Reawaken That Talent, Rediscover Making Music

Concert Band

String Ensemble

Singers

Welcome to Resa’s Pieces!

Do you play an instrument or sing, and are looking for the opportunity to share your love of music? If so, we have an ensemble for you! We’re amateur musicians in Toronto, Ontario, Canada who get together every week to make music and have FUN! 

Resa’s Pieces consists of three ensembles: our Concert Band, the String Ensemble and the RP Singers which includes a small chamber choir called The Treblemakers. Each ensemble performs a unique array of music ranging from classical, Broadway, popular movie themes, pop and more. We perform concerts throughout the year at retirement homes, a December holiday concert, and of course a final end of season concert. Rehearsals are Monday nights at a location in North York.

Singers – Barry Peters

String Ensemble – Dr. Phillip Coonce

Concert Band – Resa Kochberg

Concert Band

Since 2000, the Concert Band has provided an opportunity for adults to rediscover the joy of making music. Performance repertoire includes selections from best loved classics, movie soundtrack themes, world music and more.

String Ensemble

This traditional String Chamber Ensemble enjoys making music that includes classical, traditional folk tunes, pop music, music from Broadway, the movies and more – all the way ‘From Bach to the Beatles.’ 

Singers

This mixed voice choir provides an opportunity for adults to rediscover the joy of singing. Repertoire includes Broadway medleys, pop music, traditional choral works and more.

Read Resa's Story

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Photo credits: Atira Frankel, Mark Girard, Ron Goodlin Photography…

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Resa's Story

Resa’s Pieces Concert Band first came together back in the year 2000. But the dream of creating this very special group was many years in the making. I knew from the time I was a small child I wanted to study music. My oldest brother used to passionately wave his arms around like a virtuoso conductor, and as I watched I could feel the music radiate from him and come alive.

I started first with the piano when I was very young, and then in grade seven I discovered the flute. By the end of high school it was inconceivable that I would study anything but music at university.

During my years at the Faculty of Music in Toronto, I noticed how competitive many of my classmates were. But being the best was not what drove me. I wanted to enjoy my love of music without pressure. I wanted to be the best I could be, but FOR ME!

After graduating I became an itinerant music teacher for the Toronto District School Board. I loved the fun the kids had in class, and I really loved watching their faces beam with their accomplishments. And then I got married, and started a family, and became a stay-at-home mom. After all those years of being immersed in music every day, now the only music I heard was children’s music, and for the next 20 years my flute never came out of its case.

I treasured those years at home with my kids, but I really missed the fun and excitement of playing music with others, and knew that somehow I had to get it back into my life. So after 20 years I went back to teaching, AND I finally took my flute out of its case and joined a Concert Band. I was rusty, but it was so great to be back making music, and I loved every minute of it.

I soon realized there had to be many others like me, who loved music, but after high school had left it behind. Without having a career that involved music, there were few options to keep it going. I realized there was a real need for a place where adults could come together and return to playing music, and I began to dream about how I could make that happen. I imagined the fun social atmosphere of a high school concert band – but for adults! I hoped that if I created such an environment it would provide the same joy and pleasure I had found. My ultimate goal was to have members of this new group learn repertoire, and then share their music with others.

I began to talk about my idea, and the word spread quickly. Soon I had 18 excited players, and by spring of 2000 the new band could play 8 notes, and 7 songs. So in June we held our first concert. It was only 25 minutes long, but there were 75 people in the audience and they gave us a rousing standing ovation.

And that’s how Resa’s Pieces Concert Band was born! (FYI – The name was chosen by the members!) Along the way I was approached by string players who wanted to join. Well, that needed a whole new group, and so in 2010 we added Resa’s Pieces String Ensemble!

Then in 2013 the Resa’s Pieces Singers joined our music family!

It’s a musical world, and I truly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to have music in their lives. It’s one of my greatest joys to share my love of music every week with all of the dedicated players in the band, knowing that down the hall The Strings and The Singers are having an equally fun musical experience! Between the three ensembles, we now have a total of over 150 enthusiastic adults – who every week get to experience the joy of having music back in their lives, doing their best, and having FUN!  I invite you to join us Monday nights and rekindle the love of music in your life!