40 years of Star holiday concert
For Steve Abram, the annual Toronto Star Christmas Concert at St. Paul’s Bloor Street church marks the start of the holiday season.
He and his wife Linda make it a point to go every December, weather permitting.
“We got married there in 1980, so coming back every year is kind of a special thing,” he said after they collected their tickets Tuesday morning.
“We go up to the altar afterwards and it’s kind of an emotional time.”
Abram was one of a couple hundred people patiently standing in line before 9a.m. on Tuesday at the1Yonge Toronto Star building to get tickets to the free concert. From Grey County, near Markdale, he stayed overnight with his brother in Toronto to make it in time.
“If I don’t make it here for the tickets my wife won’t talk to me,” he said with a laugh.
The couple looks forward to the concert every Christmas, often taking friends and family members who’ve never gone.
“It’s incredible. The bands are absolutely amazing, the acoustics in the church are just mind blowing,” said Abram of the concert, which features choirs from across the GTA.
This year’s, the 40th, will be held on
Dec. 8. Tickets are free but attendees are encouraged to donate to the Toronto Star’s Santa Claus Fund, to help children across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Ajax and Pickering.
About 45,000 gift boxes containing age-appropriate fun and practical gifts, are delivered to kids aged newborn to 12 each year through the fund, which was created by Star publisher Joseph Atkinson in 1906.
Abram particularly enjoys hearing Canon Dr. Giles Bryant, the concert’s conductor, who he says manages to be both funny and inspirational.
“I look forward to it every year to pull the money out of my wallet,” Abram said.
“I just can’t believe, the number of years we’ve been and still, we have the same problem. That’s the thing that strikes me is every year it’s trying to help these kids.”
Last year’s concert raised $44,067 for children in need across the GTA.
This year’s will feature performances from the St. Paul’s Bloor Street Church Choir, All Saints’ Anglican Church Choir from Peterborough, St. Peter’s Anglican Church Choir from Mississauga, St. Martin-in-theFields Anglican Church Choir from Toronto, St. Jude’s Anglican Church Choir from Oakville, St. Giles Kingsway Presbyterian Church Choir from Toronto and the Canadian Staff Band of the Salvation Army, said Barb Mrozek, director of Toronto Star Charities and Philanthropy.
“It’s the 40th annual concert which is pretty amazing,” she said. “I don’t know what other events in the city have a 40-year history.”
Stan Magrath was picking up two tickets for himself and his wife Helma. He came in from Barrie and had been waiting since just after 7 a.m. It’s the fifth time they’ll be attending.
“We enjoy the concert,” he said, adding they’re very happy to support the Santa Claus Fund. His brother-in-law was also married at St. Paul’s so it’s also special for them to come back.