Swingles present their own London A Cappella Festival each January in partnership with Ikon Arts Management. www.theswingles.co.uk

The Watch This multifarious foursome of a cappella veterans Dylan Bell, Art Mullin, Daniel Galessiere, and Aaron Jensen celebrates a songbook that ranges from swinging bebop tunes, to R&B anthems – from contemporary choral originals to classic pop songs. Their innovative arrangements delight, their vocal-instrument sounds amaze, and their high-energy performance will find you singing your soul out in your seat. Collectively, the individual members of the Watch have recorded numerous celebrated albums and toured worldwide with many of Canada's favourite vocal groups, including Retrocity, Cadence, FreePlay, Countermeasure, and Hampton Avenue. www.thewatch.ca

Toronto Northern Lights Chorus Formed in 1998, The Toronto Northern Lights is the 2013 International Chorus Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society. TNL has represented Ontario 13 times at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Competition, winning medals 12 times and earning consecutive silvers from 2001 to 2005. In 2000, the chorus won the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. TNL has also performed in Germany, England, Holland, and China. Most recently, last April, TNL headed to Europe on a “Gold Medal Tour” that saw them perform in England, Germany, and Sweden. The chorus attracts members of all ages, backgrounds and employment. Although Toronto based, members also come from Montreal, Ottawa, London, Buffalo and Detroit! TNL’s repertoire ranges from Barbershop to Broadway, Vocal Jazz to Doo-Wop, and Gershwin to the Beatles. They have five CDs, including their most recent, “Dare To Dream”, and a two-disc DVD set, “Welcome to the Sandbox”. www.northernlightschorus.com

Jordan Travis is the musical director of A Cappella Showcase. Music and teaching are Jordan's passions, especially when it comes to vocal music. Jordan started his extensive training at a young age leading to a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto. While there, he studied with some of the finest teachers in vocal performance, vocal pedagogy, and choral conducting. In addition to performing and conducting, Jordan is sought after as a premier vocal coach to numerous groups and individuals across Canada, United States, and Europe. Jordan was also the Associate Director and Primary Vocal Coach for the celebrated Toronto Northern Lights Chorus, The Barbershop Harmony Society's 2013 Gold Medal Chorus Champions. www.instachoir.ca

Donna Dudinsky A former documentary television producer, Donna tells old tales to the young at heart. Specializing in folk and fairy tales from around the world, Donna tells at storytelling festivals, schools, libraries and concerts across Canada. Known primarily as a children’s storyteller, she can be heard on Dial-A-Story sponsored by The Toronto Public Library system. Donna was a featured teller at Buffalo Jump, Razzmatazz and Performers for Literacy’s Second Story. She is on the Executive of Storytellers for Children and tells stories in English and French. www.storytellingtoronto.org/story/dudinsky-donna

Anders Edenroth Born in Stockholm, Anders Edenroth started playing piano and singing in choirs at an early age. While studying at The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, he and his fellow students formed an a cappella quintet – The Real Group. Anders has written and published many original songs for The Real Group which include arrangements of well-known standards, constantly exploring the development of new vocal textures and the integration of vocal percussion and rhythmic effects. He has engineered and produced albums for many artists as well as arranging music for other vocal groups, for big bands, symphony orchestras, and stage shows. Anders’ off-stage interests include cooking (which leaks into some of his compositional ideas) and environmental conservation. One of his favourite influences is Stevie Wonder although he listens to all kinds of music. He thinks that if not a musician, his creative instincts might have manifested as an inventor and he plans to one day publish a book entitled ‘Incredible Inventions’ or ‘Totally Ingenious’. www.andersedenroth.com Fermata Town Since their founding in 2009, the Townies have made a name for themselves in the a cappella community, recording multiple award-winning albums while competing and placing in several competitions including the National Harmony Sweepstakes and WGBH's Sing That Thing. They’ve been featured on national news programs and radio shows, and have partnered with organizations from Universal Pictures to the Alzheimer’s Association. They’ve participated in and performed at national and international festivals such as the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in Memphis, Tennessee, the London A Cappella Festival (LACF) in the United Kingdom and SING! Toronto in Canada, bringing their passion for vocal harmony to new communities far and wide. Comprised of 12 singers from varying backgrounds and career fields, the Townies strike a healthy balance between their music and active lifestyles as full-time working professionals. They’re a close community of friends and family, brought together by a shared passion for making music that moves the soul. www.fermatatown.com FreePlay Using nothing but their voices and innovative live-looping techniques, genre-bending FreePlay takes you from the concert halls of Europe, to the jazz clubs of Manhattan, to the temples of India, and back to their native Toronto, Canada, all without you leaving your seat. Partners onstage and off, Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran first met in Toronto in 1993, singing in a jazz choir at York University. What started as a typical voice-and-piano jazz duo began to evolve: more instruments were added, and more musical styles explored, to create a duo unique in its musical depth and variety. In 2007, FreePlay created the uniquely innovative, all-a cappella live looping performance style that has earned them international recognition, taking them across Canada and around the world, with performances at major music festivals spanning six continents. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009, and their most recent album, Go Back Forward, was released in 2018. www.freeplayduo.com Hampton Avenue Close-harmony jazz quartet Hampton Avenue dazzles with their unique timbre, impeccable musicianship and jazz chops to boot. From fresh originals to cool standards, they've been compared to such vocal giants as The New York Voices and Singers Unlimited. Hampton Avenue features founder/director Debbie Fleming, Dylan Bell, Suba Sankaran and Tom Lillington.

Travis Knights Leave your preconceptions at the door and discover the richness of tap dance and jazz improvisation. Having performed as a professional Tap Dancer since 2000, Knights has had the incredible opportunity to work alongside and grow from many of the best talents in the business, including Jackie Richardson, Arthur Duncan, and Gregory Hines. This dance has taken Knights all over the world performing in a language that transcends the spoken work, rhythm. Knights is pleased to invite you into his world of music, dance, and pure being. www.citydancecorps.com/travis-knights

Alyssa McCarthy is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Voice Therapist with Speech Appeal, and is also a Singing Voice Specialist. She is registered nationally with Speech-Language Audiology Canada (SAC) and provincially with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Originally an East Coaster, Alyssa obtained her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Dalhousie University following her Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Performance). Alyssa works passionately in the areas of voice therapy and gender affirming voice training. www.speechappealclinic.com

musica intima In 1992, a group of friends wanted to sing together. They started gathering in one another’s homes to make music while they shared the artistic values that fed into what musica intima has become today: a vocal ensemble that has performed around the country and around the world. www.musicaintima.org

New York Voices Celebrating more than 30 years of touring and recording, this critically acclaimed vocal group has refined their musical story to a high art. They are known for their close-knit voicings, inspired arrangements, and unparalleled vocal blend. With deep interests rooted in jazz, Brazilian, R & B, classical, and pop, their music mixes traditional sensibilities with more than a dash of the unexpected. NYV has traveled the globe with their elegant music, amazing audiences the world over with their impeccable voices and stunning arrangements. They are one of the top vocal groups in the world. www.newyorkvoices.com

Retrocity Born in 1998, the eight totally rad singers of Retrocity electric boogaloo their way through your favourite tunes from the 80s and beyond, without a keytar or drum machine in sight. What started as a one night only concert morphed into an established and well-loved vocal band that continues to hit audiences squarely in their nostalgia cortex. Retrocity’s repertoire covers musical vintages and styles of all kinds, but their hearts still belong to the Me Decade. The bold, textured a cappella arrangements capture an astonishing range of instrumental imitation. Righteous guitar riffs, sensual sax solos, dope drum beats and sizzling synths… all performed with the human voice. Retrocity’s high calibre musicianship and kinetic performance style are popular with audiences of all kinds. The group offers professional vocal clinics and workshops, and has delivered their high-energy show in venues around the world.www.retrocity.ca Jackie Richardson – see feature page on Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award Ruach Singers Creating innovative liturgical and Hebrew vocal music, this eight-voice ensemble offers a new take on the traditional Jewish choral sound, with style cues from contemporary jazz/pop a cappella and modern world music. Their music can be heard at Shabbat Services, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and music festivals worldwide. Their highly-lauded CD Crossroads is available from CD Baby. Ruach Singers launched the first SING! festival in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City. The group will be performing at a special SING! Concert at Beach Hebrew Institute at a later date. www.ruachsingers.com

Suba Sankaran (SING! Co-Artistic Director) DORA award-winning, JUNO-nominated world/fusion vocalist Sankaran effortlessly combines musical worlds, performing across North America, Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia, and Africa with Autorickshaw, master drummer Trichy Sankaran, FreePlay, and Retrocity. Performance highlights include performing for Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and performing with Jane Siberry, Lorraine Segato, Bobby McFerrin, and the Swingles. She has composed, recorded, and produced music for theatre, film, radio, and for south Indian and modern dance, including collaborations with Oscar-nominee Deepa Mehta. Recently, Sankaran made her acting debut at Stratford Festival where she has served for two seasons as vocal coach/arranger and sound designer. Sankaran is in demand as a private teacher, educator, choral director, arranger, adjudicator, and composer, and has given numerous workshops to choirs around the world. www.subasankaran.com

david sereda He is one of Canada’s most distinctive voices, a singer, songwriter and composer – and one of Canada’s first openly gay singer-songwriters. He is passionate about the power of song and the importance of singing your truth. sereda is a collaborator who loves to mix it up, working in different combinations of music and theatre: he has written musicals, a 13-minute opera, and commissions for choirs, released CDs, and has performed in concerts, at festivals (Winnipeg, Vancouver and Regina Folk Festivals, the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival, and the Toronto International Festival of Authors), and with choirs (Youth Outreach Mass Choir, Montreal Jubilation Choir, Nova Scotia Mass Choir). He has produced almost 40 Stray Dog Salons in Toronto, a “mongrel mix” of music, theatre, and poetry. He has been Associate Artist with Sheatre since 2002. david recently received an Ontario Arts Council grant to write songs about living in our turbulent world. Ongoing projects are community a cappella call and response Song Circles, and dialogues with poet and novelist Anne Michaels, including a concert inspired by the art, passion, and life of Tom Thomson, The Woods Are Burning. He lives in Annan, Ontario. www.facebook.com/davidseredamusic

Tom Wilson A three-time JUNO winning musician with multiple gold records, Tom Wilson has written for and recorded songs with Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Jason Isbell, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mavis Staples, and the Rankin Family to name a few. Tom currently tours with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and his band, Lee Harvey Osmond. Tom Wilson was raised in the rough-and-tumble world of Hamilton – Steeltown – in the company of World War II vets, factory workers, fall-guy wrestlers, and the deeply guarded secrets kept by his parents. He built an international music career and became a father, he battled demons and addiction, and he waited, hoping for the lies to cease and the truth to emerge. It would. And when it did, it would sweep up the St. Lawrence River to the Mohawk reserves of Quebec, on to the heights of the Manhattan skyline. With a rare gift for storytelling and an astonishing story to tell, Tom writes with unflinching honesty and extraordinary compassion about his search for the truth. It is a story about scars, about the ones that hurt us, and the ones that make us who we are. www.tomwilsononline.com Dan Yashinsky Known internationally he is one of the founders of Storytelling Toronto (formerly the Storytellers School) and the founder of the Toronto Festival of Storytelling, he also began the longest-running open mic storytelling session in North America – 1,001 Friday Nights of Storytelling – in 1978. He has performed and taught at festivals in Israel, Wales, England, Germany, Brazil, Austria, France, the U.S., Singapore, Ireland, and across Canada. He is the editor of four acclaimed collections of Canadian storytelling and the author of Suddenly They Heard Footsteps – Storytelling for the Twenty-first Century and Swimming with Chaucer – A Storyteller's Logbook. He developed and hosted Talking Stick, a national storytelling radio show on CBC. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for UNICEF Canada, Queen's University, Toronto Public Library, and Baycrest Health Sciences. www.tellery.com and www.storycare.ca

Turkwaz is a unique combination of four singers, immersed in diverse traditions. Each performer brings a special flavour to the group: Maryem draws on her Arabic language heritage, Jayne and Sophia bring their experience with Greek music, and Brenna adds her Turkish fascination. They have a collective interest in Balkan traditions and add Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and whatever else strikes their fancy to their repertoire. www.turkwaz.ca

Sage Tyrtle A professional storyteller, she has performed for audiences of all ages all over the world, from true stories to traditional folktales to interactive improvised fairy tales. Her stories have been featured on NPR and CBC radio. According to the Toronto Star, “When Sage talks, people don’t just listen, they hang on her every word.” Tyrtle has taught the Art of Storytelling at Second City, Seneca College, at schools, and in corporate settings. www.tyrtle.com

Supertonic is an a cappella quartet whose roots are based in the barbershop style. Featuring four members of the 2013 BHS International Chorus Champion, Toronto Northern Lights, they bring a high energy sound showcasing all kinds of music, ranging from the golden age of Broadway to the radio hits of today. Whether it's headlining a show, or as a surprise act for a business conference, Supertonic will make an event unforgettable. www.supertonicqt.com

University of Toronto Gospel Choir Founded in February 1995, the University of Toronto Gospel Choir was formed in celebration of Black History Month. The Choir was initially created to unite students with a shared interest in praising the Lord through song. Soon, however, the weekly choir rehearsals became not only a meeting place, but also a refuge for those looking for a non-threatening and empowering environment. Over the years, the Choir has grown to include members from all races and Christian denominations and celebrates not only in the diversity of its members, but also its audiences. Less than six weeks after its inception, UTGC had its first major performance at Toronto’s Hart House Theatre. The sold out concert also showcased some of the best college gospel choirs from the state of New York. Since that time, the powerhouse that is UTGC has burst onto the international scene, as well as continuing to serve the greater Toronto community in local concerts and university events held throughout the year. The Choir was provided with the unique experience of being the only Canadian choir to participate in Annual Gospel festivals in both Stockholm, Sweden and Barbados, West Indies. In addition to these opportunities, in 2003 the Choir travelled to Tokyo, Japan where they participated in a gospel music festival, performed in local churches, and held their own concert for the mayor of Sagamihara. As UTGC continues to spread their ministry through song, they have been welcomed by groups in New York, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Germany. www.utgc.org

Joanna Wallfisch Described by Downbeat Magazine as “an exquisite singer-songwriter” with a “crystalline voice”, London born singer-songwriter, Joanna Wallfisch comes from a long line of musicians. Raised by classical musician parents Elizabeth and Raphael Wallfisch, her grandmother Anita Lasker Wallfisch, now 94, survived Auschwitz and was selected to play cello in the camp’s women’s orchestra. Joanna’s unique musical heritage shines through in her own compositional style, evoking her classical roots and blending them with her love of jazz, art-song, folk, and pop. After completing her masters in Jazz at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Joanna moved to NYC where she forged an indelible musical path, collaborating with musicians including Dan Tepfer, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, and Lee Konitz. A master in the art of live vocal looping, Joanna creates mesmerising soundscapes to accompany her poetic lyrics. In 2019 she released her fifth album, “Far Away From Any Place Called Home” – a self-penned musical memoir about her solo travels through the USA by bicycle. Global appearances include: Woodford Folk Festival; London Jazz Festival; National Sawdust; MONA; National Concert Hall, Dublin; Salisbury Arts Festival; Boston Court Theatre, Los Angeles; and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK. www.joannawallfisch.com

ONLINE

9TH ANNUAL

4SKÖR is a dynamic and sophisticated vocal quartet that incorporates tight harmonies and smooth arrangements in an energetic and infectious style all their own. The group is equally at home performing a cappella or with their trio. Their unique sound is modern with hints of jazz, latin, R&B, funk, pop, and fusion. Sara, Pete, Kylie and Sean crossed paths during high school in diverse music competitions and ensembles while studying and building their professional music careers. As 4SKÖR, they have performed at various events in and around the Toronto area including The Beaches Jazz Festival, Oakville Downtown Jazz Festival, Musicfest Canada, SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Jazz Bistro, 120 Diner, Villa Caledon Inn, and The Distillery District with Heather Bambrick. www.4skor.ca

