Sumac has allowed us to easily manage our database of members, donors and contacts. Through Sumac we have streamlined many of our operations allowing us to better serve our members. The software is very user-friendly and the technical support is always available and ready to help – Administrative Assistant, Choirs Ontario.
Our Mission: Choirs Ontario fosters a vibrant and inclusive choral community by providing resources, creating opportunities and engaging Ontario’s diverse population in the transformative power of choral music.
Our Vision: Choirs Ontario – Your ultimate choral resource.
Mandate: Choirs Ontario provides leadership and service to Ontario’s choral community by providing
resources, learning opportunities, advocacy and communications.
Brief History: The Ontario Choral Federation was established in 1971. Its key program, the Ontario Youth Choir, was started in that same year, and has been held successfully every year but two. Our organizational name was changed to Choirs Ontario in 1999. The Junior Choir Camp program began in 1993, and has been held annually through 2003. In 2001, the Teen Choir Camp was instituted, which has been held three times. Choirs Ontario was restructured following acute financial problems in 2004.
Organizational Structure: A Board of Directors of eleven people from Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Guelph, and Timmins governs Choirs Ontario. A twelve member Advisory Council supports them. Our Honorary Patron is the Honourable Peter Milliken M.P. The organization is managed by the Board with an administrative assistant and many volunteers. Historically we have had several committees to manage our various programs and services.
Policy and Role: The Board of Directors currently makes all programming decisions, including consultation from the Advisory Committee as appropriate. We are one of ten provincial choral organizations, each of whom sends singers to the National Youth Choir. All ten organizations support the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors (ACCC). In 2002, Choirs Ontario hosted Podium, the national conference of the ACCC.
Constituency: We serve the Ontario choral community: professionals and amateurs, singers and audiences. We have a membership of choirs, businesses, institutions, and of individuals who love and support choral music. Our member choirs include more than 20,000 residents of Ontario. In turn, each of those choirs presents on average three concerts a year to a total audience of more than half a million people.
Our members can access our programmes and services through our website and our office. We strive to provide concrete services in answer to the needs our members articulate.
Website: choirsontario.org
