CanSing

For a number of years the Vancouver Cansing Choirs held a benefit concert for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank on the first Tuesday of December. In the spirit of the season, families and friends contributed generously, for a total of about $3500. Sadly, in-person singing is not currently permitted due to the COVID19 pandemic. We can’t count on the special atmosphere of a live concert to open hearts and wallets. But the Food Bank still needs our help more than ever–demand is up and fundraising events challenging.

So we offer the next best thing–a virtual performance, “Here Comes a New Day!”, looking forward to the hoped-for beginning of the end of COVID19 sometime in 2021. Truly, a New Day!

We are asking you to support the Choir’s commitment to the essential work of the Food Bank by making a contribution and promoting the cause to family and friends. Please share the URL for this event,https://vfd.foodbank.bc.ca/fundraiser/cansingvirtualchoir, with people you know who love music and helping people in our community access the nutritious food they need (or by using the sharing options–Facebook, Twitter and email– provided above). Gerda has warm memories of her own childhood in Prince George when her father suffered a prolonged illness and the food hamper from a local charity made Christmas possible for her family.

Thank you in advance for joining the Cansing Virtual Food Drive! And best wishes for this unusual holiday season and better times in 2021. We hope you enjoy the songs. Stay safe.

Gerda and Kevin.

PS You’ll find more information about the choir here: http://cansing.ca/ . We’ve got our hearts set on getting the adult choir back to normal in September, 2021. Let us know if you’re interested in joining.

The Vancouver Cansing Adult Choir invites singers to register a Virtual Choir session, HERE COMES ANOTHER NEW DAY Tuesday, October 13 – December 1st. Rehearsals will be 8 – 9:15pm.

Click: ADULT CHOIR REGISTRATION.

VCS is excited about singing again and having the opportunity to connect with friends while being physically distanced.

The sessions will cover vocal warm up and technique, learning the text, learning specific parts and many other vocal and choral techniques. Gerda Blok-Wilson (Artistic Director) and Kevin Eng (Assistant director and accompanist) will be in the same room so it will be easier to hold the rehearsal format while singers are on mute (because of the latency effect).

Following registration, singers will receive their music via pdf and will be given instructions on how to record so that we can put together and share a few songs at the final meeting time, Dec 1^st.

Click: TOMORROW IS A CHANCE TO START OVER. This was recorded during the March to June Covid closures.

While VCS is based in the Vancouver Hillcrest neighbourhood this will be a virtual program so singers can register from other communities. Feel free to invite your friends and family!

The VIRTUAL CLOWNS PROJECT with members of Vancouver Cansing Youth choir (ages 10 – 14), Hillcrest Neighbourhood, Gerda Blok- Wilson and Kevin Eng was a creative learning journey (Zoom meetings, recording) during these challenging Covid 19 times in April and May, 2020. It was great to produce a recording of the project for learning purposes. Nothing is even close to perfect! Super hard for us as conductors.

Although there are many things that might have been done differently, it was a great way to connect with the singers more individually via electronics. They’re so creative!

Even when back to in-person rehearsals, the Zoom sectionals, etc can be an efficient way to work with smaller groups on projects we might not be able to do during “normal” times, for example, meeting up with composers!

The full virtual project is posted at:

“Soon you’ll be through the dark!” Last night was Vancouver Cansing Adult Choir’s final ZOOM Check-in which included our VIRTUAL RECORDING of Hilary Grist’s “Tomorrow is a Chance to Start Over” (arrangement by Larry Nickel and available through Cypress Choral music) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycFt3wnrRY4. It was one of the pieces that was scheduled to be performed at our May 5^th Spring Show. The lyrics seemed to work for these difficult times.

The recording was created with individual recordings from our non-auditioned singers who range from totally novice to proficient. Kevin Eng spent a lot of time editing files together and I created the video component. Both of us learning lots of stuff!

Not perfect nor better than being together but I’m so proud of the VCS members for journeying with Kevin Eng and me through this totally new experience.

