Vancouver Bach Choir Celebrates the Magic of the Season in
Christmas with the Bach Choir
Annual concert of cherished holiday favourites gathers the entire
Bach choir family – more than 400 voices – to herald the festive season
Vancouver Bach Choir (VBC) opens its 85th anniversary season with the treasured holiday concert, Christmas with the Bach Choir, December 6, 2015, 2pm at The Orpheum. Led by Music Directors Leslie Dala and Marisa Gaetanne, this singular afternoon of heartwarming classics and timeless seasonal works unites the glowing voices of the internationally renowned symphonic adult choir with Vancouver Bach Children’s Chorus, Youth Choir & Sarabande.
“As we celebrate the holidays, and our 85th anniversary season, we are reminded of how our legacy began. It was in the winter of 1930, under the baton of Music Director Herbert Mason Drost, when VBC first performed its now beloved Christmas concert,” says Leslie Dala, Music Director, Vancouver Bach Choir. “We are immensely proud that Christmas with the Bach Choir has grown – not only in size, but in popularity – to become a special annual tradition for local families of all ages. It is truly a powerful shared experience when more than 400 voices come together in joyful song, at the magnificent Orpheum Theatre, alongside our dedicated VBC community.”
As “the biggest multigenerational show of the season” (Vancouver Sun), Christmas with the Bach Choir brings together VBC’s accomplished vocalists with singers of Vancouver Bach Children’s Chorus: the Piccolos – tiny choristers from Kindergarten to Grade 2, the Toccata (Grades 3 & 4), the Chorales (Grades 5 – 8), the VBC Chorus (Grades 6 – 10), and VBC’s Youth Choir & Sarabande (Grades 11 and up). VBCC/YC Artistic Director, Marisa Gaetanne, as well as conductors Paula Kremer, and Catherine Campolin, lead the 330 enthusiastic members of VBC’s youth ensembles who perform a collection of classic sing-along Christmas carols well-known and loved by generations.
Under the direction of esteemed Conductor Leslie Dala, the adult choir offers a rousing finale with 20th century composer Daniel Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata (Sinfonia Sacra). This bright and shining ode to Baroque and Venetian School styles perfectly captures the spirit of the season. Returning to the stage alongside VBC is the exceptional organist Ellen Ay-Laung Wang, and the in-demand BC-based quintet, A Touch of Brass.
About the Vancouver Bach Choir (vancouverbachchoir.com)
The Vancouver Bach Choir (VBC), celebrating its 85th anniversary season, is an award-winning symphonic choir committed to offering vibrant and culturally diverse choral experiences to its audiences. As one of the largest choral organizations in Canada, the Vancouver Bach Choir explores a wide range of repertoire from the past to the present with passion and commitment. Through its concerts presented at the magnificent Orpheum Theatre, the VBC continues to meet its mandate of commissioning and performing works by Canadian composers and presenting the world’s favourite symphonic choral works. Over the past eight decades, the choir has performed with numerous world-class musicians. Currently under the baton of Maestro Leslie Dala, the VBC continues its mission and tradition to share the beauty of choral music with local, national, and international communities.
About The Vancouver Bach Children’s Chorus (vbcc-vbyc.ca)
The Vancouver Bach Children’s Chorus (VBCC) has been making beautiful music since 1984. Founded by Bruce Pullan, former Artistic Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, the program was created to foster high-quality choral skills development for children with a strong emphasis on vocal pedagogy and music education.
Currently under the direction of Marisa Gaetanne, the VBCC program continues to thrive and expand. Today there are 330 singers performing in six different choral levels from the introductory Piccolo choir (Kindergarten to Grade 2) to the carefully balanced 24-voice Sarabande chamber choir of auditioned young adults.
LISTING INFORMATION
Vancouver Bach Choir Presents
Christmas with the Bach Choir
Date:
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 2pm
Ticket prices:
From $29
Address:
Orpheum Theatre
601 Smithe Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K3
Box Office:
Online at vancouverbachchoir.com
By phone: 604-696-4290
In person: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Administration Office (enter via the VSO School of
Music – #500 – 843 Seymour Street)
Open Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm.
Website:
