2014 Keep Toronto Reading Festival to Feature 22 Days of Toronto Symphony Cello Performances and More, 4/1-30

Toronto Public Library has announced its programming line-up for its Keep Toronto Reading Festival, running April 1-30, 2014. This year's city-wide celebration of reading spotlights the library's One Book community read, The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway. The themes of this bestselling novel - hope despite adversity, human resilience and artistic expression in times of conflict - will be explored at dozens of library branches throughout Toronto.

Partnering with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Library will present 22 days of cello performances in unexpected places across the city. Cellists from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra will "pop up" in iconic locations across Toronto to perform, and mirror, the actions of the novel's "cellist of Sarajevo" who plays Albinoni's Adagio for 22 days to commemorate 22 civilians killed by a bomb blast. From local landmarks to libraries and civic centres, the cello performances begin on Monday, March 17, 2014 and continue daily until Monday, April 7, 2014. A list of dates and locations is available at keeptorontoreading.ca.

Other festival highlights include: an evening of hope-inspired music with TSO principal Cello, Joseph Johnson, and poetry readings by Ann Shin, hosted by CBC's Robert Harris; Toronto's Big Book Club with The Cellist of Sarajevo author Steven Galloway with an audience comprised of books clubs from around the city; and a screening of Romeo and Juliet in Sarajevo with director John Zaritsky, in partnership with Hot Docs. For complete festival information and event listings, go to keeptorontoreading.ca.

Toronto Public Library is one of the world's busiest urban public library systems. Every year, 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow 32 million items. To learn more about TorontoPublic Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.

Founded in 1922, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada's most important cultural institutions recognized internationally as an outstanding orchestra. Currently celebrating his 10th season as Music Director, Peter Oundjian continues to lead the Orchestra with a commitment to innovative programming and audience development with performances that range from Masterworks to New Creations, Young People's Concerts to Pops, all showcasing theexceptional talents of the Orchestra along with a roster of distinguished guest artists and conductors. In addition to the concert season, the TSO serves the larger community with TSOUNDCHECK, the original under-35 ticket programme, the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and through music education and outreach programmes which connect students with acclaimed curriculum-based programming.

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