top of page
All Choirs Photo.png

Who We Are

Personal Profile

Founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle, the Toronto Children’s Chorus (TCC) is now celebrating its 46th concert season. Over the course of its history, the TCC has won numerous competitions, including the International Eisteddfod in Wales and the CBC, Kathaumixw, and Let the Peoples Sing Competitions in Canada. The choir has also performed at such revered venues as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, and The Dom in Salzburg. In addition to their busy annual concert seasons, our young choral ambassadors have represented Canada on thirty-one international tours and seven national tours, most recently participating in ‘Voices Together: An International Youth Choral Symposium’ in Washington, D.C., and performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City in July 2023. The organization welcomed Artistic Director Zimfira Poloz in the fall of 2022 to lead this world-renowned chorus.

The Toronto Children's Chorus is a vibrant musical community that has been nurturing young voices for generations. Through exceptional choral training and performance experiences, we inspire growth, teamwork, and artistic excellence. We foster collaboration, peer leadership, self-discipline, creativity and a lifelong passion for music. 

The Toronto Children’s Chorus consists of seven choirs: four Training Choirs ages 6-12 (Spirito, Pasio, Anima, and Coro), and three Main Choirs ages 12-18 (Cantare, Chorealis, and Chamber).

- Peter Oundjian
Conductor Emeritus, Toronto Symphony Orchestra

"Each time the TCC performs with the Toronto Symphony, I am struck by the maturity of their sound. The children are incredibly disciplined with a warmth and richness rarely heard in children’s choirs."

TCC Timeline

1978

Founding

1979

1982

First international performance

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

The Toronto Children’s Chorus was founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle, at the request of the
Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

1978 Class Photo_small.jpg

In the October of 1978, the TCC performed in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, conducted by Sir. Andrew Davis, at Meridian Hall.

In the February of 1979, the TCC performed in Carmina Burana,  conducted by Klaus Tennstedt, at Meridian Hall.

The Chorus first walked onto the international stage in 1982, winning the coveted first prize at the
International Eisteddfod in Wales.

Choir in Llangollen - 1982.jpg

In the April of 1983, the TCC performed in Carmina Burana, conducted by Elmer Iseler, at Roy Thomson Hall.

In the February of 1984, the Chorus performed in Mahler's Symphony No. 3, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, at Roy Thomson Hall.

The Chorus set out on an international tour to Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Switzerland.

IMG_8355 (1).jpg
IMG_8351_edited.jpg

In the October of 1984, the Chorus performed in Schuman's Concerto, Violin, in D minor and Davis' Chansons Innocentes, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, at Roy Thomson Hall.

The TCC embarks on another international tour to Chicago, Illinois 

In the October of 1985, the TCC performed in Bach's Matthäus-Passion, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, at Roy Thomson Hall.

The Chorus performed two times this year under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis (including Holst's The Planets), and once under Nurhan Arman (Vaughn Williams' English Folksong Suite), at Roy Thomson Hall. 

The TCC embarks on their first national tour to Western Canada

BC 86.jpg

The TCC embarks on an international tour to San Antonio, Texas

This timeline is under construction! 
bottom of page