All Things Serve the Earth

If you missed the May 3 premiere of All Things Serve the Earth, the full 6 minute video is available for viewing now on YouTube. Just click the title or image above.

ABOUT THE VIDEO

* Performers: **
Danielle MacMillan, mezzo-soprano Ronald Royer, Conductor **
SPO Chamber Players: ** Kaye Royer, Clarinet Kristin Day, Bassoon Gilles Thibodeau, Horn Lisa Tahara, Piano Odin Quartet: Tanya Charles, Violin Alex Toskov, Violin Matthew Antal, Viola Samuel Bisson, Cello

Ronald Royer, Producer Matt Antal, Recording Engineer; Bruno Degazio – video edit and sub-titles.

Akashic Classics – Distributed by The SRG ILS Group • Universal Music Group Notes about the video:

This music video is a rich visual collage inspired by Bruno Degazio’s “All Things Serve the Earth,” the fourth of Thomas Aquinas’s Seven Parables of the Coming of Dawn.

At this pivotal point in the series, Sophia—an embodiment of Wisdom—has survived near-drowning, isolation, and imprisonment. Through these trials, she begins to transmute suffering into meaning. This parable marks the return of warmth and connection after a long night of the soul, as hope quietly reenters the story. Visual artist

Jeff Lyons brings this transformation to life through a stunning montage of famous paintings brought to life with AI, and layered with special effects and imagery. Drawing from the artists and mystics of Aquinas’s era and later—Breughel, Bosch, Carpaccio, and others—Lyons creates a dreamlike landscape that mirrors both Sophia’s inner journey and the broader spiritual awakening of the narrative.

All Things Serve the Earth is featured on the SPO album Songs of Hope, conducted and produced by Ron Royer, performed by mezzo-soprano Danielle MacMillan and the SPO Chamber Ensemble. The album is available on all major streaming platforms.

SPO Appoints New Executive Director

SPO is excited to announce that Helen Nestor will be joining the SPO team as our Executive Director.  This appointment comes as the conclusion to a succession-planning and search process that was a part of SPO’S two-year Ontario Trillium Foundation capacity-building process. Helen will be joining our team at the conclusion of the current season and as we gear up to Season 2025-2026.

Helen has a double Bachelor of Arts Degree in Drama and English from the University of Toronto. She studied piano for several years under pianists Boris and Inna Zarankin as well as 15 years of piano studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Her education includes training in radio broadcast.  She hosted a music and an interview programme through CIUT. After university, Helen acted in several productions in Toronto before deciding to move her attention away from performing, and into arts management.

Having worked professionally in the live performance field for over 35 years, Helen has managed, produced, publicized and promoted hundreds of live theatre, dance and music events.  She has held a variety of positions within the arts sector.  These include Executive Director of Pax Christi Chorale; Administrator of Common Thread Chorus; Administrative Manager with Cathedral Bluffs Orchestra and Executive Director of Orchestra Toronto.  

She was the Canadian publicist on the world premiere of Ragtime which premiered at the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts produced by theatre impresario Garth Drabinsky and Livent Inc. before the musical headed to Los Angeles and Broadway.  She was the first in-house Public Relations and Promotions Manager at the Sony Centre. She was lead on many Canadian premieres including the PR Director and Promoter of the Rockettes in their Canadian premiere where she organized and garnered a Guinness World Record for the longest kick-line in the world.

She has been the founder of several organizations including Black Crow Theatre and Firefly Theatre.  Although Helen has held many positions and owned companies outside of the arts, it is within the arts arena that she has spent most of her time and where she feels most at home.

