January 13, 2024 Applications open for Datsuzoku’sINTERN CONDUCTOR PROGRAM Datsuzoku is searching for a young choral musician to take part in our inaugural Intern Conductor Program. Application Deadline: January 27th, 2024Term: February 7th to May 4th, 2024Compensation: $500Location: Toronto, Ontario.Rehearsals occur on Wednesday evenings at the Church of the Redeemer (Bloor and Avenue Rd.) About the Modern Sound Collective: MSC is committed to fostering a nurturing community that inspires young artists through accessible opportunities for growth and collaboration, and to sharing our love of contemporary choral music through sincere and passionate performances. They have four choral programs focused on providing the next generation of choral singers, composers, and leaders with opportunities to advance their skills and grow their artistic network. Datsuzoku is MSC’s 90 voice young adult choir, which focuses on providing singers with a welcoming creative community where they can meet like-minded singers and sing amazing contemporary choral music.   About the Role: The intern conductor for Datsuzoku would work closely with the Conductor and Assistant Conductor to assist with implementing and delivering the choral programme of vocal technique, performance skills and musicianship, including weekly rehearsals and leading sectionals. They will receive 10 minutes of podium time per rehearsal, and will receive conducting and rehearsal feedback from the artistic staff. The intern conductor will have the opportunity to conduct one choral piece at Datsuzoku’s final concert on May 4th, to be determined by the conductor. The intern conductor will receive rehearsal and concert footage of their conducting. This role is geared towards undergraduate students who are considering pursuing conducting and are looking for an opportunity to advance their musical leadership skills. The ideal candidate will possess these traits: A passion for choral music and a strong desire to learn the skills necessary to be a choral conductor Ability to work collaboratively and take direction Have basic proficiency in piano Have experience singing in choirs Demonstrated interest in musical education and musical programming   How to Apply: Applicants are asked to submit the following: A resume/CV and a short video introduction of who you are and why you are applying to admin@modernsoundcollective.ca. Contact information for two references who can speak to their musical skills and work ethic.   Selected candidates will be asked to participate in an interview (virtual or in-person) with the Search Committee. The Search Committee will conduct reference checks for the final candidates before making an offer.

JULY 16, 2023 DATSUZOKU: A NEW CHORAL EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNG ADULTS Dear MSC community, fellow singers, and music enthusiasts! MSC is thrilled to be launching “Datsuzoku,” an exciting new choral experience designed specifically for young adults seeking a musical journey of self-expression and camaraderie. Join us as we embark on an unforgettable adventure, surrounded by like-minded individuals who share a passion for choral music and its life-changing possibilities. This vibrant choral community embraces friendship, inspires creativity, and offers a supportive environment for music-making and personal growth! At Modern Sound Collective, we firmly believe that choral music has a unique way of bring people together, bridging differences and fostering meaningful connections. We create a welcoming and inclusive environment where every voice is valued, and friendships are formed through shared experiences and mutual support. Our community is built upon the foundation of love, respect, and empathy, where individuals are encouraged to express themselves freely and authentically. The entire team responsible for this choral project are young adults who truly understand what it’s like to be discovering who you are in our ever-changing world. Together, we’ll nurture an atmosphere that not only allows us to grow as musicians but also as compassionate human beings.   As we embark on a new year of musical exploration and growth, MSC is thrilled to unveil an exciting lineup of projects that will elevate our choral experience to new heights. Datsuzoku is planning a diverse range of collaborations and performances, ensuring that our members have the opportunity to showcase their talent and immerse themselves in unique musical experiences. We are especially excited to join forces with the renowned Toronto Symphony Orchestra on two occasions: In December we will sing the beloved holiday classic, “Home Alone,” and in May we will present a concert of well known video game scores entitled “GAME ON!” This collaboration allows our members to share the stage with world-class musicians and experience the thrill of performing for over 2000 audience members in Roy Thomson Hall. These performances promise to be unforgettable, evoking nostalgia, joy, and a renewed love for the magic of music.   Embracing the spirit of innovation and creativity, Datsuzoku will provide a platform for young adult singers to explore their artistic potential and hone their vocal and choral skills. Whether you are a seasoned chorister or have just discovered your passion for singing, Datsuzoku is committed to nurturing your musical development. Our experienced and dedicated artistic team comprises skilled vocal coaches, conductors, and musicians who are passionate about guiding you on your journey, celebrating your victories, and growing with you along the way. Through workshops, masterclasses, and structured learning during rehearsals, we will provide you with the tools and knowledge to refine your technique, expand your vocal range, and unleash the full potential of your voice.   