The Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir (TWMVC) was established in 1995 when its founding member and first president, Gwyn Roberts, gathered together a group of like-minded individuals of Welsh heritage. They sought to kindle the spirit of traditional Welsh male voice singing in their adopted country. Ably assisted by, now emeritus, music director David Low, the founding members saw their numbers grow to a membership of sixty choristers. The choir continues to flourish musically under the direction of William Woloschuk and our principal accompanist Matthew Coons. Although many of the current members still lay claim to Welsh connections, the TWMVC now has members from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

The TWMVC proudly draws on the great Welsh tradition of singing hymns and songs born of the mountains and valleys of Wales. At the same time it emphasizes a multicultural context in its broad repertoire which also includes spirituals; operatic arias, Canadian folk songs as well as Broadway show tunes, pop and contemporary music all sung off book in accordance with tradition.

Since its inception, the Choir has performed in churches, cathedrals and concert halls throughout Ontario, Quebec, The Maritimes, Atlantic Canada, New York State and the UK. It was invited in June 2001, to sing at Roy Thomson Hall as part of the 2008 Toronto Olympic Bid Festival. The Choir was honoured with a finalist’s position in the 1998 CBC Choral Competition. In August 2002 the choir embarked on a highly successful tour of Wales. During July 2005 they toured the Maritimes where they performed five concerts to a very appreciative audiences in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In September 2008, the choir was honoured to be invited to take part in a combined choir of 400 voices at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City. The soloist for the evening was the renowned Welsh baritone, Bryn Terfel, who is also an honorary patron of the Choir.

Tomson Highway, OC, playwright, novelist, pianist and songwriter (born 6 December 1951 in northwestern Manitoba). Highway is one of the most prominent and influential Indigenous writers in Canada. His works discuss and explore important issues affecting First Nations people, including residential schools, reserve life, Indigenous identity and more. Highway is an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 1998 was named one of the 100 most important people in Canadian history by Maclean’s. Tomson received the Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement at the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards in 2022.

Tomson Highway’s early plays — which concern Indigenous society and dramatize the beauty, durability and optimism of Indigenous culture — include The Sage, the Dancer and the Fool (1984), A Ridiculous Spectacle in One Act (1985), New Song…New Dance (1986), Aria (1987) and Annie and the Old One (1988).

Highway’s two best-known works, The Rez Sisters (1986), which focuses on the dreams and fears of seven female characters, and its flip-side sequel, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing (1989), which features seven males struggling with various preoccupations, both won the Dora Mavor Moore Award and the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award. Both were also nominated for Governor General’s awards. Set on the fictional reserve of Wasaychigan Hill in Ontario, the two plays include a highly theatrical Trickster who, as Highway describes it, is “as pivotal and important a figure in the Native world as Christ is in the realm of Christian mythology.” In contrast to the life-affirming impulse and humour of The Rez Sisters, Dry Lips is a darker, more violent and disturbing drama, though it offers hope that healing can take place. It was the first Canadian play to receive a full and extended run at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre. In 2010, Highway republished Rez Sisters and Dry Lips in the Cree language.

From 1986 to 1992, Tomson Highway was artistic director of Native Earth Performing Arts, one of the most prominent Indigenous theatre companies in Canada. His brother René, a dancer and choreographer, was also heavily involved in Native Earth. In 1990, René died of AIDS, a personal loss that triggered Highway to write his autobiographical first novel, Kiss of the Fur Queen (1998), about two Cree brothers who are removed from their homeland in northern Manitoba and enrolled in a boarding school. Subjected to abuse, hostility and humiliation, followed by violent confrontations on the racist streets of Winnipeg, the boys suffer a harsh transition to city life. The novel, however, also traces the brothers’ artistic destinies and their lifelong triumph over tragedy. The book was shortlisted for the Canadian Booksellers’ Association Fiction Book of the Year Award and the Chapters/Books in Canada First Novel Award.

In 2005, Highway wrote the libretto for an opera in Cree and English, Pimooteewin, an adaptation of a story about the Trickster’s visit to the land of the dead. It premiered at the St. Lawrence Centre in Toronto. He also wrote the libretto for the opera, Chaakapesh: The Trickster’s Quest (2018). The documentary Chaakapesh (2019) documents a tour by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra to perform the opera in 2018.

In 2017, Highway premiered Songs in the Key of Cree, a musical performance made up of his songs from some of his plays. The songs are all written and performed in the Cree language. Songs in the Key of Cree features accompanying performers Patricia Cano (Peruvian-Canadian cabaret singer) and Marcus Ali (jazz saxophonist). Tomson released Cree Country, a country music album, in 2022, also featuring Cano.

