Dear friends of choral music,

As the new Artistic Director of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, I am proud to present our 2019/20 season, this wonderful choir’s 49th.

It will naturally be a year of transition, albeit softened somewhat by the two concerts in which Founder and Conductor Emeritus Jon Washburn will play a central role. But the choir will look a little different, sound a little different, and the music will in all likelihood be a little different to previous seasons. In this period of transition we hope to reach out to new audiences whilst, at the same time, holding on to our valued supporters and friends.

The themes for the year are Bach and Nature. Two major Bach oratorios stand like pillars on both sides of the season: the Christmas Oratorio opening the festive season and the St. John Passion being performed on Good Friday. Around these pillars are eight more or less a cappella concerts. While they are all separate entities, the sweeping theme is nature. I believe we stand at a crossroads and the next 10 years will see a real sea-change in our relation to the earth we have inherited. These concerts do not aim to preach, they are intended to remind us of the beauty of the world we inhabit. I believe our responsibility for its preservation best grows from this awe.

We are delighted in being able to continue many of our outreach programs this season. The October concert will feature talented young singers from the city’s universities and colleges participating in our Focus program; the Conductors’ Symposium will take place in February; and we will share the stage with both the Vancouver Youth Choir and the Elmer Iseler Singers. We also delight in working together with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra.

The season begins with a concert called Beginnings to celebrate what will hopefully be, as it is put in Casablanca, a beautiful friendship — a friendship not only between conductor and choir, but between conductor and audience and the beautiful city of Vancouver. Join me for the pre-concert talk, a new feature of the upcoming season.

See you at our concerts,

Kari Turunen