"History was made here. Now the world is watching us until we get our rights. What we do here will help Australia, the European Union, and the United States. What we do here will be heard around the world."
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes,
MCC Toronto
Feb. 15, 2002

Onyx

"I was raised in my family with the right to love whomever, whenever, wherever I was lucky enough to find it. So I'm just privileged, as always, to be in this house, and to sing in this environment for this cause"
M.C. and vocalist Julie Michels

Joe Varnell with friend and supporter Cecile on their way to set up before the concert.

"It is important that we are able to say to the public that our government, our society, recognizes our love and our relationships. It's a funny situation that many aspects of our lives have been recognized in law for years, but they won't recognize our love."
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes
MCC Toronto

Lake Porter and Katherine Anderson from Onyx

Friday February 15, 2021

ONYX.O.X - A Valentine's Concert in support of Equal Love

The Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto presented this concert, thanks to the Onyx Wind Quintet's generous donation of time and talent. The proceeds of the concert, and the sale of Onyx CDs, will be donated to the MCC Toronto Legal Defence Fund and to the Civil Marriage Case legal fund, and applied to the legal expenses incurred in the struggle for the right of same-sex couples to marry.

The music programme included:

Overture to "Candide" (Leonard Bernstein)
La Muerte del Angel (Astor Piazzolla)
La Luna Che Non C'e (Antonella Maggio, Dario Farina)
Three Dowland Ayres (John Dowland)
Wind Quintet No. 1 (Gordon Jacob)
Aires Tropicales (Paquito d'Rivera)
Pavane pour une infante defunte (Maurice Ravel)
Here Comes The Sun (George Harrison)
Menuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits from "Orfeo" (Gluck)
Con Te Partiro (Lucio Quarantotto, Francesco Sartori)

Thank You

Bill Bartlett & Walter Rothenburger - Refreshments
Gail Donnelly - Event Coordinator
Rick Firth - Promotion and Program Design
Ian Ross - Sound
Michael Wrong - Postering
Greeter, users, hospitality, and ticket selling volunteers
Warm and generous audience!

Our great legal teams from

McGowan, Elliott & Kim
Epstein, Cole

Photos from the ONYX.O.X. February 15, 2021
Cecile Chapelain, a long time friend, supporter and local fashion plate, shows off one of her creations before the concert.	Nico, a videographer from PrideVision TV checks sound and lighting levels in preparation for the concert
At the front door, volunteers made sure that everyone was able to get in on time so as not to miss a second of the glorious music	Liz and Lynn, partners in life, share a smile as they take a moment out from greeting the concert crowd.
A study in scarlet, the warm reds of the sanctuary are a perfect match for the romantic mood created by the members of Onyx, and the great acoustics of MCC Toronto's sanctuary.
Greg Lawrence and Douglas Elliott were among the distinguished luminaries who reveled in the Valentine's serenade.	Brad Salavich, John Sproule and Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes are all smiles during a terrific evening of chamber music.
Douglas Elliott stops to make a wish during the intermission at the concert. Although Douglas didn't reveal what he had wished for, part of it must be that soon there will be equal recognition of equal love here in Canada.	Music is the food of love, but a cup of coffee can be nice with the meal and these concert goers indulged at intermission
The crowd at intermission was buzzing about the tremendous music and the feeling of love that filled the building.	Onyx generously donated copies of their debut CD that were sold in support of the legal challenges.
Backstage at half-time, Michele, Steven and Graham of Onyx along with Giovanni Amenta, take a moment to prepare for the second half of the concert.
A well deserved standing ovation brought a spectacular concert to a close.