Timeline


1960s

The dawn of a new choral era in Vancouver

Vancouver Cantata Singers was first formed under the name the Philharmonic Choir in 1958. The first performance took place on February 6, 1959 at Christ Church Cathedral with the choir…

Vancouver Cantata Singers was first formed under the name the Philharmonic Choir in 1958. The first performance took place on February 6, 1959 at Christ Church Cathedral with the choir performing Bach’s Mass in B Minor. This photo is our earliest, from our 1959 concert at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre featuring works by J.S. Bach and Benjamin Britten.

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Critical acclaim from The Province in 1959. "The choir presented Bach's B minor mass with assurance of style and technique that was musically and liturgically convincing."

Handel's Messiah presented in 1960 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Ticket prices ranged from $1-3.

J.S. Bach's St. John Passion performed on Good Friday, April 1966 at Ryerson United Church. Directed by Meredith Davies , Hugh Mclean, organ continuo

In 1966, John Wiebe was directing the Motet Singers, but, as this review indicates, he sang with the Cantata Singers in this January, 1966 concert. In the 67/68 season the…

In 1966, John Wiebe was directing the Motet Singers, but, as this review indicates, he sang with the Cantata Singers in this January, 1966 concert. In the 67/68 season the Motet Singers joined with the the Cantata Singers under his leadership.

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1970s

This 1979 performance of Messiah was the first by the Cantata Singers since 1960. In coordination with the Vancouver Chamber Choir and the Vancouver Bach Choir, Cantata Singers has staged…

This 1979 performance of Messiah was the first by the Cantata Singers since 1960. In coordination with the Vancouver Chamber Choir and the Vancouver Bach Choir, Cantata Singers has staged subsequent Messiah performances in 1982, 1985, 1888, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2007.

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The 1979 Messiah performance was Ben's last appearance as soloist with the Cantata Singers. His previous appearances were in the Mozart Requiem (February, 1978), Bach's Magnificat and Mozart's Mass in…

The 1979 Messiah performance was Ben's last appearance as soloist with the Cantata Singers. His previous appearances were in the Mozart Requiem (February, 1978), Bach's Magnificat and Mozart's Mass in C minor ( March, 1986).

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1976 The Four Choirs Festival at Christ Church Cathedral. with Vancouver Chamber Choir Bach: Cantata No. 131 'Aus der Tiefe rufe ich' (combined choirs) Bruckner: Three Graduals Mozart: Mass in…

1976 The Four Choirs Festival at Christ Church Cathedral. with Vancouver Chamber Choir Bach: Cantata No. 131 'Aus der Tiefe rufe ich' (combined choirs) Bruckner: Three Graduals Mozart: Mass in C Major (combined choirs)

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A 1977 Ryerson United Church performance which included singing Scarlatti, Victoria, William Blake Stanford, Vaughn Williams, Holst, and local composer, Cortland Hultberg

1980s

This performance at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC featured the commissioned premiere of the work, The Cantata for Vancouver, which was one of three commissions by Peter Bjerring. The…

This performance at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC featured the commissioned premiere of the work, The Cantata for Vancouver, which was one of three commissions by Peter Bjerring. The others were Jesus of Nazareth (1978) and Requiem (1990).

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1983 Carols & Canzonas at The Orpheum Theatre. "The refreshing brightness of this brilliant Christmas music will dazzle and delight you."

1982 performance of Handel's Messiah. Tickets could be purchased at Woodwards (a concert sponsor) and Eatons.

A poster of Handel's Jephtha from 1981. Tickets were $7.50 each. Soloists included: Debra Parker, Margaret Kuhl, Elizabeth Hicks, Bruce Pullan, and Doug Colpitts

1990s

Summer of 1998 Germany Tour. A film entitled 'Children of Bach: a choral pilgrimage' was created to capture the Vancouver Cantata Singers on tour in Germany. It was aired on…

Summer of 1998 Germany Tour. A film entitled 'Children of Bach: a choral pilgrimage' was created to capture the Vancouver Cantata Singers on tour in Germany. It was aired on The Knowledge Network and was narrated by Jurgen Gothe with introductory remarks by Ben Heppner.

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1997 publicity photo. Do you recognize anyone you know?

James Fankhauser, VCS conductor, Paddy McLeod, VCS General Manager, and Ben Heppner

Another 90s publicity photo.

2000s

2008 Winners of the National Amateur Choral Competition were sent to Montreal to perform in the CBC's Gala Concert of the competition winners.

2007 concert of Brazilian Soundscape at The Chan Centre featuring the Assad Brothers.

Mass Merge, November 2004. Music included Peter Hannan's Gloria Tropes, a world premiere and VCS commission. This program toured to Kelowna and West Vancouver.

A free concert presented by Redshift Music on February 2009, with special guests I Tromboni, and featured two commissioned works by Owen Underhill and Jordan Nobles.

2010s

An unsuspecting partnership was formed when former artistic director, Eric Hannan and General Manager, Dave Carlin, walked into the newly built Blusson Spinal Cord Centre and starting testing the acoustics…

An unsuspecting partnership was formed when former artistic director, Eric Hannan and General Manager, Dave Carlin, walked into the newly built Blusson Spinal Cord Centre and starting testing the acoustics of the space. The result? An eight year partnership with ICORD in presenting Spinal Chord, an annual fundraising gala that supported both organizations from 2008-2016.

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An album recording session of Kristopher Fulton's music in 2015, The Twilight Cities, which you can find on iTunes and Bandcamp.com. Kristopher Fulton is our past composer in residence.

The program of the 12th annual Christmas Reprise performance in 2014. This program is a holiday tradition for many that continues today.

Lux Antiqua, May 2016 at the H.R. MacMilan Space Centre. Singers performed in the dark (with individual lights to read the music) while projections of stars and galaxies filled the…

Lux Antiqua, May 2016 at the H.R. MacMilan Space Centre. Singers performed in the dark (with individual lights to read the music) while projections of stars and galaxies filled the space above.

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2020s

The Christmas Reprise XVIII album was released in fall 2021, showcasing the best of the choir in the Reprise concerts between 2013-2019.

In 2023, as part of this concert, we commissioned Sam Dabrusin, a long time tenor in the choir, to arrange Fleetwood Mac's Songbird for VCS. Have a listen! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lHVz32OOyM