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St. Michael's Choir School

November 02, 2023

St. Michael's Choir School (also known as SMCS, The Choir School, or St. Mike's Choir) is a semi-private Catholic choir school for boys from grades 3-12 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is jointly operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto and Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, which manage the school's music curriculum, and the Toronto Catholic District School Board, which administers all other academic subjects, athletics programs, and extracurricular activities. The school is a member of the International Boys' Schools Coalition.[1]

St. Michael's Choir School
Latin: Schola Cantorum Sancti Michæle Archangelo
Address
66 Bond Street (Garden District)

Toronto, Ontario
,
M5B 1X2

Canada
Information
School typeSemi-private Catholic combined elementary school and high school
MottoBis orat qui cantat
(He who sings prays twice)
Religious affiliation(s)Catholic Church
Established1937
School boardToronto Catholic District School Board
SuperintendentKimberly Dixon (Area 6)
Area trusteeNorm Di Pasquale (Ward 9)
School number518 / 834718
518 / 835200
DirectorBarry White
PrincipalMiles Fernandes
ChancellorFrancis Leo (as Archbishop of Toronto)
Faculty41
Grades3-12
GenderMale
Age range8-18
Enrolment270 (2016-2017)
HousesRonan, Hopperton, Mann, and Armstrong
Colour(s)  Maroon (elementary)
  Navy (secondary)
  Gold
SongThou Royal Knight from Courts on High by J.E. Ronan
MascotSpartan
Annual tuition$7,500 CAD
ConductorsSidney Bryan Priddy (Artistic Director, Senior Saturday Choir & Principal Conductor), Teri Dunn (Senior Sunday Choir, Elementary Choir, and Dean of Choral Studies), and Maria Conkey (Junior Choir)
Websitewww.smcs.on.ca
Exterior view of 66 Bond Street in 2005

St. Michael's Choir School trains choristers and musicians in classical and liturgical music through regular choral, music theory, and piano instruction, and optional lessons in music history, vocal, organ, classical guitar, and orchestral string instruments. Admission to the school is by audition and students sing in concerts in Canada and internationally and during weekly mass at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica.[2][3][4][5] In addition to music and the performing arts, the school's alumni include professionals in business, academia, law, medicine, media, and politics.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

History edit

St. Michael's Choir School was founded in 1937[12] by Monsignor John Edward Ronan[13] as a private elementary school to train choristers and provide liturgical music services to St. Michael's Cathedral, where Ronan was Director of Music. Then called Cathedral Schola Cantorum, the school's founding was inspired by Pope Pius X's Tra le sollecitudini and started in a single room at 67 Bond Street, Toronto.[14][15] Monsignor Ronan was a composer[16] and graduate of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome, Italy, and remained principal until his death on October 15, 1962, a date that is now commemorated annually as Founder's Day at the school.[15][17]

As the school expanded and added a secondary school, it moved into a new building at 66 Bond Street, which was designed by the ecclesiastical architect James Haffa and opened in 1950.[18] In 1955, the school was granted affiliation with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, becoming one of six choirs and choir schools in the world to share this affiliation.[15] The affiliation authorized St. Michael's Choir School to grant the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Music, with a specialization in Gregorian chant.[19][20] In 1966, St. Michael's Choir School entered into an agreement with the Toronto Catholic District School Board, then called the Metropolitan Separate School Board, to place secular, non-music courses under the publicly funded Catholic school system.[21] In 1975, the secondary school expanded further and moved to 69 Bond Street.[22] By 1987, the school was fully funded by government with the exception of its music program, for which students continue to pay fees. In 1987, St. Michael's Choir School celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and in recognition of this milestone, Toronto mayor Art Eggleton declared June 15, 1987 as the official "St. Michael's Choir School Day." In 1996, the elementary school moved into a renovated building at 67 Bond Street and left 66 Bond Street as an administrative building, auditorium, and rehearsal space for the school's music division.[22]

Notable school instructors have included composer and piano virtuoso John Arpin, who taught piano from 1956 to 1957,[23] and Canadian Opera Company tenor John Arab, who taught vocal from 1954 until his death in 2000.[24]

Concerts and tours edit

St. Michael's Choir School has held an annual Christmas concert since 1939. From 1939 to 1964, Christmas concerts were held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, attached to James Cooper House, before moving to Massey Hall,[25] where the school celebrated 50 years of performances at the venue in 2015.[26][27] In 2013, CBC listed the school's Christmas concert as one of Toronto's top 13 classical Christmas events of 2013.[28]

Besides the Christmas concert, the school choirs perform during the annual Founder's Day concert in October and the spring concert in May.[29] The choirs have also performed at Roy Thomson Hall and other venues around the city, both on their own and with other musical groups, including the Victoria Scholars Men's Choral Ensemble[30] and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.[31] The school performed for Pope John Paul II in 1984 during his papal visit to Canada and again in 2002 during World Youth Day.[32] The school choir also performed during Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee visit to Toronto in 2002.[33] In 2017, the school opened the Sistine Chapel Choir's Toronto concert,[34] sang during the Toronto Arts Foundation Mayor's Evening for the Arts gala attended by Mayor John Tory,[35][36] and performed all three parts of George Frideric Handel's Messiah for the first time in the school's history.[37][38] In 2020, students served as cantors during the state funeral for former Canadian Prime Minister John Turner, with guests including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Governor General David Johnston, and former Prime Minister Kim Campbell.[39][40][41]

St. Michael's Choir School began touring in 1946[5] and its choirs have performed across Canada and internationally, including in Nova Scotia,[42] Quebec,[43] Newfoundland and Labrador,[44] the Czech Republic,[45] the United States,[46][47] Germany,[48] and Trinidad and Tobago.[33] The first international tour took place in 1971, when the school choir participated in the Cork International Choral Festival in Ireland, performed in the United Kingdom, and sang before Pope Paul VI at a general audience in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.[49] As part of the school's 75th anniversary celebrations in 2013, the school's choirs toured Italy, which included a performance in St. Peter's Basilica and of "Jubilate Deo," a song composed by the school's founder, for Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square.[50][51][52][53] The 2013 tour was featured in a documentary film by Salt + Light Television.[54] During the papal visit to Canada in 2022, the school performed for Pope Francis at the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec.[55]

