MUSIC NEWS

Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, BC

Sing the North

An interview with Choral Impresario

Kathryn Whitney

An exciting project featuring Mozart's Requiem conducted by Howard Dyck is coming to Christ Church Cathedral on July 27. In this interview, we talk to the brains behind the project, Kathryn Whitney (pictured):

Q: You've got a real talent for bringing choral music amateurs together to sing great choral masterworks. When did this work start for you?

I love getting people together to make music and have been running musical projects of various sorts for about 15 years, both here and in the UK, where I did most of my training.

I started off working with young professional singers, but after my first few experiences with amateur singers, I was hooked. The joy and thrill in singing together, the camaraderie, and the depth with which amateurs connect with the texts and music they are singing, is so inspiring.

Besides, most choral music outside the church (and even some of it inside) was written for amateurs. It is a joy beyond description to bring people together to sing these masterworks, many of which were written just for them.

Our concert on July 27, and the Summer Choral Program that precedes it, has its roots in ‘the fermata’. When the music stopped in 2020, I founded two virtual choirs: Sing the North, which has a membership of about 800 singers worldwide and has produced numerous recordings of Canadian choral works; and One World Baroque, which I ran together with Daniel Taylor from 2020-2022, singing works by Bach and Handel.

With even the busiest musicians out of work and eager to collaborate, I had the great fortune to work with performers such as Dame Emma Kirkby, Charles Daniels, John Relyea, Laurence Cummings, Nicholas McGegan, Nancy Argenta, and many more, including Howard Dyck.

With the work of these two choirs now merged in my in-person Summer Choral Program, it’s my huge pleasure to offer both local and international choristers the chance raise their voices in person with superstar conductor Howard Dyck right here in Victoria.

Q: Who are you hoping joins your Sing the North chorus this summer for the Mozart Requiem project?

We are in a wonderful position with our Sing the North Festival Chorus, with around 100 singers already registered to sing with us. In addition to our local singers, choristers are travelling from Newfoundland, Ontario, and all the prairie provinces to take part.

One couple is coming from the Eastern USA as a treat to themselves for their 50th wedding anniversary. An alto will be travelling for two days to get here from remote Bella Coola to sing with Howard, while another is travelling all the way from Mumbai!

About 15 of our choristers have sung together in Sing the North’s virtual recording projects for the past four years but will be meeting in person here in Victoria for the first time. In the midst of this richness, there is still room for more singers!

We can accommodate up to 20 more, with all voices welcome while our current good balance across parts lasts. If you'd like to join the chorus, click the button below to register.

Q: You've put together a dream team. Tell our readers about the conductor and soloists.

I am beyond thrilled by the very special team of musicians who will be performing at our concert in the cathedral on July 27. King among us of course is our conductor, Howard Dyck.

A recipient of the Order of Canada, many of your readers will remember him from the CBC radio programs Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and Choral Concert, which he hosted with his characteristic warmth and aplomb for two decades.

Howard has led choirs and orchestras in more than 20 countries over a long and illustrious career. In addition to leading the Grand Philharmonic Choir in Kitchener-Waterloo for decades, he had conducted the Arnold Schoenberg Chor in Vienna, the Mozarteum Orchestra in Salzburg, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Obrentenov Choir of Bulgaria and the St Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra. Even now in his so-called 'retirement', he is the Artistic Director of Consort Caritatis Choir & Orchestra, a special group of musicians who volunteer their services to perform international concerts in aid of charitable causes.

Our line-up of soloists is uniquely tied to our concert: each singer has an important connection to Howard Dyck, who championed them (or is now championing, in the case of our soprano) at an early stage in their career. (Read more about the soloists HERE.)

Q: What is special about this particular performance of Mozart's famous Requiem?

Many readers may be surprised to learn that much of the Mozart Requiem that we know and love was not actually written by Mozart. Left unfinished at the time of his death, the work is usually heard in a version featuring some movements that were constructed from very bare sketches by Mozart’s contemporary, Süßmayr.

As Howard Dyck has said, the work was ‘completed it in great haste (and consequently, with some weaknesses)’ to help Mozart’s widow Costanza settle the considerable debts that were left on his death in 1791. 

