Corktown Chamber Orchestra (CCO) began as a string ensemble playing Bach in a bar. Over nearly 20 years it has developed into a full-fledged symphony orchestra made up of talented amateur musicians who love to play great music while having a great time.
Paul McCulloch, a CCO founding member, is the orchestra's conductor and music director. Paul is a cellist and a multi-instrumentalist; he has directed the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, The Taylor Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Georgian Bay Symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. In his spare time, he heads the strings department at Toronto's Havergal College.
CCO believes orchestral music can be enjoyed by anyone in any venue, and offers concerts that are accessible and fun for the musicians and the audience. We are proud to offer four concerts a year at the beautiful Little Trinity Anglican Church for the Corktown and greater Toronto community.
All of our members contribute to both the musical and non-musical aspects of running an orchestra. No one is paid, not even our music director—we are all there because we love making music. We do not hold formal auditions as we prefer to see how people fit in our orchestral setting and to give potential newcomers a chance to assess us at the same time. Our musicians have extensive training and orchestral experience, giving us the opportunity to play and perform challenging repertoire.
We are extremely grateful to Little Trinity Anglican Church for their continuing support and accommodation of our rehearsal and performance schedule. The space itself is beautiful and the ideal setting for concerts with fantastic acoustics. Our organisations share a desire to further a sense of welcoming community in Corktown and surrounding neighbourhoods.
If you'd like more information on the orchestra, please contact us.