About newchoir
newchoir is Toronto's original rock choir. Since 2005, we've brought together adult singers from across the GTA to perform rock and pop music with a live band in some of Toronto's most celebrated concert venues.
More than just a choir, newchoir is a vibrant musical community that challenges, inspires, and connects people through exceptional live performance. Our singers come from all musical backgrounds and walks of life, united by a shared passion for contemporary music and a commitment to artistic excellence.
We strive to create joyful, high-calibre musical experiences for both our members and our audiences. Through teamwork, respect, discipline, and positivity, we foster an environment where singers continue to grow musically while creating concerts that are energetic, entertaining, and unlike any traditional choir experience.
Today, the choir has more than 100 members and presents two major concerts each year, performing at some of Toronto's most celebrated venues, including Koerner Hall, the Bluma Appel Theatre, the George Weston Recital Hall, and even Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Quick newchoir facts
Founded: 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Members: 100+ auditioned adult singers
Music: Rock & Pop
Rehearsals: Monday evenings
Accompaniment: Professional live band
Concerts: Two major performances each season
Meet our musical team
| Scott Pietrangelo Artistic Director and Producer Scott Pietrangelo is a Toronto-based music director, performer, singer, pianist, arranger, songwriter and vocal coach. He is renowned for his positivity, enthusiastic leadership, critical ear and zest for all things musical. Nothing makes him happier than getting people singing! Scott has been Artistic Director of newchoir since 2020, having musically led the group through pandemic times and back onto the stage. He previously spent six years as director of newchoir from 2010-2016, after which he created the contemporary a cappella ensemble, SoundCrowd, which he is still leading today. He co-music directed at Eastminster United Church on the Danforth from 2014-2022, and is the newly appointed Music Director at Donway Covenant United Church in Don Mills. Theatre Music Director credits include The Rocky Horror Show (Randolph Theatre), Anne & Gilbert (RuBarb Prod., Moose Jaw), Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof (Capitol Theatre, Port Hope) and The Secret Garden (Factory Theatre). As a performer, Scott appeared as a member of the Canadian Virtual Community in Dear Evan Hansen (Mirvish, Royal Alexandra Theatre) and has been most recently seen in Spamalot (Grove Theatre), Songs for a New World (Rosebud Theatre, Alberta) and three separate productions of the madcap musical farce, Murder for Two (Festival Antigonish/Neptune Theatre/Thousand Islands Playhouse). He has had the pleasure of working with such notable names as Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies), Alex Lacamoire (Tony and Grammy Award Winner, Hamilton) and Deke Sharon (Pitch Perfect), among others, and has sung backup for both Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman in concert. Scott has made three separate appearances at Carnegie Hall with three different vocal ensembles (including newchoir in 2015!), and loves making music with his wonderful partner, Alison, in their band, Cloud 9. |
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| Michael Spiroff Michael is a composer, music director, pianist, and educator. Originally from, and currently based in Toronto, Michael is a graduate of McGill University (M.Mus composition 2022) and the Mannes School of Music (B.Mus composition 2018). |
Choir board of directors
| Jocelyn Huot Chair & Chair of Governance | Irv Ash Director | Walter Spolsky |
| Leanne Clarke Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee | Erin Kennedy Chair of Membership | Ale Navarro-Allende Chair of Fundraising |
| Bethany Campbell Director | Donalda Sousa Secretary | Deborah McNorgan Director |
Our values
Diversity and inclusion
newchoir is an organization that affirms the rights and dignities of every person, and we endeavour to be an inclusive representation of the Greater Toronto Area and the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a welcoming environment for all individuals regardless of race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, neurodiversity, language, socioeconomic or educational status.
● We strive for diversity and inclusion among our audiences, singers, artists, staff, and Board of Directors
● We celebrate music by pop and rock artists from all cultures, backgrounds and genders and seek to represent voices that have been marginalized in the past
● We believe that cultural equity is critical, and that our organization will be stronger and more creative by ensuring that all voices have an opportunity to be heard
This statement is a starting point for continuing to build long-term, meaningful policies and plans and will remain a living document to allow for further growth and evolution.
Land acknowledgement
newchoir’s creative home is on the sacred and traditional territories of the Anishinabek, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat. We acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa peoples. We support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
newchoir is grateful to have the opportunity to work, sing, and create on these lands and we thank the past, present, and future caretakers of this land for their stewardship. The land where we rehearse and perform has been home to song and storytelling traditions of Indigenous people since time immemorial. We recognize that colonialism and intergenerational trauma have silenced Indigenous artists for far too long. With this in mind, we encourage you to experience and support the work of the many extraordinary Indigenous singers working in Canada today.
Memberships
newchoir is a member of the Community Arts Neighbourhood Network, Choirs Ontario and Choral Canada.