A number of modern composers have attempted to produce new completions of the Requiem that better reflect Mozart’s own compositional style. In 1987, American pianist, composer, and Mozart scholar Robert Levin gave a paper outlining his own ideas for completing the Requiem to an audience that included conductor Helmut Rilling.

Rilling was so impressed that he commissioned Levin to produce a new completion of the Requiem in time for the 1991 Mozart Bicentennial. While Levin was careful not to touch any of the music that is known to have been written by Mozart, he has made key changes, such as extending the Osanna fugue using techniques from Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor. Now known as the ‘Levin Completion’, and widely considered to be the ‘most authentically Mozartian’ Mozart Requiem, this is the version that we will be performing at the cathedral on July 27.

Q: What else can audience members expect to hear on the program?

For the first half of our program, the Sing the North Festival Chorus will be broken into three chamber choirs that will perform some of Howard Dyck’s favourite pieces: Mozart’s Ave verum corpus, Locus iste by Bruckner, and Weihnachten by Mendelssohn.

Additionally, we will sing three lush 8-part choral works by our ‘Feature Composer’, Stephanie Martin (pictured) (also a protegé of Howard, and now Association Professor of choral music at York University), who is travelling from Toronto to be present at the performance.

Finally, we are performing a thrilling piece for SSAATTBB choir and strings by indigenous composer, Andrew Balfour. ‘Mamachimowin’ is a very moving setting of Psalm 61 translated/interpreted into Cree. We are also excited to be joined by a full complement of orchestral players, the STN Festival Orchestra, which has been assembled for the occasion by our concertmaster, Christi Meyers.

Two Vocal Ensembles

You Won’t Want to Miss! 

Introducing Siglo de Oro (UK) & Byrd Ensemble (USA) 

With a growing appetite for small ensemble choral singing, Victoria’s audience is, once again, in for some treats next season. Allow us to introduce you to Siglo de Oro from the UK and the Byrd Ensemble from Seattle. 

Described by Gramophone magazine as “confident, sonorous and full of character,” Siglo de Oro is one of the leading vocal ensembles of its generation, known for its innovative programming. The group made its professional debut in 2014 at the Spitalfields Festival, of which the Financial Times said: “Siglo de Oro, under the assured direction of Patrick Allies, performed with vivacity and poise.” Since then, the group has given concerts across the UK, appeared live on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, and taken up invitations to sing at festivals in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Finland and Malta. 

Best known for its work in early music, this concert is part of their Canadian debut tour. 

Since 2004, the Byrd Ensemble has performed in the greater Seattle area and toured across the United States, presenting concerts for the Gotham Early Music Scene in New York with Peter Phillips (director of the Tallis Scholars), the Boston Early Music Fringe Series, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Byrd Ensemble participated in the London International A Cappella Choir Competition, where John Rutter described the ensemble as “a fine group that has achieved an enviable standard of tuning, blend, and ensemble.” 

Under the direction of Markdavin Obenza, this will be the Seattle-based professional ensemble’s Canadian debut performance. 



In the wake of the popularity of premium seats for VOCES8’s upcoming concert in February 2025, we’re letting you know about the opportunity to purchase preferred seats (front and centre section) for both shows now, along with general admission. 

Prices for each concert: $10 student, $35 general admission, $50 preferred seating 

Siglo de Oro: Renaissance Reflections 

Saturday, September 14, 2024 



Byrd Ensemble: Music from Tudor England 

Saturday, October 19, 2024 

DEAL ALERT!

Purchase preferred seats for both concerts for $90 (10% savings) 

CCC's Gap Year Program

Strengthening relationships within our community and across the world

Christ Church Cathedral has been offering a Gap Year Choral Scholarship coupled with work as an Assistant in the Cathedral School since 2021. What is a gap year? It’s a term common in the UK, referring to a year off full time education between high school and university.

After a fairly intensive few years of high school, terminating in examinations, many young adults in the UK opt to spend a year abroad, immersing themselves in new places and cultures. Many of these students already have a deferred place at a university, but some embark on a year abroad to help discern their next step in life. To read more about this program, check out last week's newsletter.

Do you have a spare bedroom?