School traditions edit

In addition to concerts and tours, St. Michael's Choir School commemorates Michaelmas, the feast day of St. Michael, on September 29[56] each year with a Blue Mass given in honour of the city's public safety personnel at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica. The celebration includes a performance of Thou Royal Knight from Courts on High, the school song composed by Monsignor Ronan in 1942.[57] On November 11, the graduating class provides music for the school's Remembrance Day ceremony at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.[58]

The school also provides choir services throughout Holy Week, including an Easter Vigil on the night of Holy Saturday. During Tenebrae, alumni return to sing responsories alongside current students in a traditional ceremony where candles are gradually extinguished throughout the service and choristers slap hymnals on pews to create a loud noise in the darkened church. Descended from medieval tradition, the resulting noise symbolizes the earthquake that is said to have followed Jesus's death.[59]

Students are divided into one of four school houses named Ronan, Hopperton, Mann, and Armstrong, which are designed to encourage school spirit, peer mentorship, and student leadership.[60] Each house competes in community events for the annual House Cup award and is represented by senior students known as a prefects. The houses are named after Monsignor John Edward Ronan, the school's founder, Joan Hopperton, the school's first teacher, Kathleen Mann, the first Junior Choir conductor,[61] and Harold Armstrong, the school's first organist and Tenor-Bass Choir conductor.[62][63]

School symbols edit

St. Michael's Choir School is named after St. Michael the Archangel and its motto, Bis orat qui cantat, is translated as He who sings prays twice.[64] The phrase refers to song as a noble form of prayer and is sometimes attributed to St. Augustine.[65][66] The school is also represented by a school crest, which serves as the school's logo and is worn on students' uniforms. The crest's blazon is as follows:

The three symbols are one. At the center of the Choir School’s academic effort to make the universe (circle) intelligible to growing minds is an experience of music (treble clef) for the praise of God in Jesus Christ (Chi Rho cross).[64]

The school's sports mascot is the Spartan and the school colours are maroon for grades 3-8, navy blue for grades 9-12, and gold. Students wear maroon or navy blue blazers, sweaters, and polo shirts according to their grade level, as part of the school's uniform.[67] The school houses, Ronan, Hopperton, Mann, and Armstrong, are represented by the colours blue, yellow, red, and green, respectively.[68]

Controversies edit

St. Michael's Choir School came under scrutiny after 17-year-old student Kenneth Au Yeung died by suicide by leaping from the Prince Edward Viaduct on December 11, 1997.[69] Earlier that afternoon, Principal John Ryall called Au Yeung and five other classmates to his office about a prank involving potentially libellous remarks linking the school choir director to a sex scandal. The comments mistakenly found its way into print in the school's yearbook, which Au Yeung had helped edit. Ryall and Louise Kane, a longtime teacher, called off-duty police officer Const. Christopher Downer, an alumnus who often visited campus in uniform as the principal's "enforcer." During the meeting, Downer and Ryall threatened the students with criminal charges, questioned them without notifying their parents on the grounds that the investigation was informal, and prevented Au Yeung from contacting his parents, which violated school board policy. It was the latter that Au Yeung's mother Catherine testified as a direct cause of the suicide during the inquiry, which made 23 recommendations, including on the mandatory notification of parents during police investigations and guidelines for police conduct off-duty. Downer and Ryall did not face legal repercussions.[70][71][72][73]

The school was mired in controversy over the removal of its artistic director, Dr. Jerzy Cichocki, a 25-year-plus employee and alumnus. On December 28, 2016, the school sent out a letter to the school community from the school's director, Stephen Handrigan, vaguely outlining Dr. Cichocki's dismissal.[74] Following some backlash from the community, the school sent a second letter from Archbishop of Toronto Thomas Collins, reiterating Dr. Cichocki's removal.[75] Further backlash sparked a student-led petition in support of Dr. Cichocki's reinstatement, which was published on December 30, 2016, and earned almost 1000 signatures. The creator stated that "Dr. Cichocki is by far the most qualified candidate to fulfill this noble mission (of the choir school), having had a connection with the school from the age of eight and possessing three graduate degrees in music.”[76] Despite the significant amount of support, the petition was disregarded by the administration.

School profile edit

Academic curriculum edit

Administered by the Toronto Catholic District School Board, St. Michael's Choir School's academic curriculum follows the Ontario Curriculum at both the elementary and secondary levels. From Grade 5 onward, students enrol in the Extended French Program, where they study French as a second language as well as certain subjects, such as social studies, entirely in French. Graduates earn an Extended French Certificate from the Toronto Catholic District School Board and are considered functionally bilingual upon completing the program.[77][78] At the secondary level, students enrol in classes in the academic stream across core subjects such as English, French, geography, history, religious studies, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics, which qualify students for university entrance upon graduation.[64] Graduates earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and St. Michael's Choir School Diploma and have pursued post-secondary education at universities and colleges in Canada,[79] the United States,[80][81][82][83][84] and the United Kingdom.[85]

Music curriculum edit

In addition to the Ontario curriculum requirements, students study choral music, piano, and music theory, with the option of studying vocal, music history, and second instruments such as organ, classical guitar, and orchestral string instruments.[86][87] Administered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto and the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, the music program includes daily choral instruction and rehearsals as well as weekly mass duties at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica.