Accent Inspired by the wizardly jazz harmonies of TAKE 6 and, before them, The Hi-Lo’s, the six men of Accent, Jean-Baptiste “JB” Craipeau (France), Simon Åkesson (Sweden), Danny Fong (Canada), Andrew Kesler (Canada), James Rose (United Kingdom), and Evan Sanders (USA) are taking their love of close-harmony jazz singing – the denser and more intricate the better – as far as it can go. After becoming long-distance fans of each other’s multi-tracked videos on YouTube, they joined forces in 2011, collaborating online on songs and videos. Since then, they have released four albums, performed at the London A Cappella Festival, played dates across Europe, North America, and Asia, and were featured in a sold-out Christmas show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Their singular blend and arrangements have been acclaimed by a cappella devotees and fellow musicians alike, including Cedric Dent of TAKE 6 and Clark Burroughs of The Hi-Lo’s. www.accentvocal.com Micah Barnes Having cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, Micah became a well-loved singer-songwriter on the Queen Street scene before joining The Nylons and touring the world. Recording with the a cappella pop act brought Micah into the global music scene and landed him in Venice Beach, California where he launched a solo career touring the U.S. which led to his #1 international club hit “Welcome To My Head” and coverage in Rolling Stone Magazine as “an Indie artist to watch”. Returning to the jazz-oriented songwriting of his earlier years has resulted in a series of critically acclaimed solo recordings including his “New York Stories” (eOne Music) which saw him returning to tour across Canada. Micah has recently recorded a new album which transports the listener back to the days of legendary Vegas showrooms when the world’s top entertainers worked the strip: featuring songs first recorded by Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Frank Sinatra. Micah is also a highly respected vocal coach who has coached on CBC TV’s “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” and counts Emmy award winning actress Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) among his many top-level clients. www.micahbarnes.com Heather Bambrick is a JUNO-nominated vocalist, voice actor, broadcaster and educator who has collaborated with Phil Nimmons, Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, among many others. She is also a founding member of the Jazz/Cabaret ensemble Broadsway. Bambrick has released three solo recordings, all of which were nominated for East Coast Music Awards, including You’ll Never Know, which was also nominated for a 2017 JUNO Award. She has been a featured guest on numerous recordings, and has been awarded Canada’s National Jazz Award for Vocalist of the Year. Also a voice actor, Bambrick’s voice has appeared in commercials and various animated series including Emmy-nominated Wild Kratts, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Hotel Translvania – The Series, and Justin Time as well as several others. In 2001 she began broadcasting at JAZZ.FM91, and has twice been named National Jazz Awards’ Broadcaster of the Year. In 2018, she co-founded JAZZCAST, a Jazz-focused internet radio station. Along with all of this, she can often be found in classrooms and music festivals across Canada, acting as an advocate for the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, or fighting to close the “value gap” as a member of the Advisory Committee for Music Canada. www.heatherbambrick.ca Beatsync is an eight-piece a cappella ensemble from Toronto, Ontario combining eclectic repertoire with dynamic beats and sophisticated arrangements. From pop to electronic to classic soul, Beatsync draws upon diverse influences to craft their unique contemporary sound, interpreting modern hits and deep cuts alike via the creative lens of co-directors Daniel Boyle and Nick Kotoulas. Beatsync is already making waves internationally, having been featured as part of Fairchild Television’s Mandarin Profile Awards and having recently gone on their first ever international tour to China. Locally, they debuted at SING! Toronto Vocal Arts Festival and continue to perform for high-profile public and corporate events. www.Beatsyncmusic.com Dylan Bell (SING! Co-Artistic Director) In a word… multifaceted. JUNO-nominated Bell’s musical curiosity keeps him effortlessly crossing and blurring musical boundaries. Bell is an international leader in a cappella music, having sung with many of Canada’s premiere vocal ensembles such as FreePlay, Retrocity, Cadence, The Watch, and Hampton Avenue. He also freelances as a keyboardist and bassist. Behind the mixing board, Bell has produced several award-winning albums, including the JUNO-nominated Cadence album, Twenty for One; Ferris Wheels with the world-renowned Swingles; and the JUNO-nominated Skin Tight, by a cappella legends The Nylons. Bell’s compositions and arrangements have garnered international recognition as winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. When it comes to vocal arranging, Bell wrote the book… literally. “A Cappella Arranging” (co-written with Deke Sharon) was published in 2013 to international acclaim. www.dylanbell.ca

Daniel Boyle cut his teeth in a cappella at University of Toronto in TBA (Tunes, Beats, Awesome), followed by joining Countermeasure. He and Nick Kotoulas formed Beatsync, a young and fresh a cappella group focusing on innovative arrangements of Top 40 and Electronic Music. They have toured to China and played for many prestigious special events. Daniel is a Speech-Language Pathologist who co-owns Speech Appeal Clinic, which offers evidence-based speech, language and voice assessment, and therapy. www.speechappealclinic.com Cadence The stage lights fall, the crowd goes quiet and four harmonious voices rise up and fill the air. Vocal arrangements like you have never heard before – containing all the richness of a full band but performed using just four voices. This is Cadence, Canada’s premier vocal group. Based in Toronto, this a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for over 20 years. Whether performing at sold-out jazz clubs and concert halls, at music festivals, for educational outreach, or for corporate functions, the members of Cadence bring an infectious energy and uncanny verve to every song they sing. They feature a hypnotic blend of complex harmonies, intricate arrangements, vocal dexterity, and just plain fun. The group has five critically acclaimed award-winning studio albums. One listen and you will agree: instruments are for surgeons! www.cadence-unplugged.com Will Chandler has been active in the a cappella community since 2012. He started as a performer in The Spirit of Southern, the tenor/bass a cappella ensemble at The University of Southern Mississippi. Since then, he has directed high school a cappella groups in Texas while also serving as the Texas State Representative for the A Cappella Education Association and the Vice President for SING! Texas. Will holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Millsaps College and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky, where he directs the AcoUstiKats. www.linkedin.com/in/willchandlerchoir David Clayton-Thomas began his amazing journey as a homeless street kid and developed into one of the most recognizable voices in music, selling over 40 million records to date. In 1996, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 2007, his jazz/rock composition “Spinning Wheel” was enshrined in the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. In 2010, David received his star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame. His 1968 debut album with Blood Sweat & Tears sold 10 million copies worldwide. The self-titled record topped the Billboard album chart for seven weeks, and charted for a staggering 109 weeks. It won an unprecedented five Grammy awards, including Album Of The Year and Best Performance By A Male Vocalist. It featured three hit singles, “You Made Me So Very Happy”, “And When I Die”, and “Spinning Wheel” as well as an irresistible rendition of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” that became a signature song for David. A 1969 summary in the Los Angeles Times proclaimed that “Blood Sweat & Tears just may be the most important pop music group of the decade”. Today, living back in Toronto, his boyhood turf and the place where he still feels most at home, David has launched a 10-piece band under his own name. Through the years, he has lost none of the attributes that have made him one of the greatest vocalists of his generation. That unmistakable voice now soaring and sunny, now a dark, somber shade of blue. www.davidclaytonthomas.com Countermeasure Formed in 2010, founding artists of SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Countermeasure’s 13 top Canadian vocal talents have earned standing ovations and critical acclaim worldwide. Led by award-winning composer/arranger Aaron Jensen, the group has headlined numerous international festivals, wowed corporate and private audiences, and shared the stage with legendary artists such as a cappella giants Naturally 7 and The Swingle Singers and top 40 stars like Corey Hart and Blue Rodeo. Their new release is “Guest Sessions”, a concept album of rich musical arrangements and intricate vocal harmonies combined with a powerhouse featured instrumentalist on each track. Performing innovative arrangements of pop favourites, classic jazz standards, and original music, their diverse songbook has equipped the group to headline international choral concerts, play the main stage at jazz festivals, and entice club-goers onto the dance floor. Incorporating innovative live looping, instrument imitation, and vocal percussion, Countermeasure enthralls their audiences with their dramatically choreographed shows and flawless harmonies. They have won multiple awards from The Contemporary A Cappella Society of America, including Best CAL Album, best video, and best original song. They have sold out shows throughout multiple U.S. and Canadian tours, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and tours across the U.K., Italy, and Japan. www.countermeasuremusic.com

Kerry Lee Crawford is a renowned on-air host and co-founder of a unique movement called The LOVE Project. As a founding member of the multi-JUNO nominated Platinum and Gold selling Babyblue Sound Crew whose success aided in the launch of recording artists careers such as Sean Paul, Glenn Lewis, Jully Black, and Kardinal Offishall to name a few, Kerry has lived a lifetime in the world of entertainment. Kerry’s musical exploits carried him all around the world working with the “who’s who” of the urban elite. After stepping aside from the world of music Kerry Lee utilized his education and firsthand experience to bring a unique perspective to the world of News Media as a producer, consultant, and contributor appearing on various programs for broadcasters Discovery Channel, Sportsnet, and theScore while lending his voice to CBC Radio One, T.S.N., and the Raptor Channel. Today Kerry Lee Crawford inspires the minds and empowers the hearts of thousands of people through his speaking and motivational appearances to help guide them to be the best they can be through his mentoring programs across Canada. A tireless devotion to the passionate pursuit of Peace, Joy, and Justice via the advocacy for Love, Tolerance and Inclusion, Kerry Lee Crawford raises his voice for clarity highlighting the plight of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. www.torontocaribbean.com/kerry-lee-crawford-the-evolution-of-a-man-a-voice-and-a-vision

Katy Dane is incredibly active in the a cappella community, including her activity as SING! Texas President, Director of Sweet Adelines International's 2019 Division A Silver medalist chorus, A Cappella Unlimited, Director of Barbershop Harmony Society's Southwestern District 3rd place Chorus A Cappella Texas, and the VP of Music and Performance for the Southwestern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Katy is a 15-year music educator in Orchestra, Choir, Music Theory, and Contemporary A Cappella groups and a member of the Education Faculty for the Great Gulf Coast Region 10 of Sweet Adelines. www.acappellatexas.org/about/our-director

Mel Daneke is a contemporary performer, arranger, producer, and instructor. She owns Viridian Productions, an a cappella recording, arranging, and education company. Mel currently performs with two internationally renowned and award-winning vocal bands, Musae (Beatboxer + DJ) and Six Appeal (singer). She has traveled extensively, headlining and performing at festivals in Hong Kong, Taiwan, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Germany, and all over the United States. Her performances and CARA-nominated production has appeared on compilations like Sing, BOHSA, Voices Only, and Voices Only Forte. www.viridianmusic.com

Nukariik Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona are Nukariik, a duo that carries on the rarely heard Inuit throat singing tradition and other age-old forms of Inuit entertainment such as drum dancing and ja ja songs. A vocal game used to amuse children and women while men were out hunting, Inuit throat singing is an art practiced almost exclusively by women. Two singers stand or crouch facing each other and engage in a bit of friendly competition as one singer takes the lead and the other follows. During the vocal exchange, the voiced sounds and breath of each singer combine to form rhythmic melodies that imitate sounds from nature such as a mosquito or a river. The result is mesmerizing, as the singers playfully compete to see who will stop or laugh first. Born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Canada, Kathy embraced her heritage by learning throat singing and drum dancing from friends and elders. While learning, Kathy practiced her breathing walking around town, timing her breath to each step she took to acquire the skill of breathing continuously without getting light-headed. After mastering breath control and producing sounds with the throat, Kathy took the next traditional step in learning throat singing—practicing with a partner. Skilled singers such as Nukariik blend and synchronize their voices so perfectly that it becomes difficult to distinguish between them. www.nationalfolkfestival.com/acts/nukariik

Patricia O’Callaghan Her fifteen-year career has taken her across genres, continents, and a range of disciplines and passions. Her recording career spans six solo albums and many interesting visits along the way as a guest on other artists’ CDs. A speaker of French, Spanish, and German, her early recordings focused on European cabaret, and she is considered a specialist, most significantly, in the music of Kurt Weill. Patricia has performed his Threepenny Opera, Seven Deadly Sins, and Kleine Mahagonny with Soulpepper Theatre Company, Edmonton Opera, Vancouver Opera, and others. She has sung with some of the world’s great ensembles and artists (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Don Byron Quartet, Bryn Terfel), and has performed in venues that range from London’s Royal Opera House to New York’s Le Poisson Rouge. She has worked with R. Murray Schafer, Dennis Lee, Christos Hatzis, Steve Reich, David Braid, and Steven Page. Her most recent albums are Deepest December, Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, and the recently JUNO-nominated Corona Divinae Misericordiae, by David Braid. www.partricia-ocallaghan.com

Phoenix Chamber Choir Founded in 1983, Phoenix Chamber Choir is entering its 38th season as one of Canada’s finest vocal ensembles, renowned for diverse and eclectic programming from the Renaissance to the contemporary, commissions from Canadian and international composers, and North American premieres of significant new works. The choir has recorded and released eleven CDs throughout its history, including two in 2016/2017 – Why the Caged Bird Sings featuring a collection of contemporary works from composers such as Jake Runestad, Abbie Betinis, and Gabriel Jackson, and When the Earth Stands Still highlighting Phoenix’s penchant for lighter works, from composers such as BC’s own Don Macdonald, Daniel Elder, and Nick Myers. In 2019, the choir released its most recent album: Winter Sun, featuring Phoenix’s new Artistic Director, Dr. Nicholle Andrews. With its long-standing history of success in national and international choral competitions and the talent and training of its members, Phoenix Chamber Choir is enriching and extending its earned reputation as an elite-level ensemble. The choir strives to connect deeply with its audiences by sharing world-class musical experiences, and provides invaluable musical opportunities for British Columbian and Canadian choral artists and composers. Phoenix strives for and achieves the highest level of choral performance and audience engagement. For more than three decades, the Phoenix Chamber Choir has played an integral part in developing young musicians, composers and conductors in Vancouver, and has helped to establish Canada’s West Coast as one of the most important centres of choral music in the world. www.phoenixchoir.com Planting Pearl This quartet is a new up-and-coming jazz vocal group that pays homage to the everlasting influence of Gene Puerling. Though the group Planting Pearl was just recently established in 2018, the four singers have been performing together in various contexts for the last five years. Their goal with Planting Pearl is to deliver cutting edge arrangements and covers of impactful vocal jazz groups, and with each performance, finding a new sense of appreciation for the genre. Planting Pearl is founded by members Megan Vivares, Meagan Luchko, Nathan Martin, and Jackson Welchner, who all bring a unique sense of chemistry not often found in the young members of the Toronto Jazz Scene. The group prides itself on its original arrangements by members Nathan Martin and Jackson Welchner. www.facebook.com/PlantingPearl

Pressgang Mutiny Hailing from the port of Toronto, ON, the members of Pressgang Mutiny have been roaring out songs of the sea since 2013. Local favourites in their hometown and on the Canadian and American East Coasts, they are keeping alive the vital tradition of work songs that represent the world’s first truly multicultural music. www.pressgangmutiny.bandcamp.com

Quartette Since their debut in 1993, the four members of Quartette have been both publicly and critically acclaimed for their lush harmonies and delightfully diverse repertoire. Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick, and Sylvia Tyson are seasoned singer/songwriters whose influences range from blues and gospel to folk and country to jazz and pop. The group’s first appearance, a showcase of Canadian women songwriters, took place at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. What began as a “songwriter in the round” concert of musical friends grew into an inspired collaboration. This initial performance generated an appearance on CBC Radio’s Morningside with host Peter Gzowski. The phones began to ring with requests for a recording, and seven months later in April of 1994, the self-titled album, “Quartette”, was released to rave reviews. This was followed by coast-to-coast tours of theatres, folk festivals, performances with symphony orchestras, and live appearances on radio, including two appearances on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. In 1995 a second album, “Work of the Heart”, was released and, following this, CBC’s Adrienne Clarkson Presents profiled the group in an hour-long special. Quartette has received several Juno nominations, won a Canadian Country Music Award for best vocal collaboration, performed with major symphony orchestras across Canada, and recorded the CMT-TV special, “A Quartette Christmas”. They have also released two Christmas CDs, “It’s Christmas!” in 1996, and “I See A Star” in 2002, both of which are collections of traditional and original Christmas songs, and their Christmas shows have become a tradition with audiences across the country. www.quartette.com

RESOUND believes that God brought them together around a kitchen table. The three singers Jessica, Joseph, and Mariah had known each other for years before one day having an informal rehearsal and creating their first “arrangement.” Little did they know, this would lead them to a career of creating and arranging music together. Now, seven years later, they’ve had opportunities from singing on national television shows such as Good Morning America, to singing in some of the biggest arenas along with some of the greatest artists of their time. With hundreds of thousands of online followers, their debut album “First Christmas” reached number sixteen on the gospel Billboard charts. Resound hopes to continue creating music of various styles while pouring their hearts into every note and chord. Their goal is to inspire others to use their God-given talents and keep the ripple effect going, and to echo God’s love, joy, and hope throughout the world. www.officialresound.com

Deke Sharon Heralded as “The Father of Contemporary A Cappella”, Deke Sharon is credited by many as being responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella. While at college, he pioneered the dense vocal-instrumental sound that we today take for granted as the sound of contemporary a cappella. Deke founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society while in college, and is contemporary a cappella’s most prolific arranger, having arranged over 2,000 songs, with many of them in print worldwide. Deke has produced dozens of award-winning a cappella albums, and frequently tours the world teaching a variety of topics to students and professional singers. He helped popularize a cappella in the mainstream by producing five seasons of The Sing Off for NBC, and through his involvement as arranger, on-site music director, and vocal producer for all three films in the Pitch Perfect franchise. As the founder, director, and arranger for the House Jacks for almost 25 years, the original “Rock Band Without Instruments,” Deke shared the stage with countless music legends, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Crosby Stills and Nash, Run DMC, The Temptations, LL Cool J, and the Four Tops, and performed for luminaries including President Bill Clinton. The House Jacks have eight albums, and dozens of international tours to their names, including multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall, and even a performance of the “Monday Night Football Theme” with Hank Williams Jr. in 2011. www.singers.com/arrangers/Deke-Sharon

