JOIN US
While Forte is an auditioned choir we, regularly hold auditions every September and January to add to our family! The members of Forte come from a wide variety of musical experiences and abilities. No matter your level of experience, all we require is that you have a passion for singing, a desire to learn, and an openness to grow with us.
Our Members
Forte is passionately committed to inclusion and creating an artistic, supportive space that is accessible and welcoming to people of diverse identities and experiences. Our organization’s strength comes from the many unique and powerful voices that come together with a commitment to community and membership. We strive to continue to grow in this spirit of inclusion and from an active position of anti-oppression. With that goal in mind we look to remove potential barriers to becoming a member of Forte:
We welcome anyone who is male-identified or with a non-binary gender expression or identity to audition. There will be no questions or requirements related to legal sex or sex assigned at birth when it comes to consideration for membership.
We welcome any self-identifying men of any sexual orientation.
We offer a fee reduction program to align your membership dues to your income if requested.
We actively work with any member requiring accommodation or other assistance to ensure our performance and event venues are fully accessible and inclusive.
Social Events
On top of our regular rehearsal schedule, we also hold monthly social events to build camaraderie and give our members more chances to get to know each other outside of rehearsals. We know our performances are strengthened by our group’s bond beyond performances and actively aim to evolve together by making new members feel at home and by giving our long-standing members chances to share their experiences.
Some of our previous socials have included Friday Night Live at the ROM, Wonderland, Medieval Times, bar nights at Woody's, Shakespeare in the Park, trivia nights at Pegasus, Beer Fest, karaoke, movie nights, and escape rooms - just to name a few. The possibilities are endless, and our Membership Committee is always on the lookout for new ideas for socials where our members can get to know each other outside of their sections.
Before You Audition...
Before you sign up for an audition, here are the main things you need to know:
• We hold auditions bi-annually every January and August.
• Our main season runs from September to June and is divided into two terms: fall (September to December) and spring (January to June). While officially on hiatus for July and August, we do have social events and occasional performances during the summer but don’t consider it part of our official ten-month September to June season.
• We hold four main concerts each season: a formal Holiday concert in December and a summer Pride-affiliated concert in June are both held in our home performance space at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre. We also hold two casual Cabaret nights (the bar will be open!) in the fall and spring at the legendary Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. All of our main performances spaces are fully accessible.
• Outside our four main shows, we also perform in a variety of important 2SLGBTQ+ events in Toronto (see our ‘About’ section for a listing) and other performances at various events.
• We temporarily rehearse each Monday near Broadview and Gerrard at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto.
• Member dues are $320 per year and are due bi-annually at $160 at the start of the fall and spring terms. We offer a fee deferral program for anyone who may need to waive some or all of their dues.
Our Audition Process
We hold auditions twice during our annual season, usually in September and January, around the beginning of each term. We may hold extra auditions at other times of the year based on our needs. Fill out the form below to be added to our audition list and we'll be in touch when we schedule our next round. We can't wait to meet you!
At your audition, you’ll meet with our Artistic Director and Membership Director (don’t worry, they’re super friendly) who will ask you to:
• perform one song of your choice, any genre, a cappella
• possibly perform a song sent by us to have prepared in advance, which we’ll inform you of by email when we confirm your audition
• run through some vocal exercises to get a better sense of your voice and reading ability
• Within two weeks, We’ll contact everyone who auditions to let them know if we are inviting them to join our membership.