2014 – 2015
Welcome to our world... a year’s worth of wonderful music The Vancouver Chamber Choir has a wonderful reputation both at home and abroad - we’ve been receiving many accolades in recent months. What is it that captures people’s admiration... is it our remarkable subscription series? Well, yes, in part - after all, it is the most extensive and varied series of its sort on the whole continent. But there’s much more. Our recordings - 55 in total over the years, including A Dylan Thomas Christmas and the Music for Healing Box Set being released this fall. Our many tours - over 700 concerts and workshops in 83 separate tours in 43 years. And our outstanding Educational Outreach programs: Focus!, OnSite, Interplay, National Conductors’ Symposium and, of course, the Young Composers’ Competition, not to mention many special events and projects. Yes, there’s more to the Vancouver Chamber Choir than meets the eye. But it all starts in the Orpheum and Ryerson Church with our 10 fabulous subscription concerts. Come to every one! Or design your own subscription with all your favourite events. Be that most valued of all persons... a good listener!... and we’ll provide you with a year-long feast of beautiful music.
Jon Washburn, Conductor and Artistic Director
8 PM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014
Voice And Drum Choir & Percussion Ryerson United Church Jon Washburn and the Vancouver Chamber Choir open our 44th season with a bang as we explore the wide world of music for choir and percussion. Featuring special guest percussionist Brian Nesselroad. Repertoire includes Norman Luboff African Mass, Bruce Ruddell All Faces, John Corigliano L’invitation au voyage, R. Murray Schafer Epitaph for Moonlight, Veljo Tormis Raua needmine, Bob Chilcott The Making of the Drum.
8 PM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014
High Renaissance The Golden Age of Choral Music Ryerson United Church The 15th century – the High Renaissance – was the golden age of polyphony in Europe. This concert brings you music from several of the era’s greatest masters from Italy, England and Spain. We’re joined on four pieces by the Focus! Choir of university singers. Repertoire includes William Byrd Sing joyfully unto God and Ave verum corpus, G. Pierluigi da Palestrina Stabat Mater dolorosa, Thomas Tallis The Lamentations of Jeremiah, Antonio Lotti Crucifixus, Tomás Luis de Victoria Magnificat primi toni and even a peek into the Baroque in Monteverdi’s Lagrime d'amante al sepolcro dell'amata (Tears of the lover at the grave of his beloved).
8 PM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014
Homeward New Lyricism Ryerson United Church We turn Homeward in this concert, presenting outstanding recent lyrical works by composers from British Columbia and the Yukon. Featuring special guest pianist Terence Dawson. The title work is by Vancouver composer Lloyd Burritt. Another Vancouver piece is David MacIntyre’s choral suite based on love poems of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Also premieres of new pieces by Whitehorse composer Daniel Janke and Vancouver composer David Archer. Repertoire includes Daniel Janke Five Songs about Being (premiere), Don Macdonald The Bridge Builder, Lloyd Burritt We Move Homeward, David Archer Who has seen the wind? (premiere), David MacIntyre Love in Public-The Choral Suite (premiere).
8 PM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014
Handel’s Messiah The Christmas Masterpiece Orpheum Theatre It’s Messiah year for the Vancouver Chamber Choir again, so we get to present our fast-moving version of the world’s favourite choral masterwork. Come and join us as we tell the greatest story of all time. Jon Washburn conducts the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Pacifica Singers and Vancouver Chamber Orchestra, with special guest soloists Monica Whicher, Allyson McHardy, Benjamin Butterfield and Stephen Hegedus. Repertoire is George Frideric Handel Messiah.
