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Phoenix Chamber Choir is a registered non-profit organization
Charitable Registration # 889906392 RR0001
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A WINTER’S NIGHT – FAMILY CONCERT
November 30, 2024 | 10 AM PST
With special guest choir: Vox Panacea
Shaughnessy Heights United Church, 1550 West 33rd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 1A7
Our Family Concert offers a joyful, interactive experience for all ages, featuring music and poetry that will get your children into the holiday spirit. Our fun, casual, interactive 1-hour program is a perfect way to introduce children to choral music and concert settings. Your children will be invited to sing, dance and make noise. Many of our Phoenix singers are parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents of young children, and they are happy to share this experience with their families and yours.
A WINTER’S NIGHT
November 30, 2024 | 3 PM PST
With special guests: Sound Wave Handbell Choir from Burnaby School District
Shaughnessy Heights United Church, 1550 West 33rd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 1A7
Step into the festive spirit with “A Winter’s Night,” a celebration of winter’s beauty and the holiday season. This concert will be a mix of Phoenix traditions and fresh new works, enhanced by the festive sounds of the Sound Wave Handbell Choir. Enjoy evocative poetry readings that add a touch of magic to this winter celebration.
BELONGING
March 1, 2025 | 3 PM PST
St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, 100 – 1022 Nelson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 4S7
“Belonging” is an exploration of connection and unity through music. This concert features the talented students of the Phoenix Choral Experience (PCX) and includes the world premiere of a commissioned work by Tracy Wong. We are thrilled to welcome guest artist Olga Perez Flora and present Ariel Ramirez’s Missa Criolla. The Hatchlings program will also be available, offering children a creative and engaging experience while parents enjoy the performance. Join us for an afternoon that celebrates the bonds that bring us together.
MEDITATIONS
May 3, 2025 | 3 PM PDT
Shaughnessy Heights United Church, 1550 West 33rd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 1A7
We invite you to enjoy a unique sonic experience creating an immersive soundscape for the audience. This concert will feature the addition of electric guitar—a first for a Phoenix concert—alongside powerful choral works. Enjoy a performance by the Hatchlings and the premiere of the Student Composition Competition Winner’s piece. Come and experience an afternoon of choral music with Phoenix Chamber Choir!
Past Seasons
2023-2024 Concerts
FAMILY CONCERT
December 9 | 10 AM PST
Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2J4
Our second annual Family Holiday Concert, open to adults and children of all ages. Our fun, casual, interactive 1-hour program is a perfect way to introduce children to choral music and concert settings. Your children will be invited to sing, dance and make noise. Many of our Phoenix singers are parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents of young children, and they are happy to share this experience with their families and yours.
We partnered with the Atira Women’s Resource Society and we invite you to bring a donation of men’s, women’s, and children’s socks, winter accessories, or unopened personal hygiene items to our December 9th concerts. Your generosity directly benefitted those in need, and together, we can make a difference in the lives of others.
SURE ON THIS SHINING NIGHT
December 9 | 3 PM PST
With special guests: Sound Wave Handbell Choir from Burnaby School District
Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2J4
Join us for our classic Christmas concert, featuring seasonal choral music mixed with music and readings from authors and composers around the world. This concert was a combination of audience favourites and exciting new pieces from abroad.
SOUNDS OF RADIANCE: Celebrating Women in Music
March 2 | 3 PM PST
St John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church, 1490 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6H 2E2
Our March 2 concert celebrated and honoured female composers and poets. This concert included “Through The Storm” by Vancouver composer Katerina Gimon, a piece that Phoenix premiered in 2021. The winning submission of our third annual Student Composition Competition on the topic of Celebrating Women’s History Month was also premiered at this concert.
BE THE LIGHT
May 4 | 3 PM PDT
St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church, 1022 Nelson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 4S7
Our final concert of the season, “Be the Light,” took place on May 4. With two commissioned works from composers Nicholas Ryan Kelly, a US-born Canadian composer, and Russell Wallace, an award winning composer and singer from the Lil’wat Nation. Both pieces, premiered at this concert, explore struggles of humanity, moving from darkness to light. This concert included a performance by students participating in our Phoenix Choral Experience.
The Hatchlings program was again available for this concert. Designed for children aged 5-12, registered Hatchlings attend the first 10 minutes of the concert before transitioning to an engaging rehearsal with our educators. This way, parents can fully immerse themselves in the concert while children make friends, move, and hone their voices!
