St. Michael's Choir School is a Catholic all-boys school offering a comprehensive choral music program for boys in grades 3 to grade 13 (OAC). It was founded in 1937 by the late Monsignor John Edward Ronan who was committed to the restoration of church choir schools and the teaching and promotion of liturgical music. St. Michael's Choir School has been part of the Metropolitan School Board of Toronto since 1967. It holds a Charter of Affiliation to the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome and has the authority to grant degrees in Sacred Music.

Features

• 3 buildings, including two science labs, computer lab, library, music library, newly renovated auditorium, extensive musical facilities and one gym
• approximately 380 boys and over 50 staff members, including the music teachers

Programs

• musical training consists of daily choral practice, weekly piano lessons, music theory from Grade 7 to Grade 11, optional organ, violin and classical guitar lessons
• every student is part of a choir: Elementary Choir (SSA, grades 3-4), Junior Choir (SSA, grades 5-6), Senior Choir (SATB, grades 7-9 with some Grade 10 and all of Grade 13), Tenor and Bass Choir (Grades 10, 11, 12). The choirs provide choral services at St. Michael's Cathedral every Sunday. The choirs also tour regularly in Canada, the U.S.A. and Europe.

Teachers:

• Harry H. Hodson, Director (responsible for the privately funded music program)
• John Ryall, Principal (reponsible for the academic program)
• Jim Hughes, Vice-Principal
• Kathleen Mann, Choir Director, Elementary and Junior Choir
• Monsignor T. Barrett Armstrong, Choir Director, Senior Choir
• Brian Rae, Choir Director, Tenor and Bass Choir; Tour Director, Head of Instrumental Music and Theory

Auditions:

The audition process begins in the early fall for the following year. A team from the Choir School tours the schools in the Toronto Catholic School Board and conducts preliminary auditions with interested boys in grades 2 and 3. After the tour, some of the boys will be invited to come to a more formal audition at the Choir School, from which a grade 3 class will be formed. If you are interested in this program for your child, call the Choir School in September for the dates of the tour and speak to the principal of your local school to arrange an audition.

As this school is part of the Toronto Catholic School Board, students entering the elementary section of the school (grades 3-8) must meet the Board requirements for admissions. At least one parent must be baptised Catholic and must be able to direct their school taxes to the separate board. Call the Board at (416) 229-5320 to determine eligibility. Secondary schools in the Catholic Board are open to all students residing in the city of Toronto, so a student interested in applying to the Choir school in grades 9-OAC should call the Choir School directly to arrange an audition.

Contact Information:

ST. MICHAE:L'S CHOIR SCHOOL
66 Bond St..
Toronto, ON M5B 1X2
(416) 393-5518

e-mail: bkwong@control.utoronto.ca (temporary email address, soon to be updated)
Web: www.control.utoronto.ca/~bkwong/smcs/home.html

Updated August 26, 2000