History of Sacred Music Society

The Sacred Music Society (SMS) was founded in 1996. SMS began as a SATB 90-voice choir based in Toronto that included a 20-voice Chamber Choir, which serves as its semi-professional core. Today the organization is comprised of two large choirs and a professional symphony. What makes the organization particularly special is its unique commitment to performing great sacred repertoire in the context of unity, friendship and charity.

The Choirs and Sinfonia

The Sacred Music Society consists of the Sacred Music Society, the World Youth Day Choir, the Chamber Choir, the Youth Choir, and the Sinfonia Sacra Orchestra.

Sacred Music Society Choir

Now beginning its 11th season, the 100-voice SATB, Sacred Music Society Adult Choir performs at many events in the Greater Toronto Area. Performances have included the Vivaldi Gloria in a Jubilee Concert, the Mozart Requiem, Handel's Messiah, and the Lieflander St. Joseph Mass. In the summer of 2002, in conjunction with the World Youth Day 2002 choir, the SMS choir performed at a Gala concert at the Molson Amphitheatre in honor of Pope John Paul II.

The choir released its first CD recording in June 2000, featuring Palestrina's Missa L'Homme Armee (for five voices -- the only recording we know of the five-voice Mass), sung by the chamber choir, and the Schubert Mass in G, sung by the full choir. Of special note, in its performances, the Sacred Music Society uses an interpretational approach, which considers the stylistic era of the music, the faithfully understood meaning of the text, and the conditions in which the music would originally have been performed.

World Youth Day Choir

The World Youth Day Choir was established to satisfy the need for choral accompaniment during main events taking place at the World Youth Day 2002 celebrations. This included performances at all events with Pope John Paul II. The forming of this ambitious 500-voice SATB youth and young adult choir resulted from the collaboration between (Reverend) Thomas Rosica C.S.B, National Director and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic World Youth Days, and Uwe Lieflander, Musical Director of Sacred Music Society.

The formation of the World Youth Day Choir provided a once in lifetime opportunity for young people of Ontario to partake in a significant moment in Canadian musical history. Today the World Youth Day Choir presents a unique opportunity to connect young people to sacred music. The music performed by this choir is an occasion for a connection, selecting the most beautiful small- and large-scale works from the church's rich musical treasury, and linking them with the here and now. Repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant, through Mozart, to the modern World Youth Day theme song.

The Chamber Choir

The Sacred Music Society Chamber Choir of about twenty voices performs regularly in the Greater Toronto Area, and Southern Ontario. Since its inception the choir has developed under the distinguished and enthusiastic direction of Maestro Uwe Liefländer. The singers perform music of all periods with the aim of giving audiences the opportunity to hear familiar works, which are often performed by larger choirs and less well-known pieces that deserve more performance. Over the years the SMS Chamber Choir has sung many choral and solo works, including Requiem Masses by various composers, major works like Handel's Messiah, and is especially known for its cutting edge interpretations of Palestrina's Masses. Each Season brings with it new repertoire which is performed either A Capella, or in the accompaniment of Sinfonia Sacra.

Most recently, the Chamber Choir has been featured at the Knights of Columbus Annual State Convention, The 60th Anniversary of the Mary Lake Shrine, as well as several weddings. The choir plans to continue its concert tour at Christmastime with its annual run of Handel’s Messiah starting on December 14th in Ottawa.

For further information or to book the Chamber Choir for your event, contact the SMS office at 613-224-0767 (or toll-free at 1-877-MY-CHOIR), or email info@sacredmusicsociety.ca.

Youth Choir

The unique SMS 'Children's Choirs' are providing young singers from elementary schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area and the Ottawa area with the opportunity to expand their theoretical and vocal experience in an Elementary School Choral Program.

This already established Program is aiming to develop a 'Youth Ensemble' in each school that participates in the 'SMS Music Education Program'. Each year the ensembles will come together to perform concerts as part of the Sacred Music Society Season, drawing from a repertoire of compositions. The Children's Choir will perform for schools, at church concerts, and will also perform in concert with the other SMS choirs.

Our unique 'Music School Program' is already in place at The Wayside Academy in Peterborough, Holy Family Church in Whitby, and Maryvale Academy and St. Timothy's in Ottawa. The children from the local schools come twice a week to an after-school program, the enthusiasm is overwhelming, even surprising the Sacred Music Society.

Sinfonia Sacra Orchestra

The Sacred Music Society choirs are accompanied by the 35-member Sinfonia Sacra. The symphony’s dynamic collaboration with the choirs have resulted in seasons that have been lavishly filled with some of the most breathtaking and large choral-orchestral works.

To arrange an audition for the orchestra, please contact the SMS office at 613-224-0767 (or toll-free at 1-877-MY-CHOIR).