Saturday, March 21, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
Pacific Spirit United Church – 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC
Continuing with their focus of amplifying voices, Vivaldi Chamber Choir’s March 21st concert will feature compositions by Indigenous and non-Indigenous composers that focus on the themes of Earth, Heart and Sky.
Artistic Director, Edette Gagné, has been collaborating with several Indigenous creatives to garner a deeper understanding that goes beyond the notes and words on the page. The choir hopes to exemplify cultural appreciation and honour this incredibly beautiful music. By using storytelling to share Indigenous culture and history in a respectful and inspiring way, we hope to cultivate meaningful allyship.
Allyship is the means by which choral communities can support, amplify and advocate with others, especially with individuals who have differing backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences than themselves.
Earth-Heart-Sky will weave together diverse stories to explore our connectivity with the earth, with our hearts, with the moon, stars and sky. This will be a journey of inspired creativity, and Vivaldi Chamber Choir is honoured to be learning about and performing works by the following Indigenous composers and creatives:
Andrew Balfour (Winnipeg composer of Cree descent)
cris derksen (Albertan two-spirit Cree cellist and composer)
Sherryl Sewepagaham (Albertan Cree-Dene artist, composer and educator)
T. Pat Carrabré (Métis composer living in Vancouver)
~ and Mi’maq poet: Mary Louise Martin (“Grandmother Moon”)
As well as the following composers:
Stuart Beatch (LGBTQ+ composer living in Alberta)
Nicholas Fairbank (Victoria based composer and conductor)
R. Murray Schafer (Iconic composer, music educator and environmentalist)
Eleanor Daley (Composer, conductor and organist)
Kim André Arnesen (Norwegian composer)
Frank Ticheli (American composer)
Morten Lauridsen (American composer, performer and educator)
Collaborative conversations started with cris derksen, whom Edette met during a C.A.R.E. “Circle Talk – Stories of Resilience,” where cris shared their own story. Subsequently, they talked about the themes and cris sent Edette a collection of their music (and links to other’s compositions) that they felt worked well with the theme. C.A.R.E. stands for Canadian Artists for Reconciliation and Education. Edette has virtually attended several of these Circle Talks – and they are all available for anyone to explore via: https://www.careartistsforreconcilation.ca/truthtellers. The choir also had the privilege of composer and arranger T. Pat Carrabré joining us for our retreat to talk about the history and meaning behind his piece “Red River Valley”, as well as his own history, story, and discovery of his own culture. He encouraged us to find emotion and meaning in his piece, as well as the other pieces in our programme; to pull the audience in in new ways through the music, with the goal of leaving the audience “with something to think about.”
Vivaldi Chamber Choir encourages each of us to enter into the process of learning and unlearning which is central to allyship.
Photo c/o Ted Nodwell
Donations can be made at the concert by cash, cheque, or e-transfer.
Your continuing support is always much appreciated.
Vivaldi Chamber Choir believes in the power of music to affect positive change in our world. We recognize that we rehearse, perform and record on the traditional, ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleiwatuth people. We acknowledge that the land’s historical relationships with these peoples has existed since time immemorial. We express our gratitude to these peoples and value the opportunity to create music on this land.
Season Sponsor – Point Grey Pharmacy
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