IRANIAN-CANADIAN COMPOSERS OF TORONTO

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE 2014

Secret of Solstice

WELCOME LETTER

Dear Valued Partner, December 2014 and “Secret of Solstice” marks our fourth year celebration of new artistic works of ‘ICOT’. Hosted by the Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto and in collaboration with some of the finest Toronto musicians and performers, this one night performance will celebrate the Winter Solstice and reveals the secrets of old Persian tradition and its relationship with birth of Christ and the longest night of the year through music, art and poetry. ICOT has achieved many accomplishments over the last four years. Our last program “Five Tableaux from Khosrow and Shirin Ballet”, performed in May 2013 in collaboration with National Ballet of Canada has created new works and appeal to a cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary audience. Despite the growth we have experienced over these four years, our vision to promote Iranian Art and culture through our music and newly composed pieces has remained unchanged. Our core purpose is creating cultural bridges. ICOT relies on constant support from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and art patrons whom are interested to contribute to the ongoing creation of new works, which will enrich the Iranian-Canadian artistic and cultural experience and bring the two cultures closer. So  with  that,  I  encourage  you  to  join  us  to  celebrate  Winter  Solstice  and  embrace  the  cultural  connections.  Enclosed  you  will  find  all  the  information  you  need  to  get  involved  with  ICOT.    Thank you in advance for supporting our cause and the community at large. We look forward to working with you and seeing you at our last 2014 concert! Warm regards, Afarin Mansouri Tehrani Artistic Director, ICOT afarin.mansouri@icot.ca

ESTABLISHED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT) is a registered not-for profit organization with no specific religious or political affiliation. Founded by five Toronto-based composers,   ICOT mission is to create and  disseminate new music inspired by Iranian culture and art for the multicultural Canadian community. In July of 2013, with the financial assistance from the Toronto Arts Council and Tirgan Festival, ICOT brought the “Operatic Narration of Arash the Archer” to the Harbourfront Westjet stage as the grand opening to the Tirgan Festival of Persian culture. This multi-media work was seen by more than 2500 people, plus more than 3000 people watching the live-stream from across the world. The composers appeared on BBC Farsi, attracting intercontinental attention for this project. ICOT's “Persian Piano Night” toured around Ontario and Quebec in 2011-12 and was also featured in BBC Farsi programming in 2013. This, and the “New Poetry, New Music” event, were ICOT’s first two activities as a professional collective. All these performances were successfully sold-out new music concert series. ICOT appeared as featured guest artists at the 2014 Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra’s “What Next” New Music Festival’s Canadian Mosaic Concert. ICOT was commissioned by The National Ballet Of Canada to write a short ballet based on the story of Khosrow and Shirin. This ballet was performed by Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra and The You Dance Artists of The National Ballet of Canada in May of 2014 in Toronto which was a tremendous success with more than 600 people attending.   ICOT founders, who are all active professionals and musicians both nationally and internationally, are Keyan Emami (President), Saman Shahi (Executive Manager), Maziar Heidari (Music Director), Afarin Mansouri (Artistic Director), and Pouya Hamidi (Technical Manager).

ICOT’S VISION IS TO BECOME THE PIONEER OF CROSS-CULTURAL NEW MUSIC.

Secret of Solstice ICOT Last 2014 Concert Featuring ICOT Orchestra and Soprano Zorana Sadiq

Date and Time: Friday December 5th, 2014 7:30 pm    Venue: St. George’s Anglican Church, 5350 Yonge St, North York, ON  About the Concert ICOT is curating a unique concert to celebrate 2014 Winter Solstice, Inspired by Yalda and Christmas creating a cross cultural bridge through newly composed pieces and contributed to the diverse cultural mosaic of Canadian society. ICOT Composers along with ICOT Orchestra will collaborate with Toronto Based Soprano Singer, Zorana Sadiq.

 Legend of Yalda* Dated back to pre-Zoroastrian times, Yalda marks the celebration of birth of Mithras (the sun-God) God of light and truth. Mithra is also the Zoroastrian angelic divinity (yazata). Followers of Mithra or Mithraists believed that at the morning of the longest night of the year, Mithra was born. The Romans attributed their Mithraic Mysteries (the mystery religion known as Mithraism) to Persian or Zoroastrian sources relating to Mithra. Depending on the shift of the calendar, Yalda is celebrated on or around December 20 or 21 each year. That day, which is also winter solstice, devotees of Mithras celebrated the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti 'Birthday of the Invincible Sun'.

