DURHAM -- Durham’s music groups are making a concerted effort to entertain you this season.

From jazz to pop to classical to Broadway to folk to rock, choirs, orchestras and concert associations have planned some dynamic programs this year. Attend one or all, they’ll be happy to see you and share their music. There are some new venues in store this year. Durham Region Concert Association will hold its concerts at Oshawa Little Theatre and Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra is moving north to UOIT/Durham College for its performances.

Here’s a rundown of what’s going on in the 2008/2009 season. Please note, this list is not exhaustive. If your group isn’t listed here, send in the details to cchase@durhamregion.com.

Clarington Concert Band, a busy group that performs throughout Clarington and beyond year round, www.geocities.com/claringtonconcertband.
-- Sept. 6, Orono Fair parade, 10:30 a.m.
-- Dec. 7, St. Leo’s Christmas Concert, Brooklin, 7:30 p.m.
-- Dec. 11, Christmas Concert at Orono United Church, 7:30 p.m.
-- Dec. 14, Christmas Concert at Trinity United Church, Bowmanville, 7 p.m.
-- Dec. 18, Christmas at the Beech Centre, Bowmanville, 7 p.m.

County Town Singers, a choir with members from all across Durham and beyond, travelling abroad every few years, auditions Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Whitby Seniors’ Activity Centre, Brock Street South, Whitby, www.countytownsingers.com.
-- Dec. 12, 13, Christmas concert, at St. Marks’ United Church, Centre Street, Whitby, tickets, $15 adults, $12.

Durham Girls Choir, with auditions in September for young singers, and a European tour planned for next summer, tickets available at door. www.durhamgirlschoir.org.
-- Dec. 6, Christmas Concert, Hebron Christian Reform Church, Anderson Street North, Whitby.
-- April 25, spring concert, Faith United Church, Courtice.

Durham Philharmonic Choir, a choir formed through auditions with members from all over Durham, scheduled is tentative, tickets $25, $20 in advance, www.durhamphilharmonic.ca.
-- Dec. 7, 3:30 p.m., Christmas Pops Spectacular, College Park Church, King Street East, Oshawa.
-- Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m., Sing With the Spirit, St. George’s Anglican Church, Bagot and Centre streets, Oshawa.
-- April 5, 3 p.m., St. Leo’s Roman Catholic Church, Brooklin, April 19, 7:30 p.m., St. George’s Anglican, Oshawa, Mozart’s Requiem.
-- May 30, 7:30 p.m., Spring concert, Hebron Christian Reformed Church, Whitby.
    

Durham Region Concert Association, OT, 62 Russett Ave., Oshawa, 8 p.m., subscriptions and individual tickets ($30 adults and seniors, $10 students and children), www.thedrca.com.  
-- Bellows and Brass, Oct. 18.
-- Romanza, Dec. 12.
-- Celtic Blaze, Feb. 21.
-- Servantes, May 9.

Durham Youth Orchestra, young musicians in Durham who rehearse weekly and perform several concerts yearly at Hebron Christian Reformed Church, Anderson Street North, Whitby, 7:30 p.m., tickets $15 available at the door, www.dyomusic.com.
-- Nov. 15, fall concert with Gala Castanos, the winner of the concerto competition held by the orchestra.
-- Feb. 21 with special guest to be announced.
-- May 9, special concert to mark orchestra’s 15th anniversary, with DYO alumni invited to perform with orchestra.

Lydian Wind Ensemble, a revised version of established Durham group, back after taking a breather, still looking for new members, concerts at Whitby Free Methodist Church, 1916 Rossland Rd., Whitby, at 7:30 p.m., www.lydianensemble.ca.
-- Oct. 18, fall concert.
-- Dec. 6, Christmas concert.
-- March 6, spring concert.
-- June 4, summer concert with location to be announced.

Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra, a professional orchestra with guests from around the world. Concerts at 7:30 p.m. at Durham College/UOIT Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, 2000 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa. Note that concerts are all being held on Friday nights, a change from previous seasons. Tickets are available through subscription or individually, 905-579-6711, www.odso.ca.
-- Oct. 3, Music from The Red Violin, with Philippe Quint.
-- Nov. 21, Beethoven’s Apotheosis of the Dance, with Eric Picard.
-- Feb. 13, Mahler’s Magic Horn, with Hasmik Papian.
-- March 6, Operafest with Puccini, with Jose Luis Duval and Natalia Voronkina.
-- May 1, Around the World With Disney.       

Vital Spark Folk Society brings in top Canadian folk/roots musicians for concert at Brooklin United Church, Brooklin, at 8 p.m., on monthly basis, www.vitalsparkfolksociety.ca.
-- Oct. 18, Gary Fjellgaard, Saskia and Darrel.
-- Nov. 22, David Woodhead’s Coffeehouse Confabulation.
-- Dec. 6, Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson of Skydiggers.
 -- Jan. 24, Girls With Glasses.
-- Feb. 21, The Brights.
-- March 18, Sahra Featherstone and Jason Fowler.
-- April 25, Songwriters: Generations.
    

Other groups in Durham include:
    

Choral de Lites, Port Perry, with junior and senior children’s groups. www.choraldelites.ca.

Concordia Pops Orchestra, a non-profit, amateur orchestra in its 36th season. Rehearsals are starting Sept. 9 at Anderson Collegiate, Whitby, with openings for all sections. 905-668-5679 or concordiapops@rogers.com.

Durham Chamber Orchestra, with weekly rehearsals Leo Austin Catholic Secondary School, Dryden Avenue, Whitby, Wednesday evenings beginning the second week in September at 7:30 p.m. www.geocities.com/dcochamberorchestra/index.html.   

Durham Community Choir.

Horseless Carriagemen, Durham’s barbershop chorus, which presents one concert a year and raises funds for charity, Harmonize for Speech, rehearses Monday nights at 7:30 p.m. at Glen Stewart Park Clubhouse, Cartier and Cabot Streets, Oshawa. Concert will be in May 2009 at Eastdale Collegiate, Oshawa, with the theme of the music from the 1950s. www.horselesscarriagemen.com.  

Pickering Concert Band, www.concertband.ca.

Town Hall 1873 concert series, with concerts held throughout the year at Town Hall 1873, Port Perry. Tickets are sold at Meta4 Gallery, Queen St. Port Perry. 1-888-985-2435. www.townhall1873.ca.

Whitby Brass Band, a community band that rehearses weekly at the Centennial Building, Whitby, and performs concerts several times a year. www.whitbybrassband.com.

Christy Chase is the entertainment editor of This Week and the Port Perry Star. Contact her at cchase@durhamregion.com.












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