About the Vancouver Cantata Singers

The Vancouver Cantata Singers (VCS) is one of Canada’s preeminent, award-winning choral ensembles. Known for its exceptional artistry, technical virtuosity and exquisite tonal blend, the choir maintains the highest standards of performance in repertoire encompassing 500 years. VCS have been awarded the Canada Council’s top prize in choral singing, the Healey Willan Grand Prize, more than any other choir in the country. Led by Paula Kremer since 2013, VCS also commissions new works from critically acclaimed composers which have led to extremely successful and innovative collaborations with regional and international artists and ensembles.

The Vancouver Cantata Singers (VCS) is one of Canada’s preeminent, award-winning choral ensembles. Known for its exceptional artistry, technical virtuosity and exquisite tonal blend, the choir maintains the highest standards of performance in repertoire encompassing 500 years. VCS have been awarded the Canada Council’s top prize in choral singing, the Healey Willan Grand Prize, more than any other choir in the country. Led by Paula Kremer since 2013, VCS also commissions new works from critically acclaimed composers which have led to extremely successful and innovative collaborations with regional and international artists and ensembles.

Artistic Director Paula Kremer

Born in Vancouver and educated at the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Academy of Music, Paula Kremer has studied choral conducting at Eton College, Westminster Choir College, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan. An…

Born in Vancouver and educated at the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Academy of Music, Paula Kremer has studied choral conducting at Eton College, Westminster Choir College, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan. An accomplished vocalist and pianist, Paula studied voice with Phyllis Mailing, Bruce Pullan, Marisa Gaetanne and Laura Pudwell, and piano from Margot Ehling. A permanent faculty member of the School of Music at Vancouver Community College, Paula teaches choral techniques, voice and solfege. She was previously the director of Vancouver Bach Choir ensembles for young adults, the Vancouver Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande Chamber Choir. Paula joined the alto section of our choir in 1994, and has been the Vancouver Cantata Singers’ Artistic Director since 2013.

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Awards

Four time winner of the Canada Council Healey-Willan Grand Prize for Canadian Amateur Choirs

2019

Healey-Willan Grand Prize

Best Performance of a Canadian Work; First Place: Mixed-Voice Adult Choir

2011

Healey-Willan Grand Prize

First Place: Chamber Choir

2010

National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs

First Place: Contemporary category

2008

Healey-Willan Grand Prize

First Place: Chamber Choir

1984

Healey-Willan Grand Prize

Press

Classical Voice North America (April 2024)

Beach’s Grand Mass Dusted Off, Cut Down, Its Fresh Vision Intact

The Vancouver Sun (April 2024)

Revisiting Mrs. Beach’s Mass - An absolutely delicious writing for orchestra with instrumentation and dialogue between parts.

Stir Magazine (December 2023)

Vancouver Cantata Singers celebrate two decades of winter tradition with 20th Christmas Reprise at the Holy Rosary Cathedral

The Georgia Straight (November 2019)

Ivars Taurins clothes Handel in period dress for Early Music Vancouver's Messiah

The New Westminster Record (November 2019)

Top choral picks for Christmas in New West

The Vancouver Sun (November 2019)

Remembrance Day concerts offer up music to remember

The Georgia Straight (May 2019)

Vancouver Cantata Singers discover Scandinavian Treasures

The Vancouver Sun (May 2019)

Songs from the North

The Georgia Straight (February 2019)

Vancouver Cantata Singers look to Björk for cosmic sonics of Musica Universalis

The Georgia Straight (November 2018)

With Threnody, Vancouver Cantata Singers give voice to lost Indigenous women

The Vancouver Sun (May 2018)

Vancouver Cantata Singers celebrate 60 years

The Georgia Straight (May 2018)

Vancouver Cantata Singers tap joy, and a new Jocelyn Morlock work, for their 60th anniversary

Vancouver Classical Music (December 2017)

The splendours of authentic and traditional performances of the Messiah

The Georgia Straight (August 2017)

Performers bring light to dark Passion at Vancouver Bach Festival

The Vancouver Sun (November 2016)

Sixties psalms: Leonard Bernstein’s hit gets Vancouver treatment

The Vancouver Sun (September 2016)

Choirs give back at ReSounding Ryerson Benefit

Photos

Staff and Directors

General Manager: Trevor Mangion

Bookkeeper: Jessie Li

President: Sarah McNair
Vice-President: Nina Horvath
Treasurer: Christina Cho, C.A.
Secretary: Sarah McGrath

Members at Large:
Hilary Carle
Daniel Marshall
Jim Sanyshyn
Shauna Wilton
Melody Yiu

Singers' Representative:
Sarah McGrath