We’re seeking a host for Finn during his year in Victoria. Finn trained as a boy chorister at York Minster where he sung in several radio broadcasts, performed on many commercial recordings, and took part in the minster’s round of daily choral services. He is now finishing secondary school at Ampleforth College where he also plays piano, trombone, and organ. He is also an avid sportsman and is involved in the school’s debating society. Finn is looking forward to spending his gap year in Victoria and is looking forward to getting to know a homestay host family – he is used to living away from family and adapting to new people from his experience in boarding school.

By providing accommodation to this young person, you are playing a key part in this program of cultural exchange and education, strengthening the bonds between the cathedral and the school, and enriching Victoria's choral community.

A homestay host must commit to opening their home to Finn from September 2024 to June 2026.

If you are interested in hosting and wish to discuss details of compensation, please contact Donald Hunt directly (dhunt@christchurchcathedral.bc.ca)

I'll be seeing you!

Many of our graduating choristers snapped up scholarships to prestigious schools

Last Sunday marked the end of the Cathedral School term, and the next step in a musical journey for four of our graduating choristers: Chani, Claire, Finn, and Ava will be wrapping up their time with the treble line. But their cathedral music journey is far from over, as they all have plans to become founding members of the cathedral's new Youth Choir, starting up rehearsals in September. 

Graduating from the program as a head chorister, Chani is an all-rounder, both a musician and a sportsperson. Chani is off to Glenlyon Norfolk School. 

Claire started as a chorister in grade 3 and was the youngest person to be appointed head chorister in the program’s history. Along with Ava, Claire has received the prestigious Centennial Scholarship ($100,000 value) to St Margaret’s School. Claire has enjoyed her time with choristers and is incredibly proud of her accomplishments. She intends to continue her choral music education and experience while contributing to the youth choir next year; she notes that the music has truly become part of her soul.

Finn looks forward to exploring alto, tenor, and bass parts in the new Youth Choir. He departs as a deputy head chorister and will be studying at Glenlyon Norfolk School. Finn’s parents would like to mention how grateful they are that Finn has had this amazing musical education.

Ava has an infectious love of music. She became a chorister in grade 5 and achieved deputy head chorister this year. With Claire, Ava has received the Centennial Scholarship to St Margaret’s School. Claire and Ava are not even the first choristers to receive this scholarship in the program’s short history. You can read more about that here. 

We wish all our departing choristers well in their continued educational and musical journeys. Our Young Chorister Program, founded in 2017 through a partnership between Christ Church Cathedral and The Cathedral School, is the only school-based, fully immersive Anglican Cathedral Chorister program of its kind in Canada, and one of only a handful in North America.

Our Aims:

• To provide choristers with an outstanding, fully immersive musical education. 
• To create an environment conducive to learning the art and language of music; where effort and achievement is recognized and rewarded. 
• To cultivate sensitivity, curiosity and a passion for discovery in each chorister. 
• To foster the spirit of mentorship between older and younger choristers. 
• To offer children the experience of preparing and performing sacred choral music at a high standard; to impart an understanding of music's capacity to elevate the senses, stimulate the intellect and enliven our worship.
• To share the best of what the Cathedral has with the wider community - a timeless, living Anglican choral tradition that enriches our lives.

This unique education for children is made possible through the ongoing support of the NRS Fund and the St Cecilia Fund through the Victoria Foundation, and the generous financial contributions of individual donors like you. To learn how you can support this unique and vital educational program, explore our website:

Liturgical Music This Week

Sunday June 30

9.15 a.m. Holy Eucharist

Setting: Land of Rest

11.00 a.m. Choral Eucharist*

Prelude: Walford Davies Jesu dulcis memoria

Setting: Darke in A minor

Anthem: Walford Davies God be in my head

Voluntary: J.S. Bach Prelude in C, BWV 547i

4.00 p.m. Choral Evensong*

Prelude: Parry Tranquilly

Responses: Reading

Setting: Hylton Stewart in C

Anthem: Harris Most glorious Lord of life

Voluntary: Stanford Postlude on an old Irish tune

Wednesday July 3

Please note that Wednesday Evensong will resume in September. During the summer break, Evening Prayer is said every Wednesday (and other weekdays) in the Lady Chapel at 5.00 p.m.