Admired for his artistic style, unique interpretations and vibrant tone, violinist Moshe Hammer is Hungarian-born, was raised in Israel and studied there with Ilona Feher. As a student of Jascha Heifetz he was a medal winner at the Concours Jacques Thibaud in Paris.

Hammer’s tours have taken him across North America, Europe, Israel and the Far-East. His performances have consistently energized critics, thrilled audiences and earned respect among his colleagues.

A naturalized Canadian, Moshe Hammer has traveled the concert venues of the world and performed with many symphony orchestras. He was also the founder and leader of the Toronto based chamber group, The Amadeus Ensemble.

As member of Da Camera, he has thrilled audiences in Canada, the US and Europe with regular visits to the Netherlands, including the world renowned Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Moshe is a regular and welcome guest in various music festivals on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. He brings to his performances a charismatic stage presence, a tone of unmatched subtlety, vitality and artistry of the highest order.

Hammer loves to work with young musicians and offers master-classes everywhere he travels. His wide ranging discography reflects a multi-faceted talent.

In 2007 Moshe launched The Hammer Band – From Violence to Violins. With this project, school kids in priority areas are presented with free music lessons and violins.

Sally is a grade 10 student at Walkerton District High School. She is 15 years old and has been taking singing lessons since she was 6. She is presently studying Grade 8 classical voice with Mila Filatova, of Collingwood. Sally has always been active in local Music Festival competitions, receiving numerous scholarship awards, and performing at Festival Galas. For the past two years, she has been selected to sing at the OMFA Ontario Provincial Music Festival. Sally is looking forward to pursuing vocal music and science at university in a few years, and is very excited to be performing in the Collingwood Music Festival!

Theadora Koski began formal piano studies at the age of six under the direction of Cheryl Graham.  She progressed to RCM Level 10 in just four years, receiving multiple RCM Provincial gold medals, First Class Honours with Distinction on exams, a wide range of scholarships, and the 2021 RCM National Gold Medal.  In 2023, after achieving the highest marks at numerous festivals local to Simcoe County, Theadora was awarded first place overall for Level 10 at the Provincial finals of the Ontario Music Festival Association.  Later the same year, Theadora won the Young Artist Trophy at the CCC Toronto International Music Festival and placed second for Level 10 and Associate at the distinguished ORMTA Provincial Competition.  In January 2024, after top marks at the SSP Steinway International Piano Competition, Theadora performed live at Carnegie Hall for the closing Gala.  Winner of the 2024 Senior Rosebowl at Barrie Kiwanis Music Festival, Theadora, a resident of Severn, Ontario, enjoys local community involvement, serves as the collaborative pianist for her church choir and loves sharing her music at special events.  Her recent performances include soloist engagements at the Windrush Estate Winery and the P.C. Ho Theatre in Toronto as well as masterclass performances with Prof. Dr. Michael Berkovsky, Prof. Em. Christina Petrowska Quilico and Ziyu Liu.  Theadora is currently working towards her ARCT Performer’s Diploma and plans for a career in performance and teaching.  In her free time, Theadora enjoys keeping active as a freestyle skier, tennis player and cyclist.

Maddison Wilkey, age 15, started playing violin when she was three. She currently studies violin with David McFadden, concertmaster of Huronia Symphony Orchestra and previous concertmaster of the TSO. Maddison also studies piano under the guidance of Alison Bell and has successfully completed advanced Royal Conservatory of Music theory courses under the direction of Joe Ringhofer.

Maddison is currently a first violinist with Huronia Symphony Orchestra and is grateful to have had the opportunity to perform under the baton of Oliver Balaburski. She played as part of the youth program for two years before being welcomed as a full time member in 2022-2023.

Maddison enjoys performing at the Braestone Artisan Market, and the Woods Park Retirement Residence, and has been honoured to share her music at numerous private events. 

Maddison competed in the Barrie Kiwanis Music Festival and the South Simcoe Arts Council Festival this year where she received the award for most outstanding string player from both festivals. She received multiple nominations, in both piano and violin, recommending her to the Ontario Music Festival Association Competition this season.

In addition to studying violin and piano, Maddison thrives in karate, highland dancing, and singing. She enjoys boating on Georgian Bay, training her pups and spending time with her friends and family.  

Maddison balances her many interests and embraces all new challenges with creativity, enthusiasm and a positive mindset.