Tone Cluster’s Words

Queer choir Tone Cluster aims to address the realities of bullying with its upcoming concert, which will feature students from two Ottawa high schools.

Tone Cluster previously dedicated a song to Jamie Hubley, who committed suicide in 2011 after being bullied for his sexual orientation, and the choir’s musical director, Kurt Ala-Kantti, says an entire concert focused on bullying is a natural progression for the collective.

Titled Words, the concert will feature selections from Lady Gaga and Oscar Peterson.

The choir performed at Nepean High School earlier this month, and although Ala-Kantti was told the students were “a tough crowd,” the performance, which included students and choir members discussing their experiences with bullying, was well received, he says.

Students from Nepean High School and St Peter’s Catholic High School will join Tone Cluster on stage for Words.

“There will be 125 in the choir,” Ala-Kantti says. “It should be a great, big sound.”

Algonquin College journalism grad. Podcaster @qqcpod.

Keep Reading

A collage with colour images of Cole Escola and Anania, black and white images of Gavin Newsom and Bari Weiss, and the numbers 2025 against an abstract pink and white background

Righteous queens and shady bitches of 2025

Here are the main characters that made, and broke, the year in queer
Collage featuring drag performers and the numbers 2025

The top 10 ‘Drag Race’ lip syncs of 2025

International seasons dominate the list of best performances of the year

Silky Nutmeg Ganache on taking a ‘Slaycation’ with Alyssa Edwards

The ‘Canada vs. The World’ star talks the value of a variety of drag TV and Miss Fiercalicious’ desire to be Galinda

2025 was about finding solace in the human-made slop

AI’s got nothing on good quality dumb entertainment—and only people can make that