Students are divided into four choirs based on age and voice type: Elementary (grades 3–4; soprano and mezzo-soprano ranges), Junior (grades 5–6; soprano, mezzo-soprano, and alto ranges), Senior (grades 7–12; soprano, alto, tenor, and bass ranges), and Tenor-Bass (grades 7–12; tenor, baritone, and bass ranges). Each choir has mass duties, but the Elementary Choir, as a training choir, sings only a handful of masses every year. All choirs participate in the three annual concerts (Founder's Day, Christmas, and Spring concerts).[88] Students from the Junior, Senior and Tenor-Bass choirs also participate in the school's semi-annual tours, which take place around Christmas and in the spring, in Canada and internationally.[89]

Extracurricular activities edit

Students at St. Michael's Choir School participate in a variety of extracurricular activities through the school's house system. Students also participate in the school community through its Student Council[90] and student clubs, including the Eco Club, Reach for the Top, Social Justice Committee, and the school's yearbook Schola. In 2015, the school's junior W5H team won the Toronto Catholic District School Board's W5H Toronto South Junior Region Championships.[91][92]

The school supports a varied sports program and offers volleyball, tennis, swimming, cross-country, soccer, ultimate, and flag football.[93] In 2012, the school's senior volleyball team placed first in the Toronto District Catholic Athletic Association tournament and won a bronze medal at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations provincial championships.[94] The senior volleyball team won the Toronto District Catholic Athletic Association Senior Boys Tier 2 Championship in 2017.[95]

Admissions and tuition edit

Due to the vocal and musical instrument requirements at St. Michael's Choir School, admission is by audition only. Depending on the age of the applicant, the admission process can include an academic aptitude test, a music theory test, an audition consisting of singing a song at an appropriate voice range, vocal and ear exercises, sight-reading music, and playing an instrument, and a family interview. The audition assesses the applicant's vocal and musical ability, listening skills, and teachability. Applicants must meet the requirements for enrolment with the Toronto Catholic District School Board.[96][97]

All students pay tuition fees, which were $7,500 CAD in the 2021-2022 academic year.[98]

Rankings edit

St. Michael's Choir School is highly rated by the Fraser Institute's reports on elementary and secondary schools in Ontario. In 2018, the secondary school received a score of 9.4 out of 10 and ranked second out of 738 secondary schools provincially.[60] The elementary school was rated 9.3 out of 10 and ranked 42nd out of 3037 schools in the province and tied for tenth place within the city of Toronto.[99] The elementary school was rated as the best public school in Toronto by the C.D. Howe Institute in 2012.[100][101]

Buildings and redevelopment edit

St. Michael's Choir School is located next to St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica and operates out of four buildings at 56, 66, 67 and 69 Bond Street. In 2016, the school's secondary school building, located at 69 Bond Street, was rated as in need of "critical" repairs and had the worst-performing score among Toronto Catholic District School Board secondary schools on the Ontario Ministry of Education's Facility Condition Index.[102] In 2018, the Ministry of Education announced it would spend $11.2 million CAD[103][104][105] to construct a new consolidated school building at 67 Bond Street designed by KPMB Architects.[106][107][108] In 2022, KPMB Architects, the Archdiocese of Toronto, and the Toronto Catholic District School Board submitted a new development plan to the City of Toronto for a revised six-storey school design that incorporates and restores the historic Gothic revival-style façade at 66 Bond Street.[109][110]

Discography edit

St. Michael's Choir School has produced ten albums to date, as well as music available for streaming on Apple Music,[111] Spotify,[112] and Amazon Music.[113] The albums[114] include:

  • Joy to the World (1973)
  • This Is the Day (1975)
  • Sing Praise to God (1979)
  • Sing the Carols of Christmas (1983)
  • Shout for Joy (1988)
  • The Heavens are Telling (1994)
  • Tenebrae (1997)
  • Christmas Garland (1999)
  • From Courts on High (2008)
  • In Midnight's Stillness (2009)

