“Come, music, sick man’s jewel…”

Planning a concert season in a pandemic is a daunting proposition. It is difficult to know what will be possible, and what a concert in these times would and should look like. One thing I have not doubted at all is the necessity of getting back to music-making as soon as it is viable. Through the pandemic, I have often found myself humming a line from a Weelkes madrigal: “Come, music, sick man’s jewel”. The pandemic has reached its grip on far more than those of us who have suffered from the ailment it causes. In some ways, every one of us has been touched. And in such times, art can uplift, entertain, comfort and console. For me, its greatest power is in the way it gives us a sense of community, even when we are physically detached. Art addresses our communal fears, sorrows and joys. In the company of art, we are not alone. For some reason, this experience is heightened when experiencing art live, in the here and now. In this sense, the 50th Anniversary season of the Vancouver Chamber Choir is no different to any other of its seasons, only the backdrop is radically altered. Some of the concerts will be open for a small audience, and all the performances will be available online. The essence is unaltered: we will aim to bring you choral art that is engaged, relevant and of the highest quality. Art that uplifts, entertains, comforts and consoles.