Our History

Founded in 1894

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir is one of Canada’s oldest, largest, and best-known choral ensembles. Founded in 1894 by Augustus Vogt, the Choir presented its first concert in Massey Hall, as part of the hall’s inaugural season, on January 15, 1895. The Choir has flourished under the successive leadership of Herbert Fricker (1917-42), Sir Ernest MacMillan (1942-57), Frederick Silvester (1957-60) Walter Susskind (1960-64), Elmer Iseler (1964-97), and Noel Edison (1997-2018). All of these Canadian conductors have been internationally renowned in their own right, and have successfully brought the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir to the world’s attention, through performances, recordings, and tours.

For a more lengthy history, go to Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

Our History

1894
1894

Founding of Toronto Mendelssohn Choir by Augustus Vogt.

1895
1895

Massey Music Hall (now called Massey Hall) was built in the same year that the Choir was founded. TMC has performed at Massey Hall many times.

1895

January 1895 – The Mendelssohn Choir of Toronto, under conductor Augustus Vogt, presents its first concert.

1902
1902

First concert with symphony orchestra (Pittsburgh Orchestra); the first of several partnerships with major US orchestras

1906
1906

February 1906 – The Choir tours to the US and performs Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Pittsburgh Orchestra, receiving rave reviews.

1910
1910

February 1910 – The Choir President receives flowery thanks from the choristers for a successful 1909-10 tour to Buffalo and Cleveland.

1921
1921

TMC commissions composer Healey Willan. He composes An Apostrophe to the Heavenly Hosts for the Choir.

1926
1926

TMC makes its first recording singing under conductor Herbert A. Fricker. They recorded Palestrina’s Adoramus Te and Exultate Deo.

1929
1929

April 1929. Memorial stained glass window to Augustus Vogt, the Choir’s founder and first conductor, is unveiled at St. Paul’s Bloor Street.

1932
1932

December 1932. TMC’s first performance of Handel’s Messiah. The Choir has performed Messiah every year since and has recorded it a number of times.

1936
1936

February 1936 – The TMC presented the Canadian premiere of Sir William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast.

1942
1942

Sir Ernest MacMillan, Canada’s “Musical Knight,” becomes the TMC’s third conductor. He held the position until 1957.

1947
1947

At the start of her career, when she was just 22, Lois Marshall was engaged by Sir Ernest MacMillan as a soprano soloist for the TMC’s Bach festival.

1952
1952

1952/3 Critically acclaimed recordings of the Messiah and St. Matthew Passion under Sir Ernest MacMillan

1964
1964

Conductor Elmer Iseler takes over the reins of the TMC. He was Artistic Director for 33 years, from 1964 to 1997.

1965
1965

The TMC records the Godfrey Ridout arrangement of O Canada.

1972
1972

First tour to Europe, appearing in Paris, Lucerne, the Proms in London and the Edinburgh Festival

1973
1973

November 1973 – TMC performs Canadian composer André Prévost’s Missa de Profundis, commissioned for them by the CBC.

1976
1976

July 1976 – TMC performed as part of the Cultural programming at two Olympic Games – the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

1977
1977

Formation of the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir

1986
1986

Juno-nominated recording of Messiah with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under Sir Andrew Davis

1993
1993

Recording of film score of Schindler’s List with composer John Williams

1995
1995

Receipt of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts

1998
1998

Recording of the Berlioz Requiem under Noel Edison for Naxos

1999
1999

September 1999- Singsation Saturdays, a popular TMC education program, is born.

2002
2002

Formation of the Mendelssohn Singers

2003
2003

Tour to Vienna and Salzburg, appearing with the Vienna Boys Choir

2006
2006

Recording of “A Festival of Carols” – Music for the Christmas season. Now available on Spotify and iTunes.

2007
2007

Performance of Oratorio Terezin by Canadian composer Ruth Fazal at Carnegie Hall

2008
2008

Inception of the TMC Apprentice program, replacing the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir program

2010
2010

Creation of the annual TMC Choral Conductors’ Symposium for emerging conductors, led by Noel Edison

2010

Participation in the 2010 Cultural Olympiad in connection with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC

2011
2011

Inception of the Associate Conductor position

2012
2012

January 2012- TMC concert webcasts begin, reaching choral music lovers across Canada and the world.

2013
2013

March 2013 – TMC commissions Canadian composer Timothy Corlis. God so Loved the World for choir and solo cello is premiered at the TMC’s 2013 Sacred Music for a Sacred Space concert.

2017
2017

TMC and Noel Edison nominated, alongside Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Sir Andrew Davis, for a Grammy for Best Choral Performance for the TSO Recording of Messiah.

2018
2018

TMC’s 7th conductor, Noel Edison, resigns in April. He led the Choir for 21 years.

2019
2019

October 2019 – TMC commissions a work from Cree composer Andrew Balfour to mark the Choir’s 125th anniversary. Mamachimowin is premiered on October 20, 2019 at the 125th Gala Concert.

2021
2021

May 31, 2021: TMC names Jean-Sébastien Vallée as Artistic Director, only the 8th AD in its history

Head and shoulders photo of Artistic Director Jean-Sebastien Vallee. He is wearing a black turtle neck and jacket and is looking directly at the camera.
2021

TMC wins JUNO Award for Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral with Toronto Symphony Orchestra for Massenet’s Thaïs

Juno Award: Classical Award of the Year