The Datsuzoku community experience extends far beyond the rehearsal room. We understand the importance of building lasting friendships and creating memories that will resonate long after the final note has been sung. Our community engages in a vibrant social calendar, including pre-rehearsal planned gatherings, social events, and volunteer opportunities that allow us to give back to society. These activities foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie, ensuring that the bonds formed within the choir extend well beyond the shared love for music, and last for a lifetime.   At Modern Sound Collective, we firmly believe that the transformative power of choral music should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where talented individuals can pursue their musical passions without financial barriers hindering their participation. Our membership fees are structured to be affordable for young adults, offering flexible payment plans and subsidy opportunities for those who may require financial assistance. Financial constraints should not limit anyone’s ability to experience the joy of singing and being part of a supportive community.   MSC is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive space for individuals with diverse backgrounds and abilities. We actively work to accommodate accessibility needs, such as providing accessible rehearsal venues, arranging transportation options, and offering support for individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone feels valued, included, and empowered to participate fully in our choral experience. Through our commitment to accessibility and financial affordability, we aim to break down every barrier that may hinder young adults from pursuing their passion for choral music. We wish to create a community that truly represents the diversity and richness of voices within the GTA. Join Datsuzoku: If you’re a young adult between the ages of 17 and 31 and are yearning for a loving, supportive, and creatively stimulating community, we invite you to join us. Together, we’ll create harmonies that touch the heart, forge lifelong friendships, and embark on a journey of self-discovery through the power of music. Register today to join us on this enchanting musical adventure, where the power of harmony brings us together as one, and become a part of this exciting new choral family.

JULY 29, 2022 MSC’s First Ever FUN FAIR FUNDRAISER Since 2017, the MSC has presented a multi-concert season, kicked off by our annual Cabaret fundraiser concert. During the height of the Covid 19 pandemic, we switched to a virtual cabaret presentation that highlighted our members’ musical abilities AND video editing skills, and enabled us to deliver entertaining presentations to our audience from afar. Now that we are moving past virtual performances and returning to in-person activities, we’ve re-thought the way in which we’d like to interact with our audience and supporters. While we love performing and will continue to do so with passion and excellence, we want to truly connect to our audiences on a more human level. We want to make lasting connections through wonderful, shared experiences, and take every opportunity we can to engage with our community. That’s why this year and moving, we are revising our annual fundraising event. On August 6th at Clarkson Road Presbyterian church, we will host our first ever “MSC Fun Fair!” This event will be an indoor/outdoor community event, where we welcome our audience and the surrounding community to join us for a day of fun games, amazing live music, great food, and to share in the joy of being together. In addition to the games, we will be having a bottle drive, a rummage sale, and a bake sale. If you would like to donate any items for the rummage sale or bake sale, please let us know by emailing mississaugasummerchorale@hotmail.com. The event will feature a range of bands and musical acts from within the MSC community. This year, there are a wealth of fantastic acts performing, including Maia T. Pilling, Quinn MacHattie, We Three, Phase 4, and Mandy Sins! Read more about these artists below. We sincerely hope you can join us for what is sure to be an exciting event! Maia T Pilling is thrilled to be in MSC’s Sehnsucht for the first time this summer. Her love for choral music was reignited this past year when she joined the Concreamus Chamber Choir. While completing her degree in Critical Equity and Solidarity at UofT (class of ‘24) she writes and sings in the folk duo Seasonal Birds. Maia is also the founder and director of the anti-colonial art collective @RuckusWomen. We Three is Adrian Russouw, Lazar Miric, and Mark Gerlai. Originally formed playing in Toronto’s parks, the group plays standards, songs from the Great American Songbook, and the music of Thelonious Monk. All the way from Oakville, Phase 4 is ready to knock your socks off with songs from Oasis to Green Day! Lauren, Remy, Leo, Fernanda, Michael, and Bella are a band like no one has seen before… Let’s Rock!!! Mindy Sins is a Blues Rock Trio based out of Toronto, Canada. With a focus on groove and darker moods, the music is a fresh take on a staple genre of North American art. Guess what time it is? TUNE THIRTY! HALF PAST ROCK O’CLOCK! AND PARTY TIME!!! Quinn MacHattie is a singer songwriter from Mississauga. He is inspired by The Beatles, Chicago and The Bare-Naked Ladies. One of his favourite covers is Sweet Pea by Amos Lee.

