Events in Toronto: May 12 to 14, 2017

1. SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival

Celebrating the best in Acappella Music from around the world. Now heading into our 6th year, we bring a star-studded line-up of international headliners and industry experts for performances, workshops and free events!  Details

2. Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra

 In concert with The Shuffle Demons: What do you get when you cross 3 amazing saxophonists dressed in wacky clothes, a crazy dancing drummer and a killer upright bass player and have them sing songs about Buses, Roaches and Hockey and spend half their time playing in the audience? The SHUFFLE DEMONS, that’s what!!! They were a band that captured the imagination of a generation with their antics and amazing no holds barred playing and stopping traffic on a regular basis. And now they’re back!!  Details

3. Masterworks Old and New

Join the Etobicoke Philharmonic for Masterworks Old and New. Our final concert of the season will be sure to leave you wanting more. Our programme includes great works from the past as well our prize winning work from an emerging composer. Come and celebrate the music!  Details

4. An Evening with Tomson Highway

Cree storyteller, playwright, novelist, pianist, and Order of Canada recipient was named one of the 100 most important people in Canadian history by Macleans.  He writes cabaret influenced by Cole Porter and Kurt Weil, but with Cree lyrics. Hear him on piano, joined by phenomenal vocalist Patricia Cano and saxophonist Marcus Ali, to perform selections from his well-known productions including The Sage, the Dancer, and the Fool;Rose; The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito; The (Post) Mistress; and his new Songs in the Key of Cree, sung in Cree with English supertitles. Details

5. Singing Our History: A Canada 150 Celebration

Explore our nation’s rich musical heritage at Singing Our History: A Canada 150 Celebration! Presented by Music at St. Andrew’s , this all-Canadian evening of music will be performed by classically-trained singers drawn from Canada’s multicultural mosaic. Singers include soprano Allison Angelo, soprano Xin Wang, mezzo soprano Ariana Chris, tenor Jacques Arsenault and others. They’ll be accompanied on piano by Steven Philcox (C.O.C).   Details

6. Song Of The Earth

This 30th anniversary spring programme by the BCC will focus on the timely themes of taking care of the earth, its creatures, and each other. The opening song of the movie, Frozen, which uses a Sami chant calling people together, will begin the concert. Songs exploring water will include the light-hearted “Singing in the Rain,” complete with umbrella choreography; R. Murray Schafer’s spell-binding “Miniwanka,” or “Moments of Water,” and Malcolm Dalglish’s adaptation of an energetic fiddle tune into “Sail Away.”  Details

7. Christian McBride and Tip City & James Gelfand Trio

The Philadelphia-born bassist, composer, arranger, and educator, Christian McBride, has been one of the most important and most omnipresent figures in the jazz world for 20 years, and has recently been named Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival. The Philadelphia-born McBride has worked with the best of the very best – Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins, J.J. Johnson, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, McCoy Tyner, Roy Haynes, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Pat Metheny. In the R&B world, he has played with and arranged for Isaac Hayes, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Lalah Hathaway, and the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown. In the pop/rock world, he has collaborated with Sting, Carly Simon, Don Henley, and Bruce Hornsby, and in the hip-hop/neo-soul world with the Roots, D’Angelo, and Queen Latifah. Montreal-based pianist James Gelfand has received critical acclaim in both the jazz world and the film and television industry, and has performed on over 40 albums. Details

May 8: Rival Sons @ The Danforth Music Hall

May 9: Jean-Michel Jarre – Electronica Tour @ Sony Centre For The Performing Arts

May 9: Ryan Adams & Band @ Massey Hall

May 11: Needtobreathe With Special Guest Colony House @ The Danforth Music Hall

May 12: The Jesus and Mary Chain @ Massey Hall

May 12 & 13: Mac DeMarco @ The Danforth Music Hall

For live music at nightclubs, see under Nightlife/Food Events

Performing Arts Events

Performing Arts & Theatre in May

Events this week include

1. The Boy in the Moon @ Streetcar Crowsnest
2. Crave/Defiant @ The Theatre Centre
3. Eifman Ballet Of St. Petersburg Present Red Giselle @ Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
4. Ballet Creole’s KAMBULE @ Fleck Dance Theatre
5. The Good Doctor Holmes and His Children of God @ Theatre Passe Muraille
6. Onegin – A New Canadian Musical @ The Berkeley Street Theatre
7. The Melville Boys @ Village Players Theatre
8. Tosca @ Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
9. Man of La Mancha @ Theatre Scarborough
10. for colored girls… @ Young Centre for the Performing Arts

and more!

