A Return to Singing!
Happy Summer! We hope that all are enjoying a warm and deserved summer hiatus from the hustle and bustle of the school year!
Some exciting news…
In accordance with the BCDC, all signs are pointing towards a full-voice return to singing by September 7th, barring any changes to local data. This means…..we will back for in-person choir again starting this fall 2021 and registration is open NOW! (click to register) Our new term begins on September 16th, 2021! Woohoo!
We can’t tell you how exciting this news is for all of us at Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir! We are so excited for the opportunity to welcome you all back in person and hear your voices ring out in song together once again!
As we approach the start of term this fall, we will be following any health and safety requirements that the BCCDC may put into place to the letter. Our health and safety plan reflects that of the current PHO and will change as/if needed. The health and safety of all our singers and staff is our utmost priority.
That being said, we are SO eager to welcome you back, or to have you join us for the first time!
REGISTRATION for the coming year is now open! (click to register)
Our winter concert will take place in early December and is called “A Holiday Around the World”, where we will explore the joy and beauty and fun of holiday-times music from all over the globe! This will be our first concert in nearly two whole years!
This hopeful year comes to us after a long, and challenging year and a half of uncertainty and we welcome all into our choir family with warmth, joy, and love.
Kiyomi and Eric
WE’RE BACK!
We are very excited to announce that Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir will be returning this coming fall 2020! After sadly not being able to safely perform our Spring Concert last term due to COVID-19, and several months of uncertainty, we have successfully come up with what looks to be a very exciting year of IN-PERSON singing! No online rehearsals required!
REGISTRATION for the coming year is now OPEN! (click here to register) Upon registration, you will be contacted to arrange a time at our first Intake and Registration Day, on September 3rd (please see below).
At this stage, large gatherings of over 50 individuals (ie. concerts) are still too high a risk and are currently prohibited by BC health authorities. In light of this, we wanted to offer the other side of the musical lifestyle…the recording studio experience! Each ensemble will get the chance to record in small groups on professional-grade equipment in our beautiful church space, culminating in two album-length collections of songs (one in the Winter and one in the Spring) that they can treasure forever, and a great video compilation of the whole recording process! The rehearsal stages will now include new areas of learning such as microphone technique, basic equipment training, along with honing their already exceptional singing skills to make a beautiful work they can sure to be proud of.
***IMPORTANT*** In accordance with BC health regulations as enforced by the BCCDC and Work Safe, we have made some adjustments to the structure of our rehearsals to ensure maximum safety for singers, as well as the other members of West Vancouver United Church’s community. We acknowledge that parents and guardians are in a particularly precarious situation of wanting their children to be able to socialize and have fun while likely being quite anxious about the health concerns of the world. Please take a moment to read our COVID-19 safe rehearsals procedures and guidelines, as there are some big changes. We are happy to respond to any emailed questions or concerns you may have at office@pschildrenschoir.ca
PSCC COVID Safety Regulations & WVUC User Guidelines
We also acknowledge that there have been some concerns over the safety of singing as an activity in general. After spending considerable time observing studies, reports, and policies from around the world, we believe that the BCCDC’s established protocols for safely operating a choir as well as music classes are in accordance with the most up to date science and should ensure as safe as possible rehearsals. You can find specifics for both of these on the BCCDC website as well as the BC Music Teacher’s Association report, Guidance for Music Classes in BC – UPDATED
We will be holding our first ever Intake and Registration Day on Thursday, September 3rd. This day will be used to fill out any additional registration information and ensure the contact information we have on file for you and your singers is accurate, to pick up any sheet music for the term, provide post-dated payments for the term, and answer any questions you may have. You will receive a sign-up link upon registration for a 10-minute time slot (please keep attendance limited to a parent or guardian and the registered singer(s)). Weather permitting, this event will take place outside on the grounds of West Vancouver United Church. Application and use of physical distancing, masks and hand sanitizer will be expected. Details will be provided upon registration.
We are so looking forward to this year. After the loss of our last concert and a Springtime of such toil, having the chance to hear all of your beautiful voices making music again will be a wonderful relief to the soul. Thank you for your trust and we look forward to seeing many of you again soon!
Be Kind. Be Calm. Be Safe. <3
Important Update for our Choir Family…
While this will not come as a surprise for most of us, in light of the most recent developments with the Covid-19, including the closing of all public schools and the ban on groups of over 50, as well as the valuable input from many of you, it is with the deepest regret that we must cancel the remainder of the season for Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir. This includes the remaining 4 rehearsals, the Fir and Oak performance on April 4th, the finale concert on April 25th, and the April 26th Sunday performance at West Vancouver United Church.
We cannot express just how grateful we are for each and every one of you, and the incredible amount of work and love every singer has put into preparing their music this term. It cannot be said enough how lucky we are to make music with your children, but also to learn from them week by week.
All this being said, as many of you know, arts and music organizations rely heavily on concerts and events that we are able to hold. Most of us – including PSCC – live concert to concert, season to season, and the people who work for these organizations live contract to contract, paycheque to paycheque. This is the case in good circumstances, and given the current climate, the situation for the arts community has become even more dire. We appreciate that this is a difficult time for most, but if it is within your means, we would ask that you consider making a donation to PSCC in lieu of your concert tickets, in an effort to mitigate the significant financial loss that our organization will be facing by having to cancel our Spring Concert. Your donation will help ensure that we are able to keep the choir running into the 2020/2021 season, and beyond. Your support during this time is immensely appreciated. If you wish to make a donation, in any amount, please let us know directly and we can direct you in how to do so.
Eric and I are already in discussions on developments for next season, and we are hopeful and excited for the future of Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir. We hope that you are all being taken care of and taking care of each other during these stressful and unsure times. Please let us know if you have any questions about anything at all, and we will be sure to get back to you.