April 29, 2022 Announcing This Year’s Concert Season The 2022 season marks MSC’s first “regular” season since 2019. Although we still have many COVID19 countermeasures in place for this year, we will be working completely in-person, presenting a full season of rehearsals and multiple concerts for our Mississauga and Toronto audiences. The seasonbegins at the end of May, with Sehnsucht meeting for the first time on May 24 th and Frisson meeting on May 25th . Registration for this season will open on May 10th . We are very fortunate to have received a project grant from the Canada Arts Council, which will support 6 composer in residence positions along with the creation of a documentary that examines the process from start to finish behind the creation of new choral music. The MSC is dedicated to championing new choral music, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with so many amazing composers to present their music. Some of the composers will be familiar to MSC’s regular audiences, and some will be completely new! We look forward to welcoming these composers to our choirs, and are excited to see what new music this season brings. The theme for this season is “Illumination,” and will be dedicated to sharing our inner light in the hope that it will guide us on our path to a brighter future. Our music making will focus in on how art brings us to new understanding of life and our relationships with others. After two years away from normalcy and with stunted human connection, we think there is no better time to reflect in this way and reconnect with others. As a choral arts organization, the time spent in various stages of lockdown has shown us the power of digital mediums in conveying our message to an audience. While the live aspect of choral music has a certain visceral and passionate energy that is sometimes difficult to capture on video, the digitalmedium provides a wonderful opportunity to share this art form with wider audiences that are possible in a live setting. As part of this summer season, we are going to focus our energies on creating a documentary which sheds light on the process of developing new choral music. We are thrilled to beworking with videographer Jack Peresin on this project and are excited to be stepping a little farther outside of our comfort zone to produce a project that furthers the boundaries of expression in the choral music world. Amidst all of these exciting new projects is some slightly unfortunate news. The MSC had been invited to Gangneung, South Korea, to participate in the World Choir Games in July of 2022. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing pandemic, the event has been postponed until July 2023. While we are sad to not be able to bring our wonderful group abroad to share our music internationally this summer, we will look forward to going in 2023, and will spend this summer and coming year preparing and continuing to fundraise.  One final bit of good news: we have a new addition to our artistic team! Tyrese Walters will be joining as a conductor of Frisson and Rocambolesco and will undoubtedly greatly influence the workings of the rest of the organization. Tyrese has just graduated from Western University with his Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance, and this fall will be starting his Masters degree in choral conducting at the University of Toronto. Tyrese has worked for many years now on the board of directors as the Community outreach co-ordinator. We are thrilled to welcome him to this new role with the MSC.Tyrese’s bio can be found in the about us section of the website.

September 19, 2021 We’re Going to the 2022 World Choir Games in Korea!! Fantastic news for the Mississauga Summer Chorale! We have been invited to compete in the champions competition of the 2022 world choir games in Gangneung, Korea. The MSC will bring it’s chamber choir, to sing in front of an international audience and compete for the title of the worlds best amateur choir. The World Choir Games is an annual event hosted by the world choir council “Interkultur” Choirs from all over the globe participate in concerts, workshops, competitions, and celebrations of choral music. This year, the games run from July 4th to 14th, and will take place in many fantastic venues across the City of Gangneung. Gangwon-do is experienced in hosting major international events: In 2018 it was the venue of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, which went down in history as the “Peace Games” due to the joint appearance of North and South Korean athletes. A perfect place for the unifying power of choral music to become an even more significant international symbol of peace. Korea has a vibrant choral scene, which is highly valued in the country and received strong support from politics and community. The country regularly sends its choirs to participate in the World Choir Games – and often return with impressive success. The Mississauga Summer Chorale is excited to travel across the world to share it’s wonderful sound with other groups and audiences, and to share their chamber choir’s unique approach to choral leadership and collaboration with the world choral community. Because of this trip, their season will begin much earlier than usual, with rehearsals starting in January, instead of May. In Korea, the Mississauga Summer Chorale will premiere a newly commissioned piece by composer Nicholas Wanstall. Nicholas has been a friend of the MSC for many seasons, and we are so excited to be bringing his music across the world to share with choral music fans everywhere. If you would like to support the MSC, click on the Donate Now button or reach out to us at mississaugasummerchorale@hotmail.com. We would love to connect with you, sing for you, and get to know you. Ask us about our gigging choirs, available for hire for any of your events.