Apocryphonia Concert Series

shows off some of the music from Samuel Felsted's Jonah, the first oratorio written in the Western Hemisphere, by Jamaica's first documented classical composer.

Thanks to the efforts of people like Sister Mary Dominic Ray & Dr. Thurston Dox in the 1980s, and organizations like the in the present age, Felsted's music is gaining international recognition and being heard once again.

On June 12th here in Toronto, , & will perform parts of the work for the first time ever in Canada in the final concery of 's Fourth Cycle of Musical Revelations.

Excerpt from 'Lord I Obey'
from Samuel Felsted's Jonah (1775)
Joshua Duncan Lee (they/them), organist
Recorded at The Cathedral Church of St. James

Not only did we not know that had sung Jonah before, we didn't know that he has a past history of working with organist !

The lives of musicians mean that paths cross here and there, sometimes consistently, sometimes not. The chance to get to work together with someone again is always a welcome one.

We're so excited for June 12th's concert at Christ Church Deer Park; where Toronto will get to hear Samuel Felsted's music for the first time live, and much more!

Paul Williamson is a spinto tenor and all around amazing fellow! He'll be singing the role of Jonah in June 12th's concert.

This is a role he sang before back in Jamaica with the , a Kingston-based non-profit organization with the focus on the preservation and promotion of Jamaica's rich musical heritage.

They are an amazing resource for information about Jamaican composers including Samuel Felsted, and have helped bring international recognition to Jamaica's composers throughout history.

Paul is a versatile Tenor, equally at home with Handel (or Felsted) as he is with Verdi or Strauss; a wonderful voice who you will hear on Friday, June 12th at Christ Church Deer Park, Toronto.

Organist and Concert Curator talks about some things they're excited about for June 12's concert: Of Whales and Willpower, The Jamaican Jonah.

Besides so many works by Samuel Felsted of the Late Baroque era being performed for the first time, this concert includes works by members of Toronto's composers in the diaspora community, like & .syn.allwood .

There will be plenty of different musical styles on Friday June 12th, get ready!

Organist and Concert Curator (they/them) talks about underrepresentation of Jamaicans in Toronto's classical music scene, as well as the genre itself of Classical Music in Jamaica as being one that probably doesn't first come to mind in the musical legacy of Jamaica itself.

Join on June 12th, 7:00pm at Christ Church Deer Park for one night only you will hear a selection of Jamaican classical music for organ and singers, spanning 250 years of history; including works from some of Toronto's diaspora composers.

If it weren't for we wouldn't have a concert!

They were the one who brought the idea of performing Samuel Felsted—Jamaica's first documented classical composer—here in Toronto.

This concert is a celebration of Jamaican and Jamaican diaspora organ music; including excerpts from Felsted's oratorio Jonah & Voluntarys for Organ.

Discovering new music (even if its hundreds of years old) is always a journey, and you'll hear Joshua's journey in this reel!

See you at:

Of Whales and Willpower: The Jamaican Jonah
📍 Christ Church Deer Park (Yonge & St. Clair), Toronto
📅 Friday, June 12 • 7:00 PM