Songs of Hope

Stream on your favorite service

Tracks:

1.      Shreya Jha: Walk With Me (5:03)  [notes and lyrics]

2.      Elienna Wang: Rosé Leaves (5:36) [notes and lyrics]

3.      Ted Runcie: Where Shadow Chases Light (5:42) [notes and lyrics]

4.      Leela Gilday: All Alone (4:11)

5.      Daniel Mehdizadeh: New Castles (5:12) [notes and lyrics]

6.      Rachel McFarlane: Eternal Embrace (4:15) [notes and lyrics]

7.      Bruno Degazio: Seven Parables of the Rising Dawn (17:09) [notes and lyrics]

8-10.  Ronald Royer: Women of Dante’s Divine Comedy, Three Songs [notes and texts]

    • Francesca da Rimini (Inferno) (6:05)
    •  Sapia of Siena (Purgatory) (6:42)
    • Beatrice (Paradise) (5:55)

Danielle MacMillan, Mezzo Soprano (Tr. 1-10)

Maghan McPhee, Soprano (Tr. 3, 5)

Ronald Royer, Conductor (Tr. 1, 6-10)

Ted Runcie, Conductor (Tr. 3)

SPO Chamber Players:  

Kaye Royer, Clarinet (Tr. 1, 3, 6-10)

Kristin Day, Bassoon (Tr. 7-10)

Gilles Thibodeau, Horn (Tr. 1, 3, 7-10)

Lisa Tahara, Piano (Tr. 1-3, 5, 7-10)

Odin Quartet:

Tanya Charles, Violin (Tr. 1, 3, 4, 6-10)

Alex Toskov, Violin (Tr. 3, 4, 6-10)

Matthew Antal, Viola (1-4, 6-10)

Samuel Bisson, Cello (1, 3-10)

Production:

Matt Antal, Recording Engineer; Jamie Way, Cover Design; Ronald Royer, Producer

Danielle MacMillan, mezzo
Maghan McPhee, soprano
Odin Quartet

Artistic Statement:

In 2023, the SPO decided to embark on a musical journey. We asked ourselves: “How can artists respond to the times in which we live?” Our answer was to create a song cycle embracing the theme, “through adversity, hope”.  We brought together composers with a variety of lived experiences and cultural perspectives, who were also at different stages of their lives and careers. We selected 2 singers and chose an ensemble of 8 musicians from the SPO community, including our ensemble-in-residence, the Odin Quartet. We asked mezzo soprano Danielle MacMillan to be involved as we developed the various stories, lyrics, and music. Some of our composers wrote their own lyrics, and others were inspired by and adapted historical works. Each composer maintained their own musical voice but worked collaboratively while creating their lyrics and music. The SPO wanted to create a unified song cycle with the goal of engaging and touching our audience with music that finds hope in the face of challenge. For the next stage, Songs of Hope was workshopped, rehearsed, performed and finally recorded. Soprano Maghan McPhee summed it up for our team,

“For me, this project reaffirmed a core truth: music isn’t just about notes and rhythms—it’s about the stories we tell and the bonds we form along the way.Here’s to hope, collaboration, and the enduring power of art to connect us all.”

Acknowledgements:

On behalf of the SPO, I want to thank everyone involved for their commitment to the project and their great work, including our composers, performers, recording team, SPO administrative team, and our record label. I also want to thank the Canada Council for the Arts for their support in developing Songs of Hope. We enjoyed creating this album, and we hope you, our audience, will enjoy listening.

Ronald Royer

Songs of Hope project development and workshopping was made possible through the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Made in Canada – © ℗ 2025 Akashic Entertainment Recordings, Licensed from the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra – All Rights Reserved

 

CALL FOR SCORES-ASMAC and SCGC Collaboration

The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) and the Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC) are thrilled to make a preliminary announcement of a Call for Scores for an exciting series of events set to take place in Toronto and Los Angeles in early 2025. This initiative will showcase the talents of Toronto-based clarinetist Kaye Royer and the Odin Quartet during an eight-day tour featuring multiple concerts and workshops.

Focus on Film Scoring:
This Call for Scores is specifically aimed at the film-scoring component of the project. Composers are invited to create original scores for video clips that will be provided for this project. (Available Soon)

Submission Details:
Deadline: December 1, 2024
Eligibility: Open to members of the SCGC and the SPO community of composers, including past participants of the SPO’s New Generation Composers Workshops. For the Canadian portion of the event, participants must be a Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant.

