The Women’s Musical Club Of Toronto (WMCT) has named Amy Hillis as the new Artistic Director of Music in the Afternoon, the organization’s longstanding signature concert series. Hillis will begin curating the programming for the 2026-26 season.
Amy will take over from Simon Fryer, who has held the position since 2006.
“We are thrilled to welcome Amy Hillis as our new Artistic Director,” said Janet Murray, President of the WMCT. “Amy is a dynamic artist and a visionary thinker with a passion for chamber music and a strong connection to emerging Canadian talent. Her experience as a performer and her innovative approach to programming are an ideal match for the WMCT’s mission as we approach our 130th anniversary.”
WMCT has been hosting one of the city’s premier chamber music concert series for a staggering 127 seasons. The Music in the Afternoon series has become a place to experience the world’s best chamber musicians, including local and Canadian as well as international artists.
Amy Hillis is a violinist, educator, and advocate for Canadian music. Amy is a native of Regina, Saskatchewan. She earned her Bachelor of Music at McGill University, followed by a Master’s degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Gillis returned to McGill to complete her Doctor of Music in Violin Performance.
Her talent has been recognized with a first prize at the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition, as well as an artistic residency at La Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, a win at the McGill Concerto Competition, and the Sylva Gelber Foundation Music Award.
She has performed across Canada, and commissioned several new works from composers such as Matthew Brubeck, Fjóla Evans, Vincent Ho, Andrew Staniland, Jocelyn Morlock, and Nicole Lizée, among others.
Amy is currently Assistant Professor of Community Music at York University’s School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design.
Simon Fryer’s final season as Artistic Director, and the concert series’ 128th, includes a creative mix of chamber music.
Find more details about the upcoming season [HERE].
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