Listen to the report by Christine Ross.

Two musician-friends who perform with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, missed connecting with live audiences after the pandemic hit. And virtual concerts just weren’t the same. So the pair hatched an idea to bring their music to small audiences, safely, when restrictions gradually lifted.

“Kelly and I just really missed playing music together and with other people so we took a piece of sheet music and taped it to a tree in Trinity Bellwoods Park and just started playing together,” says Clare Semes.

The violinist and her friend Kelly Zimba on flute, created Sonority Sisters after their jobs with Toronto Symphony were put on pause.

“Another fun part we get to choose our favourite songs and make them work for flute and violin, which is a very unconventional instrumentation,” added Clare.
Since the Bellwoods Park performance,  the musical duo is in high demand for everything from weddings that were postponed to this summer and fall, corporate events and special gigs for Zoomers.

“We recently played a 65th anniversary party and we played a special song for them they danced to, it was really enjoyable for us to see their reaction and it’s something unique that they probably  wouldn’t have done before the pandemic.”

Clare also recalls a special 90th birthday party.

“He and his wife sat in front of us for probably a thirty minute performance and it was really special.”

The classically trained American musicians met before arriving in Toronto to join the Symphony in 2017.

The pair will return with the symphony as in person concerts return
but plan to continue performing as Sonority Sisters.

For bookings and more information, visit their website.