Scoring Requirements:

  • Composers will score to video clips provided specifically for this project, which will be available online (location TBA) by the end of September 2024.
  • Scores must be written for clarinet and string quartet or any subset thereof.
  • Score Length: 60 to 100 seconds, depending on the chosen video clip.

The Challenge in Brief

    1. Select a Video

        • Choose one of eight videos provided. A link to the video files will be sent upon request TO bruno@spo.ca
    2. Options include three short animated films created by Sheridan College graduates and five scenes from classic public-domain films.
    3. All videos are approximately two minutes in length.

    4. Compose Your Score

        • Write music for an ensemble of 2 violins, viola, cello, and B-flat or A clarinet.
    5. The score should enhance the narrative, action, and dialogue (if present).

  • Create a Demo Recording

    • Use virtual instruments to produce a demo version of your composition.

  • Submit a Synchronized Video

    • Your submission must be a video file that syncs your demo recording with the chosen film.
    • File Specifications:
      • Format: MP4
      • Resolution: Minimum 720p
      • Frame rate: 24 or 29.97 fps
      • Audio: 16-bit, 48 kHz

  1. Submit PDF Materials for Live Performance

    • Provide a transposed PDF score and five individual parts (one per instrument).

    • The live performance will feature the Odin Quartet with clarinetist Kaye Royer.

     

Eligibility

The Canadian challenge is open to:
1. Canadian citizens and permanent residents only.
2. Composers who are involved with the SPO or SCGC. If you are not sure, contact the organization that you have had a connection to.
3. ASMAC and NACUSA-LA have a separate US competition for their members.

We look forward to hearing your creativity and talent. Good luck, and enjoy the scoring journey!

Bruno Degazio (bruno@spo.ca) and the Film Scoring Challenge Team

 

This project involves the following organizations:
 
ASMAC – American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers – https://asmac.org/
NACUSA-LA – National Association of Composers USA- Los Angeles Chapter –  https://www.nacusala.org/
SCGC – Screen Composers Guild of Canada – https://screencomposers.ca/
SPO – Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra

Planned Events!

  1. Los Angeles Event – February 8, 2025:
    • A live reading to picture during an ASMAC Zoom event at 12 noon PST (UTC-08). Simultaneous live streaming will be available online world-wide.
    • The event will feature a live audience in Los Angeles and conductors Ronald Royer (SPO) and Charles Fernandez (ASMAC).
    • ASMAC will videotape the score reading and make it available to composers and ASMAC members.

 

  1. Toronto Event: late February 2025, date TBA
    • A live performance, sponsored by SPO and the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), with a live audience and simultaneous streaming world-wide.
    • Selected film cues will be performed as part of a broader program.
    • Six Canadian composers will be selected for participation in this event.

Selection Process:

The selection committee for this category will include:

  • Charles Fernandez (ASMAC)
  • Bruno Degazio (SPO)
  • An additional ASMAC Board member (TBA)

It is anticipated that eight works from ASMAC  and NACUSA-LA, and six Canadian works will be selected.

All six Canadian selections will be performed at the Toronto events listed above.  The top four Canadian selections will also be performed in Los Angeles as part of the events taking place there.

For the Canadian works there will be cash prizes of $500 and $300 awarded for the top two selections. Cash Prizes courtesy of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada and the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra

2024-2025 New Generation Film Composer’s Project

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: NEW GENERATION FILM COMPOSITION PROGRAM

Composing Music for Animated Film

Deadline:  October 24, 2024

 

The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is issuing a call for proposals for early career and advanced student composers wanting to write music for animated film.

Successful applicants will write music for animated short films created by students of world-renowned Sheridan College Bachelor of Animation program.  During the writing process, each selected applicant will be paired with an experienced film composer who acts as a mentor: helping with advice on spotting the film; choosing the synthesized instrumentation; writing the music; recording and synchronization to picture.

Participants will also be supported and advised by SPO music director Ronald Royer and will also take part in an orientation meeting to discuss the logistics of synchronizing to video. 