The Ault Sisters are a Canadian vocal trio featured on Zoomer Media’s hit TV show “Your All-Time Classic Hit Parade”. The Ault Sisters apply their close vocal harmonies to their original songs as well as jazz standards that have been reimagined to provide a contemporary flair and fresh appeal. Intricately interwoven harmonies are a signature part of their performances. Their latest album, “Sisters In Song”, reached #1 on the Canadian iTunes jazz chart in 2018 and pays homage to the great sister acts who inspired them, such as the Andrews Sisters, McGuire Sisters, and Pointer Sisters. The Ault Sisters have performed at many festivals, such as The Beaches International Jazz Festival, The Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, and the Brantford International Jazz Festival concert series. The Ault Sisters’ music has touched people around the world, most recently in Soroti, Uganda, where they had the opportunity to give a concert as World Vision Canada Ambassadors. And in case you were wondering, yes – they really are sisters! www.aultsisters.com The Chitans They are Layne, Karen, Kaiziah, Kayandra, L. Jesse, L. Jayden, and Karlainah. They are a family in full-time ministry from Toronto, Canada. They are excited about singing wherever they are called upon to do so, and sharing The Love of Jesus with all people, especially the children of the world. They serve the community through activities such as ministering in churches, hospitals, nursing homes, senior homes, community centers, prisons, slums, and on the streets (feeding the homeless). We also sing at religious, cultural, human rights and civic gatherings throughout Canada, the U.S.A., Kenya (Africa), the United Kingdom, the Caribbean including Bermuda, and to heads of state in Jamaica, Grenada, Bermuda, and Canada. They were invited to and have also ministered at The White House and the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill. They received a Congressional Award in July 2012 from the United States of America, for volunteer work done on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. www.thechitans.com

The Magic of Orion A graduate of the Chavez School of Magic and holding the magic degree of A.I.M.C from the Magic Circle of London England, Orion has been mesmerizing audiences for over 30 years. He has performed for the Deputy Counsel General of the People’s Republic of China, the Governor General of Canada and many large corporations such as Bombardier, I.B.M, Toshiba and worked Magic Bars in Japan as the house magician. From Canada, to the UK, to Japan where he was given the nickname of ‘The Technician’, Orion’s magic is a perfect blend of class and mystery. www.magicoforion.com

The O’Pears With the homegrown musicality of The Wailin’ Jennys, the sibling-like blend of the Andrews Sisters, and the lyrical sensibility of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The O’Pears, with their signature jaw-dropping harmonies, hold listeners captive with a sound and style that is both classic and contemporary. They have most notably performed at NXNE, SING! Toronto and SING! Austin, Texas, and the 2015 Lunenberg Folk Harbour Festival. After the success of their debut EP, “Our Own”, they released their first full-length CD and toured Europe. www.theopears.com The Swingles For more than half a century, The Swingles have pushed the boundaries of vocal music. At a time when a cappella music is more popular than ever, The Swingles are recognised as masters of their craft. Since their 1963 debut, Jazz Sebastian Bach, the group's repertoire has grown to include a huge variety of music including new original songs. They have made more than 50 recordings; appeared on numerous film and TV soundtracks including Sex and the City, Glee, and Downsizing; and collaborated with artists as diverse as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum, and Luciano Berio. In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly takes them to North and South America, Europe, and Asia, The Swingles present their own London A Cappella Festival each January in partnership with Ikon Arts Management. www.theswingles.co.uk

The Watch This multifarious foursome of a cappella veterans Dylan Bell, Art Mullin, Daniel Galessiere, and Aaron Jensen celebrates a songbook that ranges from swinging bebop tunes, to R&B anthems – from contemporary choral originals to classic pop songs. Their innovative arrangements delight, their vocal-instrument sounds amaze, and their high-energy performance will find you singing your soul out in your seat. Collectively, the individual members of the Watch have recorded numerous celebrated albums and toured worldwide with many of Canada's favourite vocal groups, including Retrocity, Cadence, FreePlay, Countermeasure, and Hampton Avenue. www.thewatch.ca

Toronto Northern Lights Chorus Formed in 1998, The Toronto Northern Lights is the 2013 International Chorus Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society. TNL has represented Ontario 13 times at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Competition, winning medals 12 times and earning consecutive silvers from 2001 to 2005. In 2000, the chorus won the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. TNL has also performed in Germany, England, Holland, and China. Most recently, last April, TNL headed to Europe on a “Gold Medal Tour” that saw them perform in England, Germany, and Sweden. The chorus attracts members of all ages, backgrounds and employment. Although Toronto based, members also come from Montreal, Ottawa, London, Buffalo and Detroit! TNL’s repertoire ranges from Barbershop to Broadway, Vocal Jazz to Doo-Wop, and Gershwin to the Beatles. They have five CDs, including their most recent, “Dare To Dream”, and a two-disc DVD set, “Welcome to the Sandbox”. www.northernlightschorus.com

Jordan Travis is the musical director of A Cappella Showcase. Music and teaching are Jordan's passions, especially when it comes to vocal music. Jordan started his extensive training at a young age leading to a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto. While there, he studied with some of the finest teachers in vocal performance, vocal pedagogy, and choral conducting. In addition to performing and conducting, Jordan is sought after as a premier vocal coach to numerous groups and individuals across Canada, United States, and Europe. Jordan was also the Associate Director and Primary Vocal Coach for the celebrated Toronto Northern Lights Chorus, The Barbershop Harmony Society's 2013 Gold Medal Chorus Champions. www.instachoir.ca

Donna Dudinsky A former documentary television producer, Donna tells old tales to the young at heart. Specializing in folk and fairy tales from around the world, Donna tells at storytelling festivals, schools, libraries and concerts across Canada. Known primarily as a children’s storyteller, she can be heard on Dial-A-Story sponsored by The Toronto Public Library system. Donna was a featured teller at Buffalo Jump, Razzmatazz and Performers for Literacy’s Second Story. She is on the Executive of Storytellers for Children and tells stories in English and French. www.storytellingtoronto.org/story/dudinsky-donna

Anders Edenroth Born in Stockholm, Anders Edenroth started playing piano and singing in choirs at an early age. While studying at The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, he and his fellow students formed an a cappella quintet – The Real Group. Anders has written and published many original songs for The Real Group which include arrangements of well-known standards, constantly exploring the development of new vocal textures and the integration of vocal percussion and rhythmic effects. He has engineered and produced albums for many artists as well as arranging music for other vocal groups, for big bands, symphony orchestras, and stage shows. Anders’ off-stage interests include cooking (which leaks into some of his compositional ideas) and environmental conservation. One of his favourite influences is Stevie Wonder although he listens to all kinds of music. He thinks that if not a musician, his creative instincts might have manifested as an inventor and he plans to one day publish a book entitled ‘Incredible Inventions’ or ‘Totally Ingenious’. www.andersedenroth.com Fermata Town Since their founding in 2009, the Townies have made a name for themselves in the a cappella community, recording multiple award-winning albums while competing and placing in several competitions including the National Harmony Sweepstakes and WGBH's Sing That Thing. They’ve been featured on national news programs and radio shows, and have partnered with organizations from Universal Pictures to the Alzheimer’s Association. They’ve participated in and performed at national and international festivals such as the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in Memphis, Tennessee, the London A Cappella Festival (LACF) in the United Kingdom and SING! Toronto in Canada, bringing their passion for vocal harmony to new communities far and wide. Comprised of 12 singers from varying backgrounds and career fields, the Townies strike a healthy balance between their music and active lifestyles as full-time working professionals. They’re a close community of friends and family, brought together by a shared passion for making music that moves the soul. www.fermatatown.com FreePlay Using nothing but their voices and innovative live-looping techniques, genre-bending FreePlay takes you from the concert halls of Europe, to the jazz clubs of Manhattan, to the temples of India, and back to their native Toronto, Canada, all without you leaving your seat. Partners onstage and off, Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran first met in Toronto in 1993, singing in a jazz choir at York University. What started as a typical voice-and-piano jazz duo began to evolve: more instruments were added, and more musical styles explored, to create a duo unique in its musical depth and variety. In 2007, FreePlay created the uniquely innovative, all-a cappella live looping performance style that has earned them international recognition, taking them across Canada and around the world, with performances at major music festivals spanning six continents. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009, and their most recent album, Go Back Forward, was released in 2018. www.freeplayduo.com Hampton Avenue Close-harmony jazz quartet Hampton Avenue dazzles with their unique timbre, impeccable musicianship and jazz chops to boot. From fresh originals to cool standards, they've been compared to such vocal giants as The New York Voices and Singers Unlimited. Hampton Avenue features founder/director Debbie Fleming, Dylan Bell, Suba Sankaran and Tom Lillington.

Travis Knights Leave your preconceptions at the door and discover the richness of tap dance and jazz improvisation. Having performed as a professional Tap Dancer since 2000, Knights has had the incredible opportunity to work alongside and grow from many of the best talents in the business, including Jackie Richardson, Arthur Duncan, and Gregory Hines. This dance has taken Knights all over the world performing in a language that transcends the spoken work, rhythm. Knights is pleased to invite you into his world of music, dance, and pure being. www.citydancecorps.com/travis-knights

Alyssa McCarthy is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Voice Therapist with Speech Appeal, and is also a Singing Voice Specialist. She is registered nationally with Speech-Language Audiology Canada (SAC) and provincially with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Originally an East Coaster, Alyssa obtained her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Dalhousie University following her Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Performance). Alyssa works passionately in the areas of voice therapy and gender affirming voice training. www.speechappealclinic.com

musica intima In 1992, a group of friends wanted to sing together. They started gathering in one another’s homes to make music while they shared the artistic values that fed into what musica intima has become today: a vocal ensemble that has performed around the country and around the world. www.musicaintima.org

New York Voices Celebrating more than 30 years of touring and recording, this critically acclaimed vocal group has refined their musical story to a high art. They are known for their close-knit voicings, inspired arrangements, and unparalleled vocal blend. With deep interests rooted in jazz, Brazilian, R & B, classical, and pop, their music mixes traditional sensibilities with more than a dash of the unexpected. NYV has traveled the globe with their elegant music, amazing audiences the world over with their impeccable voices and stunning arrangements. They are one of the top vocal groups in the world. www.newyorkvoices.com

Retrocity Born in 1998, the eight totally rad singers of Retrocity electric boogaloo their way through your favourite tunes from the 80s and beyond, without a keytar or drum machine in sight. What started as a one night only concert morphed into an established and well-loved vocal band that continues to hit audiences squarely in their nostalgia cortex. Retrocity’s repertoire covers musical vintages and styles of all kinds, but their hearts still belong to the Me Decade. The bold, textured a cappella arrangements capture an astonishing range of instrumental imitation. Righteous guitar riffs, sensual sax solos, dope drum beats and sizzling synths… all performed with the human voice. Retrocity’s high calibre musicianship and kinetic performance style are popular with audiences of all kinds. The group offers professional vocal clinics and workshops, and has delivered their high-energy show in venues around the world.www.retrocity.ca Jackie Richardson – see feature page on Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award Ruach Singers Creating innovative liturgical and Hebrew vocal music, this eight-voice ensemble offers a new take on the traditional Jewish choral sound, with style cues from contemporary jazz/pop a cappella and modern world music. Their music can be heard at Shabbat Services, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and music festivals worldwide. Their highly-lauded CD Crossroads is available from CD Baby. Ruach Singers launched the first SING! festival in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City. The group will be performing at a special SING! Concert at Beach Hebrew Institute at a later date. www.ruachsingers.com

Suba Sankaran (SING! Co-Artistic Director) DORA award-winning, JUNO-nominated world/fusion vocalist Sankaran effortlessly combines musical worlds, performing across North America, Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia, and Africa with Autorickshaw, master drummer Trichy Sankaran, FreePlay, and Retrocity. Performance highlights include performing for Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and performing with Jane Siberry, Lorraine Segato, Bobby McFerrin, and the Swingles. She has composed, recorded, and produced music for theatre, film, radio, and for south Indian and modern dance, including collaborations with Oscar-nominee Deepa Mehta. Recently, Sankaran made her acting debut at Stratford Festival where she has served for two seasons as vocal coach/arranger and sound designer. Sankaran is in demand as a private teacher, educator, choral director, arranger, adjudicator, and composer, and has given numerous workshops to choirs around the world. www.subasankaran.com

david sereda He is one of Canada’s most distinctive voices, a singer, songwriter and composer – and one of Canada’s first openly gay singer-songwriters. He is passionate about the power of song and the importance of singing your truth. sereda is a collaborator who loves to mix it up, working in different combinations of music and theatre: he has written musicals, a 13-minute opera, and commissions for choirs, released CDs, and has performed in concerts, at festivals (Winnipeg, Vancouver and Regina Folk Festivals, the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival, and the Toronto International Festival of Authors), and with choirs (Youth Outreach Mass Choir, Montreal Jubilation Choir, Nova Scotia Mass Choir). He has produced almost 40 Stray Dog Salons in Toronto, a “mongrel mix” of music, theatre, and poetry. He has been Associate Artist with Sheatre since 2002. david recently received an Ontario Arts Council grant to write songs about living in our turbulent world. Ongoing projects are community a cappella call and response Song Circles, and dialogues with poet and novelist Anne Michaels, including a concert inspired by the art, passion, and life of Tom Thomson, The Woods Are Burning. He lives in Annan, Ontario. www.facebook.com/davidseredamusic

Tom Wilson A three-time JUNO winning musician with multiple gold records, Tom Wilson has written for and recorded songs with Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Jason Isbell, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mavis Staples, and the Rankin Family to name a few. Tom currently tours with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and his band, Lee Harvey Osmond. Tom Wilson was raised in the rough-and-tumble world of Hamilton – Steeltown – in the company of World War II vets, factory workers, fall-guy wrestlers, and the deeply guarded secrets kept by his parents. He built an international music career and became a father, he battled demons and addiction, and he waited, hoping for the lies to cease and the truth to emerge. It would. And when it did, it would sweep up the St. Lawrence River to the Mohawk reserves of Quebec, on to the heights of the Manhattan skyline. With a rare gift for storytelling and an astonishing story to tell, Tom writes with unflinching honesty and extraordinary compassion about his search for the truth. It is a story about scars, about the ones that hurt us, and the ones that make us who we are. www.tomwilsononline.com Dan Yashinsky Known internationally he is one of the founders of Storytelling Toronto (formerly the Storytellers School) and the founder of the Toronto Festival of Storytelling, he also began the longest-running open mic storytelling session in North America – 1,001 Friday Nights of Storytelling – in 1978. He has performed and taught at festivals in Israel, Wales, England, Germany, Brazil, Austria, France, the U.S., Singapore, Ireland, and across Canada. He is the editor of four acclaimed collections of Canadian storytelling and the author of Suddenly They Heard Footsteps – Storytelling for the Twenty-first Century and Swimming with Chaucer – A Storyteller's Logbook. He developed and hosted Talking Stick, a national storytelling radio show on CBC. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for UNICEF Canada, Queen's University, Toronto Public Library, and Baycrest Health Sciences. www.tellery.com and www.storycare.ca

Turkwaz is a unique combination of four singers, immersed in diverse traditions. Each performer brings a special flavour to the group: Maryem draws on her Arabic language heritage, Jayne and Sophia bring their experience with Greek music, and Brenna adds her Turkish fascination. They have a collective interest in Balkan traditions and add Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and whatever else strikes their fancy to their repertoire. www.turkwaz.ca

Sage Tyrtle A professional storyteller, she has performed for audiences of all ages all over the world, from true stories to traditional folktales to interactive improvised fairy tales. Her stories have been featured on NPR and CBC radio. According to the Toronto Star, “When Sage talks, people don’t just listen, they hang on her every word.” Tyrtle has taught the Art of Storytelling at Second City, Seneca College, at schools, and in corporate settings. www.tyrtle.com

Supertonic is an a cappella quartet whose roots are based in the barbershop style. Featuring four members of the 2013 BHS International Chorus Champion, Toronto Northern Lights, they bring a high energy sound showcasing all kinds of music, ranging from the golden age of Broadway to the radio hits of today. Whether it's headlining a show, or as a surprise act for a business conference, Supertonic will make an event unforgettable. www.supertonicqt.com

