SING! The Toronto International Vocal Arts Festival is taking place until June 4.
The 12th annual a cappella festival will feature 28 live performances and industry insider workshops.
As in years past, East Toronto residents are playing a key role in the festival both as organizers and performers.
“Since SING’s inception, one of our priorities has been to feature performers at various points in their careers, from community choirs to global superstars,” says SING! co-manager and 2010 Beach Citizen of the Year Patricia Silver. “We’re proud to have brought attention to a number of a cappella groups as they were getting started, helping them gain prominence in Canada and internationally.”
Those artists include Countermeasure, founded by former Beacher J-M Erlendson. East enders Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran are originals with the hit group Retrocity which will also be performing at SING! this year. Retrocity is celebrating not one, but two anniversaries as 2023 marks their 25th year of making “totally tubular” 1980s music together.
Plus, it is the 40th anniversary of the epic Canadian 1980s anthem Rise Up by the Parachute Club. Not only is it one of Retrocity’s favourite songs, but they will be performing it on June 3 along with the Mass Choir Event and the lead singer of Parachute Club, the one and only Lorraine Segato.
Also, as part of SING!, 12 of Canada’s top vocal talents will perform a mix of jazz harmonies, driving vocal percussion, innovative arrangements, and original music on June 2 at 7 p.m.
This year’s festival will take place at The Concert Hall in Toronto.
Other performance highlights during SING! include:
• Naturally 7 (with Asian Riffing Trio): Sonic mastery featuring “vocal play” that transforms voices into musical instruments, creating music of any genre.
• The Kinsey Sicks – Drag Queen Storytime Gone Wild! America’s favourite “dragapella beautyshop quartet” have been blending four-part harmony, over-the-top drag, and political satire for 30 years.
• SING! Celebrates the Musical: All-vocal versions of Broadway favourites, with singer/actress Sharron Matthews, who will receive the Slaight Music SING! Toronto Legacy Award during the evening.
• Mezzotono: A mix of music, entertainment, and Italian culture, Italy’s Mezzotono have performed in 65 countries on five continents around the world.
• A Night at the Barbershop: Classic four-part a cappella featuring harmonies by the Harbourtown Sound, Mixology, and Maple Reserve (formerly Yonge Guns). The show will be followed by Open Mic Afterglow, a chance for any group to take the stage and share their music.
• Global Voices – Women in A Cappella: A cappella music spanning several centuries and styles, from live-looping to opera, flamenco dance to Eastern Mediterranean and Balkan songs.
Information on the full SING! schedule, tickets and festival passes can be found at https://singtoronto.com/
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