Sunday Serenades is back for another year with incredible bands! This free outdoor concert series will feature some of Ontario’s best live swing, big band, and jazz acts.

Taking place every Sunday between July 3 and August 14 from 7:30pm – 9:00pm at Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge St.), you’ll find a number of bands, both new and returning, getting audiences on their feet to dance the night away.

This year, the city of Toronto has partnered with local arts service organization, North York Arts, to present the series.

“This is a really exciting partnership and a wonderful opportunity,” said North York Arts Managing Director, Lila Karim, “we’re thrilled to be a part of such a long-standing event to celebrate music in North York.”

North York Arts is an arts service organization designed to address the needs and interests of North York artists, arts organizations and residents. Throughout the past five years, the organization has grown immensely and, with programs such as Sunday Serenades, only plan to expand further.  

To kick off Sunday Serenades, the Advocats Big Band will perform, celebrating their 25th anniversary, followed by the nine-piece jazz band, York Jazz Ensemble.

In the following weeks, performances will include 10-piece dance band, Uptown Swing; student ensemble, JAZZFM.91 Youth Big Band; returning bands, Philips Westin Orchestra and Toronto All Star Big Band; and the 21-piece orchestra, Metro Big Band.

For more information about the series and a full program list, click here

In May we introduced Snapd Photo project to youth from Ephraim’s Place! As part of Cultural Hotspot North York, youth learned the basics of photography in a one day workshop facilitated by a professional photographer Adeyemi Adegbesan. Participants took photos of their community and hub spaces, showcasing their community through their eyes. They received hands-on training and feedback from Adeyemi throughout the day.

Ephraim’s Place Community Centre is a place where programs and services give children, youth and families the skills and tools needed to build successful futures and bring about positive personal transformation to the Jane-Finch-Sheppard communities. As a combined effort between Ephraim’s Place and North York Arts, youth participants back in the spring, learned the basics of photography in a one day workshop facilitated by professionals. Participants then took photos of their community and hub spaces, through their eyes and received hands-on training and feedback from the facilitator. Last month, we featured five of the six participants, please enjoy their work!