2022-2023 Concerts
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD FAMILY CONCERT
December 10 | 10 AM PST
Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2J4
Our newest concert addition will be an all-ages concert where families with young children are welcome to join Phoenix Chamber Choir and Vox Panacea as we ring in the holiday season. Phoenix aims to engage future generations in choral music to keep the art alive for years to come, and we welcome any and all listeners to join our Phoenix family at this concert. This concert will be 45 minutes with no intermission.
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
December 10 | 3 PM PST
Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2J4
CONCERT PROGRAM – Saturday 3 PM
December 11 | 3 PM PST
With special guest choir: Pacific Academy Choir
Queens Avenue United Church, 529 Queens Ave, New Westminster, BC V3L 1K2
Join us on Saturday or Sunday for our classic Christmas concert, featuring seasonal choral music mixed with music and readings from authors and composers around the world. This concert will be a combination of audience favorites and exciting new pieces from abroad.
From Phoenix With Love
February 11 | 3 PM PST
Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2J4
“From Phoenix with Love” promises to be a rich choral experience for our audience featuring arrangements that explore deep emotions of love, longing, hope and loss. The selection of compositions are reflections of stories from personal experience, historical events, poetry, ancestral tales, and traditional lore and include works from Canadian Composers Sarah Quartel and Matthew Emery, British Composers Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams, and American Composers Z. Randal Stroop and Runestad. Attendees will also experience the world premiere performance of “The Herdsman and the Weaver” by Kristine Choi, the 2022 Phoenix Chamber Choir Student Composition Competition winner.
Our Favourite Things – Phoenix 40th Anniversary
May 7 | 3 PM PDT
Congregation Beth Israel, 989 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 0E8
Our spring concert will be our quintessential 40th year anniversary concert, journeying through Phoenix’s rich choral history in honour and recognition of the individuals who’ve helped build our program.
While we honour our past, Phoenix also aims to engage future generations in choral music, which is why we are proud to share the stage with a youth choir. These students will be participating in the 2022-2023 Phoenix Choral Experience, an outreach program for youth choirs and educators. We are delighted that our 40th anniversary concert will premiere a new commissioned work by Saunder Choi performed together by Phoenix Chamber Choir and youth choir from the Phoenix Choral Experience.
Finally, we will have an opportunity to thank and include our community. Our concert will conclude with an interactive element in which Grammy nominated singer/composer and vocal activist Melanie DeMore will lead the audience in song. Melanie believes in the power of voices raised together, and we are looking forward to her sharing Lead With Love with Phoenix, students and audience members.
We look forward to honouring our past, building the future, and raising the voices of our community in song! We hope you’ll join us on May 7 as we celebrate 40 years of Phoenix Chamber Choir.
2021-2022 Concerts
Passions | October 23, 2021 | 7:30pm PST
Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2J4
The opening concert of our 2021-2022 season will feature repertoire performed with the intention to evoke a passionate emotional response in both the performer and listener. The world premiere of a commissioned work by Canadian composer Alex Eddington will highlight the collaborative nature of Phoenix.
Passions Concert Program
Lux | December 11, 2021 | 3:00pm PST
Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2J4
Our second concert will bring light into your holiday season. Performing music from around the world, this concert will also feature the world premiere of a commissioned work by Canadian composer Laura Hawley.
Lux Concert Program
EVOLVE | MAY 7, 2022 | 3:00PM PST
Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2J4
Our final concert of the season will bring the audience on a walk through history. From the music of Charles Villiers Stanford to the world premiere of a commissioned work by Haitian/American composer Sydney Guillaume, Canadian composer Katerina Gimon and the winner of our first Student Composition Competition, Timothy Cunningham, the repertoire will demonstrate how music has both evolved throughout history and how composers have paved the way to challenge the performers, the listener and society.
Evolve Concert Program
2020-2021 Concerts
Gathering Together | October 24, 2020
Our first concert was a Gathering Together of music from around the world, sung by singers from around the city. Audience members gathered with us from around the world to experience the Phoenix Family in a new and exciting way.
This concert featured solo performances, works sung by small groups called “Phoenix Ventures,” and music by our entire “Phoenix Odyssey” (the entire ensemble). We were elated to share diverse, emotional repertoire to reflect this new chapter of choral singing.
