I feel privileged that once again I get to sing with lots of people and share light, love and music as we enter the darkest time of year and approach the winter solstice, Christmas, Hannukah and New Years.
First up, I’m extremely excited to sing with a symphony orchestra! Chris McKool and the Sultans of Strings Christmas Caravan is kicking off it’s winter shows with a performance Dec. 7, 3:00 p.m. at the George Weston Recital Hall – Meridian Arts Centre, 5040 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 6R8 that will feature us playing with Orchestra Toronto! An acclaimed group of both amateur and professional musicians this will be my first time singing a song I wrote backed by a whole symphony orchestra.
Here is the link for tickets, etc.: https://www.tolive.com/Event-Details-Page/reference/Sultans-of-String-2025
Check out this video from last year’s show at Hugh’s Room Live with my version of “Last Month of the Year”.
After that the Sultans of String Christmas Caravan will make stops at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (Dec. 19, 7:30 PM) Burlington tickets here, Brookside Music in Midland, ON (Dec. 20, 7:00 PM) Midland tickets here, and on the solstice itself we’ll finish off at the beautiful McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, ON. (Dec. 21, 2:00 PM) McMichael tickets here. I believe the McMichael show is free with admission to the gallery but tickets are recommended as the space is limited.
On Friday, Dec. 12 I will be singing and leading carols at the Sivananda Yoga Centre Christmas party, 77 Harbord St. near Spadina. Remember that I also teach an open 90 minute yoga asana class there most Friday mornings at 9:30. Check them out here: https://sivanandacanada.org/toronto/
On Wednesday, Dec. 17 I will be a special guest with the Good Lovelies at Massey Hall! The fantastic trio of women (Caroline, Kerri and Sue) and their band will be featuring families as guests. I’ll do a couple of songs with my niece Jenny Whiteley, her husband Joey Wright, their daughter Lila Wright and my son Ben Whiteley. Also on the bill will be Georgia Harmer with her mom and dad, Mary Harmer and Gord Tough (who is also Jenny’s first cousin!). It should be a great night and it’s always special to grace the stage of the venerable Massey Hall. Massey Hall tickets
Right after Christmas I’ll be going to the Sivananda Yoga Retreat in Nassau, Bahamas to participate in their Christmas and New Years Unity in Diversity Symposium. It is a power packed event with 41 workshops, concerts, talks and special satsangs as well as the ashram regular daily schedule of asana classes, vegetarian meals and spectacular beach time. I will be performing/workshopping from Dec. 28 – 30. Info here: Unity in Diversity Symposium.
In January I’ll be heading to Belfast, Northern Ireland to showcase at Your Roots Are Showing folk music conference January 13 – 18, 2026. That should be a blast and hopefully will lead to more opportunities to share my music with people in the U.K and Ireland.
I hope that you get a chance to share light, love and music with whoever you can as the seasons keep turning.