Women’s Musical Club of Toronto: A Little “Afternoon” Music

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Established in 1898, the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto (WMCT) has spent the past 126 years building and maintaining an organization that supports numerous early career and professional musicians. The club has lessened its restrictions, now welcoming everyone (no longer just women) to enjoy their presentations.

The star of the show at WMCT is undoubtedly their “Music in the Afternoon” series. This seasonal collection of chamber concerts features a wide variety of world-class musicians. The 2023-24 lineup will include the Fauré Quartett, Tesla Quartet, clarinetist Dominic Desautels, pianist Francine Kay, and soprano Joyce El-Khoury.

Diane Martello (chair of the memberships, concerts & marketing committee) emphasizes that concertgoers often do much more than simply attend the show. Beyond the concert itself, audience members have the opportunity to attend pre-concert lectures, to meet and connect with old friends, enjoy lunch in the lobby, and refreshments at intermission. Martello says that “the volunteers make every effort to make the entire day enjoyable for those in attendance.” The club aims to provide intellectual, emotional, social, and artistic stimulation for its audiences.

The WMCT also supports multiple young musicians through its numerous scholarships and awards. Their Career Development Award, presented in collaboration with CBC, is awarded once every three years to a talented professional musician in the making. The winner is given a $25,000 scholarship, an opportunity to perform in a WMCT Music in the Afternoon concert, and is featured on CBC radio’s “In Concert with Paolo Pietropaolo.” The club also sponsors other annual scholarships and awards through many institutions, including the Royal Conservatory of Music and University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music.

Music in the Afternoon

Younger students are supported by the WMCT through outreach programs which provide high-school students with free concerts. This year, WMCT is also sending the Tesla Quartet to two schools for private performances.

All of this would not be possible without the WMCT’s volunteers. The organization is almost entirely volunteer-run, and their various organizing committees are the reason their concert initiatives, scholarships, and outreach programs are both accessible and successful.

Like all music organizations, the WMCT is in the process of rebuilding its audience post-pandemic. Anticipation and enthusiasm for this season’s concerts is already high, and the organization is looking forward to another year of world-class performances. The concert hall doors are wide open, ready to welcome anyone interested in a splendid afternoon of chamber music.