Tafelmusik's MESSIAH Partners With CBC Toronto On Sounds Of The Season Annual Fundraiser For Daily Bread Food Bank

In keeping with the message of peace, charity, and goodwill at the heart of Handel's Messiah, Tafelmusik is excited to partner with CBC Toronto on Sounds of the Season, its 16th annual fundraiser in support of Daily Bread Food Bank and other GTA food banks. Sounds of the Season features performances by local musicians who have generously donated their time, including members of Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, who will sing seasonal music under the direction of Ivars Taurins during the broadcast of CBC's Here & Now. The live broadcast and day-long open house take place on Friday, December 7, 2018, from 5:30am to 8:30pm at the Toronto Broadcast Centre, 250 Front Street West.

"Tafelmusik is thrilled to be supporting CBC's Sounds of the Season campaign. As a cultural partner in the city of Toronto, Tafelmusik is committed to a prosperous and thriving community by ensuring we assist efforts like the Daily Bread Food Bank. Our city is richer because of this important investment," said Tafelmusik Executive Director Carol Kehoe.

The universality of Handel's Messiah lies in its themes of enlightenment and understanding, hope and faith, generosity and compassion - values that are especially important at this time of year. In the spirit of Messiah, Tafelmusik invites audience members attending its concerts in December to share their holiday goodwill and help families in need. In partnership with CBC Toronto and Daily Bread Food Bank, Tafelmusik will be collecting non-perishable food items at all Messiah performances, December 18, 19, 20, and 21 at 7:30 pm at Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre, and at Sing-Along Messiah on December 22 at 2 pm at Roy Thomson Hall.

"For years, Daily Bread Food Bank has relied on the generosity, partnership and good will of others to serve those who need us the most," said Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank. "Through this initiative, Tafelmusik is not only enriching the arts but also enriching the community around them," Hetherington added.

Sounds of the Season is much more than a one-day event. The annual charity drive campaign runs until December 31 to collect food and monetary donations in support of GTA food banks. Last year, CBC Toronto raised more than $675,936 and collected 27,190 pounds of food.

Ways to give:
1. Donate non-perishable food at CBC until December 31
2. Donate non-perishable food at all Tafelmusik Messiah performances December 18 to 22
3. Call 1-855-SOTS-CBC (1-855-768-7222)
4. Donate online at https://www.dailybread.ca/ways-to-give/sots-gta/

Led by Music Director Elisa Citterio, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir is one of the world's leading period ensembles and Canada's most-toured orchestra. Tafelmusik engages Toronto audiences with an annual season of more than 80 concerts in diverse venues across the city, as well as national and international audiences through an extensive schedule of tours and critically acclaimed recordings. The Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, under the direction of Ivars Taurins, was formed in 1981 to complement the Orchestra. Tafelmusik also seeks to transport audiences to the baroque and classical periods through adventurous cross-cultural collaborations, on stage with Toronto's Opera Atelier, and underground at its Haus Musik series. The orchestra's musicians share their knowledge and experience through artist training initiatives such as the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer and Winter Institutes. Tafelmusik's catalogue of award-winning recordings on the SONY, CBC Records, Analekta, and Tafelmusik Media labels have garnered nine JUNO Awards and numerous other recording prizes. Jeanne Lamon continues her association with Tafelmusik as Music Director Emerita.