2025-2026
Jazz Season of Events
France-Canada Distinguished Visitor:
Baptiste Trotignon
France-Canada Distinguished Visitor in Music Masterclass:
Baptiste Trotignon, jazz pianist and composer
November 03. 2025
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Upper Jazz, 90 Wellesley St W, Toronto
Baptiste Trotignon with Jazz 12tet and Small Jazz Ensembles
November 05. 2025
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto
Thursdays at Noon
France-Canada Distinguished Visitor in Music Recital:
Baptiste Trotignon, jazz pianist and composer
November 06. 2025
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm
Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto
U of T Jazz Masterclass
France-Canada Distinguished Visitor Baptiste Trotignon,
jazz pianist and composer
November 07. 2025
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto
10 O'Clock Jazz Orchestra and Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto
Shirantha Beddage and Christine Duncan, directors
Ticket Prices: $10 all ages
University of Toronto students with a valid T-Card are admitted free at the door (space permitting, some exceptions apply). No ticket reservation necessary.
Sunday, February 1st 2026
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto
Information coming soon
Free
A Celebration of Black History through Music:
Lecture – Legacy of African American Music
Thursday, Feb 5 2026
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen's Park
“The Legacy of African American Music” Lecture – Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin (Visiting Guest Scholar, Berklee College of Music) Black American folk-based music is the foundation of much of today’s modern American music. However, the cultural context and traditional roots from which modern riffs, complex rhythmic and melodic lines, and expressive, soulful sounds originated, are not overtly articulated in music education training. Through an exploration of vocal legacies and influences from music of the enslaved to present day, this lecture will guide participants to recognize, understand, and apply the conceptual approach to song and music as practiced in Black American Music traditions.
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Light refreshments will be provided following the lecture (prior to the 8:00 pm Lecture-Recital event).
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This event is sponsored in part by the Jackman Humanities Institute Program for the Arts.
A Celebration of Black History through Music:
Soul Implied - Lecture Recital
Thursday, Feb 5 2026
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen's Park
“Soul Implied: Lecture-Recital” – Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin (Visiting Guest Scholar, Berklee College of Music)
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Learn about the vocal stylistic characteristics and nuances of performing Black American Music genres such as jazz, blues, gospel, soul and R&B, while experiencing live performance demonstrations of each musical style discussed in this soulful lecture-recital.
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Light refreshments will be provided from 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm, following the 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm “The Legacy of African American Music” lecture (prior to the start of this Lecture-Recital event).
This event is sponsored in part by the Jackman Humanities Institute Program for the Arts.
Registration required. Registration required for virtual link.
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A Celebration of Black History through Music:
Vocal Masterclass
Friday, Feb 6 2026
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Room 330, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen's Park
You're invited to the "A Celebration of Black History through Music” event series with visiting guest scholar, clinician, and performer Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin.
During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to gain insight into effective vocal technique, style acquisition, and other performative elements associated with Black American Music traditions through observation and/or participation as our visiting guest clinician works with singers 1-on-1 in front of a live audience.
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin is a vocalist, composer, scholar, and educator with over 20 years of experience in performance, pedagogy, and cultural advocacy. She is Chair of the Ensemble Department at Berklee College of Music, creator of the Soul Ingredients® Methodology, and founder of the Soul Ingredients® Voice Studio.
Gospel Choir: A Celebration of Black History Through Music
Saturday, Feb 7 2026
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Lyric Theatre, 5040 Yonge St, North York
Darren Hamilton, director
With Visiting Artist and Featured Soloist, Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin (Berklee College of Music)
This event is sponsored in part by the Jackman Humanities Institute Program for the Arts.