University of Toronto Gospel Choir Founded in February 1995, the University of Toronto Gospel Choir was formed in celebration of Black History Month. The Choir was initially created to unite students with a shared interest in praising the Lord through song. Soon, however, the weekly choir rehearsals became not only a meeting place, but also a refuge for those looking for a non-threatening and empowering environment. Over the years, the Choir has grown to include members from all races and Christian denominations and celebrates not only in the diversity of its members, but also its audiences. Less than six weeks after its inception, UTGC had its first major performance at Toronto’s Hart House Theatre. The sold out concert also showcased some of the best college gospel choirs from the state of New York. Since that time, the powerhouse that is UTGC has burst onto the international scene, as well as continuing to serve the greater Toronto community in local concerts and university events held throughout the year. The Choir was provided with the unique experience of being the only Canadian choir to participate in Annual Gospel festivals in both Stockholm, Sweden and Barbados, West Indies. In addition to these opportunities, in 2003 the Choir travelled to Tokyo, Japan where they participated in a gospel music festival, performed in local churches, and held their own concert for the mayor of Sagamihara. As UTGC continues to spread their ministry through song, they have been welcomed by groups in New York, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Germany. www.utgc.org

Joanna Wallfisch Described by Downbeat Magazine as “an exquisite singer-songwriter” with a “crystalline voice”, London born singer-songwriter, Joanna Wallfisch comes from a long line of musicians. Raised by classical musician parents Elizabeth and Raphael Wallfisch, her grandmother Anita Lasker Wallfisch, now 94, survived Auschwitz and was selected to play cello in the camp’s women’s orchestra. Joanna’s unique musical heritage shines through in her own compositional style, evoking her classical roots and blending them with her love of jazz, art-song, folk, and pop. After completing her masters in Jazz at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Joanna moved to NYC where she forged an indelible musical path, collaborating with musicians including Dan Tepfer, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, and Lee Konitz. A master in the art of live vocal looping, Joanna creates mesmerising soundscapes to accompany her poetic lyrics. In 2019 she released her fifth album, “Far Away From Any Place Called Home” – a self-penned musical memoir about her solo travels through the USA by bicycle. Global appearances include: Woodford Folk Festival; London Jazz Festival; National Sawdust; MONA; National Concert Hall, Dublin; Salisbury Arts Festival; Boston Court Theatre, Los Angeles; and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK. www.joannawallfisch.com

ONLINE

9TH ANNUAL

4SKÖR is a dynamic and sophisticated vocal quartet that incorporates tight harmonies and smooth arrangements in an energetic and infectious style all their own. The group is equally at home performing a cappella or with their trio. Their unique sound is modern with hints of jazz, latin, R&B, funk, pop, and fusion. Sara, Pete, Kylie and Sean crossed paths during high school in diverse music competitions and ensembles while studying and building their professional music careers. As 4SKÖR, they have performed at various events in and around the Toronto area including The Beaches Jazz Festival, Oakville Downtown Jazz Festival, Musicfest Canada, SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Jazz Bistro, 120 Diner, Villa Caledon Inn, and The Distillery District with Heather Bambrick. www.4skor.ca

Accent Inspired by the wizardly jazz harmonies of TAKE 6 and, before them, The Hi-Lo’s, the six men of Accent, Jean-Baptiste “JB” Craipeau (France), Simon Åkesson (Sweden), Danny Fong (Canada), Andrew Kesler (Canada), James Rose (United Kingdom), and Evan Sanders (USA) are taking their love of close-harmony jazz singing – the denser and more intricate the better – as far as it can go. After becoming long-distance fans of each other’s multi-tracked videos on YouTube, they joined forces in 2011, collaborating online on songs and videos. Since then, they have released four albums, performed at the London A Cappella Festival, played dates across Europe, North America, and Asia, and were featured in a sold-out Christmas show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Their singular blend and arrangements have been acclaimed by a cappella devotees and fellow musicians alike, including Cedric Dent of TAKE 6 and Clark Burroughs of The Hi-Lo’s. www.accentvocal.com Micah Barnes Having cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, Micah became a well-loved singer-songwriter on the Queen Street scene before joining The Nylons and touring the world. Recording with the a cappella pop act brought Micah into the global music scene and landed him in Venice Beach, California where he launched a solo career touring the U.S. which led to his #1 international club hit “Welcome To My Head” and coverage in Rolling Stone Magazine as “an Indie artist to watch”. Returning to the jazz-oriented songwriting of his earlier years has resulted in a series of critically acclaimed solo recordings including his “New York Stories” (eOne Music) which saw him returning to tour across Canada. Micah has recently recorded a new album which transports the listener back to the days of legendary Vegas showrooms when the world’s top entertainers worked the strip: featuring songs first recorded by Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Frank Sinatra. Micah is also a highly respected vocal coach who has coached on CBC TV’s “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” and counts Emmy award winning actress Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) among his many top-level clients. www.micahbarnes.com Heather Bambrick is a JUNO-nominated vocalist, voice actor, broadcaster and educator who has collaborated with Phil Nimmons, Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, among many others. She is also a founding member of the Jazz/Cabaret ensemble Broadsway. Bambrick has released three solo recordings, all of which were nominated for East Coast Music Awards, including You’ll Never Know, which was also nominated for a 2017 JUNO Award. She has been a featured guest on numerous recordings, and has been awarded Canada’s National Jazz Award for Vocalist of the Year. Also a voice actor, Bambrick’s voice has appeared in commercials and various animated series including Emmy-nominated Wild Kratts, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Hotel Translvania – The Series, and Justin Time as well as several others. In 2001 she began broadcasting at JAZZ.FM91, and has twice been named National Jazz Awards’ Broadcaster of the Year. In 2018, she co-founded JAZZCAST, a Jazz-focused internet radio station. Along with all of this, she can often be found in classrooms and music festivals across Canada, acting as an advocate for the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, or fighting to close the “value gap” as a member of the Advisory Committee for Music Canada. www.heatherbambrick.ca Beatsync is an eight-piece a cappella ensemble from Toronto, Ontario combining eclectic repertoire with dynamic beats and sophisticated arrangements. From pop to electronic to classic soul, Beatsync draws upon diverse influences to craft their unique contemporary sound, interpreting modern hits and deep cuts alike via the creative lens of co-directors Daniel Boyle and Nick Kotoulas. Beatsync is already making waves internationally, having been featured as part of Fairchild Television’s Mandarin Profile Awards and having recently gone on their first ever international tour to China. Locally, they debuted at SING! Toronto Vocal Arts Festival and continue to perform for high-profile public and corporate events. www.Beatsyncmusic.com Dylan Bell (SING! Co-Artistic Director) In a word… multifaceted. JUNO-nominated Bell’s musical curiosity keeps him effortlessly crossing and blurring musical boundaries. Bell is an international leader in a cappella music, having sung with many of Canada’s premiere vocal ensembles such as FreePlay, Retrocity, Cadence, The Watch, and Hampton Avenue. He also freelances as a keyboardist and bassist. Behind the mixing board, Bell has produced several award-winning albums, including the JUNO-nominated Cadence album, Twenty for One; Ferris Wheels with the world-renowned Swingles; and the JUNO-nominated Skin Tight, by a cappella legends The Nylons. Bell’s compositions and arrangements have garnered international recognition as winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. When it comes to vocal arranging, Bell wrote the book… literally. “A Cappella Arranging” (co-written with Deke Sharon) was published in 2013 to international acclaim. www.dylanbell.ca

Daniel Boyle cut his teeth in a cappella at University of Toronto in TBA (Tunes, Beats, Awesome), followed by joining Countermeasure. He and Nick Kotoulas formed Beatsync, a young and fresh a cappella group focusing on innovative arrangements of Top 40 and Electronic Music. They have toured to China and played for many prestigious special events. Daniel is a Speech-Language Pathologist who co-owns Speech Appeal Clinic, which offers evidence-based speech, language and voice assessment, and therapy. www.speechappealclinic.com Cadence The stage lights fall, the crowd goes quiet and four harmonious voices rise up and fill the air. Vocal arrangements like you have never heard before – containing all the richness of a full band but performed using just four voices. This is Cadence, Canada’s premier vocal group. Based in Toronto, this a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for over 20 years. Whether performing at sold-out jazz clubs and concert halls, at music festivals, for educational outreach, or for corporate functions, the members of Cadence bring an infectious energy and uncanny verve to every song they sing. They feature a hypnotic blend of complex harmonies, intricate arrangements, vocal dexterity, and just plain fun. The group has five critically acclaimed award-winning studio albums. One listen and you will agree: instruments are for surgeons! www.cadence-unplugged.com Will Chandler has been active in the a cappella community since 2012. He started as a performer in The Spirit of Southern, the tenor/bass a cappella ensemble at The University of Southern Mississippi. Since then, he has directed high school a cappella groups in Texas while also serving as the Texas State Representative for the A Cappella Education Association and the Vice President for SING! Texas. Will holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Millsaps College and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky, where he directs the AcoUstiKats. www.linkedin.com/in/willchandlerchoir David Clayton-Thomas began his amazing journey as a homeless street kid and developed into one of the most recognizable voices in music, selling over 40 million records to date. In 1996, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 2007, his jazz/rock composition “Spinning Wheel” was enshrined in the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. In 2010, David received his star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame. His 1968 debut album with Blood Sweat & Tears sold 10 million copies worldwide. The self-titled record topped the Billboard album chart for seven weeks, and charted for a staggering 109 weeks. It won an unprecedented five Grammy awards, including Album Of The Year and Best Performance By A Male Vocalist. It featured three hit singles, “You Made Me So Very Happy”, “And When I Die”, and “Spinning Wheel” as well as an irresistible rendition of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” that became a signature song for David. A 1969 summary in the Los Angeles Times proclaimed that “Blood Sweat & Tears just may be the most important pop music group of the decade”. Today, living back in Toronto, his boyhood turf and the place where he still feels most at home, David has launched a 10-piece band under his own name. Through the years, he has lost none of the attributes that have made him one of the greatest vocalists of his generation. That unmistakable voice now soaring and sunny, now a dark, somber shade of blue. www.davidclaytonthomas.com Countermeasure Formed in 2010, founding artists of SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Countermeasure’s 13 top Canadian vocal talents have earned standing ovations and critical acclaim worldwide. Led by award-winning composer/arranger Aaron Jensen, the group has headlined numerous international festivals, wowed corporate and private audiences, and shared the stage with legendary artists such as a cappella giants Naturally 7 and The Swingle Singers and top 40 stars like Corey Hart and Blue Rodeo. Their new release is “Guest Sessions”, a concept album of rich musical arrangements and intricate vocal harmonies combined with a powerhouse featured instrumentalist on each track. Performing innovative arrangements of pop favourites, classic jazz standards, and original music, their diverse songbook has equipped the group to headline international choral concerts, play the main stage at jazz festivals, and entice club-goers onto the dance floor. Incorporating innovative live looping, instrument imitation, and vocal percussion, Countermeasure enthralls their audiences with their dramatically choreographed shows and flawless harmonies. They have won multiple awards from The Contemporary A Cappella Society of America, including Best CAL Album, best video, and best original song. They have sold out shows throughout multiple U.S. and Canadian tours, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and tours across the U.K., Italy, and Japan. www.countermeasuremusic.com

Kerry Lee Crawford is a renowned on-air host and co-founder of a unique movement called The LOVE Project. As a founding member of the multi-JUNO nominated Platinum and Gold selling Babyblue Sound Crew whose success aided in the launch of recording artists careers such as Sean Paul, Glenn Lewis, Jully Black, and Kardinal Offishall to name a few, Kerry has lived a lifetime in the world of entertainment. Kerry’s musical exploits carried him all around the world working with the “who’s who” of the urban elite. After stepping aside from the world of music Kerry Lee utilized his education and firsthand experience to bring a unique perspective to the world of News Media as a producer, consultant, and contributor appearing on various programs for broadcasters Discovery Channel, Sportsnet, and theScore while lending his voice to CBC Radio One, T.S.N., and the Raptor Channel. Today Kerry Lee Crawford inspires the minds and empowers the hearts of thousands of people through his speaking and motivational appearances to help guide them to be the best they can be through his mentoring programs across Canada. A tireless devotion to the passionate pursuit of Peace, Joy, and Justice via the advocacy for Love, Tolerance and Inclusion, Kerry Lee Crawford raises his voice for clarity highlighting the plight of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. www.torontocaribbean.com/kerry-lee-crawford-the-evolution-of-a-man-a-voice-and-a-vision

Katy Dane is incredibly active in the a cappella community, including her activity as SING! Texas President, Director of Sweet Adelines International's 2019 Division A Silver medalist chorus, A Cappella Unlimited, Director of Barbershop Harmony Society's Southwestern District 3rd place Chorus A Cappella Texas, and the VP of Music and Performance for the Southwestern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Katy is a 15-year music educator in Orchestra, Choir, Music Theory, and Contemporary A Cappella groups and a member of the Education Faculty for the Great Gulf Coast Region 10 of Sweet Adelines. www.acappellatexas.org/about/our-director

Mel Daneke is a contemporary performer, arranger, producer, and instructor. She owns Viridian Productions, an a cappella recording, arranging, and education company. Mel currently performs with two internationally renowned and award-winning vocal bands, Musae (Beatboxer + DJ) and Six Appeal (singer). She has traveled extensively, headlining and performing at festivals in Hong Kong, Taiwan, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Germany, and all over the United States. Her performances and CARA-nominated production has appeared on compilations like Sing, BOHSA, Voices Only, and Voices Only Forte. www.viridianmusic.com

Nukariik Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona are Nukariik, a duo that carries on the rarely heard Inuit throat singing tradition and other age-old forms of Inuit entertainment such as drum dancing and ja ja songs. A vocal game used to amuse children and women while men were out hunting, Inuit throat singing is an art practiced almost exclusively by women. Two singers stand or crouch facing each other and engage in a bit of friendly competition as one singer takes the lead and the other follows. During the vocal exchange, the voiced sounds and breath of each singer combine to form rhythmic melodies that imitate sounds from nature such as a mosquito or a river. The result is mesmerizing, as the singers playfully compete to see who will stop or laugh first. Born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Canada, Kathy embraced her heritage by learning throat singing and drum dancing from friends and elders. While learning, Kathy practiced her breathing walking around town, timing her breath to each step she took to acquire the skill of breathing continuously without getting light-headed. After mastering breath control and producing sounds with the throat, Kathy took the next traditional step in learning throat singing—practicing with a partner. Skilled singers such as Nukariik blend and synchronize their voices so perfectly that it becomes difficult to distinguish between them. www.nationalfolkfestival.com/acts/nukariik

Patricia O’Callaghan Her fifteen-year career has taken her across genres, continents, and a range of disciplines and passions. Her recording career spans six solo albums and many interesting visits along the way as a guest on other artists’ CDs. A speaker of French, Spanish, and German, her early recordings focused on European cabaret, and she is considered a specialist, most significantly, in the music of Kurt Weill. Patricia has performed his Threepenny Opera, Seven Deadly Sins, and Kleine Mahagonny with Soulpepper Theatre Company, Edmonton Opera, Vancouver Opera, and others. She has sung with some of the world’s great ensembles and artists (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Don Byron Quartet, Bryn Terfel), and has performed in venues that range from London’s Royal Opera House to New York’s Le Poisson Rouge. She has worked with R. Murray Schafer, Dennis Lee, Christos Hatzis, Steve Reich, David Braid, and Steven Page. Her most recent albums are Deepest December, Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, and the recently JUNO-nominated Corona Divinae Misericordiae, by David Braid. www.partricia-ocallaghan.com

Phoenix Chamber Choir Founded in 1983, Phoenix Chamber Choir is entering its 38th season as one of Canada’s finest vocal ensembles, renowned for diverse and eclectic programming from the Renaissance to the contemporary, commissions from Canadian and international composers, and North American premieres of significant new works. The choir has recorded and released eleven CDs throughout its history, including two in 2016/2017 – Why the Caged Bird Sings featuring a collection of contemporary works from composers such as Jake Runestad, Abbie Betinis, and Gabriel Jackson, and When the Earth Stands Still highlighting Phoenix’s penchant for lighter works, from composers such as BC’s own Don Macdonald, Daniel Elder, and Nick Myers. In 2019, the choir released its most recent album: Winter Sun, featuring Phoenix’s new Artistic Director, Dr. Nicholle Andrews. With its long-standing history of success in national and international choral competitions and the talent and training of its members, Phoenix Chamber Choir is enriching and extending its earned reputation as an elite-level ensemble. The choir strives to connect deeply with its audiences by sharing world-class musical experiences, and provides invaluable musical opportunities for British Columbian and Canadian choral artists and composers. Phoenix strives for and achieves the highest level of choral performance and audience engagement. For more than three decades, the Phoenix Chamber Choir has played an integral part in developing young musicians, composers and conductors in Vancouver, and has helped to establish Canada’s West Coast as one of the most important centres of choral music in the world. www.phoenixchoir.com Planting Pearl This quartet is a new up-and-coming jazz vocal group that pays homage to the everlasting influence of Gene Puerling. Though the group Planting Pearl was just recently established in 2018, the four singers have been performing together in various contexts for the last five years. Their goal with Planting Pearl is to deliver cutting edge arrangements and covers of impactful vocal jazz groups, and with each performance, finding a new sense of appreciation for the genre. Planting Pearl is founded by members Megan Vivares, Meagan Luchko, Nathan Martin, and Jackson Welchner, who all bring a unique sense of chemistry not often found in the young members of the Toronto Jazz Scene. The group prides itself on its original arrangements by members Nathan Martin and Jackson Welchner. www.facebook.com/PlantingPearl