Like other choirs, the Vancouver Cansing Community Choirs have had to hold “social distancing” rehearsals since mid-March.

The whole Covid situation has felt like moving from one unknown to the next. I continued rehearsals by providing a weekly learning plan which included individual SATB rehearsal tracks for each song (which I make), rehearsal notes for skill development, listening examples, bios on the composers and review of previous pieces (mostly for familiarity). We held short Zoom meetings once a week for sectionals and good chats.

We look forward to singing together in the same space and performing the other songs we’ve rehearsed. Hugs to all

This amazing VANCOUVER CANSING CHOIR (Hillcrest Neighbourhood) concert will feature a 140 voice mass choir singing Craig Hella Johnson’s spectacular arrangement LET THE RIVER RUN (Carly Simon). Admission is by donation ($15 – $20.00 suggested amount).

The 60 minute show will feature five choirs singing a variety of songs including selections by Canadian songwriter and composers Ian Tyson, Larry Nickel and two of Gerda Blok-Wilson’s arrangements: COD LIVER OIL (trad Newfoundland) and CHI MI NA MÓR-BHEANNA (Mist Covered mountains – trad. Nova Scotia).

Along with Gerda Blok-Wilson (Artistic Director) and Kevin Eng (Assistant conductor, accompanist), we hope to see you!

Member of the BC Choral Federation, BC Kodály Association and Choral Canada.

CANSING.CA

Twitter: @vancansing

The Vancouver Cansing choirs, Hillcrest neighbourhood, will present their fifth seasonal benefit, TIS THE SEASON, for the Greater Vancouver Food bank, Tuesday, Dec 10^th, 7-8pm, Sir Charles Tupper Auditorium. Admission is by donation ($15 – 20.00 suggested amount).

All proceeds will go to the Greater Vancouver Foodbank (NO FOOD ITEMS PLEASE).

What gives the most joy during the holidays? It’s the gifts we give to others. Last year, the singers raised over $2600.00!

The short family program is a wonderful way to hear fantastic choral performances including John Leavitt’s GLORIA (from PETITE MASS), and Chuck Bridwell’s crazy NUTCRACKER JINGLES, woven with readings from Clement Clarke Moore’s THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. The audience will have a chance to sing favourite carols including the VCS highlight of the evening, A MOOSE IN A MAPLE TREE.

With each $1 VCS Choirs donate, GVFB can purchase at least $3 worth of nutritious groceries and fresh produce for the thousands of people they support each week. Share the news with family, friends and neighbours!

Member of the BC Choral Federation, BC Kodály Association and Choral Canada

We hope you can join the youth and adult Vancouver Cansing Choirs (Hillcrest Neighbourhood) for HERE’S TO SONG, Friday, Nov 22, 7pm, Charles Tupper Auditorium. Admission is by donation ($15 – $20.00 suggested amount).

The 60 minute show will be filled with a variety of songs including selections by Canadian songwriters and composers Allister MacGillivray, Lydia Adams, Jean McKen, Stan Rogers, Ron Smail, Erica Phare-Bergh, Hilary Grist, Larry Nickel.

Two highlights will be 60 youth choir singers performing “Revolting Children” (Matilda) and 125 singers in the mass choir performance of MacGillivray’s HERE’S TO SONG.

Along with Gerda Blok-Wilson (Artistic Director) and Kevin Eng (Assistant conductor, accompanist), we hope to see you!

Member of the BC Choral Federation, BC Kodály Association and Choral Canada.

Twitter: @vancansing

The Vancouver CanSing (VCS) 2019 fall session registration is open! This will be our 10^th anniversary season!

All rehearsals begin Tuesday, September 17th, Cityview Church, Hillcrest neighbourhood. We welcome new members (youth and adult) who LOVE to sing and perform all kinds of music. Please help us get the word out. Feel free to share via email, Facebook, Twitter, newsletters so the word gets out to people who are keen to sing!

The Vancouver Cansing program is comprised of five choral groups of varying age groups – youth and adult, all of whom sing separately but also engage in multi-generational music-making.  There’s a great community spirit in our group and sense of joy and belonging between the singers and audience. 

We believe “If you can talk, you can sing.” Like any other instrument, learning to sing takes practice!  

VCS has been praised by many for the camaraderie, challenge and sense of real ‎community that is promoted.  Hope you can join us!

VCS is a member of the BC Choral Federation, BC Kodaly Association and Choral Canada.

Vancouver Cansing Choirs:

LEVEL 1 (ages 5 & 6). Our youngest group of musicians…

LEVEL 2 (ages 7 & 8). Slightly more advanced group who also sing with Level 3.

LEVEL 3 (ages 9 – 15. Non – auditioned). A vibrant group of singers who sometimes work with Level 4 and adults.

LEVEL 4 CHORthemo (ages 10 – 16. Auditioned). An advanced group of boys and girls who provide leadership to the younger singers and also “wow” audiences with their individual choir work and singing with the adult choir.

ADULT CHOIR (grades 11 and 12 through adult: non-auditioned but you must be able to carry a tune…). A wonderful group of keen adults, many of whom are parents of youth choristers.

VCS Youth choir’s final concert of the year will feature the musical, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT (Abridged) along with other songs, May 21st, 7pm and May 24^th, 7pm, Cityview Church (4370 Sophia St). Admission is by donation ($10 – $15 suggested amount) to cover professional fees, rent and general choir expenses.

Witty, fun and energetic, the show will be approximately 50 minutes.

This is the 50^th anniversary of the musical play. It was first written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice at the age of 19. Since that time the play has been rewritten and lengthened for stage several times. The fourteen songs, including “Any Dream Will Do”, “Jacob and Sons”, and “Close Every Door to Me” are all in a light, popular style. 

It’s an enchanting, light hearted, “rags to riches” story of a boy named Joseph who overcomes many hurdles to go from being his father’s favourite son to a slave and then to become the second in charge to the Pharaoh (King) of Egypt. Discover how perseverance, bravery, kindness and Joseph’s special powers to interpret dreams, help reunite him with his brothers and his father.

The Vancouver CanSing Choirs are in the Hillcrest Neighbourhood and practice at Cityview Church. VCS is a member of the BC Choral Federation, BC Kodaly Association and Choral Canada.

Do you love to sing? Come sing with us! For information: www.cansing.ca

Vancouver CanSing Adult Choir will present HERE COMES ANOTHER NEW DAY, Tuesday, May 7^th, 8 – 9pm, Cityview Church (4370 Sophia St – 5 mins East from Main & 28^th). Admission is by donation (suggested $15 – $20.00 to cover rent and professional fees).

The choir will perform a variety of seasonal songs by Karl Jenkins, Leonard Cohen, Thomas Juneau, Blok-Wilson and more. The audience will have the opportunity to sing along to George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun.”

We are delighted to feature Ashley Gonzales, UBC Voice Major. This is the third year that the choir has supported an emerging vocal artist and we look forward to making music together!

Known for her expressive performances, Ashley is an upcoming soprano from Vancouver, British Columbia. She began her musical studies in piano at the age of 5 with Juliet Dizon. Her love for singing began in her elementary choir and she has taken part in multiple choirs ever since, either as singer, pianist, or conductor. She completed her Diploma in Music at Capilano University where she studied with Siri Olsen-Maddock and George Roberts in 2017. Ashley is currently in 3rd year Music at the University of British Columbia, majoring in Voice Performance with Marisa Gaetenne.

This is the final concert of the season for the VCS Adult choir. If you are interested in singing with a choir September 2019, come join our group! We are an awesome, friendly SATB community choir, in the Hillcrest Neighbourhood, that sings all kinds of choral repertoire and rehearses once weekly. Click VCS Adult Choir information

We hope you can join us! Please help us spread the word to family and friends.

Member of the BC Choral Federation, BC Kodály Association and Choral Canada

www.cansing.ca