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Ticket Prices:
In-Person: $30 Adult, $20 Senior, $15 Student
Livestream: $10
Please note that all prices are inclusive of tax and applicable service fees and facility fees. All purchases made online or over the phone are subject to an additional one time order fee. Service fees and order fees will not apply for purchases made in person
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Photography, audio and video recording may occur throughout this event. Therefore, by attending, you hereby authorize the University of Toronto to take your photograph, video and/or record your voice and grant the university all rights to these sounds, still or moving images in any medium for educational, promotional, marketing, advertising or other such purposes that support the mission of the university. If you do not consent to this, please speak with a university representative upon your arrival.
Thursdays at Noon: Laureates - Small Jazz Ensembles
Thursday, Feb 26 2026
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm
Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto
Program info will be available soon.
Free
The Thursdays at Noon series is made possible in part by the
Jay Telfer Forum Endowment Fund.
Symmetry Project
Thursday, Feb 26 2026
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm
Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto
The Symmetry Project is an exciting new Jazz orchestra launching in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, led by JUNO Award-winning artists William Carn and Tara Davidson. Born from a vision of musical excellence and social purpose, The Symmetry Project will spotlight the extraordinary depth of Canadian Jazz talent, rooted in the principles of inclusion, equity, and artistic balance.
With a repertoire that spans generations of Canadian composers, the ensemble will honour the legacy of the nation’s jazz tradition while embracing its evolution. Co- founders Carn and Davidson envision The Symmetry Project as both a platform for underrepresented voices and a catalyst for lasting change in the Canadian music landscape.
Co-Leaders Carn & Davidson have been performing together for over 20 years in various projects. They founded the 4-Time JUNO Award Nominated nonet, the Carn Davidson 9, and have both been associated with numerous additional nominations for their work as side musicians. Their combined 50 years of experience as professional musicians have taken them around the globe for performance opportunities and established them as respected members of the Canadian Jazz community.
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Conducted by: Jim Lewis
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Band Members
Vocalist - Sammy Jackson
Saxophone Section
Tara Davidson – 1st Alto Saxophone
Allison Au – 2nd Alto Saxophone
Kelly Jefferson – 1st Tenor Saxophone
Hanson Goldwin – 2nd Tenor Saxophone
Shirantha Beddage – Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet Section
James Rhodes – 1st Trumpet
Kevin Turcotte – 2nd Trumpet
Rebecca Hennessy – 3rd Trumpet
Joseph Funk – 4th Trumpet
Trombone Section
William Carn – 1st Trombone
Christian Overton – 2nd Trombone
Kelsley Grant – 3rd Trombone
Bien Carandang – Bass Trombone
Rhythm Section
Reg Schwager - Guitar
Nancy Walker - Piano
Lauren Falls – Acoustic Bass
Ernesto Cervini – Drums
Ticket Prices: $10 all ages
University of Toronto students with a valid T-Card are admitted free at the door (space permitting, some exceptions apply). No ticket reservation necessary.
Hybrid Ensemble *New Date*
Wednesday, March 4 2026
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto
**This concert was originally scheduled on Wednesday, February 11.
Directed by David Occhipinti
Program info will be available soon.
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Free
University of Toronto Jazz 12tet
Wednesday, March 11 2026
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto
Program info will be available soon.
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Ticket Prices: $10 for all ages.
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University of Toronto students with a valid T-Card are admitted free at the door (space permitting, some exceptions apply). No ticket reservation necessary.