Completed animation scores will be published on the SPO’s YouTube channel from April to July 2025.  

Composers can also separately apply to the SPO’s New Generation Composer’s Project (link), writing a short concert piece for clarinet and string quartet. If a composer is accepted into both programs, they will need to choose one. Composers will not be able to participate in both programs in the same year.

ELIGIBILITY

  • The project is open to early-career and student composers who are Canadian citizens and permanent residents, aged 18 to 35.  (Occasionally older applicants are considered where financial or life circumstances delayed the applicant’s access to higher education). 
  • The program is focused on Canada-based composers. Composers can be involved in-person or online. 
  • Composers are not required to have prior film scoring experience.
  • Composers must be equipped with a suitable computer, scoring software such as a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or notation software, and sample libraries or software synthesizers.
  • Examples of suitable software include:
    • DAW – Cubase; Logic; Digital Performer; FL Studio; Reaper;
    • Notation: Sibelius, Finale, or Dorico (all with NotePerformer)
    • Sample Libraries: g. Vienna Symphonic Library, Spitfire BBC Orchestra, Orchestral Tools Layers, and many others.

About the SPO New Generation Film Composer’s program:

  • Animated films from graduates of the Sheridan College Animation program will be provided for scoring purposes. The films are between one and four minutes long and will be provided to participants as MP4 video files. Note that these video files cannot be used outside this program and cannot be shared with others except through the SPO’s Youtube channel.
  • Scored music can include orchestral instruments (via the appropriate sample library), electronic/digital instruments, musique concrete or any other sounds deemed appropriate.
  • Selected composers are expected to participate in a minimum of two mentorship meetings. 
  • Composers are encouraged to listen and view previously scored films on the SPO’s Youtube channel in the Animated Films Playlist.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

 

  • Completed Application Form (see below)
  • CV or Resume: Attach a PDF file focusing on your composition activity, including any film-scoring related projects. Be sure to include a valid email address and other appropriate contact information. 
  • Two examples of your music: Recordings of two pieces must be submitted. These may be of music alone or music scored to picture.
    • Live performance or MIDI recordings are both acceptable.
    • Acceptable File formats are:
      • MP3 recordings (audio only).
      • MP4 video files (for audio and video).
      • Links to streaming services such as SoundCloud for audio and Youtube for video are also acceptable. Please ensure that the link is valid for at least one month following the deadline. 

APPLY:

This form is currently closed for submissions.

New Generation Composers’ Program 2024-2025

The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is issuing a call for proposals for early career and advanced student composers wanting to write for a string quartet. Four composers will be selected to write a short piece for the Odin Quartet. This is the sixth edition of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Generation Composer’s Project.

Continue reading

Announcing SPO’s new Concertmaster

Alex Toskov, appointed SPO Concertmaster

Meet Alex Toskov

Far from a stranger to SPO, the orchestra is pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Toskov as Concertmaster.  Alex will be taking over the vacant Concertmaster’s chair in fall 2024, leading the orchestra into our 45th anniversary season. Alex is well known to our audience as the Music Director and founder of the Odin Quartet who have been our Ensemble in Residence for several years. As the resident ensemble, the Odin Quartet have headlined many of our chamber concerts annually as well as being valued collaborators on our New Generation Composer Program, our recent Songs of Hope Project, and many other New Music, chamber music and music education projects.

Learn more about Alex.

 

Learn more

Curious about what a concert master does?  Here’s an amusing and informative article. 

Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians visit Scarborough

When we were contacted by the US Consulate about a potential to assist with an Outreach event by members of the world-famous Philadelphia Orchestra, we knew we had to try to make it happen in Scarborough.  Planning time was really short but there’s a lot of “can do” attitude at the SPO and we knew that the community would really benefit.  A few Zoom meetings later and there was a busy couple of days set up for our visitors.  They met with Sistema community music students, coached and performed at Sir Oliver Mowat C.I. and then joined us on stage for a free public concert in a full to capacity house. 

What a whirlwind! 

Philadelphia Orchestra quartet with the Odin Quartet and members of the SPO