The Community Baroque Orchestra of Toronto (CBOT) is a chamber orchestra specializing in music of the Baroque era performed on period instruments and in period style.
We perform two or three concerts each season. Our next concert is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Sunday April 29, 2012 at Farmer Memorial Baptist Church. The programme includes works by Handel, Biber, Leclair and Vivaldi. Our coach, Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith, will join with us for part of the performance.
We also collaborate periodically with Cantemus, Toronto’s Early Music choral group.
Founded in 2004, CBOT has met regularly throughout the fall, winter, and spring to rehearse the music we love best—orchestral compositions by the Baroque masters. As much as possible, we strive for a historically informed performance through the use of period instruments, period bows, gut strings, and the application of stylistic and technical principles appropriate to the era. To obtain high-quality coaching, we hire for each term a professional musician who specializes in Baroque performance practice. Our coaches have included fine musicians such as Linda Melsted, Julia Wedman, Rona Goldensher, Kate Haynes, and Patricia Ahern.
Our current instrumentation is four violins, viola, cello, flute, bassoon (or recorder), and harpsichord. We play at standard baroque pitch, A = 415. We would be delighted to increase our membership, adding more strings, winds, and chording continuo instruments. If you are reasonably proficient (RCM Grade 6+) on your baroque instrument (or your modern instrument and you are willing to commit to at least buying a period bow and taking some lessons), please contact us.
Small musical groups depend upon musical consensus and good relations among members, more so than larger ensembles. For that reason, we have established a "mutual audition" process. We invite any prospective member to join us for three rehearsals, during which we can get to know each other personally and musically. By the end of the third rehearsal, it's generally pretty clear to everyone whether the newcomer feels comfortable with the group and vice versa. If the newcomer would like to join and the members are in agreement, the newcomer is asked to contribute toward the coaching fees and other expenses on a pro rata basis for the remainder of the term.
Rehearsals are held weekly from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. We are currently rehearsing Wednesdays at Farmer Memorial Baptist Church near Jane subway station.
The orchestra is grateful to the Toronto Early Music Centre for their generous support. TEMC accepts tax-deductible donations which are then directed to the orchestra to pay for coaches, hall rental, and other expenses.
For more information, please write to us at:
