We warmly welcome the Vancouver Cantata Singers at St James' as they offer a free, open rehearsal as part of the 16th Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival. If you have ever wondered how to teach a choir to sing in perform in perfect harmony, this is a great opportunity to hear some beautiful singing and commentary from Artistic Director, Paula Kremer. This is a free event, but secure your no-cost ticket to reserve a seat.
Vancouver Cantata Singers was founded in 1958, and has become one of Canada’s pre-eminent, award-winning choral ensembles. The Vancouver Cantata Singers has become known for technical virtuosity, fine blend and exceptionally high performance standards encompassing 500 years of choral repertoire. The choir has been awarded the Canada Council’s top prize in choral singing, the Healey Willan Grand Prize, more than any other choir in the country. The Vancouver Cantata Singers regularly collaborates with Early Music Vancouver, performing large-scale works with baroque orchestra including Handel's Oratorio Theodora, the Coronation Anthems, and Messiah — and also this year, the choir collaborates with Early Music Vancouver for a presentation of Handel's Messiah with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and guest music director, Ivars Taurins.
Born in Vancouver and educated at the Vancouver Academy of Music and the University of British Columbia, Paula Kremer has studied choral conducting in courses and workshops at Eton, Westminster Choir College, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan. Holding an ARCT in both piano and voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Paula has also studied voice with Phyllis Mailing, Bruce Pullan, Marisa Gaetanne and Laura Pudwell, and piano from Margot Ehling. A full-time faculty member of the School of Music at Vancouver Community College, teaching voice, solfège, and choir, she was also the director of two Vancouver Bach Choir ensembles for young adults from 2009-17, the Vancouver Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande Chamber Choir. Paula joined the alto section of our choir in 1994, and has been the Vancouver Cantata Singers’ Artistic Director since 2013.