*Livestreamed online

Summer Recital Series

Saturdays at 4.00 p.m. in July and August

Admission by Donation

July 6: Music on the Threshold

Alexandra Roedder, cello

Nancy Lee Harper, piano

July 13: Love Songs

Adam Dyjach, tenor

James Yi, piano

July 20: The Dynamic Organ

Stephen Price, organ

July 27: Superb & Sublime

Ibison Guitar Duo

August 3: Vienna Titans

Nancy DiNovo, violin

Monica Pfau, piano

August 10: “Liebeslieder” Waltzes

Jennifer Turner, soprano

Alana Hayes, mezzo-soprano

Tim Carter, tenor

Kyron Basu, baritone

Alex Chen, piano

Heather Byford, piano

August 17: Fantasy Pieces

Cris Inguanti, clarinet

Monica Pfau, piano

August 24: “Humoreske”

Simi Luttrell, piano

August 31: “Le Grand Tango”

Carmelo De Los Santos, violin

Falko Steinbach, piano

Victoria Summer Music Festival

Free Concert!

Ayari Kasukawa, saxophone

Simi Luttrell, piano

Thursday, July 18, 1.00 p.m.

Music by Debussy Reinecke, Garrop

Free admission

Details at vsmf.org

Victoria Symphony

Bach's Orchestral Suite in D

Julia Wedman, violin/leader

Mark McDonald, organ

Wednesday, July 24, 7.30 p.m.

Baroque specialist Julia Wedman leads Bach’s much-loved Air on the G String, plus Handel’s explosive Royal Fireworks, and a concerto inspired by bird song. Wedman also shines a light on Maria Grimani (the first woman to have her opera staged at the Vienna Court Theatre) and Anna Maria “dal Violin,” a student of Vivaldi who went from an orphan to become a famed violin soloist.

Tickets at victoriasymphony.ca

Victoria Symphony

Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony

Giuseppe Pietraroia, conductor

Thursday, July 25, 7.30 p.m.

Associate Conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia evokes the sights and sounds of Italy, as captured by Felix Mendelssohn in a musical postcard brimming with Neapolitan flavour! Respighi serves up ‘old wine in new bottles,’ in a charming suite inspired by dances from the Italian Renaissance. Baroque dances also flavour Britten’s Simple Symphony, while Mozart’s dramatic depiction of Don Juan seduces concert goers!

Tickets at victoriasymphony.ca

Sing the North Summer Festival Chorus

Mozart Requiem

Howard Dyck, conductor

Saturday, July 27, 7.30 p.m.

Howard Dyck conducts the 90-voice Sing the North Summer Festival Chorus and Orchestra plus two chamber choirs, with a third chamber choir led by festival director, Kathryn Whitney. Concertmaster Christi Meyers leads the Festival Orchestra, with the cathedral's Assistant Director of Music, Mark McDonald, on organ.

Pacific Baroque Orchestra

Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610

Alexander Weimann, conductor

Friday, August 2, 7.30 p.m.

Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 is an undisputed masterpiece of spiritual and emotional depth, at times intimate and reverent, grand and dramatic, thrilling and sensual. Brilliant instrumental writing paired with impressive choruses and solos create an opulent tribute to the Virgin Mary, a testament to Monteverdi’s attention to the expressive power of music. In this performance of this rarely-performed work, Alexander Weimann leads ten international soloists and a collection of 17th-century instrumentalists, including the peerless Bruce Dickey on cornetto.

Presented by the Victoria Symphony

Tickets at victoriasymphony.ca

Cathedral After Dark

Blackwood (Jeff Reilly, bass clarinet & Peter Togni, piano/organ)

Saturday, August 3, 9.00 p.m.

Bass clarinetist Jeff Reilly and pianist/organist Peter-Anthony Togni (Blackwood duo) bring the armospheric sounds of their unique ensemble to a darkened cathedral in this late-night offering that gives the audience a chance to experience the cathedral "after dark!"

Admission by donation.

Service Times

Sundays

8.00 am Holy Eucharist, said

9.15 am Holy Eucharist

11.00 am Choral Eucharist

4.00 pm Choral Evensong

Monday to Friday

8.45 am Morning Prayer, said

5.00 pm Evening Prayer, said*

*Choral Evensong is sung during term time

Wednesdays

12.15 pm Holy Eucharist, said