Our Mandate
The British Columbia Girls Choir is dedicated to the practice, advancement and enjoyment of music. Singers are introduced to a wide variety of musical styles and languages, from the Renaissance to Contemporary works, with an accent on compositions of quality and lasting value. Singers are encouraged to achieve musical excellence and then share their accomplishments with audiences around the world.
The British Columbia Girls Choir Society evolved from the Academy West Schola Cantorum choral programme founded in 1998. Fiona Blackburn joined the artistic team in 2000 when the singers traveled to Australia for an International Olympic Choral Festival, where they sang at the Olympic Torch Relay and in the Sydney Opera House.
BCGC offers two rehearsal locations: New Westminster and Maple Ridge, providing access to the programme from all areas of the Lower Mainland. Our membership comes from 12 school districts through out the Lower Mainland.
Highlights of recent seasons include: the release of our AngelSong CD; a six-city concert tour of China; the nomination to the Provincial Music Festival and the Greta Sharp Award for the Best Performance.
Performances
- Regular Christmas and Spring concert series of four performances
- Education concerts for schools each spring
- Guest appearances upon request
Invitations
- Wheaton College Men's Glee Club - 2008
- BC Choral Federation Chorfest - 2008
- Elektra Women's Choir Christmas Concert Chez Nous - 2007
- Surrey Sings Choral Showcase 2008, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000
- Guests of Welsh Men's Choir - 2005, 2002
- Worldbeat with Henry Leck - 2005
- Norman Foote - 2003
- Gentlemen of Fortune Barbershop Chorus - 2002, 2008
- World of Children's Choirs - 2001
Tours and Guests
Tours
- Scotland, England, Germany - 2009
- Domestic tour - 2008
- Mainland China - 2006
- Vancouver Island - 2004
- Australia - 2000
Guests
- Radcliffe Choral Society, Harvard University - 2007
- Young Scott Singers - 2004
- Young Voices of Melbourne, Melbourne Australia - 2001
- Juventus Vocalis, Germany - 2000
- Seattle Children's Chorus - 2000
- Tahoma Girl's Choir - 1999
Recordings
- New CD to be released in Spring 2010
- Bella Voce, Elektra Women's Choir and A Touch of Brass - 2007
- AngelSong - 2006
- Theme song for National Coalition for Music Education - 2006
- Emily's Christmas with Lori Papajohn - 2003
- Norman Foote DVD - 2003
- First Noel - 1998
Community Outreach
- Annual Walk for Awareness for the BC Lupus Society - May
Benefit Concerts
- Eagleridge Hospital - 2008, 2009
- St. Barnabas Anglican Church's Community Projects for the homeless - 2007
- International Women's Day - 2007
- North Shore LookOut Homeless Shelter - 2006
- Enspire Foundation for Library in the Philippines - 2006
- Tzu Chi Foundations Smile for Harmony Event - 2005
- Tsunami Relief - 2005
- North Shore Harvest Project - 2005
- CBC Radio 1's annual Food bank day - 2005
- Children's Wish Foundation - 2005
Plus numerous other community outreach invitations.
Festivals and Awards
Fraser Valley Kiwanis Festival
- Promising Junior Community Choir - 2006
Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival
- Sam Balden Scholarship - 2006
- Jean Beaty Memorial Scholarship - 2005
- Charlie and Helen Young Scholarship - 2004
- Dr. and Mrs. J.F.K. English Award for best performance of community choir age 16 and under - 2004, 2007, 2008
- Richard W. Cooke Class Award for best performance of community ensemble of 8 to 12 singers, no age limits - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008
- Margaret Wharton Memorial Award for best performance of community choir age 12 and under - 2001, 2007
- George S. Mathieson Class for best performance by a community choir 19 years and under - 2009
Provincial Music Festival
- First Place - Provincial representatives to the National Music Festival - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
- Greta Sharp Award for most outstanding choral performance - 2002, 2007
- BC Choral Federation Award for an outstanding performance of a Canadian Choral composition - 2002, 2005
CBC Choral Competition
National Music Festival
- Richard W. Cooke Class - 2nd place - 2000, 2001, 2008
International Choral Kathaumixw
- Children's Choir Category - 2nd place - 2008
- Elmer Iseler Award - Best Performance of a Canadian Composition - 2008