2025-2026 Season
Melos performs works of Purcell & Handel celebrating music’s patron saint and emotive power, from subtle to spectacular. Hear the trumpet-laden splendour of Purcell’s Te Deum & Jubilate, with choir & orchestra, just as it was performed in St. Paul’s Cathedral, 1694; and Handel’s expressive Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day. Guests David Roth, Baritone, and Bud Roach, tenor & theorbo player join Melos musicians with a selection of intimate solo arias and short instrumentals by Purcell & Handel. Guest Baroque Trumpeters Paul Sanvidotti and Duncan Campbell join Melos’ Jennifer Day, performing Britten’s Fanfare for St. Edmundsbury of 1959, showing the ongoing appeal of Baroque instruments. Melos is thrilled to host workshops with Ivars Taurins of Tafelmusik in our preparations for this exciting program!
Please support Melos’ Educational Outreach:
The Pow'r of Musick - St. Cecilia in England, 17th & 18th c.
November 15, 2025, 7:30 PM
Journey to Bethlehem - Early Music of Advent, Christmas & Yalda with Carol Sing at St. John.
Sunday, December 14, 2025, 3:00 PM
St. John the Apostle, 88 Patrick Street
Chant towards the light with Melos on Saturday nights in January as we explore a variety of ancient chant traditions: Gregorian, Hildegard, Mozarabic & Sufi. If you can sing in tune and sightread, or simply have a good ear, please drop in and sing with us! Relax under inspired leadership and tutelage each week. Or join us just to listen to the soothing sounds of chant-in-progress.
Cost per session: $10 or free-will offering.
Chantuary
Open Chant Sessions - West and East
Saturdays, Jan. 10, 17, 24, and 31, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Photo credit: Paul Malo
Melos Fundraisers in support of Early Music
Sunday, March 22, 2026, TBC, 4:00 PM; April noon-hour recitals, Thursdays, March 26, April 9, April 23.
Melos Choir, Soli & Period Instrumentalists are joined by friends in raising money for broad Early Music programming and ongoing educational outreach in our community. From noon-day recitals to a wine & cheese gathering, we hope to expand our capacity to reach, teach and move audiences with Early Music’s depth in Eastern Ontario.
Of Spring, Romance and Roses, West & East
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Melos explores great poetic traditions of Europe, Al-Andalus, Armenia and Persia, showing the deep, human connections to nature and the power of romantic love.
With guests: Sadaf Amini, Santur; and Navaa Ensemble - Iman Moshiritabrizi, tenor; Alireza Ghane, Tar; Reza Kashi, Daf & Tombak.