The Victoria Philharmonic Choir is an 80-voice auditioned choir based in

Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Th ...

. Conducted since 2009, by artistic director

Peter Butterfield Peter Butterfield is a Canadian conductor and classical tenor. In 2003 he founded the VancouverVoices and since 2009 he has been the director of the Victoria Philharmonic Choir. As a singer he has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and North Ame ...

, the choir performs a wide range of ''

a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...

'' and accompanied music, and collaborates with or performs with community and professional vocal soloists and musicians, including the

Victoria Symphony The Victoria Symphony is a Canadian orchestra based in Victoria, British Columbia. It is considered Vancouver Island's best-known active performing arts organization. Currently conducted by Danish conductor Christian Kluxen, the orchestra consists o ...

History

The Victoria Philharmonic Choir (VPC) was created June 2005, as a non-profit performing arts organization. April 2009, music director

was appointed. Founding artistic director Simon Capet led the choir from June 2005 to January 2009.

Music

Victoria Philharmonic Choir performs, on average, four concert events each season. The concerts include a variety of accompanied and unaccompanied mixed voice choral pieces. The choral repertoire is designed by artistic director Peter Butterfield in collaboration with choir manager, Sherry LePage. The VPC performs a community Christmas Carol Sing-a-Long each year. As well, the VPC hosts an annual "Summer Voices" learning event, a week long choral workshop that culminates in a live performance, usually scheduled in the first or second week of July. Among the works performed by the Victoria Philharmonic Choir are: ''

Carmina Burana ''Carmina Burana'' (, Latin for "Songs from Benediktbeuern" 'Buria'' in Latin is a manuscript of 254 poems and dramatic texts mostly from the 11th or 12th century, although some are from the 13th century. The pieces are mostly bawdy, irreverent ...

'' by

Carl Orff Carl Orff (; 10 July 1895 – 29 March 1982) was a German composer and music educator, best known for his cantata ''Carmina Burana'' (1937). The concepts of his Schulwerk were influential for children's music education. Life Early life Car ...

, ''Ode on St. Cecillia's Day'' by

George Frederic Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

, Bach's ''

St Matthew Passion The ''St Matthew Passion'' (german: Matthäus-Passion, links=-no), BWV 244, is a '' Passion'', a sacred oratorio written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander. It sets ...

'', Verdi's

Requiem A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead ( la, Missa pro defunctis) or Mass of the dead ( la, Missa defunctorum), is a Mass of the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, ...

, '' The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace'' by

Karl Jenkins Sir Karl William Pamp Jenkins (born 17 February 1944) is a Welsh multi-instrumentalist and composer. His best known works include the song " Adiemus" and the ''Adiemus'' album series; '' Palladio''; ''The Armed Man''; and his ''Requiem''. J ...

, ''Convoy PQ 17'' by Christopher Butterfield, ''

Vespro della Beata Vergine ''Vespro della Beata Vergine'' (''Vespers for the Blessed Virgin''), SV 206, is a musical setting by Claudio Monteverdi of the evening vespers on Marian feasts, scored for soloists, choirs, and orchestra. It is an ambitious work in scope and ...

'' by Monteverdi, Haydn's ''

Theresienmesse ''Theresienmesse'' ( H. XXII/12) is a mass in B-flat major written by Joseph Haydn and named after Maria Theresa of the Two Sicilies, empress consort of Francis II. The empress herself was the soprano soloist at private performances of both '' ...

'' and Mozart's

Collaborations

This choir has been involved in many musical collaborations with noted artists such as: the Band Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, the

conducted by

Tania Miller Tania Miller (born August 28, 1969, in Foam Lake, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian conductor. She is currently Music Director Emerita of the Victoria Symphony following her retirement as music director, a post she had held since 2003. Prior to that, ...

, the Victoria Civic Orchestra, dance troupe Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie and the Victoria Choral Society.

References

Sources

* Philharmonic Choir opens season of Peace and Calm (Nov 4, 2017) https://www.peninsulanewsreview.com/entertainment/victoria-philharmonic-choir-opens-season-of-peace-and-calm/ Retrieved 2018-22-23 * Kevin Bazzana: Choral music fit for a Pope (June 5, 2013) https://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/music/kevin-bazzana-choral-music-fit-for-a-pope-1.313667 Retrieved 2018-22-23 * Christmas Sing-a-longs with Victoria Philharmonic choir (Dec 8, 2011) https://www.vicnews.com/entertainment/christmas-sing-alongs-with-victoria-philharmonic-choir/ Retrieved 2018-22-23 * Victoria Philharmonic Choirs festival a benefit to all of us (Jul 8, 2008) http://www.pressreader.com/canada/times-colonist/20080708/281741265185740 Retrieved 2018-22-23

External links

* {{authority control Musical groups established in 2005 Canadian choirs Musical groups from Victoria, British Columbia 2005 establishments in British Columbia