Pressgang Mutiny Hailing from the port of Toronto, ON, the members of Pressgang Mutiny have been roaring out songs of the sea since 2013. Local favourites in their hometown and on the Canadian and American East Coasts, they are keeping alive the vital tradition of work songs that represent the world’s first truly multicultural music. www.pressgangmutiny.bandcamp.com

Quartette Since their debut in 1993, the four members of Quartette have been both publicly and critically acclaimed for their lush harmonies and delightfully diverse repertoire. Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick, and Sylvia Tyson are seasoned singer/songwriters whose influences range from blues and gospel to folk and country to jazz and pop. The group’s first appearance, a showcase of Canadian women songwriters, took place at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. What began as a “songwriter in the round” concert of musical friends grew into an inspired collaboration. This initial performance generated an appearance on CBC Radio’s Morningside with host Peter Gzowski. The phones began to ring with requests for a recording, and seven months later in April of 1994, the self-titled album, “Quartette”, was released to rave reviews. This was followed by coast-to-coast tours of theatres, folk festivals, performances with symphony orchestras, and live appearances on radio, including two appearances on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. In 1995 a second album, “Work of the Heart”, was released and, following this, CBC’s Adrienne Clarkson Presents profiled the group in an hour-long special. Quartette has received several Juno nominations, won a Canadian Country Music Award for best vocal collaboration, performed with major symphony orchestras across Canada, and recorded the CMT-TV special, “A Quartette Christmas”. They have also released two Christmas CDs, “It’s Christmas!” in 1996, and “I See A Star” in 2002, both of which are collections of traditional and original Christmas songs, and their Christmas shows have become a tradition with audiences across the country. www.quartette.com

RESOUND believes that God brought them together around a kitchen table. The three singers Jessica, Joseph, and Mariah had known each other for years before one day having an informal rehearsal and creating their first “arrangement.” Little did they know, this would lead them to a career of creating and arranging music together. Now, seven years later, they’ve had opportunities from singing on national television shows such as Good Morning America, to singing in some of the biggest arenas along with some of the greatest artists of their time. With hundreds of thousands of online followers, their debut album “First Christmas” reached number sixteen on the gospel Billboard charts. Resound hopes to continue creating music of various styles while pouring their hearts into every note and chord. Their goal is to inspire others to use their God-given talents and keep the ripple effect going, and to echo God’s love, joy, and hope throughout the world. www.officialresound.com

Deke Sharon Heralded as “The Father of Contemporary A Cappella”, Deke Sharon is credited by many as being responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella. While at college, he pioneered the dense vocal-instrumental sound that we today take for granted as the sound of contemporary a cappella. Deke founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society while in college, and is contemporary a cappella’s most prolific arranger, having arranged over 2,000 songs, with many of them in print worldwide. Deke has produced dozens of award-winning a cappella albums, and frequently tours the world teaching a variety of topics to students and professional singers. He helped popularize a cappella in the mainstream by producing five seasons of The Sing Off for NBC, and through his involvement as arranger, on-site music director, and vocal producer for all three films in the Pitch Perfect franchise. As the founder, director, and arranger for the House Jacks for almost 25 years, the original “Rock Band Without Instruments,” Deke shared the stage with countless music legends, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Crosby Stills and Nash, Run DMC, The Temptations, LL Cool J, and the Four Tops, and performed for luminaries including President Bill Clinton. The House Jacks have eight albums, and dozens of international tours to their names, including multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall, and even a performance of the “Monday Night Football Theme” with Hank Williams Jr. in 2011. www.singers.com/arrangers/Deke-Sharon

The Ault Sisters are a Canadian vocal trio featured on Zoomer Media’s hit TV show “Your All-Time Classic Hit Parade”. The Ault Sisters apply their close vocal harmonies to their original songs as well as jazz standards that have been reimagined to provide a contemporary flair and fresh appeal. Intricately interwoven harmonies are a signature part of their performances. Their latest album, “Sisters In Song”, reached #1 on the Canadian iTunes jazz chart in 2018 and pays homage to the great sister acts who inspired them, such as the Andrews Sisters, McGuire Sisters, and Pointer Sisters. The Ault Sisters have performed at many festivals, such as The Beaches International Jazz Festival, The Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, and the Brantford International Jazz Festival concert series. The Ault Sisters’ music has touched people around the world, most recently in Soroti, Uganda, where they had the opportunity to give a concert as World Vision Canada Ambassadors. And in case you were wondering, yes – they really are sisters! www.aultsisters.com The Chitans They are Layne, Karen, Kaiziah, Kayandra, L. Jesse, L. Jayden, and Karlainah. They are a family in full-time ministry from Toronto, Canada. They are excited about singing wherever they are called upon to do so, and sharing The Love of Jesus with all people, especially the children of the world. They serve the community through activities such as ministering in churches, hospitals, nursing homes, senior homes, community centers, prisons, slums, and on the streets (feeding the homeless). We also sing at religious, cultural, human rights and civic gatherings throughout Canada, the U.S.A., Kenya (Africa), the United Kingdom, the Caribbean including Bermuda, and to heads of state in Jamaica, Grenada, Bermuda, and Canada. They were invited to and have also ministered at The White House and the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill. They received a Congressional Award in July 2012 from the United States of America, for volunteer work done on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. www.thechitans.com

The Magic of Orion A graduate of the Chavez School of Magic and holding the magic degree of A.I.M.C from the Magic Circle of London England, Orion has been mesmerizing audiences for over 30 years. He has performed for the Deputy Counsel General of the People’s Republic of China, the Governor General of Canada and many large corporations such as Bombardier, I.B.M, Toshiba and worked Magic Bars in Japan as the house magician. From Canada, to the UK, to Japan where he was given the nickname of ‘The Technician’, Orion’s magic is a perfect blend of class and mystery. www.magicoforion.com

The O’Pears With the homegrown musicality of The Wailin’ Jennys, the sibling-like blend of the Andrews Sisters, and the lyrical sensibility of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The O’Pears, with their signature jaw-dropping harmonies, hold listeners captive with a sound and style that is both classic and contemporary. They have most notably performed at NXNE, SING! Toronto and SING! Austin, Texas, and the 2015 Lunenberg Folk Harbour Festival. After the success of their debut EP, “Our Own”, they released their first full-length CD and toured Europe. www.theopears.com The Swingles For more than half a century, The Swingles have pushed the boundaries of vocal music. At a time when a cappella music is more popular than ever, The Swingles are recognised as masters of their craft. Since their 1963 debut, Jazz Sebastian Bach, the group's repertoire has grown to include a huge variety of music including new original songs. They have made more than 50 recordings; appeared on numerous film and TV soundtracks including Sex and the City, Glee, and Downsizing; and collaborated with artists as diverse as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum, and Luciano Berio. In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly takes them to North and South America, Europe, and Asia, The Swingles present their own London A Cappella Festival each January in partnership with Ikon Arts Management. www.theswingles.co.uk

The Watch This multifarious foursome of a cappella veterans Dylan Bell, Art Mullin, Daniel Galessiere, and Aaron Jensen celebrates a songbook that ranges from swinging bebop tunes, to R&B anthems – from contemporary choral originals to classic pop songs. Their innovative arrangements delight, their vocal-instrument sounds amaze, and their high-energy performance will find you singing your soul out in your seat. Collectively, the individual members of the Watch have recorded numerous celebrated albums and toured worldwide with many of Canada's favourite vocal groups, including Retrocity, Cadence, FreePlay, Countermeasure, and Hampton Avenue. www.thewatch.ca

Toronto Northern Lights Chorus Formed in 1998, The Toronto Northern Lights is the 2013 International Chorus Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society. TNL has represented Ontario 13 times at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Competition, winning medals 12 times and earning consecutive silvers from 2001 to 2005. In 2000, the chorus won the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. TNL has also performed in Germany, England, Holland, and China. Most recently, last April, TNL headed to Europe on a “Gold Medal Tour” that saw them perform in England, Germany, and Sweden. The chorus attracts members of all ages, backgrounds and employment. Although Toronto based, members also come from Montreal, Ottawa, London, Buffalo and Detroit! TNL’s repertoire ranges from Barbershop to Broadway, Vocal Jazz to Doo-Wop, and Gershwin to the Beatles. They have five CDs, including their most recent, “Dare To Dream”, and a two-disc DVD set, “Welcome to the Sandbox”. www.northernlightschorus.com

Jordan Travis is the musical director of A Cappella Showcase. Music and teaching are Jordan's passions, especially when it comes to vocal music. Jordan started his extensive training at a young age leading to a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto. While there, he studied with some of the finest teachers in vocal performance, vocal pedagogy, and choral conducting. In addition to performing and conducting, Jordan is sought after as a premier vocal coach to numerous groups and individuals across Canada, United States, and Europe. Jordan was also the Associate Director and Primary Vocal Coach for the celebrated Toronto Northern Lights Chorus, The Barbershop Harmony Society's 2013 Gold Medal Chorus Champions. www.instachoir.ca

Donna Dudinsky A former documentary television producer, Donna tells old tales to the young at heart. Specializing in folk and fairy tales from around the world, Donna tells at storytelling festivals, schools, libraries and concerts across Canada. Known primarily as a children’s storyteller, she can be heard on Dial-A-Story sponsored by The Toronto Public Library system. Donna was a featured teller at Buffalo Jump, Razzmatazz and Performers for Literacy’s Second Story. She is on the Executive of Storytellers for Children and tells stories in English and French. www.storytellingtoronto.org/story/dudinsky-donna

Anders Edenroth Born in Stockholm, Anders Edenroth started playing piano and singing in choirs at an early age. While studying at The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, he and his fellow students formed an a cappella quintet – The Real Group. Anders has written and published many original songs for The Real Group which include arrangements of well-known standards, constantly exploring the development of new vocal textures and the integration of vocal percussion and rhythmic effects. He has engineered and produced albums for many artists as well as arranging music for other vocal groups, for big bands, symphony orchestras, and stage shows. Anders’ off-stage interests include cooking (which leaks into some of his compositional ideas) and environmental conservation. One of his favourite influences is Stevie Wonder although he listens to all kinds of music. He thinks that if not a musician, his creative instincts might have manifested as an inventor and he plans to one day publish a book entitled ‘Incredible Inventions’ or ‘Totally Ingenious’. www.andersedenroth.com Fermata Town Since their founding in 2009, the Townies have made a name for themselves in the a cappella community, recording multiple award-winning albums while competing and placing in several competitions including the National Harmony Sweepstakes and WGBH's Sing That Thing. They’ve been featured on national news programs and radio shows, and have partnered with organizations from Universal Pictures to the Alzheimer’s Association. They’ve participated in and performed at national and international festivals such as the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in Memphis, Tennessee, the London A Cappella Festival (LACF) in the United Kingdom and SING! Toronto in Canada, bringing their passion for vocal harmony to new communities far and wide. Comprised of 12 singers from varying backgrounds and career fields, the Townies strike a healthy balance between their music and active lifestyles as full-time working professionals. They’re a close community of friends and family, brought together by a shared passion for making music that moves the soul. www.fermatatown.com FreePlay Using nothing but their voices and innovative live-looping techniques, genre-bending FreePlay takes you from the concert halls of Europe, to the jazz clubs of Manhattan, to the temples of India, and back to their native Toronto, Canada, all without you leaving your seat. Partners onstage and off, Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran first met in Toronto in 1993, singing in a jazz choir at York University. What started as a typical voice-and-piano jazz duo began to evolve: more instruments were added, and more musical styles explored, to create a duo unique in its musical depth and variety. In 2007, FreePlay created the uniquely innovative, all-a cappella live looping performance style that has earned them international recognition, taking them across Canada and around the world, with performances at major music festivals spanning six continents. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009, and their most recent album, Go Back Forward, was released in 2018. www.freeplayduo.com Hampton Avenue Close-harmony jazz quartet Hampton Avenue dazzles with their unique timbre, impeccable musicianship and jazz chops to boot. From fresh originals to cool standards, they've been compared to such vocal giants as The New York Voices and Singers Unlimited. Hampton Avenue features founder/director Debbie Fleming, Dylan Bell, Suba Sankaran and Tom Lillington.

Travis Knights Leave your preconceptions at the door and discover the richness of tap dance and jazz improvisation. Having performed as a professional Tap Dancer since 2000, Knights has had the incredible opportunity to work alongside and grow from many of the best talents in the business, including Jackie Richardson, Arthur Duncan, and Gregory Hines. This dance has taken Knights all over the world performing in a language that transcends the spoken work, rhythm. Knights is pleased to invite you into his world of music, dance, and pure being. www.citydancecorps.com/travis-knights

Alyssa McCarthy is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Voice Therapist with Speech Appeal, and is also a Singing Voice Specialist. She is registered nationally with Speech-Language Audiology Canada (SAC) and provincially with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Originally an East Coaster, Alyssa obtained her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Dalhousie University following her Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Performance). Alyssa works passionately in the areas of voice therapy and gender affirming voice training. www.speechappealclinic.com

musica intima In 1992, a group of friends wanted to sing together. They started gathering in one another’s homes to make music while they shared the artistic values that fed into what musica intima has become today: a vocal ensemble that has performed around the country and around the world. www.musicaintima.org

New York Voices Celebrating more than 30 years of touring and recording, this critically acclaimed vocal group has refined their musical story to a high art. They are known for their close-knit voicings, inspired arrangements, and unparalleled vocal blend. With deep interests rooted in jazz, Brazilian, R & B, classical, and pop, their music mixes traditional sensibilities with more than a dash of the unexpected. NYV has traveled the globe with their elegant music, amazing audiences the world over with their impeccable voices and stunning arrangements. They are one of the top vocal groups in the world. www.newyorkvoices.com

Retrocity Born in 1998, the eight totally rad singers of Retrocity electric boogaloo their way through your favourite tunes from the 80s and beyond, without a keytar or drum machine in sight. What started as a one night only concert morphed into an established and well-loved vocal band that continues to hit audiences squarely in their nostalgia cortex. Retrocity’s repertoire covers musical vintages and styles of all kinds, but their hearts still belong to the Me Decade. The bold, textured a cappella arrangements capture an astonishing range of instrumental imitation. Righteous guitar riffs, sensual sax solos, dope drum beats and sizzling synths… all performed with the human voice. Retrocity’s high calibre musicianship and kinetic performance style are popular with audiences of all kinds. The group offers professional vocal clinics and workshops, and has delivered their high-energy show in venues around the world.www.retrocity.ca Jackie Richardson – see feature page on Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award Ruach Singers Creating innovative liturgical and Hebrew vocal music, this eight-voice ensemble offers a new take on the traditional Jewish choral sound, with style cues from contemporary jazz/pop a cappella and modern world music. Their music can be heard at Shabbat Services, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and music festivals worldwide. Their highly-lauded CD Crossroads is available from CD Baby. Ruach Singers launched the first SING! festival in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City. The group will be performing at a special SING! Concert at Beach Hebrew Institute at a later date. www.ruachsingers.com

Suba Sankaran (SING! Co-Artistic Director) DORA award-winning, JUNO-nominated world/fusion vocalist Sankaran effortlessly combines musical worlds, performing across North America, Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia, and Africa with Autorickshaw, master drummer Trichy Sankaran, FreePlay, and Retrocity. Performance highlights include performing for Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and performing with Jane Siberry, Lorraine Segato, Bobby McFerrin, and the Swingles. She has composed, recorded, and produced music for theatre, film, radio, and for south Indian and modern dance, including collaborations with Oscar-nominee Deepa Mehta. Recently, Sankaran made her acting debut at Stratford Festival where she has served for two seasons as vocal coach/arranger and sound designer. Sankaran is in demand as a private teacher, educator, choral director, arranger, adjudicator, and composer, and has given numerous workshops to choirs around the world. www.subasankaran.com

david sereda He is one of Canada’s most distinctive voices, a singer, songwriter and composer – and one of Canada’s first openly gay singer-songwriters. He is passionate about the power of song and the importance of singing your truth. sereda is a collaborator who loves to mix it up, working in different combinations of music and theatre: he has written musicals, a 13-minute opera, and commissions for choirs, released CDs, and has performed in concerts, at festivals (Winnipeg, Vancouver and Regina Folk Festivals, the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival, and the Toronto International Festival of Authors), and with choirs (Youth Outreach Mass Choir, Montreal Jubilation Choir, Nova Scotia Mass Choir). He has produced almost 40 Stray Dog Salons in Toronto, a “mongrel mix” of music, theatre, and poetry. He has been Associate Artist with Sheatre since 2002. david recently received an Ontario Arts Council grant to write songs about living in our turbulent world. Ongoing projects are community a cappella call and response Song Circles, and dialogues with poet and novelist Anne Michaels, including a concert inspired by the art, passion, and life of Tom Thomson, The Woods Are Burning. He lives in Annan, Ontario. www.facebook.com/davidseredamusic

