Music @ Hart House

HartHouse as the music lover’s happy helper

by Eram Lee

During my short time here at the University of Toronto, the university’s programs, drop-in classes, galleries, shows, and historical significance have been mostly lost to me. I’m just an undergrad student desperately trying to pass my classes, and not fall privy to seasonal depression (which everyone at school bonds over, what with winter lasting well over four months). But I also love music. I can’t play an instrument, I only sing in the shower, and I can’t tell you anything about music theory, but I love listening and exploring to new music, going to concerts, and pretending I have an emotional connection to all my favourite artists. Besides boring my friends about the thematic expression of a new album or discussing how the cultural background of an artist could influence their art, my only outlet in expressing my too-keen interest was in the form of dozens of Spotify playlists and getting too excited when someone would show me new music. It never crossed my mind that a place like Hart House could provide a space for my interests to grow into an extracurricular. But after learning about Hart House Music Committee, and meeting similar people, I realized that for the past hundred years, Hart House has curated this space that allows not just music majors, but student musicians, producers, local icons, and simple music lovers like me to connect and learn from one another. Rather than being an overglorified YMCA with better architecture, Hart House is a haven for all those musically inclined, and here’s exactly what they have to offer.

Hart House Music Committee

Hart House Music Committee organizes a ton of events throughout the year, a staple being their monthly open-mic nights. Open-mic nights are pretty much defined by name, but it’s a space where anyone can sign up and share whatever they’d like, be it a song or dance or stand-up poetry. They also host music-related events, panels, and presentations. demo is a subcommittee of HHMC, and allows for contributors to post music-related articles to their online website as well as releasing a print issue annually (like this one!).

Hip Hop Education Program

The Hip Hop Education Program was launched this year, and aims to promote awareness on hip hop’s integration into mainstream culture, and what hip hop represents to visible minorities in Toronto. The program dives deeper than just defining the genre of hip hop and showing you a few Biggie songs; it explains the importance of hip hop’s role as a voice for minorities and explores hip hop’s relationship with politics. The Hip Hop 101 Cafe is a monthly discussion group that discusses how hip hop influences today’s culture, and connects local hip-hop community leaders and students. Another resource is the Humanz of Hip Hop Library, which is a human library that features local and leading figures in the hip hop industry.Students can “rent” them out, and hear their personal stories about hip hop, their identities, and career. The Producer’s Circle, at UTSC, brings together music producers and beatmakers to share their work, discuss ideas, and create a network.

Hart House Singers

The Hart House Singers are a non-audition choir for U of T students to explore culturally diverse music, as well as choral works with historical significance. Hart House Singers is perfect for the ones that love to sing but don’t know where to start. HHS have performed at Nuit Blanche, with other student orchestras, and with graduates from the Faculty of Music and the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Hart House Jazz Ensemble

A band made up of students across colleges, majors, and campuses, the Hart House Jazz Ensemble allows students from all walks of life to jointly explore their love of Jazz. According to a former Jazz Ensemble performer, Jason Town, he loved the ensemble because it was “open to any student in any program, so it was really diverse and I met a lot of cool people. Especially because I was in classical performance, I really wanted to play in a jazz ensemble so it was a really fun opportunity”. Hart House Jazz Ensemble plays a ton of gigs around Toronto, especially at the iconic Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues bar.

Hart House Orchestra & Hart House Chamber Strings

A professional chamber orchestra that’s arguably the most prolific music program at Hart House, what with being founded in 1954 and having represented Canada at the Brussels’ World’s Fair in 1958. Hart House Chamber Strings is a student run ensemble for string instruments that performs concerts biannually.

Illustrations by Noa Bonen

The list of musical ventures goes on, with drop-in DJ classes, classes on how to interview and photograph a musician, and more. And the results of these have reached across through intergenerational connections. Hart House also has a mentorship program, and mentors who’ve explored their love of music in such programs have been able to pass on their experience to their mentees and current students. If you’re like me and you’re looking for an outlet to express your love for music or talent, take advantage of Hart House. Seriously.