Who We Are
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. After 15 years of artistic direction under Elise Bradley, MNZM, 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).
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.
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.
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.
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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
The TCC embarks on an international tour to San Antonio, Texas