The Centre for Arts and Culture presents
5th Annual Interfaith Gifts of Light Holiday Concert
Creating the Possible
Sunday, December 8, 4:00 pm
This year, we sing in harmony in support of Covenant House Toronto, the largest organization in Canada serving unsheltered or at-risk youth. Covenant House is inclusive, intentional, and impactful.
Generously Sponsored by Gillian & Steven Bookman
Building Bridges for Our Young Adults
With the onset of the holiday season, many young people look forward to family gatherings, festive meals and the warmth of being at home. Unfortunately, this is not true for all young people; many are in crisis every day, not just during the holiday season. Covenant House understands their need, they are dedicated to serving youth on the street and to protecting and safeguarding all youth with absolute respect and unconditional love.
We are privileged to partner with Covenant House, which provides a safe space for teens of all faiths, the music will reflect this same inclusivity and diversity. We hope to raise awareness of the plight facing many young adults and to help Covenant House provide these young adults with the solutions they need to survive.
To learn more about Covenant House Toronto click here
For more information about Covenant House Toronto Services click here
To make an additional donation to Covenant House click here
Featuring:
Canadian Children’s Opera Company
The Canadian Children’s Opera Company empowers young voices from diverse communities and abilities by providing transformative music education and professional performance opportunities The CCOC has a deep and rich history of providing exceptional music education and performance opportunities for young people from all walks of life.
To learn more about the Canadian Children’s Opera Company and to read their bios Click Here
Robbins Hebrew Academy Choir
Robbins Hebrew Academy prioritizes creating an environment of inclusivity, diversity and belonging. They strive to make each person feel valued and accepted, recognizing the unique experiences and perspectives that each individual brings. Through our focus on character education and the Jewish values of tikkun olam and menschlichkeit, we aim to develop ethical and compassionate Jewish leaders who will make a positive impact in the world. Together, we stand and grow towards a brighter future where everyone is welcomed and valued.
To learn more about Robbins Hebrew Academy Click Here
Ken Whiteley
Ken Whiteley has been playing folk, blues, gospel and other roots traditions at the highest level for well over fifty years. He has received many awards including a Canadian Folk Music Award, 7 Juno nominations, 18 Maple Blues nominations, a Genie Award (for Best Song in a Canadian Film) and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Mariposa Folk Festival, The Maple Blues Awards and Folk Music Ontario but ultimately for Ken his music is all about making connection. He loves to get people singing with him whether he’s on a concert stage, a folk festival, a church service or a yoga ashram. Visit his website to learn more
Kim Doolittle
A Songwriter, Storyteller, Musician, Wordsmith and Entertainer, Kim Doolittle has been performing since the age of 10 with guitar in hand.. A self-proclaimed Road Scholar, she writes from her experiences, and shares them through song. After spending many years in Toronto, she returned to her naitive Nova Scotia where she has reconnected with her roots. Visit his website to learn more
Julie Michels
Julie Michels was born in New Jersey and raised throughout Europe and the USA, before settling in Toronto, Canada. Her travels instilled a wanderlust not only for different countries, but for diversified cultures and distinct musical genres, all of which helped mold her career in music. Recently, Julie has focused on North American venues including the Toronto Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Merrickville Jazz Festival, Haitian International Jazz Festival, as well as stages throughout Canada and the United States. In 2017, she performed in Egypt at the Jazz Tales Festival in Cairo and in 2018 Julie performed in Alexandria with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Musical Director, Accompanist and Arranger: Jason Jestadt is a Canadian composer, conductor, pianist, and Dora Award nominated music director. Over his career, he has worked on diverse musical theatre productions including the world premiere staging of Lord of the Rings, the Queen musical We Will Rock You, and the current Toronto production of Come From Away. He has also music directed concerts in Japan and New York for Tony Award nominated singer Colm Wilkinson, and acclaimed Canadian gospel singer Jackie Richardson. Since 2008, Jason has music directed Toronto’s annual Heart and Vision Awards which has honoured the highest achievements in social justice work by prominent Canadian artists including Margaret Atwood, Norman Jewison, and Gordon Lightfoot. Over the past two decades, Jason has worked passionately to create and program interfaith events and concerts where choirs, Cantors, and instrumentalists from all different faiths can come together in song. As a music director, he has also collaborated with Cantor David Rosen, Cantor David Edwards, and Cantor Alex Stein on special concerts, services, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations for the congregations of Beth Radom, Beth Emeth and Adath Israel.
