Hart House Chamber Strings
The Hart House Chamber Strings is a student-run ensemble at Hart House, University of Toronto. Conducted by Mr. Keith Reid, the HHCS performs two concerts in the year: one in the fall and one in the spring, with a mix of both classical and popular repertoire.
Current U of T members and non-students may join the Hart House Chamber Strings. Find membership information below.
During the year, rehearsals take place from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM on Mondays in the East Common Room. This is a non-audition ensemble, and there are several open rehearsals in September where interested musicians are welcome to come out with their instrument. New members need to note that joining an orchestra requires a commitment, and that our group is not a drop-in orchestra.
Current status of in-person rehearsals
Rehearsals will be held in person for the Fall 2024 Session. We will rehearse every Monday from 7:30 - 10:00PM in the East Common Room at Hart House. We will be hosting an Open Rehearsal on Monday, September 9th from 7:30 to 10pm; please feel free to join us if you are interested!
If you want to keep up to date on what HHCS is up to, you should sign up for the LISTSERV to get email updates.
Keith Reid is very active as a conductor and educator in Toronto. He has a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Toronto and in 2006 he was the recipient of the Victor Feldbrill National Graduate Fellowship in Orchestral Conducting.
As a conductor, Keith has led ensembles comprised of members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted at the University of Toronto's Walter Hall and MacMillan Theatre, and also at Massey Hall.
Currently, Keith is the conductor of the Hart House Chamber Strings and is the Artistic Director of the Festival Wind Orchestra. Previously, he was Music Director of the Hart House Symphonic Band and the Hart House Summer Orchestra. He has also served as Assistant Conductor of the Cambridge Community Orchestra, the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, and Conductor of the Settlement Singers chamber choir at the University Settlement Music and Arts School.
Keith has also been active as a music director, conductor, and performer for many musical theatre productions including How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Once On This Island, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and A Chorus Line. With No Strings Theatre he has been an Associate Music Director in charge of the Orchestra Training program for Sweeney Todd, Curtains, and Anne of Green Gables.