Vancouver Bach Family Of Choirs

Now in its 89th season, the Vancouver Bach Choir (VBC) provides high quality training and performances of traditional and new choral works for all communities of all ages. With eight choral ensembles, the VBC is one of the largest choral groups in Metro Vancouver and the only organization that provides choral singing and education to nearly 500 voices from kindergarten to adulthood.

As one of the largest symphonic choirs in Canada, the Vancouver Bach Choir’s adult program explores a wide range of repertoire from the past to the present with passion and commitment. Under the baton of Maestro Leslie Dala, the VBC continues its mission and tradition to share the vibrant and culturally diverse beauty of choral music with local, national and international communities. Through its series of concerts presented at the magnificent Orpheum Theatre, the adult choir continues to meet its mandate of commissioning and performing works by Canadian composers, performing with numerous world class musicians and presenting the world’s favourite symphonic choral works.

The Vancouver Bach children’s program is one of the oldest and most established music outreach programs in the lower mainland. Since 1984, the Vancouver Bach children’s program has developed a unique, multi-tiered program that currently provides incredible choral training for over 350 singers from kindergarten to young adulthood. Auditioned from across the lower mainland, our young singers experience the joy of making music in the company of other like-minded young musicians.

Under the direction of music director Marisa Gaetanne (“Ms G”), the consummate teaching skill and enthusiasm of the program’s conductors challenges each singer artistically and fosters self-confidence that lasts a lifetime. From simple community concerts, to appearances with the VSO, to tours of legendary choral shrines around the world, our choirs always rise to the occasion and give great joy to everyone, including themselves.

THE VANCOUVER BACH CHILDREN’S CHORUS: A VANCOUVER LEGACY

Since 1984, the Vancouver Bach Children’s Chorus has been making beautiful music and providing excellent training to young singers. Founded by Bruce Pullan, former Artistic Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Vancouver Bach Children’s Chorus was created as special project of the Bach Choir to provide a high-quality choral opportunity for children, with a strong emphasis on vocal pedagogy and music education. Over the years the organization has thrived and expanded, adding many more levels of choirs and rehearsal locations. Over the VBCC’s 35 year history, we have also recorded several CDs and toured extensively through Europe and North America.

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History of the Vancouver Bach Choir

The Vancouver Bach Choir gave its first concert at the Orpheum in December 1930. During its long history, the choir has sung with such world-renowned conductors as Bruno Walter, Sir Ernest MacMillan, Zubin Mehta, Sir Arthur Bliss, Meredith Davies, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Simon Streatfeild, Andrew Davis and Simon Preston. Leslie Dala was appointed Music Director in July 2010, following Bruce Pullan who had been Music Director for 27 years.

Since 1930, the Vancouver Bach Choir’s Canadian reputation has grown through numerous broadcasts by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, an Eastern Canadian tour in 1974 and the cross-Canada viewing of a television film of the Easter music from Handel’s Messiah.

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