Rejoice & Sing | December 20 – 27, 2020
The second concert, Rejoice & Sing, continued the Phoenix Christmas concert tradition in virtual format. Guests joined us online for familiar holiday favourites, heart-warming readings, and a virtual version of our annual audience sing-a-long with singers from our community joining Phoenix in a performance of Silent Night in honour of the late Miles Ramsay.
This virtual concert was available on demand from Sunday, December 20th to Sunday, December 27th, so that you could share in the music and magic of the season anytime over the Christmas holiday.
Rejoice & Sing Concert Program
Earth Songs | April 22 – 29, 2021
The final concert, Earth Songs, was our much anticipated Earth Day celebration, rescheduled from our 2019/2020 season.
Our 2020/2021 was unique, but we were excited to close our season with “Earth Songs” featuring works by Canadian composer Stephen Chatman and original arrangements by Phoenix Family members. With special guests including Christopher Gabbitas, formerly of The King’s Singers and currently the Artistic Director of Phoenix Chorale, as well as Josh Ramsay of the Canadian Pop/Rock band Marianas Trench. The concert also premiered readings of young Canadian poets as well as featured visual art from children and youth, and Vancouver-based artist Corrinne Wolcoski, who donated a custom painting for the event which was auctioned off in order to raise funds for the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Thank you to everyone who celebrated Earth Day 2021 with us!
2019-2020 Concerts
Elements | October 26, 2019
The first concert, Elements, will take listeners on a journey through air, water, and earth and will feature music by Marie Claire Saindon (Canada), Ēriks Ešenvalds (Latvia), Eric Whitacre (USA) and Alberto Grau (Venezuela)
Phoenix Christmas | December 14 & 15, 2019
The second concert(s) will be a longtime Phoenix favourite: A Phoenix Christmas. This special blend of sacred and secular tunes always marks the holiday season for our singers and fans. We will need your help singing some familiar carols at this delightful annual tradition.
Please plan to join us after the Sunday matinee for our annual Audience Reception.
Earth Songs | April 22, 2020
Unfortunately, due to the threat of COVID-19, the Phoenix Board of Directors has decided to cancel Earth Songs 2020 and the rest of this season.
This concert will be moved to April 2021 as part of our next season.
2018-2019 Concerts
OCTOBER 20, 2018 | Reincarnations
Phoenix Chamber Choir embarks on its 2018-19 season, with the aptly titled program – Reincarnations. Guest director Erick Lichte from Portland OR, best known for his work with Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, will conduct Phoenix in a program of cutting edge music focused on the renewals of the seasons and of our souls. Don’t miss this one night event as works by Tormis, Whitacre, Barber and Pulitzer-prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw are brought to life through the luminous singing of Vancouver’s award-winning Phoenix Chamber Choir
DECEMBER 16, 2018 | A Phoenix Christmas
Welcome to our traditional Phoenix Christmas concert and audience reception with guest conductor Dr. John William Trotter from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (Chicago, IL). As the day fades, get away from the seasonal rush and bustle and enjoy the warm, distinctive ambiance that has made our Christmas concert such a favourite with audiences over the decades. Familiar arrangements mingled with wonderful new musical offerings, heart-warming readings, a sing-along, delicious home baking and hot apple cider await you!
MARCH 10, 2019 | Alive!
Join the Phoenix Chamber Choir under the direction of guest conductor Dr. Nicholle Andrews from University of Redlands (Redlands CA) together with local conductor Andrew Bortz for an evening of choral music by living composers – continuing the great Phoenix tradition of bringing new music to Vancouver. The concert will take you on a journey around the world with music by Runestad, Wachner, Uusberg, LaBarr, MacDonald and many more, and will feature a new commissioned piece by conductor Andrew Bortz!
MAY 11, 2019 | The Looking Glass
In the final concert of the season, guest conductor Kathleen Allan explores reflections on identity, technology, and self-perception in the digital age. Music by Jeff Enns, Arvo Pärt, Hugo Wolf, Holst, Britten, Schumann and Lassus centres around the musical fairytale by Canadian composer Jason Noble: “Furiouser and Spuriouser” or “Unforeseen Consequences of the Democratization of Knowledge.” Andrew Staniland’s “On the Surface of Water” closes the program and features an iPhone instrument to be played by the audience.