Primarily based in Toronto, íchos Collective is a gaggle of women-identifying music and humanities producers who intention to curate and current a live performance sequence that may carry collectively artists and works of many alternative genres. The sequence kicked off in February 2025, and continues on March 30 at Hope United Church within the metropolis’s east finish.
Each native and worldwide artists can be featured within the numerous music sequence, with a purpose of supporting girls within the arts.
We spoke to musicians Carla Perrotta-Pyrgos and Jaye Marsh of íchos Collective concerning the group and their plans.
íchos Collective: The Interview
The origins of the íchos Collective come again to a selected occasion.
“It goes again to […] when the KW Symphony introduced they have been folding,” explains Perrotta-Pyrgos.
A dialog started among the many musicians of the KWS about what was attainable going ahead. “It’s very obvious that to have a profession as a freelancer, it’s important to forge your individual path,” she says.
A lady-based ensemble was an concept that Perrotta-Pyrgos, Marsh, and others had been toying with for some time. The sudden void left by the collapse of the KWS was the catalyst to place their concepts into motion.
Jaye remembers connecting in conversations with different girls within the arts, and the way isolating it may really feel at instances to shoulder the duties of motherhood and concurrently try to maintain a artistic profession alive.
“Carla and I have been chatting simply after KW introduced its troubles,” Marsh remembers.
These smaller conversations started to change into bigger and extra frequent, and a call was made to create the Collective as a way of mutual assist. It may be particularly troublesome to garner the eye of producers and presenters within the classical music world. “It’s arduous to search out assist for those who’re not already necessary,” Marsh says.
She describes how overwhelmingly relieved she felt after their first undertaking got here collectively again in 2024. “I didn’t understand how alone I felt.”
Right now, after a effectively obtained first live performance, there’s extra purpose for cautious optimism.
“I believe additionally, the tide appears to be considerably turning on this financial system,” Carla says. Nonetheless, individuals are cautious with their cash, and spending extra strategically, as she notes. “It’s a want to supply not only a live performance, however an expertise that folks will get pleasure from.”
With so many options and different live performance experiences vying for viewers {dollars}, a recent strategy is required to herald new audiences. “It’s the brand new classical manner,” Perrotta-Pyrgos says. “You may’t maintain doing the identical factor over and over anticipating a special consequence.”
“Place” is a spoken phrase piece commissioned by íchos Collective, music by íchos Collective. Introduced through the Freestyle Symphony workshop sequence, June 2024:
In terms of the live performance sequence, they’re making an attempt out some new concepts and mixtures. Viewers reactions can be key to future instructions.
Jaye explains, “One of many driving issues [is] connecting folks, connecting with our audiences.” As she factors out, orchestral musicians are historically considerably distant from the viewers. “There are such a lot of layers between us and the viewers.”
Making a extra casual and immersive environment has confirmed standard. “We’re discovering that lots of people are responding to our want to attach.” On the February 2025 live performance, for instance, viewers members got hand drums, a five-minute discuss with drummer Rikki LaCoste, after which invited to take part in one of many items.
“He introduced a bit little bit of that magic,” Marsh says. Viewers members have been desirous to know: will this occur for each live performance?
“The truth that we’re girls led and group minded has been a powerful dialog starter wherever we [are],” she says.
It’s that reference to the viewers that creates a very immersive expertise.
As Perrotta-Pyrgos notes, the thought isn’t to interchange the normal live performance corridor, however to supply another.
“Perhaps they don’t need to hear a Mahler symphony,” Carla says, “they’re on the lookout for some type of intimate expertise that they may have enjoyable with, and depart glad.”
Being nearer to the viewers creates a special expertise for musicians too.
“As a musician, I actually get pleasure from listening to how the music is affecting folks,” says Marsh. When it comes to environment, it’s extra the cheering, talkative vibe of a pops live performance than the standard silent solemnity of the live performance corridor. “It’s a very completely different vibe,” she says. “It’s the power that fuels me as a musician. I actually loved that suggestions.”
The viewers for the primary live performance within the sequence was smallish however enthusiastic. One of many items carried out was in workshop stage, and Marsh talked to the viewers about its growth.
“Folks actually appreciated that actual, behind the scenes look,” Jaye says. “It was actually enjoyable to discover that manner of taking part in.”
It’s opposite to the standard live performance corridor decorum, which dictates that each one the works introduced be totally ready and perfected. As a musician, she explains, it’s necessary to have the ability to transfer away from that notion of absolute perfection. The viewers appeared to get pleasure from it.
“I believe it was an entire expertise.”
The Live shows
Live shows happen on Sundays with doorways open at 2:30 p.m. at Hope United Church (2550 Danforth Avenue), a part of the HOPE Live shows sequence.
The Sunday afternoon concert events are free, however donations are welcomed. Future dates embrace:
- March 30: Ona Ensemble
- April 27: Pet Sounds Reinvented: the Seaside Boys traditional, Baroque-style
- Might 25: Greg Harrison
- June 22: íchos Ensemble
The venue is certainly one of few that supply stay classical music in Toronto’s east finish. Hope United Church’s music-friendly and community-minded congregation supplied a spot that was suitable with íchos’ personal objectives.
Future concert events provide a wide range of sounds. The Ona Ensemble’s tackle acoustic Brazilian music is gaining in reputation.
“On the danger of sound cliche, they’re so scorching proper now,” says Perrotta-Pyrgos.
Members of the Collective share duties, inviting musical pals to their programming. “All of us lastly get an opportunity to be gamers in addition to presenters,” Carla says. “We’re already planning for subsequent 12 months.”
Pet Sounds is a Baroque tackle Brian Wilson and the Seaside Boys. “It’s a largely Baroque ensemble doing a Baroque-inspired recreation of this album,” explains Jaye. Greg Harrison, who performs in Might, lives not removed from Marsh within the east finish. “He’s a composer percussionist. He makes use of electronics to control his sound.” The New Brunswick native will workshop new items and speak about his course of in addition to performing. “He’s an incredible pedagogue, and likewise a frontrunner in improvisation and constructing creativity,” she says.
The íchos Ensemble closes out the live performance sequence in June. One component the ensemble has been exploring is improvisation. “It’s probably not taught anymore,” she says of classical music schooling. “We’re pushing our personal envelopes in taking part in.”
Marsh calls what they’ll be doing structured improvisation facilitated by know-how. “I’m placing my flute by means of results pedals and loopers and issues like that,” she says. “It’s tapping into that creativity I believe we overlook we now have as classical musicians.”
It’s actually true that the world of classical music tends to encourage an strategy that emphasizes the composer’s unique intentions over the person artistic voice of the performer, all whereas equipping mentioned performers with the technical expertise to go far past.
“We now have lots of instruments already.”
Are you seeking to promote an occasion? Have a information tip? Have to know the perfect occasions occurring this weekend? Ship us a word.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the each day arts information straight to your inbox.
Join the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! — native classical music and opera information straight to your inbox HERE.
Anya Wassenberg is a Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. She is an skilled freelance author, blogger and writing teacher.