8 PM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014
A Dylan Thomas Christmas A Child’s Christmas in Wales Ryerson United Church
3 PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2014
A Charlie Brown Christmas Finding the True Meaning Ryerson United Church You have a choice of special Christmas events. ON FRIDAY ONLY - Our signature performance of A Dylan Thomas Christmas (2014 is the centenary of the poet’s birth!). Our favourite Welshman, actor Russell Roberts, will be there to bring the Christmas magic to life. Repertoire includes Dylan Thomas A Child’s Christmas in Wales with Jon Washburn’s Twelve Carols for A Dylan Thomas Christmas. ON SUNDAY ONLY - A repeat of A Charlie Brown Christmas from last year, with actors Peter Carlone, Pippa Johnstone and John Voth plus jazz duo Michael Creber and Jodi Proznick. Also a special guest appearance of our new associate ensemble, the Vancouver Youth Choir conducted by Carrie Tennant. Repertoire includes Charles Schultz A Charlie Brown Christmas, Vince Guaraldi and others Music for A Charlie Brown Christmas. Both programmes will also include a lovely mix of old and new carols: Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck Gaudete omnes, Giovanni Gabrieli O magnum mysterium, Michael Praetorius Ein Kindelein so löbelich, Derek Holman Make we joy now in this feast, The Flower of Jesse, Mary is a Lady bright, Ola Gjeilo Away in a Manger and The holly and the ivy.
8 PM SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015
Canadian Quintessence The Conductors’ Concert Ryerson United Church The annual National Conductors’ Symposium concert is a favourite with regular concert-goers and first-timers, too. Five talented North American conductors get their first chance to pilot the professional choir. Master Conductor Jon Washburn conducts, too, and Stephen Smith is the pianist. The music is all-Canadian, ranging from old masters to the latest young stars. Repertoire includes Healey Willan I beheld her, Jon Washburn Silver, Harry Somers Feller from Fortune, Derek Healey The Banks of Loch Erin, R. Murray Schafer Miniwanka, Matthew Emery Unto Young Eternity, Louis Applebaum The Morning Dew, Leon Dubinsky We Rise Again, Andrew Zinck Agnus Dei, Stephen Chatman Voices of Earth, Rob Teehan There will come soft rains, Don Macdonald Winter Sun and more.
8 PM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
The Lover’s Art Valentine’s Eve Concert Ryerson United Church Start your Valentine celebrations the night before - bring your sweetheart and all your friends to our Valentine’s Eve concert! The music is calculated to give you a lift, with lovesongs and some lifesongs, as well, to balance things out. Certainly some wonderful poetry - from Edna St. Vincent Millay to Stephen Sondheim. Featured guest artists are duopianists Linda Lee Thomas and Terence Dawson. Repertoire includes Johannes Brahms Neue Liebesliederwalzer, Alice Parker Songstream, Leonard Bernstein West Side Story Suite, Carl Orff Lovers’ Excerpts from Carmina Burana.
8 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015
Choral Mosaic The Joy of Song Ryerson United Church Choral Mosaic is a star-studded programme, as far as composers go. The idea is to give our listeners on the road and at home a concert with great variety and many moods. So we have Britain’s brilliant Britten, Brahms’ most wonderful German motet, Allegri’s four-century Latin hit, a prize-winning tone poem from American Eric Whitacre, and much more. Kevin Zakresky and the Pacifica Singers make an appearance, too! Repertoire includes Benjamin Britten Choral Dances from Gloriana, Johannes Brahms Warum ist das Licht gegeben, Eric Whitacre Water Night, Jackson Berkey Arma lucis, Gregorio Allegri Miserere, Ralph Vaughan Williams Three Shakespeare Songs, Jon Washburn Bonny Portmore, Stephen Chatman Due East.
8 PM FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015
Fauré Requiem The Good Friday Concert Orpheum Theatre Our annual Good Friday concert highlights the Fauré Requiem - one of the landmark works of the 19th century - performed in the composer’s original orchestration based on the warm sound of violas. There are also two very special Baroque works - the touching Seven Last Words from the Cross of the German master Heinrich Schütz and the tragic story of Jephtha’s Daughter by his Italian counterpart Giacomo Carissimi. (This includes one of the greatest lamentations of all time.) Featuring the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Pacifica Singers, Vancouver Youth Choir, Vancouver Chamber Orchestra and soloists. Repertoire includes Heinrich Schütz Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz, Giacomo Carissimi Historia de Jephte, Gabriel Fauré Requiem.
