Events in Toronto: April 28 to 30, 2017

1. Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Spring Concert

In the TSYO’s final performance of the season, conductor Earl Lee guides the Orchestra’s brilliant young musicians through a monumental program of works, including a selection from Wagner’s lushly romantic opera Tristan and Isolde, and Tchaikovsky’s final masterpiece, the “Pathétique” Symphony. Details

2. Stephanie Chua

Toronto pianist performs a free noon-hour concert featuring two solo works by celebrated German composer Helmut Lachenmann. Details

3. The Big Sound

It’s that time again, time to celebrate the glory days of classic soul, Motown and the Motown sound with Toronto’s Biggest Motown & Classic Soul Revue: the Big Sound. Details

4. Lomax Project

Four of North America’s most distinguished roots musicians pay tribute to pioneer folklorist Alan Lomax by reviving powerful songs from his collection of field recordings from Bahamian sea shanties to African-American a capella singing, to ancient Appalachian ballads and fiddle tunes. Jayme Stone (banjo), Moira Smiley (voice, accordion), Sumaia Jackson (fiddle) and Joe Phillips (bass). Details

5. Beatbox Canada

The Great North Battle will be a showcase of 50+ of the best artists in North America’s hip hop community over two nights of battles and performances. Details

6. Toronto Northern Lights

Toronto’s own Northern Lights, 2013 World Champion a cappella and barbershop chorus, is proud to present a celebration of women in music. Join us as TNL brings you a variety of classic songs from different eras, all of which were originated by or made famous by iconic female artists, or sung by classic female characters on stage or film. Our special guest for this show is THE BUZZ – a powerhouse quartet of women who won the Sweet Adelines International gold medal in 2005 and have been amazing audiences ever since! Details

7. Mike Downes Trio

An evening of contemporary music showcasing the Juno Award Winning Mike Downes Trio featuring Mike Downes on Bass, Juno Award winner Robi Botos on Keys and Ethan Ardelli on Drums. The evening will open with the Agneya Chikte Quartet featuring Agneya Chikte on Drums, Brendan Swanson on Keys, Emily Steinwall on saxophone and Sam Fitzpatrick on Bass. Details

8. Full of Brahms

The final concert of Trio Arkel’s 4th season is overflowing with the deeply sincere romanticism of one of the most loved of composers, Johannes Brahms. Guest artists Neil Deland and Peter Longworth delight in the Horn Trio and one of the amazing Piano Quartets. TRIO ARKEL is the collaboration of three women at the top of the classical music world in Canada, each a soloist and leader in her own right: Marie Berard is Concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra; Teng Li is the Principal Violist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Winona Zelenka is the Assistant Principal Cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Details

9. Orchestra Toronto: Canada!

Our annual Light Classics concert will see the world premiere of Richard Herriot’s new concerto “Newfie Bullet” and Colin McPhee’s Tabuh-Tabuhan: Toccata for Orchestra. Details

10. Rhythmfoot with the Frank & Chanda Leahy Family

Experience a volcanic explosion of talent and energy, intense emotion and feral passion as we presents a special performance of Rhythmfoot with the Frank & Chanda Leahy Family! Details

 

April 27: Old Dominion Meat and Candy Tour @ The Danforth Music Hall

April 28: Ron Sexsmith @ The Danforth Music Hall

April 29: Dean Brody’s Beautiful Freakshow Tour 2017 @ Oshawa

April 29: Kumar Sanu & Alka Yagnik – Everlasting Melodies Live @ Hershey Centre

April 29: Siavash Ghomayshi & Shadmehr Aghili @ Sony Centre For The Performing Arts

April 29: Tycho @ Massey Hall

April 30: The Damned 40th Anniversary U.S. Tour @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre

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

Performing Arts Events

Performing Arts & Theatre in April

Events this week include

1. Strictly Ballroom The Musical @ Princess of Wales Theatre
2. Midsummer @ Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace
3. Prince Hamlet @ The Theatre Centre
4. I Take Your Hand in Mine…’@ Tarragon Theatre Extraspace
5. Crash @ Young Centre for the Performing Arts
6. Pearle Harbour’s Chautauqua @ The Theatre Centre
7. The Melville Boys @ Village Players Theatre
8. The Draupadi Project @ The Theatre Centre
9. Banana Boys @ Factory Theatre
10. Tosca @ Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
11. Louis Riel @ The Four Seasons Centre

and more!

2. Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival

Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary festival, will present its 24th edition, screening 200+ films from across the globe and welcoming hundreds of international filmmakers and industry delegates to Toronto! Details

3. Images Festival

The festival is Canada’s largest on and off-screen showcase of innovative contemporary art, featuring eight days of screenings, events, performances and exhibitions. In total, the 2017 festival includes 48 on screen films, 12 off screen exhibitions, and four live image projects. Images Festival 2017 is a celebration of Toronto’s interdisciplinary arts community that is sure to thrill by showcasing engaging vanguard projects across many media art platforms from Canadian and international artists. Details

1. Toronto Blue Jays

2. Toronto FC

3. Mississauga Steelheads

4. Toronto Marlies

5. Concrete Rush

A thrilling Obstacle Course Race in the heart of downtown Toronto, Concrete Rush is designed to test your limits with 15 obstacles stretch that stretch over 2 km. Participants can choose to be timed, or to take the course at their own speed (skipping challenging obstacles if their objective is fun first) ;).

1. High Park Cherry Blossom

Warmer temperatures, which will accelerate blossom development once again. With peak bloom (70% of blossoms open) on Monday and Tuesday. Details

2. Get Your Celtic On!

Gather family and friends to experience fantastic art by our Mill artists, Celtic music, dance performances, great food at the Gourmandissimo Café, craft beer sampling, pet baby lambs and much more! Details

3. Caftcad Movie Wardrobe Sale

Featuring costumes, clothing and fabrics from 4 seasons of FX’s The Strain TV series, the CAFTCAD Movie Wardrobe Sale offers fabulous fashion treasures for men, women, and kids from over 30 additional vendors – under one roof. Details

4. Creativ Festival

Bursting at the seams with sumptuous fibres, fabrics and yarns; luxurious beads; fabulous papers, notions and embellishments; trend-setting patterns and kits; high-tech equipment, handcrafted gifts of distinction and more! From trendy to vintage and fashionable to functional, there’s something for everyone, beginner or seasoned pro. For 2 days only indulge your creativity and passion for sewing, knitting, felting, quilting, beading, stitching, crocheting, scrapbooking, embellishing, crafting and other creative art forms. Details

5. Digifest 2017

Digifest 2017 is a three-day conference that focuses on the future of education, creativity, entrepreneurship, gaming, and technology; organized by George Brown College. We connect the creative community with the most innovative technologies, ideas, and initiatives focused on learning, leadership, and positive social change. Join us for presentations from speakers, skill-building workshops, the IT’S A START Pitch Competition, Research & Business Student Showcase, our annual Interactive Zone, the Digital Pioneer Award, as well as incredible opportunities to meet with peers from across the country. This year’s edition of Digifest will highlight stories of innovators using unique technologies to address global problems under the theme of Work, Learn, and Play. Details

6. Khalsa Day Parade

The 32nd annual Khalsa Day celebration and parade Also known as Vaisakhi, Khalsa Day celebrates the Sikh New Year and the establishment of the Sikh community in 1699. Details

7. Other Events

1. Campus Politics: Anti-Semitic and Anti-free speech: University campuses, once hotbeds of free speech and free thought, have done a 180 to become hot spots of anti-Semitism and thought policing. Aedan O’Connor, student activist and Daily Wire contributor, describes the poisonous politics at Ryerson and other Canadian campuses. Details

 

2. Get Lit: Get Lit is a one-of-a-kind fundraiser where a lineup of notable Canadians read from their favourite book and tell the story of how it impacted their lives. Since 2005, our audience and sponsors have returned to be entertained, inspired, wined and dined. Details

 

3. PiGEON Psycho-Geographic-ExcursiON
The growth of dense urban areas poses a threat to migratory birds. As it happens, one of the leading causes of bird death in North America is collisions with human-built structures. PiGEON will guide participants through the Bloor St. Cultural Corridor on a psychographic birding excursion led by Toronto-based artist collective Friends of Ogden Park and FLAP Canada. Details

 

4. Pop-Up DIY Paper Flower Workshop & Sweets Table Tutorial
Details

8. Cold Brew Cocktail Week

We’re celebrating cold brew cocktails across the city of Toronto with our friends at Corby. Expect 10 carefully selected locations, each with a custom cold brew cocktail. Details