Notable alumni edit

References edit

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External links edit

  • St. Michael's Choir School
  • TCDSB Portal

43°39′18″N 79°22′41″W / 43.6551°N 79.3781°W / 43.6551; -79.3781

November 02, 2023
michael, choir, school, also, known, smcs, choir, school, mike, choir, semi, private, catholic, choir, school, boys, from, grades, toronto, ontario, canada, jointly, operated, roman, catholic, archdiocese, toronto, pontifical, institute, sacred, music, which, . St Michael s Choir School also known as SMCS The Choir School or St Mike s Choir is a semi private Catholic choir school for boys from grades 3 12 in Toronto Ontario Canada It is jointly operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto and Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music which manage the school s music curriculum and the Toronto Catholic District School Board which administers all other academic subjects athletics programs and extracurricular activities The school is a member of the International Boys Schools Coalition 1 St Michael s Choir SchoolLatin Schola Cantorum Sancti Michaele ArchangeloAddress66 Bond Street Garden District Toronto Ontario M5B 1X2CanadaInformationSchool typeSemi private Catholic combined elementary school and high schoolMottoBis orat qui cantat He who sings prays twice Religious affiliation s Catholic ChurchEstablished1937School boardToronto Catholic District School BoardSuperintendentKimberly Dixon Area 6 Area trusteeNorm Di Pasquale Ward 9 School number518 834718518 835200DirectorBarry WhitePrincipalMiles FernandesChancellorFrancis Leo as Archbishop of Toronto Faculty41Grades3 12GenderMaleAge range8 18Enrolment270 2016 2017 HousesRonan Hopperton Mann and ArmstrongColour s Maroon elementary Navy secondary GoldSongThou Royal Knight from Courts on High by J E RonanMascotSpartanAnnual tuition 7 500 CADConductorsSidney Bryan Priddy Artistic Director Senior Saturday Choir amp Principal Conductor Teri Dunn Senior Sunday Choir Elementary Choir and Dean of Choral Studies and Maria Conkey Junior Choir Websitewww wbr smcs wbr on wbr caExterior view of 66 Bond Street in 2005St Michael s Choir School trains choristers and musicians in classical and liturgical music through regular choral music theory and piano instruction and optional lessons in music history vocal organ classical guitar and orchestral string instruments Admission to the school is by audition and students sing in concerts in Canada and internationally and during weekly mass at St Michael s Cathedral Basilica 2 3 4 5 In addition to music and the performing arts the school s alumni include professionals in business academia law medicine media and politics 6 7 8 9 10 11 Contents 1 History 1 1 Concerts and tours 1 2 School traditions 1 3 School symbols 1 4 Controversies 2 School profile 2 1 Academic curriculum 2 2 Music curriculum 2 3 Extracurricular activities 2 4 Admissions and tuition 2 5 Rankings 2 6 Buildings and redevelopment 3 Discography 4 Notable alumni 5 References 6 External linksHistory editSt Michael s Choir School was founded in 1937 12 by Monsignor John Edward Ronan 13 as a private elementary school to train choristers and provide liturgical music services to St Michael s Cathedral where Ronan was Director of Music Then called Cathedral Schola Cantorum the school s founding was inspired by Pope Pius X s Tra le sollecitudini and started in a single room at 67 Bond Street Toronto 14 15 Monsignor Ronan was a composer 16 and graduate of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome Italy and remained principal until his death on October 15 1962 a date that is now commemorated annually as Founder s Day at the school 15 17 As the school expanded and added a secondary school it moved into a new building at 66 Bond Street which was designed by the ecclesiastical architect James Haffa and opened in 1950 18 In 1955 the school was granted affiliation with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music becoming one of six choirs and choir schools in the world to share this affiliation 15 The affiliation authorized St Michael s Choir School to grant the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Music with a specialization in Gregorian chant 19 20 In 1966 St Michael s Choir School entered into an agreement with the Toronto Catholic District School Board then called the Metropolitan Separate School Board to place secular non music courses under the publicly funded Catholic school system 21 In 1975 the secondary school expanded further and moved to 69 Bond Street 22 By 1987 the school was fully funded by government with the exception of its music program for which students continue to pay fees In 1987 St Michael s Choir School celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and in recognition of this milestone Toronto mayor Art Eggleton declared June 15 1987 as the official St Michael s Choir School Day In 1996 the elementary school moved into a renovated building at 67 Bond Street and left 66 Bond Street as an administrative building auditorium and rehearsal space for the school s music division 22 Notable school instructors have included composer and piano virtuoso John Arpin who taught piano from 1956 to 1957 23 and Canadian Opera Company tenor John Arab who taught vocal from 1954 until his death in 2000 24 Concerts and tours edit St Michael s Choir School has held an annual Christmas concert since 1939 From 1939 to 1964 Christmas concerts were held at the Knights of Columbus Hall attached to James Cooper House before moving to Massey Hall 25 where the school celebrated 50 years of performances at the venue in 2015 26 27 In 2013 CBC listed the school s Christmas concert as one of Toronto s top 13 classical Christmas events of 2013 28 Besides the Christmas concert the school choirs perform during the annual Founder s Day concert in October and the spring concert in May 29 The choirs have also performed at Roy Thomson Hall and other venues around the city both on their own and with other musical groups including the Victoria Scholars Men s Choral Ensemble 30 and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra 31 The school performed for Pope John Paul II in 1984 during his papal visit to Canada and again in 2002 during World Youth Day 32 The school choir also performed during Queen Elizabeth s Golden Jubilee visit to Toronto in 2002 33 In 2017 the school opened the Sistine Chapel Choir s Toronto concert 34 sang during the Toronto Arts Foundation Mayor s Evening for the Arts gala attended by Mayor John Tory 35 36 and performed all three parts of George Frideric Handel s Messiah for the first time in the school s history 37 38 In 2020 students served as cantors during the state funeral for former Canadian Prime Minister John Turner with guests including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau former Governor General David Johnston and former Prime Minister Kim Campbell 39 40 41 St Michael s Choir School began touring in 1946 5 and its