The Bell’Arte Singers is one of Canada’s finest community
choirs. Founded in 1988 by Dr. Lee Willingham, they have established
themselves in all genres of repertoire and styles through concerts,
recordings, and broadcasts. Three European tours have established the
choir’s reputation outside of Canada.
The Bell’Arte Singers released a first compact disc
entitled, A Childe is Born, in December of 1991 (sold
out). This CD featured various Christmas selections with Ian Sadler at the
organ. A second recording, A Sacred Concert was released in
September, 1994 and features the splendid acoustics of Holy Trinity
Church, Toronto. Both recordings had gone into a second pressing and
had received wide acclaim and air play in North America and in
Europe. Our third successful recording, Awake, My Heart!
features the music of contemporary Canadian composers. Additional
recordings include the Solitudes CD In the Midst of Angels and
15 new arrangements of Christmas carols recorded for the United Church
of Canada titled Hope is a Star. These may be available in music
stores.
Media support has been nothing short of wonderful with frequent radio
broadcasts, including a 90 minute CBC Radio national program with the
Hannaford St. Silver Band on Christmas Eve, 1995, and a showcase in the
Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa, 1997. In June 2002 the choir was featured
as part of the Toronto International Choral Festival combining forces with
the Budapest Central Choir (Baptista K�zponti �nekkar) presenting
Bernstein’s, Chichester Psalms and Kod�ly’s, Missa Brevis. The concert
received excellent reviews both in Toronto and in Hungary and was recorded
for broadcast by the CBC.
The choir participates in special benefit concerts for charity and church
outreach organizations and has been featured as part of the Toronto Star
Christmas Children’s Fund concerts.
Awake, My Heart!A Sacred ConcertA
Childe is BornCD Sales