About WTCC
The West Toronto Community Choir (“WTCC”) was founded by Taylor Strande and Sarah Townsend in 2016, born from a vision to bring together a group of people who genuinely enjoy singing, gathering once a week to make music in order to build a strong community bond. WTCC is an amateur choir, which aims to provide a supportive and joyful environment for its members, bound by a love of music and singing, and spreading this true enjoyment to the community.
We are a mixed-voice, secular community choir serving Roncesvalles, Parkdale, the Junction and surrounding communities. Our group performs 2 major concerts per season as well as guest appearances at other community events, such as Roncy Rocks and the Roncesvalles Community Tree Lighting Ceremony. Music is a mix of contemporary choral, folk tunes, and musical theatre, with a few pop tunes thrown in. Our vibe is fun and social, with a focus on community engagement and shared music making. We have a mix of seasoned choristers and novices, and there are no auditions. We value the diversity of gender, age, race, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, and political perspective and are open to all. Rehearsals take place on Monday evenings 7:30 to 9:00pm at Roncesvalles United Church.
Mission
Born from a vision to bring together people who genuinely enjoy singing, gathering weekly to make music in order to build a strong community bond, and allowing anyone who wants to learn to sing in a group the power and access to do so. One of the pillars of the choir is that it is our choir, where all voices are heard (wrong notes and all!). This interactive and open approach allows choir members to have a say in elements like repertoire choices and performance opportunities and locations.
We seek to maintain our community culture and ensure the sustainability of an accessible and inclusive choir. We will achieve this by implementing a leadership team that will uphold these values and guide the choir toward growth, financially and developmentally, as its membership allows.
Vision
West Toronto Community Choir aspires to provide and sustain a welcoming environment for singers of all capabilities, engaging choir members from all races, sexual orientations, gender identities, creeds, and abilities. We value the enjoyment of singing together, providing a safe and supportive space to learn and grow musical ability, and sharing with the community.
Values
The WTCC is committed to looking forward and around itself, in order to grow in a sustainable way, and also in a way that welcomes and engages a choir membership that looks like the West Toronto community we serve. We believe that our choir has room for all levels of musical ability, and are committed to preserving this accessibility. WTCC was built on a foundation of community belonging, compassion, and acceptance of one another, and will be guided by these values as we continue to flourish.
Our Creative Team
Taylor Strande, Artistic Director
Taylor Strande, co-founder and artistic and choral director of WTCC, completed her Bachelor of Music at U of T in 2007, and performed as an opera singer both locally and internationally, most notably with the Canadian Opera Company. She spent 11 years teaching music to hundreds of students, both children and adults, mostly in the West Toronto area. Taylor is now working as a speech-language pathologist and uses her vocal education and background to help clients and families to improve communication across their lifespans.
Sarah Townsend, General Manager
Sarah Townsend is co-founder of WTCC, taking on the role of Choir Manager, lending her years of choir experience to the logistical running of WTCC. As well as collaborating with Taylor on programming and planning, Sarah handles the administrative concerns of running the choir and manages its immense music library. She has been a Social Worker in the community within Toronto for over a decade. As well as having a BSW, she also has a Bachelor of Music specializing in voice, both from Western University.
Marjorie Wiens, Pianist
Marjorie Wiens is enjoying retirement after teaching private piano for many years. During her musical career she has accompanied numerous school choirs in the TDSB in addition to playing for community choirs, including the Toronto Children’s Choir. She has also been involved as an accompanist for workshops, voice studios and singing exams. Marjorie was honoured to sing in the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for many years and cherishes the memories and enjoyment of singing together as a community. She is currently playing for the Islington United Church Choir and is delighted to be the accompanist for the West Toronto Community Choir!
Our Board of Directors
Donna Gall, Chair
Catherine Marjoribanks, Vice-Chair
Heather Johnston, Secretary
Jennet Lees, Treasurer
Carol Lee Smith, Member-At-Large