Good evening, and welcome to Unorthodox - Women of Jazz.
We're so glad you're here.
Today is International Women's Day, and we're celebrating it the way we know how; with music made famous by women who refused to play it safe. Ella Fitzgerald. Billie Holiday. Nina Simone. Etta James. These weren't just singers. They were women who used their voices when it was dangerous. Who broke rules. Who changed what music could do.
Some of these songs are moody. Some are joyful. All of them are deeply human. And all of them are still here because these women insisted on being heard.
Before we begin, our musical director Dr. David Holler is going to share a bit about the origins of jazz—how it came from African-American communities in New Orleans, blending blues, ragtime, spirituals, and improvisation into something entirely new. Something that would go on to become one of America's greatest cultural exports.
And throughout the evening, you'll hear from members of our choir, who'll introduce the women behind these songs. Not from a textbook—but from the heart. Because these stories deserve to be told like they matter. Because they do.
We're honored to have Hamilton mezzo-soprano Céline Cascanette joining us tonight as our guest soloist. Her voice brings warmth, soul, and a kind of intimacy that makes you forget you're sitting in a church.
Thank you for being here. For choosing live music. For caring about the voices that came before us and the ones still singing now. Settle in. Let these songs move you.
Welcome to Women of Jazz.
At Last
Love is Here to Stay
My Funny Valentine
I’ll Be Seeing You
Willow Weep For Me
God Bless The Child
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Don’t Know Why
My Foolish Heart
Once I Walked in the Sun
Feeling Good
Besame Mucho
Blue Skies
Chorus Hamilton & Soloist Celine Cascanette
Chorus Hamilton
Celine Cascanette
Celine Cascanette
Sarah Ellis
Chorus Hamilton
Chorus Hamilton
Mack Gordon & Harry Warren arr. Teena Chinn
George & Ira Girshwin arr. Mark Hayes
Richard Rogers & Lorenz Hart
Billie Holiday (Irving Kahal & Sammy Fain)
Anne Ronell
Arthur Herzog, Jr. & Billie Holiday arr. Anita Kerr
Cole Porter, arr. Teena Chinn
Dr. David Holler - Introduction to Jazz
Chorus Hamilton & Soloist Jean Brown
Norah Jones (Jesse Harris & Paris Rutherford)
Chorus Hamilton N. Washington & V. Young arr. Kirby Shaw
Celine Cascanette & Dr. David Holler
Celine Cascanette
Chorus Hamilton & Soloist Jomo Kirton
Chorus Hamilton & Soloist Sarah Ellis
Will Jennings, Ivan Lins & Celso Viafora
Nina Simone (Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley)
Consuelo Velasquez & Sunny Skylar arr. Paris Rutherford
Irving Berlin, arr. Roger Emerson
After the concert, we invite you downstairs for treats and a chance to connect with the performers. We would love for you to stay a little longer.
Dr. David Holler isanorchestralandchoralconductor,tenor soloist,andmusiceducator.HeholdsdegreesfromtheUniversity ofWesternOntario,WestminsterChoirCollege,andrecently completedhisDoctorateofMusicalArtsinChoralConductingat theUniversityofToronto.
Dr.DavehasperformedacrossOntarioinsoloandchamber settingsandhasworkedwithensemblesincludingtheNiagara InternationalChamberMusicFestivalandCamerata.Heisthe foundingmusicdirectoroftheMercrediMusiqueStringChamber EnsembleandhasdirectedchoirsatMcMasterUniversityandthe UniversityofToronto.
HeiscurrentlytheMusicDirectorofChorusHamiltonandChorus London,andteachesprivatelyandinthecommunity.
Dr. Erika Reiman studiedpianoatMountAllisonandMcGill UniversitiesandholdsaPhDinMusicologyfromtheUniversityof Toronto.SheistheauthorofSchumann’sPianoCyclesandthe NovelsofJeanPaul.
AcollaborativepianistandlectureratBrockUniversity,she performswidelyacrossSouthernOntarioandistheregular accompanistforChorusHamilton,theUniversityChoir,andSora SingersatBrock.ShealsoservesasMusicDirectoratSt.Matthewon-the-PlainsChurchinBurlington.
Celine Cascanette is a passionate singer, songwriter, and voice teacherinHamilton,Ontario.Aftercompletingherundergraduate degree in vocal performance at McGill University in Montre al, Celine acquired a master’s degree in vocal pedagogy at the UniversityofToronto.
Described as a "warm and lovely mezzo", Celine specialises in Western Classical music withexperienceinCountry,Pop/Rock,andMusicalTheatre.Sheisascomfortablesinging with her guitar as she is in a gown. Celine has performed with the Masterworks of OakvilleChoir&Orchestra,theBachElgarChoir,theHamiltonChildren'sChoir,Musicata, andWhisperingRiverMusicinherhometownofParrySound.CheckoutCeline’swebsite tolearnmore:www.celinesings.com
