Chor Leoni marks 35th season with sea shanties, holiday classics, and 450-singer festival

Chor Leoni, Vancouver's acclaimed ensemble, is marking its 35th anniversary with a full season of performances running through May 2027. The lineup features the return of Don Macdonald's "High Flight," a six-movement composition honouring a World War II Canadian air-force pilot, alongside seasonal tradition and new collaborations.

The season opens November 11 with Remembrance Day Concerts titled "The Soul Flies Away," featuring the long-awaited return of "High Flight." In December, the choir presents its holiday tradition "Christmas With Chor Leoni" (December 17–19), alongside local guest musicians including pianists Tina Chang and Karen Lee-Morlang, guitarist Keith Sinclair, and violinist Cameron Wilson.

March brings a cross-country collaboration: Chor Leoni teams with Montreal's La Nef ensemble for "Bound Away" (March 5–6), a program of sea shanties featuring shantyman Seán Dagher, santoor player Saina Khaledi, and violinist Cameron Wilson. The program includes a major new work by Chor Leoni's composer in residence, Marie-Claire Saindon.

The season closes with The Big Roar (May 7–8), Chor Leoni's annual festival gathering over 450 singers. This year's participants include the professional ensemble The Leonids, MYVoice youth choirs, the Emerging Choral Artist Program, and 12 guest choirs — among them the Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir, Vancouver Cantonese Choir, Vancouver Iranian Choir, Koro Pacifico, and KÔR. A new initiative, The Big Roar: Day of Singing, offers free public performances on the second day.

Throughout the season, Chor Leoni continues its digital Concert Film series, free with RSVP. Season packages are on sale now; single tickets become available October 1. More details are available on Chor Leoni's website.