Holy Blossom Temple
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- Cantor David Rosen is the Senior Cantor and Music Director of Holy Blossom Temple; the oldest synagogue in Toronto and the largest Reform synagogue in Canada. He is a sought-after performer of Jewish and secular music, having performed in concert venues, synagogues and churches across the United States, Canada and Europe. With his rich and versatile baritone voice, Cantor Rosen has a generous repertoire, singing in a variety of languages and genres. Credits included “Escamillo” in Opera Breve’s production of Carmen and featured soloist with the Westchester Wind Ensemble. His has also been featured on CHIN Radio and has recorded for Transcontinental Jewish Music Publications. Recently, Cantor Rosen recorded and produced “Shabbat in the Woods” , an album of Jewish Music for families, featuring the voices of over 600 children. Cantor Rosen loves to create community through music and collaboration. He is an advocate for Interfaith programming and dialogue, spearheading “Gifts of Light,” an annual interfaith concert, which raises awareness and tens of thousands of dollars for various humanitarian causes. He is the visionary behind Holy Blossom’s Centre for Arts and Culture, a multi-disciplinary centre for performance and education of the Arts.
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- Cantorial Soloist Lindi Rivers worked for 17 years as a psychotherapist before deciding to unite in a Cantorial career, her passions for music, Judaism, emotional well-being, and interpersonal relationships. Before becoming Cantorial Soloist at Holy Blossom, a position she greatly enjoys, she had the privilege and honour of being the Cantorial Soloist at Temple Sinai in Toronto and Temple Anshe Sholom in Hamilton. She has been a guest Cantorial Soloist in various congregations in Southern Ontario, as well as at Temple Sholom in Vancouver, and appeared in numerous concerts, including the World Choir Games in China with Lachan Jewish Chamber Choir, under the direction of Cantor Benjamin Maissner. Affiliations include The Guild of Temple Musicians, where Lindi sits on the Board of Directors; the Canadian Association of Social Workers, and The Ontario Association of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Lindi’s CD, “Lazman Hazeh” is a compilation of some of her favourite Hebrew songs.
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- Sharon Smith-Miller well-known as one of Toronto’s best-loved big band singers, SHARON SMITH‘s multi-faceted career spans the entertainment landscape. Her performing versatility has landed her roles in musical theatre productions, in radio and television commercials, live television appearances, membership in the Amadeus Choir of Toronto, and in clubs and lounges across the GTA.An honors graduate in Jazz Performance from York University, Smith has since worked with some of the city’s finest musicians including Noman Amadio, Peter Appleyard, Mark Kelso, Don Vickery, Lou Pomanti, Guido Basso, Moe Koffman, Jimmy Dale, and Ed Bickert. She has fronted virtually all of the city’s best big bands including A Touch of Class, Music Machine, The Starlight Orchestra, The Majestics, Replay, The Saul Helman Band, The Shelley Miller Band, The Encore Concert Jazz Band, Big Smoke Big Band, Don Bowes Big Band, The George Lake Big Band, Danny’s 11, and The Bob Cary Orchestra.She has delighted audiences from the stages of Koerner Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, George Weston Recital Hall, Oakville Centre, Scarborough Civic Centre, Markham Theatre, The Rex, 744 Restaurant and Bar, and the Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill. She performs in an ongoing dinner theatre show, and teaches children music for the Toronto District School Board.