8 PM FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
Youth & Music 2015 New Choral Creators Ryerson United Church Our 44th season draws to a close in the most delightful way with our 12th biennial Young Composers’ Competition and the exciting Youth & Music event that has grown up around it. We will hear our new associate ensemble Vancouver Youth Choir conducted by Carrie Tennant, will premiere new compositions by outstanding previous winners of the competition and will wind things up with music by our ever-youthful British composer friend, Bob Chilcott. Stephen Smith joins us at the piano. Repertoire includes Bob Chilcott Aesop’s Fables, premieres of newly commissioned works by competition winners, as well as the finalist compositions in the 2015 Young Composers’ Competition.
Our Associate Choirs The growing Vancouver Chamber Choir family... The Vancouver Chamber Choir circle has been growing in recent years with the inclusion of the Pacifica Singers and the Vancouver Youth Choir as our Associate Choirs. The Pacifica Singers are a select ensemble conducted by Kevin Zakresky which sings with the Vancouver Chamber Choir several times each season (Handel’s Messiah, Choral Mosaic and Fauré Requiem) and also presents independent concerts in the fall and spring. The Vancouver Youth Choir is a newer group formed by conductor Carrie Tennant for young singers 14–23 years of age. They will be singing at A Charlie Brown Christmas, Fauré Requiem and Youth & Music as well as their own concerts throughout the year. We'll be giving you more information about both ensembles and their activities throughout the season. Be sure to give us your email address so we can keep you up to date! Just request more information at info@vancouverchamberchoir.com
New this fall Music for Healing Box Set All three volumes of the best-selling series in one box, including a limited edition of the double CD version of Unexpected Gifts and
A Dylan Thomas Christmas Our signature holiday event now available on CD! Featuring Russell Roberts and the Vancouver Chamber Choir, with musical arrangements by Jon Washburn For more information, contact info@vancouverchamberchoir.com
The Vancouver Chamber Choir Experience The many facets of the Vancouver Chamber Choir
The Concert Experience Live music is the best
he very best way to experience music is in a live concert... and do we have concerts for you!!! Our subscription series of 10 great events is the most extensive in North America, giving you an unprecedented array of performances to choose from. Subscribing is the easiest way to ensure your seats for these concerts, and ensures you the very best savings, too. It’s flexible as well - you can choose any four or five or more concerts all the way up to all 11. You’ll want to be there when the singing starts!
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“You are truly an exceptional ambassador of music.” Derek Healey, Composer
The Tour Experience On the road again
he Vancouver Chamber Choir is one of North America’s storied travellers among professional choirs. Touring our concert experience to remote communities, large and small, is part of our regular yearly business. We have made 83 separate tours in our 43 years, singing 700 performances in over 240 cities ranging from Beijing to Moscow and from Whitehorse to Monterey, appearing in major concert halls and local high school gyms, with famous orchestras and community choral societies, workshopping with professional composers and elementary school pupils. The Vancouver Chamber Choir is British Columbia’s premiere music touring ensemble and Canada’s excellent choral ambassador overseas.
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The Listening Experience Our voices at your leisure
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t home or on the go, enjoy the sounds of the Vancouver Chamber Choir whenever you like!