Tom Wilson A three-time JUNO winning musician with multiple gold records, Tom Wilson has written for and recorded songs with Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Jason Isbell, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mavis Staples, and the Rankin Family to name a few. Tom currently tours with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and his band, Lee Harvey Osmond. Tom Wilson was raised in the rough-and-tumble world of Hamilton – Steeltown – in the company of World War II vets, factory workers, fall-guy wrestlers, and the deeply guarded secrets kept by his parents. He built an international music career and became a father, he battled demons and addiction, and he waited, hoping for the lies to cease and the truth to emerge. It would. And when it did, it would sweep up the St. Lawrence River to the Mohawk reserves of Quebec, on to the heights of the Manhattan skyline. With a rare gift for storytelling and an astonishing story to tell, Tom writes with unflinching honesty and extraordinary compassion about his search for the truth. It is a story about scars, about the ones that hurt us, and the ones that make us who we are. www.tomwilsononline.com Dan Yashinsky Known internationally he is one of the founders of Storytelling Toronto (formerly the Storytellers School) and the founder of the Toronto Festival of Storytelling, he also began the longest-running open mic storytelling session in North America – 1,001 Friday Nights of Storytelling – in 1978. He has performed and taught at festivals in Israel, Wales, England, Germany, Brazil, Austria, France, the U.S., Singapore, Ireland, and across Canada. He is the editor of four acclaimed collections of Canadian storytelling and the author of Suddenly They Heard Footsteps – Storytelling for the Twenty-first Century and Swimming with Chaucer – A Storyteller's Logbook. He developed and hosted Talking Stick, a national storytelling radio show on CBC. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for UNICEF Canada, Queen's University, Toronto Public Library, and Baycrest Health Sciences. www.tellery.com and www.storycare.ca

Turkwaz is a unique combination of four singers, immersed in diverse traditions. Each performer brings a special flavour to the group: Maryem draws on her Arabic language heritage, Jayne and Sophia bring their experience with Greek music, and Brenna adds her Turkish fascination. They have a collective interest in Balkan traditions and add Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and whatever else strikes their fancy to their repertoire. www.turkwaz.ca

Sage Tyrtle A professional storyteller, she has performed for audiences of all ages all over the world, from true stories to traditional folktales to interactive improvised fairy tales. Her stories have been featured on NPR and CBC radio. According to the Toronto Star, “When Sage talks, people don’t just listen, they hang on her every word.” Tyrtle has taught the Art of Storytelling at Second City, Seneca College, at schools, and in corporate settings. www.tyrtle.com

Supertonic is an a cappella quartet whose roots are based in the barbershop style. Featuring four members of the 2013 BHS International Chorus Champion, Toronto Northern Lights, they bring a high energy sound showcasing all kinds of music, ranging from the golden age of Broadway to the radio hits of today. Whether it's headlining a show, or as a surprise act for a business conference, Supertonic will make an event unforgettable. www.supertonicqt.com

University of Toronto Gospel Choir Founded in February 1995, the University of Toronto Gospel Choir was formed in celebration of Black History Month. The Choir was initially created to unite students with a shared interest in praising the Lord through song. Soon, however, the weekly choir rehearsals became not only a meeting place, but also a refuge for those looking for a non-threatening and empowering environment. Over the years, the Choir has grown to include members from all races and Christian denominations and celebrates not only in the diversity of its members, but also its audiences. Less than six weeks after its inception, UTGC had its first major performance at Toronto’s Hart House Theatre. The sold out concert also showcased some of the best college gospel choirs from the state of New York. Since that time, the powerhouse that is UTGC has burst onto the international scene, as well as continuing to serve the greater Toronto community in local concerts and university events held throughout the year. The Choir was provided with the unique experience of being the only Canadian choir to participate in Annual Gospel festivals in both Stockholm, Sweden and Barbados, West Indies. In addition to these opportunities, in 2003 the Choir travelled to Tokyo, Japan where they participated in a gospel music festival, performed in local churches, and held their own concert for the mayor of Sagamihara. As UTGC continues to spread their ministry through song, they have been welcomed by groups in New York, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Germany. www.utgc.org

Joanna Wallfisch Described by Downbeat Magazine as “an exquisite singer-songwriter” with a “crystalline voice”, London born singer-songwriter, Joanna Wallfisch comes from a long line of musicians. Raised by classical musician parents Elizabeth and Raphael Wallfisch, her grandmother Anita Lasker Wallfisch, now 94, survived Auschwitz and was selected to play cello in the camp’s women’s orchestra. Joanna’s unique musical heritage shines through in her own compositional style, evoking her classical roots and blending them with her love of jazz, art-song, folk, and pop. After completing her masters in Jazz at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Joanna moved to NYC where she forged an indelible musical path, collaborating with musicians including Dan Tepfer, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, and Lee Konitz. A master in the art of live vocal looping, Joanna creates mesmerising soundscapes to accompany her poetic lyrics. In 2019 she released her fifth album, “Far Away From Any Place Called Home” – a self-penned musical memoir about her solo travels through the USA by bicycle. Global appearances include: Woodford Folk Festival; London Jazz Festival; National Sawdust; MONA; National Concert Hall, Dublin; Salisbury Arts Festival; Boston Court Theatre, Los Angeles; and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK. www.joannawallfisch.com

ONLINE

9TH ANNUAL

4SKÖR is a dynamic and sophisticated vocal quartet that incorporates tight harmonies and smooth arrangements in an energetic and infectious style all their own. The group is equally at home performing a cappella or with their trio. Their unique sound is modern with hints of jazz, latin, R&B, funk, pop, and fusion. Sara, Pete, Kylie and Sean crossed paths during high school in diverse music competitions and ensembles while studying and building their professional music careers. As 4SKÖR, they have performed at various events in and around the Toronto area including The Beaches Jazz Festival, Oakville Downtown Jazz Festival, Musicfest Canada, SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Jazz Bistro, 120 Diner, Villa Caledon Inn, and The Distillery District with Heather Bambrick. www.4skor.ca

Accent Inspired by the wizardly jazz harmonies of TAKE 6 and, before them, The Hi-Lo’s, the six men of Accent, Jean-Baptiste “JB” Craipeau (France), Simon Åkesson (Sweden), Danny Fong (Canada), Andrew Kesler (Canada), James Rose (United Kingdom), and Evan Sanders (USA) are taking their love of close-harmony jazz singing – the denser and more intricate the better – as far as it can go. After becoming long-distance fans of each other’s multi-tracked videos on YouTube, they joined forces in 2011, collaborating online on songs and videos. Since then, they have released four albums, performed at the London A Cappella Festival, played dates across Europe, North America, and Asia, and were featured in a sold-out Christmas show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Their singular blend and arrangements have been acclaimed by a cappella devotees and fellow musicians alike, including Cedric Dent of TAKE 6 and Clark Burroughs of The Hi-Lo’s. www.accentvocal.com Micah Barnes Having cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager, Micah became a well-loved singer-songwriter on the Queen Street scene before joining The Nylons and touring the world. Recording with the a cappella pop act brought Micah into the global music scene and landed him in Venice Beach, California where he launched a solo career touring the U.S. which led to his #1 international club hit “Welcome To My Head” and coverage in Rolling Stone Magazine as “an Indie artist to watch”. Returning to the jazz-oriented songwriting of his earlier years has resulted in a series of critically acclaimed solo recordings including his “New York Stories” (eOne Music) which saw him returning to tour across Canada. Micah has recently recorded a new album which transports the listener back to the days of legendary Vegas showrooms when the world’s top entertainers worked the strip: featuring songs first recorded by Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Frank Sinatra. Micah is also a highly respected vocal coach who has coached on CBC TV’s “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” and counts Emmy award winning actress Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) among his many top-level clients. www.micahbarnes.com Heather Bambrick is a JUNO-nominated vocalist, voice actor, broadcaster and educator who has collaborated with Phil Nimmons, Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, among many others. She is also a founding member of the Jazz/Cabaret ensemble Broadsway. Bambrick has released three solo recordings, all of which were nominated for East Coast Music Awards, including You’ll Never Know, which was also nominated for a 2017 JUNO Award. She has been a featured guest on numerous recordings, and has been awarded Canada’s National Jazz Award for Vocalist of the Year. Also a voice actor, Bambrick’s voice has appeared in commercials and various animated series including Emmy-nominated Wild Kratts, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Hotel Translvania – The Series, and Justin Time as well as several others. In 2001 she began broadcasting at JAZZ.FM91, and has twice been named National Jazz Awards’ Broadcaster of the Year. In 2018, she co-founded JAZZCAST, a Jazz-focused internet radio station. Along with all of this, she can often be found in classrooms and music festivals across Canada, acting as an advocate for the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, or fighting to close the “value gap” as a member of the Advisory Committee for Music Canada. www.heatherbambrick.ca Beatsync is an eight-piece a cappella ensemble from Toronto, Ontario combining eclectic repertoire with dynamic beats and sophisticated arrangements. From pop to electronic to classic soul, Beatsync draws upon diverse influences to craft their unique contemporary sound, interpreting modern hits and deep cuts alike via the creative lens of co-directors Daniel Boyle and Nick Kotoulas. Beatsync is already making waves internationally, having been featured as part of Fairchild Television’s Mandarin Profile Awards and having recently gone on their first ever international tour to China. Locally, they debuted at SING! Toronto Vocal Arts Festival and continue to perform for high-profile public and corporate events. www.Beatsyncmusic.com Dylan Bell (SING! Co-Artistic Director) In a word… multifaceted. JUNO-nominated Bell’s musical curiosity keeps him effortlessly crossing and blurring musical boundaries. Bell is an international leader in a cappella music, having sung with many of Canada’s premiere vocal ensembles such as FreePlay, Retrocity, Cadence, The Watch, and Hampton Avenue. He also freelances as a keyboardist and bassist. Behind the mixing board, Bell has produced several award-winning albums, including the JUNO-nominated Cadence album, Twenty for One; Ferris Wheels with the world-renowned Swingles; and the JUNO-nominated Skin Tight, by a cappella legends The Nylons. Bell’s compositions and arrangements have garnered international recognition as winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. When it comes to vocal arranging, Bell wrote the book… literally. “A Cappella Arranging” (co-written with Deke Sharon) was published in 2013 to international acclaim. www.dylanbell.ca

Daniel Boyle cut his teeth in a cappella at University of Toronto in TBA (Tunes, Beats, Awesome), followed by joining Countermeasure. He and Nick Kotoulas formed Beatsync, a young and fresh a cappella group focusing on innovative arrangements of Top 40 and Electronic Music. They have toured to China and played for many prestigious special events. Daniel is a Speech-Language Pathologist who co-owns Speech Appeal Clinic, which offers evidence-based speech, language and voice assessment, and therapy. www.speechappealclinic.com Cadence The stage lights fall, the crowd goes quiet and four harmonious voices rise up and fill the air. Vocal arrangements like you have never heard before – containing all the richness of a full band but performed using just four voices. This is Cadence, Canada’s premier vocal group. Based in Toronto, this a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for over 20 years. Whether performing at sold-out jazz clubs and concert halls, at music festivals, for educational outreach, or for corporate functions, the members of Cadence bring an infectious energy and uncanny verve to every song they sing. They feature a hypnotic blend of complex harmonies, intricate arrangements, vocal dexterity, and just plain fun. The group has five critically acclaimed award-winning studio albums. One listen and you will agree: instruments are for surgeons! www.cadence-unplugged.com Will Chandler has been active in the a cappella community since 2012. He started as a performer in The Spirit of Southern, the tenor/bass a cappella ensemble at The University of Southern Mississippi. Since then, he has directed high school a cappella groups in Texas while also serving as the Texas State Representative for the A Cappella Education Association and the Vice President for SING! Texas. Will holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Millsaps College and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky, where he directs the AcoUstiKats. www.linkedin.com/in/willchandlerchoir David Clayton-Thomas began his amazing journey as a homeless street kid and developed into one of the most recognizable voices in music, selling over 40 million records to date. In 1996, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 2007, his jazz/rock composition “Spinning Wheel” was enshrined in the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. In 2010, David received his star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame. His 1968 debut album with Blood Sweat & Tears sold 10 million copies worldwide. The self-titled record topped the Billboard album chart for seven weeks, and charted for a staggering 109 weeks. It won an unprecedented five Grammy awards, including Album Of The Year and Best Performance By A Male Vocalist. It featured three hit singles, “You Made Me So Very Happy”, “And When I Die”, and “Spinning Wheel” as well as an irresistible rendition of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” that became a signature song for David. A 1969 summary in the Los Angeles Times proclaimed that “Blood Sweat & Tears just may be the most important pop music group of the decade”. Today, living back in Toronto, his boyhood turf and the place where he still feels most at home, David has launched a 10-piece band under his own name. Through the years, he has lost none of the attributes that have made him one of the greatest vocalists of his generation. That unmistakable voice now soaring and sunny, now a dark, somber shade of blue. www.davidclaytonthomas.com Countermeasure Formed in 2010, founding artists of SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, Countermeasure’s 13 top Canadian vocal talents have earned standing ovations and critical acclaim worldwide. Led by award-winning composer/arranger Aaron Jensen, the group has headlined numerous international festivals, wowed corporate and private audiences, and shared the stage with legendary artists such as a cappella giants Naturally 7 and The Swingle Singers and top 40 stars like Corey Hart and Blue Rodeo. Their new release is “Guest Sessions”, a concept album of rich musical arrangements and intricate vocal harmonies combined with a powerhouse featured instrumentalist on each track. Performing innovative arrangements of pop favourites, classic jazz standards, and original music, their diverse songbook has equipped the group to headline international choral concerts, play the main stage at jazz festivals, and entice club-goers onto the dance floor. Incorporating innovative live looping, instrument imitation, and vocal percussion, Countermeasure enthralls their audiences with their dramatically choreographed shows and flawless harmonies. They have won multiple awards from The Contemporary A Cappella Society of America, including Best CAL Album, best video, and best original song. They have sold out shows throughout multiple U.S. and Canadian tours, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and tours across the U.K., Italy, and Japan. www.countermeasuremusic.com

Kerry Lee Crawford is a renowned on-air host and co-founder of a unique movement called The LOVE Project. As a founding member of the multi-JUNO nominated Platinum and Gold selling Babyblue Sound Crew whose success aided in the launch of recording artists careers such as Sean Paul, Glenn Lewis, Jully Black, and Kardinal Offishall to name a few, Kerry has lived a lifetime in the world of entertainment. Kerry’s musical exploits carried him all around the world working with the “who’s who” of the urban elite. After stepping aside from the world of music Kerry Lee utilized his education and firsthand experience to bring a unique perspective to the world of News Media as a producer, consultant, and contributor appearing on various programs for broadcasters Discovery Channel, Sportsnet, and theScore while lending his voice to CBC Radio One, T.S.N., and the Raptor Channel. Today Kerry Lee Crawford inspires the minds and empowers the hearts of thousands of people through his speaking and motivational appearances to help guide them to be the best they can be through his mentoring programs across Canada. A tireless devotion to the passionate pursuit of Peace, Joy, and Justice via the advocacy for Love, Tolerance and Inclusion, Kerry Lee Crawford raises his voice for clarity highlighting the plight of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. www.torontocaribbean.com/kerry-lee-crawford-the-evolution-of-a-man-a-voice-and-a-vision

Katy Dane is incredibly active in the a cappella community, including her activity as SING! Texas President, Director of Sweet Adelines International's 2019 Division A Silver medalist chorus, A Cappella Unlimited, Director of Barbershop Harmony Society's Southwestern District 3rd place Chorus A Cappella Texas, and the VP of Music and Performance for the Southwestern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Katy is a 15-year music educator in Orchestra, Choir, Music Theory, and Contemporary A Cappella groups and a member of the Education Faculty for the Great Gulf Coast Region 10 of Sweet Adelines. www.acappellatexas.org/about/our-director

Mel Daneke is a contemporary performer, arranger, producer, and instructor. She owns Viridian Productions, an a cappella recording, arranging, and education company. Mel currently performs with two internationally renowned and award-winning vocal bands, Musae (Beatboxer + DJ) and Six Appeal (singer). She has traveled extensively, headlining and performing at festivals in Hong Kong, Taiwan, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Germany, and all over the United States. Her performances and CARA-nominated production has appeared on compilations like Sing, BOHSA, Voices Only, and Voices Only Forte. www.viridianmusic.com

