For over thirty years the Calgary Boys' Choir has delighted music lovers with their beautiful tone and clear, pure sound, bringing the Choir critical and public acclaim. Our Choir not only enriches the lives of our members and Calgarians, but brings the music of Calgary's youth to the entire world.
Since 1973, the Calgary Boys' Choir has provided superior musical training and performance opportunities for boys aged three to twenty-five. We nurture and present excellence in music. Through discipline and performance in a team environment, we strive to promote positive values and personal development. We believe in making our programs available to all talented boys, regardless of financial means.
There are four choirs: the Young Singers, the Intermediate Choir, the Touring Choir and the Alumni Choir. Increasing levels of skill in vocal technique, aural musicianship and sight-reading are developed in a supportive environment that fosters dedication and self-esteem.
The excellent training the choristers receive has resulted in a number of awards in competition including from the Florida International Boychoir Festival, Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival, Alberta Music Festival Association, Canadian Choral Festival and the Bournemouth Music Festival (U.K).
The Touring and Alumni Choirs perform an extensive schedule of local, national, and international concerts. They present a challenging variety of repertoire, ranging from Gregorian chant to contemporary composers and popular styles, in several languages. They have performed in Japan, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, France, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and North America.
The Tradition of Excellence of The Calgary Boys' Choir includes performances with...
* Opera Star Jose Carreras
* Metropolitan Opera star Allan Monk
* Alberta Ballet
* Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
* Punahou Symphony Orchestra of Honolulu, Hawaii
* The Canadian Brass
* Featured in concert with Natalie Cole and Kenny Loggins
* United Nations 50th Anniversary performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
* A David Foster Christmas Card - CTV Special
* The Alliance World Festival of Singing for Men and Boys in the Czech Republic
* The International Boys Choir Festival in Salem, Oregon
The Choir has participated in Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill (Ottawa), at the Canadian Embassy (Paris) and on HMCS Vancouver (Sydney Harbour, Australia). They have also sung at, the Calgary Bach Festival, Domaine Forget International Festival (Quebec), and the Grasse International Music Festival (France).
The Choir is also committed to being involved in the community. All levels of the choir perform many times each year in Calgary concert halls, churches, community centres and schools. We have also performed at many major public events including the 1988 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremonies and singing the Canadian and American national anthems at Calgary Flames hockey games, and Calgary Cannons and Toronto Blue Jays baseball games.
Recordings include Jubilate (1992) and Spirit of Harmony (1994). The most recent recording, Hearts Ascending (1998), features both sacred music from diverse cultures as well as The Little Prince, a children's opera by then-artistic director, Gerald Wirth, based on Antoine De Saint-Exupery's book, Le Petit Prince.
The high quality and dedication of the Choir's leadership has been extremely important in its success. Under Douglas Parnham, founder and artistic director 1973 to 1991, the Choir grew from 14 members to over 100. Gerald Wirth was artistic director from 1991 to 1998, at which time he returned to his native Austria to become senior director with the Vienna Boys Choir. Jean-Louis Barbier, Artistic Director from 1998-2000, came to us from France. Ms. Arlie Langager, with her extensive background of solo and choral conducting, was Artistic Director from 2000 to 2003. Acclaimed bass-baritone performer, Paul Grindlay directed the choir from 2003 to 2006 and Dr. Svetlana Lysogor from 2007-2010.
We are excited to welcome Paul Grindlay back to the position of Artistic Director of the Calgary Boys' Choir. Paul is working enthusiastically with the boys to continue the choir's tradition of excellence.
