We invite you to join us for In the Spirit of Christmas, an online concert raising money for three local organizations: Daily Bread Food Bank, The Jean Tweed Centre and the George Hull Centre.
Featuring the phenomenal talents of the principal players of Sinfonia Toronto, you will enjoy both classical and seasonal music set in our beautiful sanctuary.
The programme will include Dvorak’s String Quintet No. 2 in G major and a variety of Christmas music selections in different styles.
Please consider giving a free-will donation through our website at www.stgeorgesonthehill.ca/giving/, choosing “Christmas Spirit” as the fund. St. George’s will match total donations up to $5000. All proceeds from this online concert will be donated to three local Toronto charities:
Daily Bread Food Bank is one of Canada’s largest food banks. From their distribution hub, Daily Bread supplies food to nearly 200 food programs across Toronto. To find out more about the need and how to
help, go to www.dailybread.ca
The Jean Tweed Centre for Women and their Families is a leading community-based organization that provides a safe and supportive environment for women with substance use, mental health, and/or gambling issues. For more information, go to jeantweed.com
The George Hull Centre for Children and Families is an accredited children’s mental health centre. Their mission is to provide hope, reduce suffering, and enhance the quality of life of infants, children, youth, and families. To find out more, go to www.georgehullcentre.on.ca
We thank you for your generosity! We’re all in this together!
Artist Bios
Marcus Scholtes
Multi-talented artist Marcus Scholtes excels on both the violin and piano, performing frequently as a soloist on both instruments on the same concert program. Most recently, he was named Co-Artistic Director of the Toronto Concert Orchestra, and also serves as the Associate Concertmaster of Sinfonia Toronto, a Juno Award winning ensemble. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he graduated with a Doctor of Music degree, with Minors in Conducting and Music Education.
Marcus is a former Concertmaster of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchester in Germany and has toured much of Europe with this ensemble, and is an original member of Aldeburgh Strings based in the UK which has recently recorded two CD’s, both released to critical acclaim in the UK and Germany. Most recently, he toured 10 cities in China with Sinfonia Toronto (2019). Outside of his musical interests he is a driving and automotive enthusiast.
Emily Hau
vibrant violinist, Emily Hau is Principal Second of the “world-class ensemble” (Russelsheimer Echo, Germany) Sinfonia Toronto. Highlights from her recent active freelancing schedule include Assistant Concertmaster of the Bolshoi Ballet Tour, Principal Lead Role in the OLG “Courage” commercial, sub-work for the Mirvish production “The Book of Mormon”, orchestral tours in South America and China, session recordings for the award-winning video game “Cuphead”, and being a background performer in the Netflix show “The Umbrella Academy”.
A full scholarship student, Emily is a graduate of University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where she received both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, following studies with the distinguished artist Fredell Lack, and Emanuel Borok, former concertmaster of Dallas Symphony. Succeeding her schooling, she continued studying privately with the renowned pedagogue, Paul Kantor. Emily has been the recipient of numerous awards from the University of Houston, University of Toronto, Canadian Aldeburgh Foundation Bursary and the Starling Endowment.
Passionate about missions’ work, Emily spent the past 5 summers in Zambia and Tanzania loving on the orphans at the Villages of Hope. An avid adventurer and coffee drinker, Emily likes to spend her free time working out, trying new foods and raising awareness about the great need in sponsoring children and helping others.
Anthony Rapoport
Anthony Rapoport is principal violist of Sinfonia Toronto, with whom he has appeared as soloist, and toured Germany, Spain, South America and China. He was a founding member of the Windermere String Quartet and the Aradia Ensemble. He has recorded fourteen internationally released CDs. On tour as soloist with Aradia, he was acclaimed as “a splendid violist” by the New Zealand Herald. His collaborations with Aeris Körper (formerly Form Contemporary Dance Theatre)include the critically acclaimed Storm and Silence. Anthony received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Juilliard School in New York as a student of Lillian Fuchs. His document for the research requirement was Jimi Hendrix as Guitarist/Composer on ‘Axis: Bold As Love.’ He is a Visiting Artist at Etobicoke School of the Arts.
András Weber
András Weber received his musical training in Budapest, Hungary. His mentor, Janos Starker, has been a major influence in his work. He has been principal cellist with orchestras in Hungary, Mexico City and Canada, and has given concerts in North America, Europe and Korea.
Mr. Weber is principal cellist with Sinfonia Toronto, is the founding director of the Toronto series ‘Music Alive!’ and teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He is the founding member of Toronto Piano Trio and was member of the famed Arthur LeBlanc quartet.
Jesse Dietschi
Toronto bassist Jesse Dietschi is a versatile musician and composer equally experienced in jazz, classical, and popular music. Serving as the Principal Bassist of Sinfonia Toronto, he holds graduate degrees in Jazz Performance (U of Toronto), Orchestral Performance (Glenn Gould School, RCM), and Composition (Brandon U). He has performed, toured, and recorded with rock groups, orchestras, and jazz ensembles across North America, including the Canadian Opera Company, Esprit Orchestra, Soundstreams, Niagara Symphony, The Headstones, Metric, Tunnel Six, the Nick Maclean Quartet, the Luminato Festival, and numerous other orchestras, jazz, and rock/folk/RnB artists. Jesse has been a featured soloist with orchestras in both Ontario and the US, and leads the Toronto-based chamber jazz group the Catalyst Ensemble.