choirs have performed across Canada and internationally including in Nova Scotia 42 Quebec 43 Newfoundland and Labrador 44 the Czech Republic 45 the United States 46 47 Germany 48 and Trinidad and Tobago 33 The first international tour took place in 1971 when the school choir participated in the Cork International Choral Festival in Ireland performed in the United Kingdom and sang before Pope Paul VI at a general audience in St Peter s Basilica Vatican City 49 As part of the school s 75th anniversary celebrations in 2013 the school s choirs toured Italy which included a performance in St Peter s Basilica and of Jubilate Deo a song composed by the school s founder for Pope Francis in St Peter s Square 50 51 52 53 The 2013 tour was featured in a documentary film by Salt Light Television 54 During the papal visit to Canada in 2022 the school performed for Pope Francis at the Cathedral Basilica of Notre Dame de Quebec in Quebec City Quebec 55 School traditions edit In addition to concerts and tours St Michael s Choir School commemorates Michaelmas the feast day of St Michael on September 29 56 each year with a Blue Mass given in honour of the city s public safety personnel at St Michael s Cathedral Basilica The celebration includes a performance of Thou Royal Knight from Courts on High the school song composed by Monsignor Ronan in 1942 57 On November 11 the graduating class provides music for the school s Remembrance Day ceremony at St Michael s Cathedral Basilica to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty 58 The school also provides choir services throughout Holy Week including an Easter Vigil on the night of Holy Saturday During Tenebrae alumni return to sing responsories alongside current students in a traditional ceremony where candles are gradually extinguished throughout the service and choristers slap hymnals on pews to create a loud noise in the darkened church Descended from medieval tradition the resulting noise symbolizes the earthquake that is said to have followed Jesus s death 59 Students are divided into one of four school houses named Ronan Hopperton Mann and Armstrong which are designed to encourage school spirit peer mentorship and student leadership 60 Each house competes in community events for the annual House Cup award and is represented by senior students known as a prefects The houses are named after Monsignor John Edward Ronan the school s founder Joan Hopperton the school s first teacher Kathleen Mann the first Junior Choir conductor 61 and Harold Armstrong the school s first organist and Tenor Bass Choir conductor 62 63 School symbols editSt Michael s Choir School is named after St Michael the Archangel and its motto Bis orat qui cantat is translated as He who sings prays twice 64 The phrase refers to song as a noble form of prayer and is sometimes attributed to St Augustine 65 66 The school is also represented by a school crest which serves as the school s logo and is worn on students uniforms The crest s blazon is as follows The three symbols are one At the center of the Choir School s academic effort to make the universe circle intelligible to growing minds is an experience of music treble clef for the praise of God in Jesus Christ Chi Rho cross 64 The school s sports mascot is the Spartan and the school colours are maroon for grades 3 8 navy blue for grades 9 12 and gold Students wear maroon or navy blue blazers sweaters and polo shirts according to their grade level as part of the school s uniform 67 The school houses Ronan Hopperton Mann and Armstrong are represented by the colours blue yellow red and green respectively 68 Controversies edit St Michael s Choir School came under scrutiny after 17 year old student Kenneth Au Yeung died by suicide by leaping from the Prince Edward Viaduct on December 11 1997 69 Earlier that afternoon Principal John Ryall called Au Yeung and five other classmates to his office about a prank involving potentially libellous remarks linking the school choir director to a sex scandal The comments mistakenly found its way into print in the school s yearbook which Au Yeung had helped edit Ryall and Louise Kane a longtime teacher called off duty police officer Const Christopher Downer an alumnus who often visited campus in uniform as the principal s enforcer During the meeting Downer and Ryall threatened the students with criminal charges questioned them without notifying their parents on the grounds that the investigation was informal and prevented Au Yeung from contacting his parents which violated school board policy It was the latter that Au Yeung s mother Catherine testified as a direct cause of the suicide during the inquiry which made 23 recommendations including on the mandatory notification of parents during police investigations and guidelines for police conduct off duty Downer and Ryall did not face legal repercussions 70 71 72 73 The school was mired in controversy over the removal of its artistic director Dr Jerzy Cichocki a 25 year plus employee and alumnus On December 28 2016 the school sent out a letter to the school community from the school s director Stephen Handrigan vaguely outlining Dr Cichocki s dismissal 74 Following some backlash from the community the school sent a second letter from Archbishop of Toronto Thomas Collins reiterating Dr Cichocki s removal 75 Further backlash sparked a student led petition in support of Dr Cichocki s reinstatement which was published on December 30 2016 and earned almost 1000 signatures The creator stated that Dr Cichocki is by far the most qualified candidate to fulfill this noble mission of the choir school having had a connection with the school from the age of eight and possessing three graduate degrees in music 76 Despite the significant amount of support the petition was disregarded by the administration School profile editAcademic curriculum edit Administered by the Toronto Catholic District School Board St Michael s Choir School s academic curriculum follows the Ontario Curriculum at both the elementary and secondary levels From Grade 5 onward students enrol in the Extended French Program where they study French as a second language as well as certain subjects such as social studies entirely in French Graduates earn an Extended French Certificate from the Toronto Catholic District School Board and are considered functionally bilingual upon completing the program 77 78 At the secondary level students enrol in classes in the academic stream across core subjects such as English French geography history religious studies mathematics biology chemistry and physics which qualify students for university entrance upon graduation 64 Graduates earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and St Michael s Choir School Diploma and have pursued post secondary education at universities and colleges in Canada 79 the United States 80 81 82 83 84 and the United Kingdom 85 Music curriculum edit In addition to the Ontario curriculum requirements students study choral music piano and