Yalda and Christmas* The actual choice of December 25 for Birth of Jesus as Christmas was thought to have been made under the Emperor Aurelian because this was the date of the Winter Solstice according to their calendar. According to Pagan origins of Christmas textbooks, Mithras, the sun God, was born of a virgin in a cave on December 25, and worshipped on Sunday, the day of the conquering sun. He was a savior-God. He died and was resurrected in order to become a messenger of God.  *http://www.truthbeknown.com/mithra.htm  

A SNAPSHOT OF ICOT

2014 ! Featured guest artists at “What Next” Hamilton

Philharmonic Orchestra New music Festival; ! Commissioned by National Ballet of Canada for creation of

“Five Tableaux from Khosro and Shirin”, a short ballet featuring YOU dance artists and Cathedral Bluff Symphony Orchestra

2013 ! Recipient of Tirgan Festival Arash the Archer Trophy; ! Commissioned by Toronto Tirgan Festival for creation and

performance of the multimedia production of “Operatic Narration of Arash the Archer”;

! Recipient of Toronto Arts Council Production Grant for “Operatic Narration of Arash the Archer”;

! Recipient of letter of appreciation from the MPP of Richmond Hill, Dr. Reza Moridi;

! Recipient of letter of acknowledgement from the Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport for contributions to the community;

! Performance as part of Toronto Nuit Blanche;

2012 ! Persian Piano Night Featured on BBC Farsi; ! Participant as part of Cultura Festival; ! 2012: New Music New Poetry: Toronto;

2011 ! Persian Piano Night Tour: Toronto, Waterloo, Hamilton,

Ottawa, and Montreal;  

 

ICOT ORCHESTRA The orchestra consists of 53-63 performers as members chosen by audition from music universities and Toronto’s multicultural community. By arranging concerts, commissioning new works from artists both local and international as well as conducting educational workshops for young emerging professional artists, the orchestra aims to take its audience to a multi-cultural unique experience. The orchestra also offers internship for younger musicians in order to help them develop as emerging professionals. The programming policy of the orchestra will concern the creation of new works based on Persian literature and mythology as well as presenting the core Western Classical music repertoire, mixing classical orchestra with Persian traditional instruments.

FACTS ABOUT ICOT ! The first collaborative composer collective throughout Iranian music History;

! Rapid recognition among Canada’s most significant artistic institutions such as The National Ballet of Canada,

Canadian Music Centre, Toronto Arts Council, North York Arts, and Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra;

! Consisting of active music professionals who are all graduates from Canada’s most prestigious universities;

! Attracting a vast divers audience by bridging Canadian and Persian culture through new music and art;

! Advocating Iranian music, use of Iranian traditional instruments with Orchestra;

! Incorporating Persian musical material as well as tales and poetry with a modern and fresh unique approach;

! Creates a platform for emerging artists to experience working in a professional artistic environment;

! Aim to create artistic productions with a universal appeal beyond language and time barriers;

       

   

 

   

     

SPONSORSHIP  OPPORTUNITIES ICOT relies on constant support from individual donors, corporate sponsors and art patrons who are interested to contribute to the ongoing creation of new works, which will enrich the Iranian-Canadian artistic and cultural experience. ICOT is committed to driving value-added with all of its supporters and sponsors. As your partner, we promise mutual value creation and rewarding excellence.

ICOT SPONSORSHIP  LEVELS  AND  BENEFITS  $1000 DIAMOND SPONSORSHIP Number of Sponsors: 1 (available) • A Full-page to the sponsor’s ad on the back cover of the Program Note • 5 VIP* complimentary Tickets for the event • Acknowledgement of the sponsor in all advertisements and media interviews • Adding sponsor’s name/logo in the Program Note, and printed and digital promotional materials

$500 GOLD SPONSORSHIP Number of Sponsors: 2 (1 available) • A Half-page to the sponsor’s ad inside the Program Note • 3 VIP* complimentary Tickets for the event • Adding sponsor’s name/logo in the Program Note and printed promotional materials MEDIA SPONSORSHIP

• 3 VIP* complimentary Tickets for event • Adding sponsor’s name/logo in the Program Note and printed promotional materials $250 BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP Number of Sponsors: 4 (sold out) • 2 VIP* complimentary Tickets for event • Adding sponsor’s logo/name in the Program Note • Receiving a table in the venue’s lobby to promote your Business, Products, Events

$150 SILVER SPONSORSHIP

• 2 VIP* complimentary Tickets for the event • Acknowledgment of the sponsor name/logo in the Program Note

*Front rows seat

 

ICOT SPONSORSHIP  FORM

 SPONSORSHIP  LEVEL (Please check one): YES, I am willing to sponsor the Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT) as a,

       

Note: You may pick more than one sponsorship level and receive benefits for all those levels. PAYMENT METHODS " Cheque – Payable to the “Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto (ICOT)” " Cash " Credit Card (Visa & Master Cards) – http://www.icot.ca/site/support/ Signature: __________________________________________ Date: ______________

" $1000 Diamond Sponsorship

" Media Sponsorship

" $150 Silver Sponsorship

 

" $500 Gold Sponsorship

" $250 Business Sponsorship

 

Individual/Organization/Company Name: Address: Contact Name and Title: Phone Number: Email:  

Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto  

ADDRESS: 63 CRAIGMORE CRES, TORONTO, ON, M2N 2Y6

EMAIL: INFO@ICOT.CA

WEBSITE: WWW.ICOT.CA

WWW.FACEBOOK.ICOT.CA

TEL: (647) 895-1359