Gene & Elizabeth Maurice Choral Concert Series 2024

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PROARTS @NOON CONCERTS PRESENTS

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The ProArts Society is pleased to announce a unique series of concerts featuring Calgary artists performing Choral Music repertoire.

Where words fail, music speaks

Hans Christian Andersen

Local Arts supporters Gene and Elizabeth Maurice continue to generously support the ProArts@Noon Concert Series and recently awarded the ProArts Society funding to undertake the 2024 Choral Music Concert Series, which will feature a diverse selection from Calgary’s Choral community.

This special series will be part of the ProArts@Noon weekly schedule of Wednesday concerts.

Now in its twenty-second season, the ProArts@Noon Concert Series of free, noon hour concerts is presented by the ProArts Society, who rent the historic Cathedral Church in the heart of Calgary’s Cultural District to present their weekly concerts.

The Gene & Elizabeth Maurice Choral Music Concert Series 2024 dates are:

1. March 06 Alberta Vocal Arts Association – Kathleen Morrison & Barbara King
2. April 10 Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artists Development Program
3. July 03 Here Comes Treble
4. July 17 EnChor Chamber Choir
5. September 18 Calgary Concert Opera
6. October 2 Early Music Voices
7. October 30 Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artists Development Program
8. November 27 Calgary Burns Club Singers
9. December 04 One Voice Chorus
10. December 11 Vocal Latitudes World Music Choir

Artist Biographies

Alberta Vocal Arts Association March 6, 2024

The mission of Alberta Vocal Arts Association is to promote and celebrate the classical vocal arts in Alberta. Through captivating performances, collaborative initiatives and active community engagement, they inspire and engage audiences by showcasing the talent and artistry of vocal performers. Their goal is to create opportunities for the mid-level performing artist and to provide enriching experiences that deepen appreciation for the classical vocal arts and contribute to the cultural vitality of our community.

Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artists Development Program April 10 and October 30, 2024

Each season, Calgary Opera provides up to eight young singers with the opportunity to study and perform under a professional staff of teachers and performers. The McPhee Artists Development Program serves as a bridge between academic programs and the professional world of opera, offering the experience and practical skills necessary to succeed as a self-employed artist in a highly competitive international environment.

Here Comes Treble April 19, 2023

This group of six women initially set out to form a female barbershop quartet, but found they so enjoyed each other’s company that they formed Calgary’s only six member “quartet.” Ranging in age from their early 30s to their later 50s and from varying backgrounds, their bond has seen them through triumphs and challenges. They have been together for over a year enjoying their friendship and love for music, meeting weekly for “Treble Dinners,” but have only started actually SINGING together recently. This tightly woven friendship has transformed itself into tightly woven harmonies.

EnChor Chamber Choir July 17, 2024

EnChor Chamber choir is an auditioned ensemble made up of singers from diverse walks of life. Our commonality is a shared passion for the finest choral music. Founded and directed by Elizabeth Paynter, EnChor shares their diverse choral repertoire within their Calgary community, and have toured in Canada and the United States.

EnChor Chamber Choir Facebook page

Calgary Concert Opera Company September 18, 2024

The Calgary Concert Opera Company began in 2011 and since then we have presented 10 full live operas in concert format, including some famous operas such as Carmen, Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Samson et Dalila. Over 80 professional and aspiring opera singers from across Canada have participated in these, along with collaborations with the Foothills Philharmonic Opera Chorus, Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, 12 Musas Flamenco, Compass Performances Studios, Calgary Civic Symphony, and Toronto’s Opera by Request.

Our Concert Opera format and process is very uncomplicated, straightforward and takes opera to a more personal level.  The singers tell the story through the music, facial expressions and little staging and we are able to make more of a direct connection with the audience.

Early Music Voices October 2, 2024

When Julie Harris returned to Calgary in 1999 from living in Toronto and The Netherlands, she brought with her a desire to start a concert series dedicated to early music.  In the first year, she presented three Sunday afternoon concerts (each 1 hour long).  From that small start the Early Music Voices Concert Series has developed into a well-known venue for early music in Canada.  Today the series fields requests from agents and artists around the world. Over the years EMV has hosted ensembles from France, Norway, the UK and the US, Montreal, and in the 20th Anniversary season, countertenor, Andreas Scholl from Germany. 

​Early Music Voices has also organised and presented many concerts of local and regional musicians over the last two decades. Some of these have been co-productions, such as Purcell’s Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day with Red Deer Symphony Orchestra and Bach’s Mass in B Minor with the CPO. Increasingly, EMV presents large projects alone, often in exciting collaborations with Rosa Barocca and VoiceScapes (Bach’s Magnificat in 2018 and Handel’s Messiah between 2019 & 2022). Over the years, EMV has played a significant part in the development of Calgary’s early music scene, proudly creating many professional musical opportunities for Calgary singers and players.

Calgary Burns Club Singers November 27, 2024

The genesis of the Calgary Burns Club, was a Burns Supper in 1964 held in the home of John and Lilian Patterson. This initiated a series of Burns Suppers hosted in turn by other Calgary Scots. In 1976, a group of members gave the club its charter, named Grant MacEwan as the club’s patron, and became accredited by the Burns Federation. The club has been running annual Burns Suppers ever since. The Calgary Burns Club holds the memory of Robert Burns and the fellowship arising out of that memory to be one of the most important aspects of being Scottish Calgarians. The Calgary Burns Club fosters an interest in Scottish literature, art and music by sharing its talents with the community and through support of events involving Scottish cultural activities.

One Voice Chorus December 04, 2024

One Voice Chorus (OVC) is a mixed choir for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, and queer singers, and their cisgender allies. We are an auditioned choir with a wide-ranging repertoire: from classical to jazz, from madrigals to show tunes, and more!

OVC was founded in September 2011. Four singers signed up for auditions the first night and a choir was born. From four singers we quickly grew to ten and made our debut at a Christmas concert hosted by the Unitarian Church of Calgary in December 2011. By the spring of 2012, we had 17 singers on the roster and were ready to contemplate presenting our own concert. We brought the curtain down, ending our first season on a high note. Our debut concert in June 2012 launched us officially as Calgary’s new LGBT choir. We were joined on stage by the Calgary Men’s Chorus, whom we regard proudly as our big brothers.

Many years have rolled by now since we first opened our doors to singers. We’re a fully-fledged choir of nearly 45 singers that presents two concerts each season, an additional cabaret-style concert every second year, and various guest appearances and collaborations. While the pandemic, unfortunately, brought the cabaret to a screeching halt, we hope to revive this valued tradition in future years.

OVC is thankful to be performing live once again, and we are delighted to have our new Artistic Director, Cass Bessette, bravely guiding us. It is their hope to help the choir continue to evolve while keeping the legacy of the choir intact. 

Vocal Latitudes World Music Choir December 11, 2024

Vocal Latitudes is a non-auditioned mixed choir, performing a wide range of music from around the world as well as close to home. We love experiencing different styles, languages, and genres, and our rehearsals aim to be enjoyable and productive while staying casual. Our repertoire is fun and accessible to all kinds of singers, including those who cannot read music. If you can carry a tune, we’ll do the rest!