The British Columbia Choral Federation (BCCF) and the Vancouver-based EnChor Choir will be welcoming singers and audiences to the Semiahmoo Peninsula for the federation's upcoming Seniors鈥� Chorfest 2025, scheduled for April 9 and 10 at White Rock Baptist Church in South Surrey.
The Seniors鈥� Chorfest is a popular tradition that usually takes place every few years across the province 鈥� but the last event was held in Kelowna in pre-pandemic 2019.
Returning to the Lower Mainland this year with a 'Colours of Spring' theme, the revived festival promises a blend of rehearsals, social gatherings, and performances, providing an unforgettable musical experience for longtime singers.
鈥淲hite Rock was home to BCCF Seniors' Chorfest twice before 鈥� in 2005 and 2017 鈥� under the leadership of White Rock鈥檚 Kent Street Choristers,鈥� noted Willi Zwozdesky, BCCF executive director.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 20th anniversary return marks an exciting full-circle for all of us.鈥�
Event clinician will be Canadian conductor, composer, and arranger Erica Phare-Bergh.
Formerly based in Victoria and now residing in Alberta, Phare-Bergh has led multiple choirs, including Voices in Motion, an intergenerational research choir uniting individuals with dementia with their caregivers, students, and friends through music.
As hosts of the Seniors鈥� Chorfest, Vancouver鈥檚 EnChor Choir will be welcoming over 120 singers from choirs across B.C. The festival also welcomes individual participants as well as full or partial choirs.
Highlighting the event will be a gala concert with a mass choir performance, featuring a repertoire selected, arranged and led by Phare-Bergh to match the 'Colours of Spring' theme.
The diverse repertoire will include composers ranging from Cree-Dene artist Sherryl Sewepagaham to the late George Harrison of the Beatles.
鈥淎lso figuring prominently in the celebrations will be choral arrangements by Erica,鈥� Zwozdesky added.
鈥淭his will provide a rare opportunity for us to work with the arranger from start to stage.鈥�
Morna Edmundson, artistic director of EnChor Choir, said she is also looking forward to working with Phare-Bergh.
鈥淚've known Erica for decades, and she has a lot to offer in what I know will be an uplifting couple of days."
She added she believes strongly in events such as the Chorfest because of the opportunity they provide to bring people together through music.
"Sitting beside a stranger with whom one shares the bond of choral singing is a joyful experience,鈥� she said.
Non-singers who wish to support the event as spectators will be able to purchase tickets for the mass choir performance, which will take place at 7 p.m., April 10 at White Rock Baptist Church (1657-140th St.)
For more information, visit bcchoralfed.com/seniorschorfest or email seniorschorfest@bcchoralfed.com.