Our entire discography is available to order through our website at www.vancouverchamberchoir.com/listening. Here are some of our most popular CDs. Finding the Still Point – Our top seller, the first in our Music for Healing series. Unexpected Gifts – Music for Healing II, choral arrangements of familiar folk music. A Quiet Place – The JUNO-nominated third volume in our Music for Healing series. Bach: The Six Motets – The touchstone of Bach’s choral writing. BaroqueFest – A superb collection of Bach, Purcell, Handel and Monteverdi, with orchestra. Due East – The latest volume in our series dedicated to BC composer Stephen Chatman. Songs of the Lights – Music of BC composer Imant Raminsh. A Garden of Bells – Early choral works of Canada’s most imaginative avant-garde composer, R. Murray Schafer. Imagining Incense – Our third disc devoted to Schafer’s music, featuring his most recent choral works. Rise! Shine! – This disc features the music of Jon Washburn. “I can hardly bear the beauty of A Quiet Place – the depth of feeling, the sacredness and the sadness. It seems to me it should be listened to in quietness, without movement...” Joy Kogawa
The Outreach Experience Reaching out to our communities
he Vancouver Chamber Choir does much more than just singing concerts - we also maintain an outstanding, award-winning program of educational outreach activities. We encourage university music students though our yearly introduction to professional singing called Focus! We foster the creativity of young choral composers through their participation in the Interplay Composers’ Workshops. Even the youngest composers (ages eight to 21!) are championed through our biennial Young Composers’ Competition, which takes place this spring. We help develop choral conductors from Canada and many other countries through their participation in the annual National Conductors’ Symposium, now in its 34th year. Our Young Composers’ Development Program includes commissions and consultations. And OnSite brings elementary and secondary students right into our rehearsals for an up-close insight into choral musicmaking at its best.
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Focus! Professional Development for Young Singers
Focus! is a brief but intensive introduction to the world of professional choral singing for university and college singers. A quartet of singers from each music department in Metro Vancouver is nominated by the school’s choral conductor. The selected singers work with the professional singers of the Vancouver Chamber Choir under the direction of Jon Washburn.
OCTOBER 9, 16 AND 18, 2013
“The most profound musical experience I have had yet in my career.” Ianthe Marini, NCS Participant
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ALL 10 WONDERFUL CONCERTS! There are two different Christmas concerts at Ryerson.
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Please indicate which one you wish to attend. A Dylan Thomas Christmas: 8pm Dec 19 A Charlie Brown Christmas: 3pm Dec 21
B – CHOOSE 4 OR MORE CONCERTS Voice & Drum
8pm Sept 26
@ $26
High Renaissance
8pm Oct 17
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@ $22
Homeward
8pm Nov 14
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@ $22
Handel’s Messiah
8pm Dec 12
@ $45
@ $41
A Dylan Thomas Christmas
8pm Dec 19
@ $26
@ $22
A Charlie Brown Christmas
3pm Dec 21
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@ $22
Canadian Quintessence
8pm Jan 24
@ $26
@ $22
The Lover’s Art
8pm Feb 13
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@ $22
Choral Mosaic
8pm Mar 20
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@ $22
Fauré Requiem
8pm Apr 3
@ $45
@ $41
Youth & Music 2015
8pm Apr 24
@ $26
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Submit your order for processing by: mail to 1254 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 1B6 or phone our office at 604.738.6822 If you need assistance with this form or have any questions, please contact our office. Tel: 604.738.6822 Email: info@vancouverchamberchoir.com Please note that subscription ticket prices are different from single ticket prices. If you wish to purchase tickets to individual concerts, they will be available in August through Ticketmaster. Thank you. Please Note: All telephone orders must be accompanied by a credit card number and expiry date. Subscription prices reflect up to a 35% discount on single ticket prices. GST and theatre surcharges (where applicable) are included. Programmes and artists may be subject to change without notice. We cannot refund your series tickets, but will be happy to make exchanges or replace lost ones. You will receive confirmation of your booking within three weeks and your tickets will be mailed immediately.
Seating Plans If you have a seating preference at the Orpheum Theatre, please use this chart to help describe the section(s) where you wish to have your seats located: Orchestra
Upper Balcony Lower Balcony Dress Circle
Venue Locations All evening concerts start at 8pm and the afternoon concert at 3pm. Ryerson United Church offers general admission seating only. Orpheum Theatre 601 Smithe Street (at Seymour) Ryerson United Church 2205 West 45th Avenue (at Yew)
Find us online! www.vancouverchamberchoir.com
SEASON SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
International Cellars
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PARTNER
YOUTH AND EDUCATION PARTNERS
Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation | Simons Foundation
GOVERNMENT AND FOUNDATION PARTNERS
Chan Sisters Foundation | Christopher Foundation