2. ReelAbilities Film Festival 

The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (MNjcc) presents the second annual ReelAbilities Film Festival (RAFF) in Toronto, the first and largest festival of its kind in Canada showcasing disability and Deaf cultures through film. This year’s festival will showcase 17 films, including Canadian and International premieres from Brazil, Canada, Hungary, Israel, Ireland, Iraq, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States. From an intimate glimpse into the world’s only ballet school for the blind in Looking at the Stars, to a dramatic comedy about disability and sexuality in Sanctuary, to a documentary called My Life in the City about how adults with intellectual disabilities are left out of conversations about city building, this powerful lineup of films will impact and inspire audiences. Details

4. Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival

CONTACT is the largest photography event in the world, and a premiere cultural experience in Canada, with over 1500 artists in 200 exhibitions and happenings throughout the month of May in the Greater Toronto Area showcasing a range of Canadian artists in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary of confederation. Internationally renowned photographers will exhibit their work throughout Toronto and across Canada during CONTACT, through numerous public installations and open exhibitions that will be free to the public. Details

1. Toronto Blue Jays

2. Toronto Marlies

3. Mississauga Steelheads

4. Toronto FC

5. Toronto Roller Derby

The Death Track Dolls and Smoke City Bandits meet on the track for the final time this season. The winner heads to the Championship game in June to face the Chicks Ahoy!

1. The Toronto Comic Arts Festival

With over 400 cartoonists from more than 20 countries on their way to Toronto this May, we’re getting ready celebrate the very best in comics, graphic novels, bandes dessinées, and manga! Prepare yourself for a week of readings, launches, and art events culminating in a massive, FREE two-day exhibition! Details

2. Spring into Parkdale 

Outdoor Street Festival featuring 4+ Markets, entertainment, street vendors, food, free crafts and the Foodora Night Market. Details

3. Science Rendezvous

 Over 6,000 of Canada’s greatest innovators, researchers, engineers, and scientists from 125 partner organizations will open their doors and close city streets to present exciting demonstrations, hands-on activities, and explosive experiments. From the physics of rock and roll to the chemistry of ice-cream, Science Rendezvous has something for everyone! With over 300 events across 30 cities and 1000’s of mind-blowing activities, Science Rendezvous is Canada’s largest celebration of the amazing feats of science and engineering happening right here at home. Details

4. SHE Blooms Fashion Show

Fashion Show and Brunch Fundraising Event – This blooming and stylish event is a Tribute to Moms!. LIFE after BREAST CANCER is very different for the ladies next door, the financial burden to have basic needs met during and after treatment is unmanageable. Surviving breast cancer should be the grand finale but for many women and men, it’s NOT after BREAST CANCER is a registered charity that was founded for the sole purpose of assisting breast cancer graduates. Details

5. May Fair

Exciting carnival rides, great bands, midway games for kids (great prizes!), face painting, track and field, fish pond, candy floss, popcorn, bingo, and more! Relax at our Outdoor Pub with live music and BBQ! Details

6. Doors Open Richmond Hill

Discover the heritage, architecture and culture Richmond Hill has to offer! Details

7. Spring Bird Festival

Join us at the Spring Bird Festival to learn about the amazing phenomenon of migration and the importance of bird conservation. A variety of activities will be offered for people of all ages and all birding abilities! Details

8. Buy Good. Feel Good. Expo

The Buy Good. Feel Good. Expo is Canada’s largest consumer show dedicated to bringing together a community of social entrepreneurs, consumers and retailers who believe that business is about more than just maximizing profit.  Details

9. Toronto KPOP Con

3 nights and 2 days of amazing Korean music and culture, featuring full fan-meeting events with KARD BTOB: Born TO Beat and EXID_Official!  Over 200 local performers from Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and the United States will be showcasing their talents and skills in a spectacular show. Find official merchandise to fan-made goods.  Details

10. Other Events

1.How to be an Ally: BRAVE safe spaces: As more and more of us confront the fact that the world is not equitable for all, it is crucial for us to understand what our role is in supporting one another and together, figure out the systems and society that work for everybody. Details

 

2. Mississauga Job Fair: Meet face to face with recruiters, HR Managers and hiring companies from the Greater Toronto Area and across Ontario. Details

 

3. “Call of The Forest”

See the newest and coolest Canadian documentary, “Call of the Forest.”! Explore the Forgotten Wisdom of Trees at this exclusive two-day event with world recognized author, medical biochemist, and botanist, Diana Beresford-Kroeger and other special guests!  Details

 

4. Leacock-Buchan Fun Fair

Joint campus fun fair. Games, rides, face painting! Craft vendors, food and entertainment. Antique car show, silent auction and more!
 Details

 

5. Seven Things I’ve Learned: An Evening with Ira Glass

Ira Glass is the host and creator of the public radio program This American Life, heard weekly on more than 500 public radiostations in the United States, Australia and Canada, and via podcast. Details

 

6. International Migratory Bird Day

International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) celebrates the migration of birds between their nesting grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Central and South America. The theme this year for this international event is “Helping Birds Along the Way”.  Details

 

7. May Spring Sale

Check out some lovely crafters, artists, and entrepreneurs. The first 25 guests receive a free surprise bag with some goodies inside! Hourly draws for surprise gifts. The artists would love to see you.  Details

 

8. Summer Exhibitions Opening Reception

Join us to celebrate the opening of our summer exhibitions with a performance from Chun Hua Catherine Dong starting at 4PM, followed by the opening remarks and refreshments at 6PM. Opening reception sponsored by Oak Ridges Retirement Community. Details

1. Improv: The Board Game

Two teams of comedians battle it out board-game style based on the cards they draw. Hosted by Jason Ox and Cameron LaPrairie.   Details