Founded in 1968, Toronto Accolades is a women's a cappella choral group singing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. We are members of Harmony, Inc., an international organization promoting friendship and personal growth through music and music education. Our repertoire includes a variety of music, both old and new, fast and slow. We put on shows, compete at Harmony, Inc. annual contests, and perform within the community. Please browse through our website to find out more about us.
OLG CHARITABLE GAMING CENTRE
The funds we have received from volunteering at the Kennedy Road Gaming Centre have allowed us to make large, necessary purchases such as new risers and an electric keyboard. We have also bought new costumes, sheet music and learning tapes, and received direction from a few terrific coaches, in order to enhance our performances in the community. Some of the funds earned through OLG have also gone into donations to several worthwhile causes, including Neighbourlink North York, North York Harvest Food Bank, Salvation Army Toronto, and North York Women's Shelter.
Local charitable gaming centres have raised over $90 million for charities and non-profit groups over the past year alone. If you belong to a charitable or non-profit organization looking for new fundraising opportunities, take a look at this link and consider volunteering at one of Ontario's Charitable Gaming Centres for a few hours a month in return for a share of their proceeds. https://www.globalheroes.com/successful-fundraising-with.../
VISIT A REHEARSAL
The Accolades meet every Thursday evening at Earl Bales Community Centre, 4169 Bathurst St. (Bathurst and Sheppard) for fun, friendship and song! Rehearsals take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We are thrilled to have added several new members recently. We invite anyone who is interested to come out and join us for an evening to see what our chorus is all about, and discover the joys of making music together.
Email our Prospective Members Chair for more information. Join us and find your voice!
Rhonda Mandelzys: 416-655-2644,
Latest News
HARMONY, INC. HISTORY
Each year, Harmony, Inc. celebrates Harmony Awareness Week at the end of February to recognize the founding of the organization on February 26, 1959, in Providence, Rhode Island. At first, it consisted of 150 women from 5 choruses that broke away from Sweet Adelines over their then-policy of restricting membership to Caucasians. In 1963, the Capital Chordettes also moved over to Harmony, Inc. after hiring a black director, Lana Clowes. The Toronto Accolades was founded in 1968, and Lana's daughter, Val, later sang with the Accolades for a number of years.
Harmony, Inc. now has over 2,000 members in almost 70 choruses across Canada and the United States. We are women from all different backgrounds who have been brought together by a love of singing and have stayed together for the fun, the learning and the friendship.
One of the fun things we like to do is perform. A few weeks ago, we performed for a lively and appreciative audience of seniors at their residence operated by Baycrest. Our next performance is at Lyndhurst Rehab Centre which specializes in spinal cord injuries and rehabilitation.
To find out what else the Toronto Accolades have been up to, check our "Latest News" page which is listed under "News & Events" at the top of the screen.
OUR "LINKS" PAGE
If you click on our "Links" page in the Menu under "Other", you will find website addresses and information about our Harmony, Inc. organization, and Area 5, to which all the Ontario choruses within our organization belong. You will also find information and internet links to Sing Canada Harmony which promotes a cappella singing in Canadian schools and communities, Rama Toronto East where we volunteer, the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association which helps fund our chorus,and several charities which the chorus supports or has supported in the past.
Want Toronto Accolades to sing at your next function?
Why not hire Toronto Accolades to entertain at your next event? We can perform at corporate functions, charity events, community Entertainment events, birthday parties, christmas parties, awards nights, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, engagements, and even funerals and memorial services.