music theory with the option of studying vocal music history and second instruments such as organ classical guitar and orchestral string instruments 86 87 Administered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto and the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music the music program includes daily choral instruction and rehearsals as well as weekly mass duties at St Michael s Cathedral Basilica Students are divided into four choirs based on age and voice type Elementary grades 3 4 soprano and mezzo soprano ranges Junior grades 5 6 soprano mezzo soprano and alto ranges Senior grades 7 12 soprano alto tenor and bass ranges and Tenor Bass grades 7 12 tenor baritone and bass ranges Each choir has mass duties but the Elementary Choir as a training choir sings only a handful of masses every year All choirs participate in the three annual concerts Founder s Day Christmas and Spring concerts 88 Students from the Junior Senior and Tenor Bass choirs also participate in the school s semi annual tours which take place around Christmas and in the spring in Canada and internationally 89 Extracurricular activities edit Students at St Michael s Choir School participate in a variety of extracurricular activities through the school s house system Students also participate in the school community through its Student Council 90 and student clubs including the Eco Club Reach for the Top Social Justice Committee and the school s yearbook Schola In 2015 the school s junior W5H team won the Toronto Catholic District School Board s W5H Toronto South Junior Region Championships 91 92 The school supports a varied sports program and offers volleyball tennis swimming cross country soccer ultimate and flag football 93 In 2012 the school s senior volleyball team placed first in the Toronto District Catholic Athletic Association tournament and won a bronze medal at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations provincial championships 94 The senior volleyball team won the Toronto District Catholic Athletic Association Senior Boys Tier 2 Championship in 2017 95 Admissions and tuition edit Due to the vocal and musical instrument requirements at St Michael s Choir School admission is by audition only Depending on the age of the applicant the admission process can include an academic aptitude test a music theory test an audition consisting of singing a song at an appropriate voice range vocal and ear exercises sight reading music and playing an instrument and a family interview The audition assesses the applicant s vocal and musical ability listening skills and teachability Applicants must meet the requirements for enrolment with the Toronto Catholic District School Board 96 97 All students pay tuition fees which were 7 500 CAD in the 2021 2022 academic year 98 Rankings edit St Michael s Choir School is highly rated by the Fraser Institute s reports on elementary and secondary schools in Ontario In 2018 the secondary school received a score of 9 4 out of 10 and ranked second out of 738 secondary schools provincially 60 The elementary school was rated 9 3 out of 10 and ranked 42nd out of 3037 schools in the province and tied for tenth place within the city of Toronto 99 The elementary school was rated as the best public school in Toronto by the C D Howe Institute in 2012 100 101 Buildings and redevelopment edit St Michael s Choir School is located next to St Michael s Cathedral Basilica and operates out of four buildings at 56 66 67 and 69 Bond Street In 2016 the school s secondary school building located at 69 Bond Street was rated as in need of critical repairs and had the worst performing score among Toronto Catholic District School Board secondary schools on the Ontario Ministry of Education s Facility Condition Index 102 In 2018 the Ministry of Education announced it would spend 11 2 million CAD 103 104 105 to construct a new consolidated school building at 67 Bond Street designed by KPMB Architects 106 107 108 In 2022 KPMB Architects the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Toronto Catholic District School Board submitted a new development plan to the City of Toronto for a revised six storey school design that incorporates and restores the historic Gothic revival style facade at 66 Bond Street 109 110 Discography editSt Michael s Choir School has produced ten albums to date as well as music available for streaming on Apple Music 111 Spotify 112 and Amazon Music 113 The albums 114 include Joy to the World 1973 This Is the Day 1975 Sing Praise to God 1979 Sing the Carols of Christmas 1983 Shout for Joy 1988 The Heavens are Telling 1994 Tenebrae 1997 Christmas Garland 1999 From Courts on High 2008 In Midnight s Stillness 2009 Notable alumni editChris Brown musician 115 116 Michael Burgess actor and singer 117 John Burke composer 118 119 The Crew Cuts vocal quartet 120 Matt Dusk jazz musician 121 The Four Lads vocal quartet 122 Stewart Goodyear concert pianist 123 83 Kevin Hearn keyboardist Barenaked Ladies 124 Janko Kastelic conductor Vienna State Opera 125 Kuya Productions multi platinum Grammy nominated hip hop R amp B and pop production duo consisting of Samuel and Robert Gerongco Keram Malicki Sanchez actor filmmaker musician and media producer 126 John McDermott singer 127 Marco Mendicino lawyer Liberal Member of Parliament for Eglinton Lawrence 128 129 Claude Morrison singer The Nylons 130 131 Michael Ontkean actor Twin Peaks 132 Robert Pomakov opera singer 133 134 Michael Schade opera singer Austrian Kammersanger and officer of the Order of Canada 135 136 Peter Togni composer 137 Alexander Hajek opera singer 138 Darryn de Souza musician 139 140 References edit Dovigo 2017 07 30 International Boys Schools Coalition Conference Crescent School PDF Toronto Catholic District School Board Retrieved 2022 05 12 About Us St Michael s Choir Sr School www tcdsb org Retrieved 2022 04 03 Music St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 03 Auditions St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 03 a b Tours St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 03 Peters Diane 2022 04 09 Toronto Maple Leafs organist on why the best seat in the city is his bench at Scotiabank Area The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 05 07 DeMontis Rita 2022 04 09 Bravo Bravo It s opera season once again Toronto Sun Retrieved 2022 05 07 Toronto s St Michael s choir passes the torch of music CBC News 2012 12 27 Retrieved 2022 05 07 Wells Paul 2019 08 08 How Jeremy Broadhurst plans to get Trudeau re elected with help from Gerry Butts Maclean s Retrieved 2022 05 07 Adam Piotr Zukiewicz Associate Professor of Piano School of Music College of Performing and Visual Arts School of Music Retrieved 2022 05 07 Mark Angelo Loran Scholars Foundation Fondation Boursiers Loran Retrieved 2022 05 07 Toronto s St Michael s Choir School set to perform for next pope CTV Toronto News toronto ctvnews ca 2014 Retrieved 14 January 2014 was founded in 1937 Canadian choir to get early