SINFONIA TORONTO HOLDS NATIONAL COMPETITION

Sinfonia Toronto will hold its first nationwide Sinfonia Toronto Concerto Competition during the 2000-2001 concert season.

The First Prize winner will be featured as the orchestra's soloist at the final concert of the season on May 5, 2001 in Glenn Gould Studio at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ,and will receive an honorarium of $1,000.00. A total of $2,000 will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners.

In making the announcement, Sinfonia Toronto's Music Director Nurhan Arman emphasized the orchestra's commitment to Canadian artists and repertoire. "We would like to bring forward the great concerto repertoire available for accompaniment by string orchestra. This repertoire is often neglected by symphony orchestras. This competition will put the spotlight on many hidden treasures."

The competition is open to all Canadian citizens, landed immigrants or foreign students with a current student visa. The competition is open to musicians under the age of 28. Applications must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2001.

For information,
Contact Sinfonia Toronto,
416-499-0403

SINFONIA TORONTO SOARS INTO SECOND SEASON

Toronto's new chamber orchestra, Sinfonia Toronto, sailed through its first season last year with good reviews, an attendance rate above 80%, several successful fundraising events and a growing board and volunteer team.

Sinfonia Toronto is poised for rapid growth during its second season in 2000-2001. Music Director Nurhan Arman will lead six main-series concerts in Glenn Gould Studio. The season will be augmented by several concerts in other Ontario cities, a move into educational programming, a competition and three special holiday performances. The ensemble's rapid development has been applauded and assisted for 2000-2001 by media sponsorships from CBC Radio One and The Globe and Mail.

The season begins on October 28 with pianist Janina Fialkowska in a brilliant program titled "Thunder and Lightning". Other highlights of the season include virtuoso violinist Erika Raum playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons; pianist Richard Raymond in an all-Shostakovich program; violinist Jasper Wood performing Hovhaness' violin concerto; and the clarinet mastery of Julian Milkis on display in a bouquet short pieces inspired by popular dances.

This season Sinfonia Toronto launches its first national Concerto Competition. The First Prize winner will appear as soloist with Sinfonia Toronto under Nurhan Arman's baton in the season's final concert, "Catch a Rising Star," on May 5.

The Globe and Mail and CBC Radio Two are media sponsors for Sinfonia Toronto's 2000-2001 season.

Series tickets are $130, $108 and $81, on sale at the Glenn Gould Studio
Box Office at 416-205-5555. The Box Office is open from 11 am to 6 pm

Monday through Friday.

For information,
contact Sinfonia Toronto
416-499-0403