At the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton, we love to work with local talent. Milton’s community groups are filled with homegrown talent that have their own claim to fame and unknown success stories.
1. The Milton Philharmonic Orchestra has its own Christmas tradition
Since the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra got its start in the summer of 2014, every season has included a Winterlude performance. The first Winterlude was in December 2014 and inspired founders Sabatino Vacca and Jenn Callum to make the show an annual tradition. With that tradition in mind, Callum and Vacca started to redefine Christmas and winter in Milton. The annual Winterlude performance became a holiday tradition for the orchestra and local families.
2. The Milton Players Theatre Group has been around for four decades
The Milton Players Theatre Group was founded in the spring of 1979 by a group of 14 theatre enthusiasts. Later that year, the group performed its first ever show, “Goodnight, Mrs. Puffin”. Over the last 40 years, the Milton Players Theatre Group has performed across Milton including at E.C. Drury Secondary School, St. Paul’s United Church, the Milton Seniors' Centre, the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton, to name a few.
3. The Milton Concert Band is made up of talented amateur musicians
When Angela Rozario and Cheryl Ciccarelli moved to Canada, they felt there was a need for an amateur musician group to join the growing artistic scene in Milton. In 2007, they put a call out looking for other local musicians and were overjoyed with the amount of interest. They soon had a group of 30 musicians with more on a wait list. Later in 2007, the group found a permanent home at Memorial Arena and are now able to welcome even more musicians with open arms.
4. Milton Youth Theatre Productions is now in its 17th season
Since opening in 2008, Milton Youth Theatre Productions (MYTP) has produced professional shows, offered classes to youth ages 3-18 and given local kids an outlet to fuel their creativity. In the last 17 seasons, MYTP has performed popular shows like Hairspray, Mary Poppins, and more recently, Frozen Jr.
5. Brightside Players is run by volunteers
With a main focus on the yearly British Pantomime, the Brightside Players has been entirely run by a group of dedicated volunteers since its start in 2013. The group of volunteers also write the scripts and design the stage, props and costumes. The shows are performed by local youth and are filled with puns and interactive elements.
6. Arts Milton strives to connect residents through the arts
Every year, Arts Milton hosts The Friendship Project, which aims to connect new Canadians with community host families in Milton. The project, which is sponsored by the Milton Community Fund, offers arts and culture activities throughout Milton including music lessons, cooking classes, theatre games and more. In 2020, The Friendship Project will run from February until June.
7. The Fine Arts Society of Milton artwork is displayed in the community
Leaving their mark in the community, 80 artists from the Fine Arts Society of Milton worked together to create a mural for the opening of the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in 2015. The mural is made up of 80 individual artworks done by each of the participating members and was pieced together to represent the blend of sports and arts that are prominent in the Milton community. The mural was made in celebration of both the Pan Am games being held in Milton and the opening of the Velodrome, where the mural still hangs today.
8. The Milton Choristers have been performing for over 50 years
Once operating as a women’s choir in the late 1960s, The Milton Choristers celebrated their 50th year during their 2018-2019 season. Throughout their time performing, the Choristers strive to include all voice ranges to strengthen their shows. The group presents two shows per year in December and May.
9. The Milton Show Choir helps to foster a love for the arts
As a way to showcase local talent, the Milton Show Choir offers four choir groups open to youth in grades 4 to 12. The variety of different choirs strive to help students build up their skills, and in higher levels, the choirs travel around to competitions and community events to show off the results of their hard work.