audience with new pope Arts amp Entertainment CBC News cbc ca 2014 Retrieved 14 January 2014 John Edward Ronan D Cunha Patricia Annual holiday tradition returns to Massey Hall 680 News Retrieved 27 January 2014 a b c Our History St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 03 Ronan Collection St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 04 Chua Rebecca Behind the Scenes St Michael s Choir School s Stephen Handrigan Whole Note Magazine Retrieved 27 January 2014 Haffa James Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada www dictionaryofarchitectsincanada org Retrieved 2022 04 04 SMCS 50th Anniversary Booklet The Beginning PDF St Michael s Choir School 1987 Retrieved 2022 05 04 Littler William 2015 02 17 Celebrating John Edward Ronan and St Michael s Choir School The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 05 08 Our History St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 05 07 a b Student Handbook 2021 2022 PDF Popple Robert 2009 John Arpin Keyboard Virtuoso Toronto Dundurn pp 68 76 ISBN 9781770705005 John Arab The Canadian Encyclopedia Retrieved 27 January 2014 Smith Dan 2013 Daly Peter ed The 1960s Print publication First ed St Michael s Choir School pp 26 27 St Michael s Choir School Bis orat qui cantat He who sings prays twice St Michael s Choir School Retrieved 2015 12 09 Adragna Robert 2015 12 04 Choir school marks 50 years of Christmas at Massey The Catholic Register Retrieved 2022 05 04 Morreale Michael Canada s Top 13 Classical Christmas Concerts of 2013 CBC Retrieved 27 January 2014 Concerts St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 05 04 Victoria Scholars Men s Choral Ensemble amp The Choirs of St Michael s Choir School A Christmas Celebration Roy Thomson Hall Retrieved 27 January 2014 St Michael s Choir School The Canadian Encyclopedia Steinburg Bill Fall 2006 Msgr Barrett Armstrong Promoter and Preserver of Sacred Music PDF The Shepherd s Trust Newsletter pp 1 2 Retrieved April 3 2022 a b Organix 07 Biography St Michael s Choir School www organixconcerts ca Retrieved 2022 04 03 Din Jean Ko 2017 10 03 Sistine Choir strikes right chord in Canada The Catholic Register Retrieved 2022 08 07 Mayor John Tory brings Toronto s creative community together to celebrate an Evening for the Arts Toronto Arts Foundation 2017 11 20 Retrieved 2022 05 07 Mayor John Tory brings Toronto s creative community together to celebrate an Evening for the Arts Markets Insider 2017 11 21 Retrieved 2022 05 07 Littler William 2017 12 02 St Michael s Choir School comes together for Messiah The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 05 08 Chang Brian 2018 03 29 St Mike s Springtime Messiah Sets Momentous Challenge The WholeNote Retrieved 2022 05 08 Program for the state funeral of the Right Honourable John Napier Wyndham Turner Government of Canada 2020 12 15 Retrieved 2022 05 07 Perkel Colin 2020 10 06 Grace and dignity Former PM John Turner remembered at state funeral Global News Retrieved 2022 05 15 Harris Kathleen 2020 10 06 John Turner remembered as principled politician loyal friend great Canadian CBC News Retrieved 2022 05 15 Elliot Wendy Kings arts scene April 26 Truro Daily News Retrieved 27 January 2014 McCarthy Neil Choir School Hits the Road Cantate Domino Archdiocese of Toronto Newfoundlander Stephen Handrigan brings Toronto boys choir to his home province CBC News 2015 05 20 Retrieved 2022 05 13 Concert Details Cantate Domino Chantez au Seigneur Sing to the Lord Choirs Ontario Retrieved 27 January 2014 Philadelphia Episcopal Church Senior Choir of St Michael s Choir School Toronto Ontario Philly Fun Guide Archived from the original on 27 January 2014 Retrieved 27 January 2014 New York Concert Tour 2019 St Michael s Choir Sr School www tcdsb org Retrieved 2022 08 07 Littler William 2017 05 20 St Michael s Choir School students sing in Germany s grand cathedrals The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 04 03 50th Anniversary Booklet The Tours Archived 2014 01 16 at the Wayback Machine St Michael s Choir School 1987 Accessed January 2014 Littler William Canada s Music Sounding Sweet in Italy These Days The Toronto Star Retrieved 27 January 2014 La Rose Lauren 2013 04 10 St Michael s Choir School sings for Pope Francis at the Vatican The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 05 15 Littler William 2013 04 13 St Michael s Choir School s Italian tour includes stop at St Peter s audience with Pope Francis Littler The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 05 15 Salt Light Media 2016 11 23 Watch Into the Mystery The 75th Anniversary of St Michael s Choir School Online retrieved 2022 08 07 Into the Mystery Salt Light Television Toronto s St Michael s Choir School ready to perform for Pope Francis Watch News Videos Online Global News Retrieved 2022 08 06 Our History St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 05 04 Thou royal knight from courts on high Hymnary org Retrieved 2022 05 04 REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE 2020 St Michael s Choir Sr School www tcdsb org Retrieved 2022 05 04 Swan Michael 2020 03 12 The Tenebrae tradition The Catholic Register Retrieved 2022 05 04 a b Yuen Jenny February 17 2018 FRASER REPORT St Michael s Choir School hits all the right notes Toronto Sun Retrieved 2022 04 03 May 2015 Newsletter PDF Toronto Catholic District School Board 2015 Retrieved 2022 05 13 July 2019 Newsletter PDF Toronto Catholic District School Board 2019 Retrieved 2022 05 12 SMCS 50th Anniversary Booklet The Dream PDF St Michael s Choir School 1987 Retrieved 2022 05 13 a b c Student Handbook 2021 2022 PDF St Michael s Choir School 2021 Retrieved 2022 05 12 Apostolic Journey to the United States of America Meeting with the children at the United Nations Headquarters New York October 5 1995 John Paul II www vatican va Retrieved 2022 05 13 Catechismus Catholicae Ecclesiae Ecclesiae liturgiam celebrare www vatican va Retrieved 2022 05 13 St Michael s Choir School 2020 Uniform Catalogue PDF St Michael s Choir School 2020 Retrieved 2022 05 12 July 2014 Newsletter PDF Toronto Catholic District School Board 2014 Retrieved 2022 05 13 Oakland Ross 10 January 2010 The fatal attraction of suicide magnets The Star Toronto Retrieved 13 January 2014 Nicol John O Hara Jane 2 February 1998 Death of a choirboy a student s suicide shakes a renowned Toronto school Maclean s Canada Nolen Stephanie 1998 07 01 Looking for answers An inquest asks why a teenager killed himself Maclean s Nolen Stephanie 1998 07 20 Dissecting a tragedy The jury rules on the suicide of a choirboy Maclean s Retrieved 2022 05 08 Fine Sean 2001 02 28 TV show makes officer relive teen s suicide The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2022 05 08 Letter from the Director us7 campaign archive2 com Retrieved 2017 01 10 Communication from Cardinal Thomas Collins re Pontifical School of Sacred Music at St Michael s Choir School us7 campaign archive2 com Retrieved 2017 01 10 Swan Michael St Michael s Choir