The Green Sanderson Concert Series will bring music to seniors in 6 regions across Ontario, funded by the Green Sanderson Foundation and Ontario Arts Council.
Concerts in Care Ontario has a specific and far-reaching delivery strategy for lesser-served or new-to-us regions – a regional mini-tour program featuring local professional artists.
At least twice per year we select artists who, in their own regions, visit and share their music with a mix of long-term care and retirement homes, and Indigenous reserves, and community programs.
These tours bring many smiles and even tears as residents and patients feel the effects of live music in their homes, have their memories sparked, and meet the musicians in person. That social connection is key to the seniors feeling that they are seen and heard.
In Autumn 2026 we will tour in two regions, one central north and one east.
- October 27-November 4, 2026: Renfrew County. Gertrude Letourneau (flutes, voice, keyboard) and Garry Elliott (classical/jazz guitar) will perform 10 concerts for more than 500 seniors and caregivers in Barry’s Bay, Pembroke, Deep River, Arnprior, and Renfrew, with a possible stop in Golden Lake.
Ontario Arts Council joins the Green Sanderson Foundation in supporting this tour. - November 9 – 16, 2026: Sudbury–Manitoulin–Elliot Lake. The very popular ensemble 2V+Keys will lead the tour in the Sudbury region. Featuring violinists Melissa Schaak and Christina Masotti with Sarah Craig on keyboard and vocals, the tour will visit Wikwemikong Nursing Home, Little Current, Espanola, Elliot Lake, Copper Cliff, Lively and Sudbury area community centres, reaching more than 600 senior listeners, their family, caregivers, and neighbourhood friends
2027 Touring Plans
In 2027, we are planning 4 tours:
- Thunder Bay region, in partnership with the Thunder Bay Symphony musicians.
- Simcoe County – capitalizing on both our relationship with the North Simcoe Muskoka Special Geriatrics Services.
- Ideally, we return to the Sudbury-Manitoulin region to increase our exchanges with local reserves, and to bring much-anticipated concerts back to Elliot Lake and Espanola.
- We have yet to make a final decision about the 4th tour. It will either be in the Kawarthas or in Southwestern Ontario.
Financial Support: Artist fees comprising 52-55% of costs, and travel/accommodation/per diems another 30-35%. Marketing, coordination, and insurance make up the remaining 20%.
Scheduling: We book at least 2 concerts in a day since each concert is 45 minutes long, plus visiting and exchanging stories and music.
If you would like to support our Touring Program, or would like to attend a concert, please call or email Executive Director Debra Chandler debra@concertsincareontario.com or call 416-571-6170