We will see you all again in September.
With love and gratitude,
Kiyomi and Eric
Join the Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir at our Spring concert, “CÉILIDH”, where we are delighting in the folk music traditions and stories of the Celtic Isles, including Ireland, Scotland, and Wales! From Leprechauns and Fairies, brilliant sunrises and inspiring love stories, to rollicking celebrations of life’s wonders! All four PSCC choirs come together in this joyous evening of celebratory Celtic choral music!
April 25th, 2020 at 5:00 pm
West Vancouver United Church
2062 Esquimalt Avenue
Kiyomi Hori, Artistic Director; Eric Biskupski, Assistant Director
Bryn Wiley: Pianist
Dylan Lawry and Lena Adamson: student conductors
Tickets Available Online March 5th, 2020:
$20 Adult // $15 Student & Senior // $10 Youth (age 6-12)
8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1….days until choir begins again!
Friends, we’re excited to start singing again next Thursday with an exciting group of young singers. We’re getting ready to kick off a brand new year of music-making, learning, and fun with you all! Registration is still open and there are spaces available in all four choirs! **Arbutus choir is filling up FAST! Excess registrations will be waitlisted**
First rehearsals are on Thursday, September 12th at West Vancouver United Church. Please arrive early to get signed in, collect your music, and handle any first-day logistics! Kiyomi and Eric, alongside our wonderful rehearsal assistants, will be on hand to help everything go as smoothly as possible!
- Arbutus Choir (gr 1-2) 3:50-4:45 PM
- Cedar Choir (gr 3-4) 3:50 – 4:45 PM
- Fir Choir (gr 5-8) 4:50-5:50 PM
- Oak Youth Ensemble (gr 8 and up) 5:50-6:50 PM
Our winter concert this year will take place on Saturday, December 14th, 2019 at 6:00 PM and is titled “A Winter’s Night“. As is tradition, our Fir and Oak choirs will participate both in a Sunday morning service at the church on December 8th, 2019 as part of our thanks for WVUC’s generous donation of our concert and rehearsal space! They will both also participate in the joyous Choral Extravaganza! on Sunday, October 20th (3:00 performance) with four other choirs, and also the traditional Christmas Eve performance, “Christmas for Kids” on December 24th (4:00 performance). (Details for all performances will be updated on our Events page).
We can’t wait to sing with and see you all soon!
Kiyomi and Eric
The Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir is currently accepting early bird registration for all ages into our 4 choirs until the July 31st, 2019 deadline (fast approaching!).
Register now to guarantee your spot in the choir (grades 1-2 fill up quickly!) and save 10% on member fees! Don’t miss out!
Regular registration and enrollment will remain open all summer up until week 3 of the choir term (October 3rd, 2019).
Sign up now and invite your friends! 4 vibrant choirs for ages 6 through 19!
Changes and New Beginnings…
As we embark on a new year with new beginnings, the Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir family thanks Janelle Claudio for her incredible six years of dedication, skill, and unbridled joy that she has brought all of us in her time as Co-Director. She will be greatly missed by us all, but we wish her all of the happiness and success in her new endeavors. Thank you, Janelle!
The Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir is delighted to welcome Eric Biskupski to our choir family as the organizations new Assistant Director! Eric will be stepping into the leadership position, overseeing Arbutus Choir rehearsals and providing valuable insight and skills to Fir and Oak alongside current Director, Kiyomi Hori. Eric brings to us several years of singing and teaching experience in many styles, as well as his unmatched joy that we are so excited to have join us! Welcome, Eric, to the family! (See bio: Our Team)
Join the Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir for our 10th Anniversary spring concert; an uplifting evening of music about friendship, acceptance, and anti-bullying. Our selection of moving music and meaningful pop selections will be sure to have you tearing up and telling your neighbour “Thank You For Being A Friend!”
May 11th, 2019 at 5:00pm
West Vancouver United Church
2062 Esquimalt Avenue
Kiyomi Hori and Janelle Claudio: Artistic and Managing Directors
Bryn Wiley: Accompanist
Eric Biskupski and Lena Adamson: Guest Conductors
Tickets:
$15 Adult // $10 Youth (12 and under)
Join the Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir’s annual Christmas Carolong for a festive evening of music to get you in the holiday spirit! We’ll be singing all of the best, from classic carols to old favourites with a twist!
After the concert, please join us for a reception in the church hall to meet the artists, and enjoy some refreshments and socialization.
Sunday, December 2nd @ 5:00pm
West Vancouver United Church
2062 Esquimalt Ave.
Janelle Claudio and Kiyomi Hori: Artistic Directors
Bryn Wiley: Accompanist
Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3910961
$14 Adult // $8 Youth (12 and under)
OR at the door: $15 Adult // $10 Youth (12 and under)
Pre-Registration is now open for September!
Join us for Pacific Spirit Children’s Choir’s exciting 10-Year Anniversary season! The new term will begin on Thursday, September 13th, 2018, and we would love to see you there! Registration is now open to both new and returning members, and we are accepting singers in grades 1 through 12. Registration will be open until Thursday, October 4th.
Register for the 2017-2018 season here: REGISTER or contact Janelle and Kiyomi at office@pschildrenschoir.ca for more info.
Rehearsal dates and times:
Arbutus Choir Grades One and Two, ages 6-7: Thursday afternoons, 3:50-4:45 pm
Cedar Choir Grades 3 and 4, ages 8-9: Thursday afternoons, 3:50 to 4:45 pm
Fir Choir Grades 5 and up, ages 10 and up: Thursday afternoons, 4:50 to 5:50 pm
Oak Youth Choir Grades 8 and up, ages 13 and up: Thursday evenings, 5:50-6:50 pm