U of T Student Ensembles at The Rex
U of T Student Ensembles at The Rex
The Rex Hotel
194 Queen St. W., Toronto
3 sets every Monday:
5:00 pm
5:40 pm
6:20 pm
September
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September 8, 2025
Independent Ensembles
5:00 pm - Matthew Aasen
5:40 pm - Gracie Singh-Yuz
6:20 pm - Kieran Menard
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September 15, 2025
Independent Ensembles
5:00 pm - Georgia Korba
5:40 pm - Magda Baraczka
6:20 pm - Daniel Grushcow
September 22, 2025
Independent Ensembles
5:00 pm - Miles Kobayashi
5:40 pm - Zara Britain
6:20 pm - JB Ombing
September 29, 2025
No U of T Groups​​
December
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December 1, 3035
5:00 pm - Sam Little
5:40 pm - Brandon Davis
6:20 pm - Michael Davidson
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December 8, 3035
5:00 pm - Vocal Jazz
5:40 pm - Vocal Jazz
6:20 pm - David Occhipinti (small ensemble)
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December 9, 3035
5:00 pm - Vocal Jazz
5:40 pm - Vocal Jazz
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Jim Lewis 12tet
9:00 - 10:00 pm - University of Toronto
Jazz Orchestra
November
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November 3, 3035
5:00 pm - Jim Lewis Undergrads
5:40 pm - Ernesto Cervini
6:20 pm - Dan Fortin
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November 10, 3035
5:00 pm - Hannah Barstow
5:40 pm - Kelly Jefferson
6:20 pm - Waleed Abdulhamid
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November 17, 3035
5:00 pm - Tara Davidson
5:40 pm - William Carn
6:20 pm - Jacqueline Teh
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November 24, 3035
No U of T Groups
October
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October 6th, 2025
5:00 pm - Pete Johnston
5:40 pm - Michael Herring
6:20 pm - Jon Maharaj
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October 13, 2025
Independent Ensembles
5:00 pm - Yuzi Sun
5:40 pm - Enoch Lodu
6:20 pm - Bea Lagrisola
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October 20, 2025
5:00 pm - Rebecca Hennessy
5:40 pm - Nick Fraser
6:20 pm - Jim Lewis Grads
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October 27, 2025
No U of T Groups​​
January
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January 5th, 2026
Student-led Ensembles
​5:00 pm: Gracie Singh-Yuz
5:40 pm: Kieran Menard
6:20 pm: Avshalom Ravitz-Heller
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January 12th, 2026
Student-led Ensembles
​5:00 pm: Harmeet Kaur Virdee
5:40 pm: Angela Pincente
6:20 pm: Esra Gurcay
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January 19th, 2026
​5:00 pm: Rebecca Hennessy Ensemble
5:40 pm: Ernesto Cervini Ensemble
6:20 pm: Jon Maharaj Ensemble
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January 26th, 2026
No U of T Jazz Ensembles
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February
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February 2, 2026
​5:00 pm: Tara Davidson Ensemble
5:40 pm: William Carn Ensemble
6:20 pm: Jim Lewis Grad Ensemble
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February 9, 2026
​5:00 pm: Jacqueline Teh Ensemble
5:40 pm: Pete Johnston Ensemble
6:20 pm: Brandon Davis Ensemble
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February 16, 2026
Student-led Ensembles
​5:00 pm: Cace Mercer
5:40 pm: Benjamin Payne
6:20 pm: Yuzi Sun
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February 23, 2026
No U of T Jazz Ensembles
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March
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March 2, 2026
​5:00 pm: Nick Fraser Ensemble
5:40 pm: Dan Fortin Ensemble
6:20 pm: Michael Herring Ensemble
March 9, 2026
​5:00 pm: Hannah Barstow Ensemble
5:40 pm: Kelly Jefferson Ensemble
6:20 pm: Sam Little Ensemble
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March 16, 2026
​5:00 pm: Waleed Abdulhamid Ensemble
5:40 pm: Michael Davidson Ensemble
6:20 pm: Jim Lewis Undergrad Ensemble
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March 23, 2026
​5:00 pm: David Occhipinti Ensemble
5:40 pm: Vocal Jazz Ensemble
6:20 pm: Vocal Jazz Ensemble
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March 30, 2026
No U of T Jazz Ensembles
April
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April 6, 2026
END OF YEAR BASH
​5:00 pm: Vocal Jazz Ensemble
5:40 pm: Vocal Jazz Ensemble
6:20 pm: Vocal Jazz Ensemble
8:00 pm: Jim Lewis 12tet
9:00 pm: University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra
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