Nukariik Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona are Nukariik, a duo that carries on the rarely heard Inuit throat singing tradition and other age-old forms of Inuit entertainment such as drum dancing and ja ja songs. A vocal game used to amuse children and women while men were out hunting, Inuit throat singing is an art practiced almost exclusively by women. Two singers stand or crouch facing each other and engage in a bit of friendly competition as one singer takes the lead and the other follows. During the vocal exchange, the voiced sounds and breath of each singer combine to form rhythmic melodies that imitate sounds from nature such as a mosquito or a river. The result is mesmerizing, as the singers playfully compete to see who will stop or laugh first. Born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Canada, Kathy embraced her heritage by learning throat singing and drum dancing from friends and elders. While learning, Kathy practiced her breathing walking around town, timing her breath to each step she took to acquire the skill of breathing continuously without getting light-headed. After mastering breath control and producing sounds with the throat, Kathy took the next traditional step in learning throat singing—practicing with a partner. Skilled singers such as Nukariik blend and synchronize their voices so perfectly that it becomes difficult to distinguish between them. www.nationalfolkfestival.com/acts/nukariik

Patricia O’Callaghan Her fifteen-year career has taken her across genres, continents, and a range of disciplines and passions. Her recording career spans six solo albums and many interesting visits along the way as a guest on other artists’ CDs. A speaker of French, Spanish, and German, her early recordings focused on European cabaret, and she is considered a specialist, most significantly, in the music of Kurt Weill. Patricia has performed his Threepenny Opera, Seven Deadly Sins, and Kleine Mahagonny with Soulpepper Theatre Company, Edmonton Opera, Vancouver Opera, and others. She has sung with some of the world’s great ensembles and artists (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Don Byron Quartet, Bryn Terfel), and has performed in venues that range from London’s Royal Opera House to New York’s Le Poisson Rouge. She has worked with R. Murray Schafer, Dennis Lee, Christos Hatzis, Steve Reich, David Braid, and Steven Page. Her most recent albums are Deepest December, Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, and the recently JUNO-nominated Corona Divinae Misericordiae, by David Braid. www.partricia-ocallaghan.com

Phoenix Chamber Choir Founded in 1983, Phoenix Chamber Choir is entering its 38th season as one of Canada’s finest vocal ensembles, renowned for diverse and eclectic programming from the Renaissance to the contemporary, commissions from Canadian and international composers, and North American premieres of significant new works. The choir has recorded and released eleven CDs throughout its history, including two in 2016/2017 – Why the Caged Bird Sings featuring a collection of contemporary works from composers such as Jake Runestad, Abbie Betinis, and Gabriel Jackson, and When the Earth Stands Still highlighting Phoenix’s penchant for lighter works, from composers such as BC’s own Don Macdonald, Daniel Elder, and Nick Myers. In 2019, the choir released its most recent album: Winter Sun, featuring Phoenix’s new Artistic Director, Dr. Nicholle Andrews. With its long-standing history of success in national and international choral competitions and the talent and training of its members, Phoenix Chamber Choir is enriching and extending its earned reputation as an elite-level ensemble. The choir strives to connect deeply with its audiences by sharing world-class musical experiences, and provides invaluable musical opportunities for British Columbian and Canadian choral artists and composers. Phoenix strives for and achieves the highest level of choral performance and audience engagement. For more than three decades, the Phoenix Chamber Choir has played an integral part in developing young musicians, composers and conductors in Vancouver, and has helped to establish Canada’s West Coast as one of the most important centres of choral music in the world. www.phoenixchoir.com Planting Pearl This quartet is a new up-and-coming jazz vocal group that pays homage to the everlasting influence of Gene Puerling. Though the group Planting Pearl was just recently established in 2018, the four singers have been performing together in various contexts for the last five years. Their goal with Planting Pearl is to deliver cutting edge arrangements and covers of impactful vocal jazz groups, and with each performance, finding a new sense of appreciation for the genre. Planting Pearl is founded by members Megan Vivares, Meagan Luchko, Nathan Martin, and Jackson Welchner, who all bring a unique sense of chemistry not often found in the young members of the Toronto Jazz Scene. The group prides itself on its original arrangements by members Nathan Martin and Jackson Welchner. www.facebook.com/PlantingPearl

Pressgang Mutiny Hailing from the port of Toronto, ON, the members of Pressgang Mutiny have been roaring out songs of the sea since 2013. Local favourites in their hometown and on the Canadian and American East Coasts, they are keeping alive the vital tradition of work songs that represent the world’s first truly multicultural music. www.pressgangmutiny.bandcamp.com

Quartette Since their debut in 1993, the four members of Quartette have been both publicly and critically acclaimed for their lush harmonies and delightfully diverse repertoire. Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick, and Sylvia Tyson are seasoned singer/songwriters whose influences range from blues and gospel to folk and country to jazz and pop. The group’s first appearance, a showcase of Canadian women songwriters, took place at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. What began as a “songwriter in the round” concert of musical friends grew into an inspired collaboration. This initial performance generated an appearance on CBC Radio’s Morningside with host Peter Gzowski. The phones began to ring with requests for a recording, and seven months later in April of 1994, the self-titled album, “Quartette”, was released to rave reviews. This was followed by coast-to-coast tours of theatres, folk festivals, performances with symphony orchestras, and live appearances on radio, including two appearances on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. In 1995 a second album, “Work of the Heart”, was released and, following this, CBC’s Adrienne Clarkson Presents profiled the group in an hour-long special. Quartette has received several Juno nominations, won a Canadian Country Music Award for best vocal collaboration, performed with major symphony orchestras across Canada, and recorded the CMT-TV special, “A Quartette Christmas”. They have also released two Christmas CDs, “It’s Christmas!” in 1996, and “I See A Star” in 2002, both of which are collections of traditional and original Christmas songs, and their Christmas shows have become a tradition with audiences across the country. www.quartette.com

RESOUND believes that God brought them together around a kitchen table. The three singers Jessica, Joseph, and Mariah had known each other for years before one day having an informal rehearsal and creating their first “arrangement.” Little did they know, this would lead them to a career of creating and arranging music together. Now, seven years later, they’ve had opportunities from singing on national television shows such as Good Morning America, to singing in some of the biggest arenas along with some of the greatest artists of their time. With hundreds of thousands of online followers, their debut album “First Christmas” reached number sixteen on the gospel Billboard charts. Resound hopes to continue creating music of various styles while pouring their hearts into every note and chord. Their goal is to inspire others to use their God-given talents and keep the ripple effect going, and to echo God’s love, joy, and hope throughout the world. www.officialresound.com

Deke Sharon Heralded as “The Father of Contemporary A Cappella”, Deke Sharon is credited by many as being responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella. While at college, he pioneered the dense vocal-instrumental sound that we today take for granted as the sound of contemporary a cappella. Deke founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society while in college, and is contemporary a cappella’s most prolific arranger, having arranged over 2,000 songs, with many of them in print worldwide. Deke has produced dozens of award-winning a cappella albums, and frequently tours the world teaching a variety of topics to students and professional singers. He helped popularize a cappella in the mainstream by producing five seasons of The Sing Off for NBC, and through his involvement as arranger, on-site music director, and vocal producer for all three films in the Pitch Perfect franchise. As the founder, director, and arranger for the House Jacks for almost 25 years, the original “Rock Band Without Instruments,” Deke shared the stage with countless music legends, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Crosby Stills and Nash, Run DMC, The Temptations, LL Cool J, and the Four Tops, and performed for luminaries including President Bill Clinton. The House Jacks have eight albums, and dozens of international tours to their names, including multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall, and even a performance of the “Monday Night Football Theme” with Hank Williams Jr. in 2011. www.singers.com/arrangers/Deke-Sharon

The Ault Sisters are a Canadian vocal trio featured on Zoomer Media’s hit TV show “Your All-Time Classic Hit Parade”. The Ault Sisters apply their close vocal harmonies to their original songs as well as jazz standards that have been reimagined to provide a contemporary flair and fresh appeal. Intricately interwoven harmonies are a signature part of their performances. Their latest album, “Sisters In Song”, reached #1 on the Canadian iTunes jazz chart in 2018 and pays homage to the great sister acts who inspired them, such as the Andrews Sisters, McGuire Sisters, and Pointer Sisters. The Ault Sisters have performed at many festivals, such as The Beaches International Jazz Festival, The Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, and the Brantford International Jazz Festival concert series. The Ault Sisters’ music has touched people around the world, most recently in Soroti, Uganda, where they had the opportunity to give a concert as World Vision Canada Ambassadors. And in case you were wondering, yes – they really are sisters! www.aultsisters.com The Chitans They are Layne, Karen, Kaiziah, Kayandra, L. Jesse, L. Jayden, and Karlainah. They are a family in full-time ministry from Toronto, Canada. They are excited about singing wherever they are called upon to do so, and sharing The Love of Jesus with all people, especially the children of the world. They serve the community through activities such as ministering in churches, hospitals, nursing homes, senior homes, community centers, prisons, slums, and on the streets (feeding the homeless). We also sing at religious, cultural, human rights and civic gatherings throughout Canada, the U.S.A., Kenya (Africa), the United Kingdom, the Caribbean including Bermuda, and to heads of state in Jamaica, Grenada, Bermuda, and Canada. They were invited to and have also ministered at The White House and the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill. They received a Congressional Award in July 2012 from the United States of America, for volunteer work done on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. www.thechitans.com

The Magic of Orion A graduate of the Chavez School of Magic and holding the magic degree of A.I.M.C from the Magic Circle of London England, Orion has been mesmerizing audiences for over 30 years. He has performed for the Deputy Counsel General of the People’s Republic of China, the Governor General of Canada and many large corporations such as Bombardier, I.B.M, Toshiba and worked Magic Bars in Japan as the house magician. From Canada, to the UK, to Japan where he was given the nickname of ‘The Technician’, Orion’s magic is a perfect blend of class and mystery. www.magicoforion.com

The O’Pears With the homegrown musicality of The Wailin’ Jennys, the sibling-like blend of the Andrews Sisters, and the lyrical sensibility of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The O’Pears, with their signature jaw-dropping harmonies, hold listeners captive with a sound and style that is both classic and contemporary. They have most notably performed at NXNE, SING! Toronto and SING! Austin, Texas, and the 2015 Lunenberg Folk Harbour Festival. After the success of their debut EP, “Our Own”, they released their first full-length CD and toured Europe. www.theopears.com The Swingles For more than half a century, The Swingles have pushed the boundaries of vocal music. At a time when a cappella music is more popular than ever, The Swingles are recognised as masters of their craft. Since their 1963 debut, Jazz Sebastian Bach, the group's repertoire has grown to include a huge variety of music including new original songs. They have made more than 50 recordings; appeared on numerous film and TV soundtracks including Sex and the City, Glee, and Downsizing; and collaborated with artists as diverse as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum, and Luciano Berio. In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly takes them to North and South America, Europe, and Asia, The Swingles present their own London A Cappella Festival each January in partnership with Ikon Arts Management. www.theswingles.co.uk

The Watch This multifarious foursome of a cappella veterans Dylan Bell, Art Mullin, Daniel Galessiere, and Aaron Jensen celebrates a songbook that ranges from swinging bebop tunes, to R&B anthems – from contemporary choral originals to classic pop songs. Their innovative arrangements delight, their vocal-instrument sounds amaze, and their high-energy performance will find you singing your soul out in your seat. Collectively, the individual members of the Watch have recorded numerous celebrated albums and toured worldwide with many of Canada's favourite vocal groups, including Retrocity, Cadence, FreePlay, Countermeasure, and Hampton Avenue. www.thewatch.ca

Toronto Northern Lights Chorus Formed in 1998, The Toronto Northern Lights is the 2013 International Chorus Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society. TNL has represented Ontario 13 times at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Competition, winning medals 12 times and earning consecutive silvers from 2001 to 2005. In 2000, the chorus won the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. TNL has also performed in Germany, England, Holland, and China. Most recently, last April, TNL headed to Europe on a “Gold Medal Tour” that saw them perform in England, Germany, and Sweden. The chorus attracts members of all ages, backgrounds and employment. Although Toronto based, members also come from Montreal, Ottawa, London, Buffalo and Detroit! TNL’s repertoire ranges from Barbershop to Broadway, Vocal Jazz to Doo-Wop, and Gershwin to the Beatles. They have five CDs, including their most recent, “Dare To Dream”, and a two-disc DVD set, “Welcome to the Sandbox”. www.northernlightschorus.com

Jordan Travis is the musical director of A Cappella Showcase. Music and teaching are Jordan's passions, especially when it comes to vocal music. Jordan started his extensive training at a young age leading to a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto. While there, he studied with some of the finest teachers in vocal performance, vocal pedagogy, and choral conducting. In addition to performing and conducting, Jordan is sought after as a premier vocal coach to numerous groups and individuals across Canada, United States, and Europe. Jordan was also the Associate Director and Primary Vocal Coach for the celebrated Toronto Northern Lights Chorus, The Barbershop Harmony Society's 2013 Gold Medal Chorus Champions. www.instachoir.ca

Donna Dudinsky A former documentary television producer, Donna tells old tales to the young at heart. Specializing in folk and fairy tales from around the world, Donna tells at storytelling festivals, schools, libraries and concerts across Canada. Known primarily as a children’s storyteller, she can be heard on Dial-A-Story sponsored by The Toronto Public Library system. Donna was a featured teller at Buffalo Jump, Razzmatazz and Performers for Literacy’s Second Story. She is on the Executive of Storytellers for Children and tells stories in English and French. www.storytellingtoronto.org/story/dudinsky-donna

Anders Edenroth Born in Stockholm, Anders Edenroth started playing piano and singing in choirs at an early age. While studying at The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, he and his fellow students formed an a cappella quintet – The Real Group. Anders has written and published many original songs for The Real Group which include arrangements of well-known standards, constantly exploring the development of new vocal textures and the integration of vocal percussion and rhythmic effects. He has engineered and produced albums for many artists as well as arranging music for other vocal groups, for big bands, symphony orchestras, and stage shows. Anders’ off-stage interests include cooking (which leaks into some of his compositional ideas) and environmental conservation. One of his favourite influences is Stevie Wonder although he listens to all kinds of music. He thinks that if not a musician, his creative instincts might have manifested as an inventor and he plans to one day publish a book entitled ‘Incredible Inventions’ or ‘Totally Ingenious’. www.andersedenroth.com Fermata Town Since their founding in 2009, the Townies have made a name for themselves in the a cappella community, recording multiple award-winning albums while competing and placing in several competitions including the National Harmony Sweepstakes and WGBH's Sing That Thing. They’ve been featured on national news programs and radio shows, and have partnered with organizations from Universal Pictures to the Alzheimer’s Association. They’ve participated in and performed at national and international festivals such as the National A Cappella Convention (NACC) in Memphis, Tennessee, the London A Cappella Festival (LACF) in the United Kingdom and SING! Toronto in Canada, bringing their passion for vocal harmony to new communities far and wide. Comprised of 12 singers from varying backgrounds and career fields, the Townies strike a healthy balance between their music and active lifestyles as full-time working professionals. They’re a close community of friends and family, brought together by a shared passion for making music that moves the soul. www.fermatatown.com FreePlay Using nothing but their voices and innovative live-looping techniques, genre-bending FreePlay takes you from the concert halls of Europe, to the jazz clubs of Manhattan, to the temples of India, and back to their native Toronto, Canada, all without you leaving your seat. Partners onstage and off, Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran first met in Toronto in 1993, singing in a jazz choir at York University. What started as a typical voice-and-piano jazz duo began to evolve: more instruments were added, and more musical styles explored, to create a duo unique in its musical depth and variety. In 2007, FreePlay created the uniquely innovative, all-a cappella live looping performance style that has earned them international recognition, taking them across Canada and around the world, with performances at major music festivals spanning six continents. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009, and their most recent album, Go Back Forward, was released in 2018. www.freeplayduo.com Hampton Avenue Close-harmony jazz quartet Hampton Avenue dazzles with their unique timbre, impeccable musicianship and jazz chops to boot. From fresh originals to cool standards, they've been compared to such vocal giants as The New York Voices and Singers Unlimited. Hampton Avenue features founder/director Debbie Fleming, Dylan Bell, Suba Sankaran and Tom Lillington.