school fired long time conductor Catholic Register Retrieved January 11 2017 Academics St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 03 Extended French Toronto Catholic District School Board www tcdsb org Retrieved 2022 04 04 Mulrooney Frank P J The Queen s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archive 2012 12 24 Retrieved 2022 05 13 SMCS s Michael Jai Signed to Lawrence Tech University St Michael s Choir Sr School www tcdsb org Retrieved 2022 05 13 Jose Gotera Cleveland State University class csuohio edu Retrieved 2022 05 13 Spotlight on Alexander Hajek Schmopera Retrieved 2022 05 13 a b Hunwicks Allison 2012 05 25 St Michael s Choir School alumnus to perform all 32 of Beethoven s sonatas The Catholic Register Retrieved 2022 04 05 Kola Owolabi International Perspectives on Organ Education Vox Humana 2020 09 20 Retrieved 2022 05 13 November 2014 Newsletter PDF Toronto Catholic District School Board 2014 Retrieved 2022 05 13 Toronto Catholic District School Board St Michael s Choir School Toronto Catholic District School Board Retrieved 21 January 2014 Kincses Massimo 2021 07 27 It was such a thrill to hear our voices echo through the cathedral again This 16 year old reunited with his choir after a year apart Toronto Life Retrieved 2022 04 04 Concerts St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 03 St Michael s Choir School Choral Training Archived from the original on 12 November 2013 Retrieved 21 January 2014 Student Leadership St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 04 Junior W5H Toronto Catholic District School Board www tcdsb org Retrieved 2022 05 12 Regional W5H Winners St Michael s Choir Sr School www tcdsb org Retrieved 2022 05 12 Co Curricular Activities St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 04 City Centre Mirror Volleyball bronze for St Michael s hoops consolation for Northern PDF InsideToronto com Senior Boys Volleyball Champions St Michael s Choir Sr School www tcdsb org Retrieved 2022 05 12 Toronto Catholic District School Board St Michael s Choir School About Us Retrieved 21 January 2014 Auditions St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 04 Tuition and Financial Aid St Michael s Choir School smcs on ca Retrieved 2022 04 04 Fraser Institute School Ranking www compareschoolrankings org Retrieved 2022 04 03 C D Howe Institute 2012 06 07 Ontario s Best Public Schools 2009 2011 www cdhowe org Retrieved 2022 05 03 Brown Louise 2012 06 07 Catholic schools test scores often better than public schools C D Howe report The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 05 03 Mangione Naomi Parness and Kendra 2016 01 22 Nine Toronto Catholic schools need critical repairs CTV News Retrieved 2022 04 04 Ontario Rebuilding World Renowned Choir School Ontario Newsroom 2018 02 07 Retrieved 2022 05 12 Ontario pledges 11 2M to help rebuild St Michael s Choir School CBC News February 7 2018 Retrieved April 4 2022 Hoegler Meggie 2018 02 07 St Michael s Choir School receives 11 million from Ontario government The Catholic Register Retrieved 2022 05 12 Landau Jack 2018 02 09 Province Investing in St Michael s Choir School Rebuild UrbanToronto Retrieved 2022 04 04 St Michael s Cathedral Block Master Plan KPMB Retrieved 2022 04 04 New School Construction St Michael s Choir Sr School www tcdsb org Retrieved 2022 05 12 Calvet Stephanie 2022 02 09 St Michael s Choir School Proposes Expansion on Bond Street UrbanToronto Retrieved 2022 04 04 Development Applications secure toronto ca Retrieved 2022 05 12 St Michael s Choir School Senior Choir on Apple Music Apple Music Retrieved 2022 04 04 St Michael s Choir School Senior Choir Spotify Retrieved 2022 04 04 St Michael s Choir School Senior Choir Amazon Music Retrieved 2022 04 04 Products List esubmitit sjpg com 2013 Retrieved 2022 04 04 About Chris Brown Music The Citizens Band Retrieved 2022 05 03 Crawford Trish 2014 09 15 Jen Chapin carries on father s social justice legacy The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 05 03 Bommarito Sal St Michael s Choir School Lured Back The Brantford Expositor Retrieved 27 January 2014 Yeo Debra 2020 02 06 Canadian composer John Burke known for his labyrinth events is dead at 68 The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 05 03 John Burke composer John Burke composer Retrieved 2022 05 03 Sh Boom Rock and Roll Alumni of St Michael s Choir School Toronto in Time citiesintime ca 2014 Retrieved 13 January 2014 Hunwicks Allison 2014 Choir school training launched jazz singer Matt Dusk s career catholicregister org Archived from the original on January 14 2014 Retrieved 13 January 2014 BBC Music The Four Lads bbc co uk 2014 Retrieved 13 January 2014 Littler William 2021 11 26 Opinion Toronto pianist Stewart Goodyear finds a special homecoming at the Royal Conservatory of Music The Toronto Star ISSN 0319 0781 Retrieved 2022 04 05 Kevin Hearn Actors amp Actresses Debate org debate org 2014 Archived from the original on 14 January 2014 Retrieved 13 January 2014 Archdiocese of Toronto Barenaked Ladies Matt Dusk John McDermott Stewart Goodyear and Michael Burgess on Stage at Roy Thomson Hall October 15 2007 newswire ca 2014 Retrieved 13 January 2014 Grade 8 student at St Michael s Choir School worked in American TV Getty Images Retrieved 2022 04 05 Choir school marks 75 years of making music catholicregister org 2014 Archived from the original on August 23 2013 Retrieved 13 January 2014 Q amp A Marco Mendicino on beating Eve Adams and his plans to topple Joe Oliver Toronto Life Toronto Life Publishing Co 30 September 2015 Retrieved 22 August 2015 Video amp article link Hill Hobbies Getting in tune with Liberal MP Marco Mendicino Hon Marco Mendicino 2019 07 07 Retrieved 2022 04 05 Pedro Deacon 2008 10 22 A Concert of Musical Reflection Salt Light Media Retrieved 2022 05 03 St Michael s Choir School Music of the Americas PDF Toronto Catholic District School Board 2008 04 21 Retrieved 2022 05 03 IMDB Michael Ontkean Biography IMDb Robert Pomakov Born to Sing scena org 2011 Retrieved 13 January 2014 Opera Bob skips the pub to sing Mozart CBC News 2016 02 03 Retrieved 2022 05 03 Michael Schade Tenor Short Biography bach cantatas com 2013 Retrieved 13 January 2014 Alumnus Michael Schade named Officer of the Order of Canada music uwo ca Retrieved 2022 04 05 Featured Artist Peter A Togni Number 9 Audio Group Archived from the original on 30 December 2013 Retrieved 27 January 2014 Spotlight on Alexander Hajek Schmopera Retrieved 2022 12 16 Our Instructors Milton Youth Theatre Productions 2016 09 17 Retrieved 2022 12 16 Performing Artists Directory March 2021 by Performing Arts Brampton Issuu issuu com Retrieved 2022 12 16 External links editSt Michael s Choir School TCDSB Portal 43 39 18 N 79 22 41 W 43 6551 N 79 3781 W 43 6551 79 3781 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Michael 27s Choir School amp oldid 1170292348, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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