Travis Knights Leave your preconceptions at the door and discover the richness of tap dance and jazz improvisation. Having performed as a professional Tap Dancer since 2000, Knights has had the incredible opportunity to work alongside and grow from many of the best talents in the business, including Jackie Richardson, Arthur Duncan, and Gregory Hines. This dance has taken Knights all over the world performing in a language that transcends the spoken work, rhythm. Knights is pleased to invite you into his world of music, dance, and pure being. www.citydancecorps.com/travis-knights

Alyssa McCarthy is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Voice Therapist with Speech Appeal, and is also a Singing Voice Specialist. She is registered nationally with Speech-Language Audiology Canada (SAC) and provincially with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Originally an East Coaster, Alyssa obtained her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Dalhousie University following her Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Performance). Alyssa works passionately in the areas of voice therapy and gender affirming voice training. www.speechappealclinic.com

musica intima In 1992, a group of friends wanted to sing together. They started gathering in one another’s homes to make music while they shared the artistic values that fed into what musica intima has become today: a vocal ensemble that has performed around the country and around the world. www.musicaintima.org

New York Voices Celebrating more than 30 years of touring and recording, this critically acclaimed vocal group has refined their musical story to a high art. They are known for their close-knit voicings, inspired arrangements, and unparalleled vocal blend. With deep interests rooted in jazz, Brazilian, R & B, classical, and pop, their music mixes traditional sensibilities with more than a dash of the unexpected. NYV has traveled the globe with their elegant music, amazing audiences the world over with their impeccable voices and stunning arrangements. They are one of the top vocal groups in the world. www.newyorkvoices.com

Retrocity Born in 1998, the eight totally rad singers of Retrocity electric boogaloo their way through your favourite tunes from the 80s and beyond, without a keytar or drum machine in sight. What started as a one night only concert morphed into an established and well-loved vocal band that continues to hit audiences squarely in their nostalgia cortex. Retrocity’s repertoire covers musical vintages and styles of all kinds, but their hearts still belong to the Me Decade. The bold, textured a cappella arrangements capture an astonishing range of instrumental imitation. Righteous guitar riffs, sensual sax solos, dope drum beats and sizzling synths… all performed with the human voice. Retrocity’s high calibre musicianship and kinetic performance style are popular with audiences of all kinds. The group offers professional vocal clinics and workshops, and has delivered their high-energy show in venues around the world.www.retrocity.ca Jackie Richardson – see feature page on Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award Ruach Singers Creating innovative liturgical and Hebrew vocal music, this eight-voice ensemble offers a new take on the traditional Jewish choral sound, with style cues from contemporary jazz/pop a cappella and modern world music. Their music can be heard at Shabbat Services, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and music festivals worldwide. Their highly-lauded CD Crossroads is available from CD Baby. Ruach Singers launched the first SING! festival in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City. The group will be performing at a special SING! Concert at Beach Hebrew Institute at a later date. www.ruachsingers.com

Suba Sankaran (SING! Co-Artistic Director) DORA award-winning, JUNO-nominated world/fusion vocalist Sankaran effortlessly combines musical worlds, performing across North America, Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia, and Africa with Autorickshaw, master drummer Trichy Sankaran, FreePlay, and Retrocity. Performance highlights include performing for Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and performing with Jane Siberry, Lorraine Segato, Bobby McFerrin, and the Swingles. She has composed, recorded, and produced music for theatre, film, radio, and for south Indian and modern dance, including collaborations with Oscar-nominee Deepa Mehta. Recently, Sankaran made her acting debut at Stratford Festival where she has served for two seasons as vocal coach/arranger and sound designer. Sankaran is in demand as a private teacher, educator, choral director, arranger, adjudicator, and composer, and has given numerous workshops to choirs around the world. www.subasankaran.com

david sereda He is one of Canada’s most distinctive voices, a singer, songwriter and composer – and one of Canada’s first openly gay singer-songwriters. He is passionate about the power of song and the importance of singing your truth. sereda is a collaborator who loves to mix it up, working in different combinations of music and theatre: he has written musicals, a 13-minute opera, and commissions for choirs, released CDs, and has performed in concerts, at festivals (Winnipeg, Vancouver and Regina Folk Festivals, the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival, and the Toronto International Festival of Authors), and with choirs (Youth Outreach Mass Choir, Montreal Jubilation Choir, Nova Scotia Mass Choir). He has produced almost 40 Stray Dog Salons in Toronto, a “mongrel mix” of music, theatre, and poetry. He has been Associate Artist with Sheatre since 2002. david recently received an Ontario Arts Council grant to write songs about living in our turbulent world. Ongoing projects are community a cappella call and response Song Circles, and dialogues with poet and novelist Anne Michaels, including a concert inspired by the art, passion, and life of Tom Thomson, The Woods Are Burning. He lives in Annan, Ontario. www.facebook.com/davidseredamusic

Each year, SING! Toronto honours a person or ensemble who has made a significant contribution to the vocal arts in Canada and internationally. We are thrilled to honour a true legend as our recipient this year: Jackie Richardson.

Jackie Richardson is an electrifying, award-winning actress and one of Canada's foremost singers of gospel, blues, and jazz whose career includes performances in concert, radio, television, and recordings. She is performing with a star-studded cast in SING! in Concert – Primetime: SING! Salutes Vegas in this year’s festival on Saturday, October 3 at 8 pm.

Jackie has performed across Canada and in countries around the world. She has received NAACP, JUNO, Betty, Dora, Jesse, Gemini, Toronto Blues Society, and Canadian Equity Association Lifetime Achievement Awards and Nominations. She holds a number of additional awards and honours that have been bestowed on her and was most recently honoured for ACTRA Lifetime Achievement.

Born in Pennsylvania but raised in Canada, Jackie is proud of her contributions to the cultural landscape of this country. Jackie celebrated Canada's 150th Birthday with many performances, but her proudest moments include the Gala Concert “A Place To Stand: A Celebration of 150 Years of Ontario and Canada” hosted by The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario at Roy Thomson Hall, and Soulpepper Theatre's “Across The Border” program, which represented Canada in New York City for the month of July 2017. She had the honour of singing for the Celebration of Life for former Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander. She was hailed by Toronto Star's Commemoration of Toronto's 180th Birthday one of 180 people considered to have helped shape our city.

She started her TV career in her teens with CBC variety, and expanded over the years to take on many film and radio productions, which included drama. Other projects include performing with Micah Barnes, The Art of Time Ensemble, Sean Jones Concerts, The Musical Stage “Uncovered Concerts”, “The Nina Simone Project”, and the return of “The Journey” with Regent Park. Singing with her daughter Kim Richardson continues to be her most joyful experience.

High on Jackie’s list are community and global concerns, and some of her most vital areas of support are for The Regent Park community, Pal Canada Foundation (Performers Arts Lodge), the Steven Lewis Foundation’s Grandmother’s Campaign (HIV/AIDS project), The 519, and The Princess Margaret Hospital. She is also very passionate about the need to bring more focus and support to Black Lives Matter as well as children’s and women’s issues. Now with the changing world, the focus for her and all of us is the resulting effects due to the health pandemic, but Jackie’s motto is “hope lives eternal!”.

Congratulations, Jackie, on an honour well-deserved!

Past recipients of the Legacy Award are: Debbie Fleming (2019), Toronto Northern Lights (2018), Elaine Overholt (2017), The Nylons (2016), Sylvia Tyson (2015), R. Murray Schafer (2014), Frank Busseri on behalf of the Four Lads (2013), and Michael Burgess (2012).

Tom Wilson A three-time JUNO winning musician with multiple gold records, Tom Wilson has written for and recorded songs with Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Jason Isbell, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mavis Staples, and the Rankin Family to name a few. Tom currently tours with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and his band, Lee Harvey Osmond. Tom Wilson was raised in the rough-and-tumble world of Hamilton – Steeltown – in the company of World War II vets, factory workers, fall-guy wrestlers, and the deeply guarded secrets kept by his parents. He built an international music career and became a father, he battled demons and addiction, and he waited, hoping for the lies to cease and the truth to emerge. It would. And when it did, it would sweep up the St. Lawrence River to the Mohawk reserves of Quebec, on to the heights of the Manhattan skyline. With a rare gift for storytelling and an astonishing story to tell, Tom writes with unflinching honesty and extraordinary compassion about his search for the truth. It is a story about scars, about the ones that hurt us, and the ones that make us who we are. www.tomwilsononline.com Dan Yashinsky Known internationally he is one of the founders of Storytelling Toronto (formerly the Storytellers School) and the founder of the Toronto Festival of Storytelling, he also began the longest-running open mic storytelling session in North America – 1,001 Friday Nights of Storytelling – in 1978. He has performed and taught at festivals in Israel, Wales, England, Germany, Brazil, Austria, France, the U.S., Singapore, Ireland, and across Canada. He is the editor of four acclaimed collections of Canadian storytelling and the author of Suddenly They Heard Footsteps – Storytelling for the Twenty-first Century and Swimming with Chaucer – A Storyteller's Logbook. He developed and hosted Talking Stick, a national storytelling radio show on CBC. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for UNICEF Canada, Queen's University, Toronto Public Library, and Baycrest Health Sciences. www.tellery.com and www.storycare.ca

Turkwaz is a unique combination of four singers, immersed in diverse traditions. Each performer brings a special flavour to the group: Maryem draws on her Arabic language heritage, Jayne and Sophia bring their experience with Greek music, and Brenna adds her Turkish fascination. They have a collective interest in Balkan traditions and add Albanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and whatever else strikes their fancy to their repertoire. www.turkwaz.ca

Sage Tyrtle A professional storyteller, she has performed for audiences of all ages all over the world, from true stories to traditional folktales to interactive improvised fairy tales. Her stories have been featured on NPR and CBC radio. According to the Toronto Star, “When Sage talks, people don’t just listen, they hang on her every word.” Tyrtle has taught the Art of Storytelling at Second City, Seneca College, at schools, and in corporate settings. www.tyrtle.com

Supertonic is an a cappella quartet whose roots are based in the barbershop style. Featuring four members of the 2013 BHS International Chorus Champion, Toronto Northern Lights, they bring a high energy sound showcasing all kinds of music, ranging from the golden age of Broadway to the radio hits of today. Whether it's headlining a show, or as a surprise act for a business conference, Supertonic will make an event unforgettable. www.supertonicqt.com

University of Toronto Gospel Choir Founded in February 1995, the University of Toronto Gospel Choir was formed in celebration of Black History Month. The Choir was initially created to unite students with a shared interest in praising the Lord through song. Soon, however, the weekly choir rehearsals became not only a meeting place, but also a refuge for those looking for a non-threatening and empowering environment. Over the years, the Choir has grown to include members from all races and Christian denominations and celebrates not only in the diversity of its members, but also its audiences. Less than six weeks after its inception, UTGC had its first major performance at Toronto’s Hart House Theatre. The sold out concert also showcased some of the best college gospel choirs from the state of New York. Since that time, the powerhouse that is UTGC has burst onto the international scene, as well as continuing to serve the greater Toronto community in local concerts and university events held throughout the year. The Choir was provided with the unique experience of being the only Canadian choir to participate in Annual Gospel festivals in both Stockholm, Sweden and Barbados, West Indies. In addition to these opportunities, in 2003 the Choir travelled to Tokyo, Japan where they participated in a gospel music festival, performed in local churches, and held their own concert for the mayor of Sagamihara. As UTGC continues to spread their ministry through song, they have been welcomed by groups in New York, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Germany. www.utgc.org

Joanna Wallfisch Described by Downbeat Magazine as “an exquisite singer-songwriter” with a “crystalline voice”, London born singer-songwriter, Joanna Wallfisch comes from a long line of musicians. Raised by classical musician parents Elizabeth and Raphael Wallfisch, her grandmother Anita Lasker Wallfisch, now 94, survived Auschwitz and was selected to play cello in the camp’s women’s orchestra. Joanna’s unique musical heritage shines through in her own compositional style, evoking her classical roots and blending them with her love of jazz, art-song, folk, and pop. After completing her masters in Jazz at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Joanna moved to NYC where she forged an indelible musical path, collaborating with musicians including Dan Tepfer, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, and Lee Konitz. A master in the art of live vocal looping, Joanna creates mesmerising soundscapes to accompany her poetic lyrics. In 2019 she released her fifth album, “Far Away From Any Place Called Home” – a self-penned musical memoir about her solo travels through the USA by bicycle. Global appearances include: Woodford Folk Festival; London Jazz Festival; National Sawdust; MONA; National Concert Hall, Dublin; Salisbury Arts Festival; Boston Court Theatre, Los Angeles; and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK. www.joannawallfisch.com

SLAIGHT MUSIC SING!TORONTO LEGACY AWARDHONOUREE 2020

The SING! Legacy Award statue was designed and sculpted by Saskatchewan artist Jack Jensen.

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vol·un·teer - /,välen’tir/ - noun1. a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.2. a person who works for an organization without being paid.3. the heart and soul of SING!SING! volunteers manage shows, fundraise, usher at concerts, drive visiting artists, sell CDs and concert tickets, proofread programs, act as festival ambassadors, handle finance, manage our website, distribute surveys and fliers, do social media postings, set up events, help in the office, conduct research, set up and run the Green Room hospitality, sit on the Board of Directors, and so much more. It's rewarding, fun, and exciting. And SING! couldn't run without our hundreds of volunteers. To all of them, a giant THANK YOU! See yourself in this picture? Sign up at www.singtoronto.com/get-involved

SING! The Future: School Workshops

Each year, SING! offers middle school and high school music students the opportunity to work with renowned musicians and music educators. This year we cannot bring the students to us, so we are bringing our program to the schools – virtually. The program will include lots of opportunities for the students to actively participate and sing, learn how to protect their voices, and hear the story from renowned musician/author Tom Wilson, AND schools will receive copies of his best-selling book (based on availability). Our four-module program will be available to schools starting mid-October through the end of 2021: Tom Wilson – My Story and Search for Identity; Vocal Warm-ups with Supertonic directed by Jordan Travis; Singing Tags with Supertonic; and Voice Care with Speech Appeal registered Speech-Language Pathologists. For information and registration, visit:

www.singtoronto.com/education

Generously sponsored by TD, First Book Canada, and Penguin Random House Doubleday Canada.

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Be a Champion

Superstar Champions!Ingrid Furtado, Real Estate Homeward

Dr. Philip HébertHollywood NorthDr. Victoria Lee

2019 Beach Citizen of the Year

vol·un·teer - /,välen’tir/ - noun1. a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.2. a person who works for an organization without being paid.3. the heart and soul of SING!SING! volunteers manage shows, fundraise, usher at concerts, drive visiting artists, sell CDs and concert tickets, proofread programs, act as festival ambassadors, handle finance, manage our website, distribute surveys and fliers, do social media postings, set up events, help in the office, conduct research, set up and run the Green Room hospitality, sit on the Board of Directors, and so much more. It's rewarding, fun, and exciting. And SING! couldn't run without our hundreds of volunteers. To all of them, a giant THANK YOU! See yourself in this picture? Sign up at www.singtoronto.com/get-involved

SING! could not happen without every audience member who joins us online, the volunteers who work tirelessly to run the festival, the donors and supporters who make ticket prices affordable and support the free concerts and educational outreach activities, and the diverse and talented singers who have participated through videos and live tapings this year in the most unusual of circumstances. Thank you for making it possible to deliver another great year of SING! performances and workshops.

Singing together brings our world community together. Intersections of musicians from around the world are vital for growth and learning. They lead to startling new musical and artistic collaborations and creations only possible through festivals like SING! They open the eyes of youth and music students to the possibilities through their art. That is why SING! is so critical. SING! serves as a hub and a resource in Canada for the large and vibrant a cappella community. We are an incubator for young talent, a gathering place, and a platform to share and build wonderful creations, all with the power of the human voice.

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS AND SUPPORTERS WHO ARE SING! CHAMPIONS!:

You can support SING! now by donating online at www.singtoronto.com

Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable tax receipt – Registered Charitable Number 83407 8883 RR 0001

SING! FUNDRAISING SILENT AUCTION, SEPTEMBER 29 TO OCTOBER 5, 2020Bid at www.singtoronto.com/news/online-fundraising-auction-2020 for items generously donated by:

Thank you to the sponsors, foundations, and government organizations who continue to support this festival.They are listed on the last page of this program.

Meat on the BeachMetalWorks Institute

Niagara ParksOld Spaghetti Factory

Second CitySnowman Factory

Soulpepoper TheatreTarragon TheatreTextile Museum

TIFF Bell LightboxTimothy Phillips

Young People’s Theatre2019 Beach Citizen of the Year

SING! ChampionsAnonymous (multiple)

Taavi BurnsCelia Harte

Bruce HilliardEllen Smee

Whole Foods Market

Art Gallery of OntarioBarreworksBeer Hall

Canadian Opera CompanyChateau des charmes

Erin FerrisErikson Audio

Gardiner MuseumHarris Institute for the Arts

Ki RestaurantLong & McQuade Musical Instruments

Lula LoungeMariposa Cruises

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SandersonEntertainment

Law

We are grateful for the generous support of:Nous remercions, avec gratitude, le soutien généreux de:ONLINE

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