EVENTS
Chor Leoni presents The Big Roar
Chor Leoni announces the return of its 10th annual signature community choral festival, The Big Roar, on stage at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on May 3, 2025, at 4pm. For the first time in its history, the concert will be widely accessible to all audiences through the special offer of $5 TD Community Roar Tickets. The Big Roar represents a choral event unlike any other in Canada, featuring five choirs across all ages with more than 250 singers from Chor Leoni, the MYVoice educational choirs, the Emerging Choral Artist Program, and The Leonids, a nine-member professional ensemble of the finest singers from across North America. Each group will perform their own sets and then unite to become Canada’s largest lower voice choir, performing an electrifying blend of classic and modern choral works. Tickets for $5 at chorleoni.org
(Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, May. 3)
Vetta Chamber Music Presents: Grand Finale Viennois
Vetta Chamber Music ends the season by gathering a group of eight of the best musicians Vancouver has to offer to play Haydn, Mozart and Schubert, the grand masters of the First Viennese School. The Schubert Octet is rarely performed because of its unusual instrumentation with string quintet, clarinet, bassoon, and horn, but what a treat it will be to finally hear this work on the Vetta stage.
Jeanette Jonquil, clarinet
Sophie Dansereau, bassoon
Valerie Whitney, french horn
Joan Blackman violin
David Gillham, violin
Jacob van der Sloot, viola
Larry Blackman, viola
Zoltan Rozsnayai, cello
Dylan Palmer, bass
(Pyatt Hall at the VSO School of Music, 843 Seymour St, Vancouver, May. 4)
SlowPitchSound
SlowPitchSound (aka Cheldon Paterson, Toronto) is a celebrated turntable artist, composer, mentor and explorer of sound and visuals, who experiments with a wide range of disciplines, styles and sounds in what he has dubbed as “sci-fi turntablism”. Inspired by nature, outer space and dystopian sci-fi, his approach to making and presenting music includes turntablism, live sampling, field recordings and live cinema. SlowPitchSound will perform his piece Within Touch using a turntable, looper, drum machine and video camera. During the performance the audience will have a closeup view of SlowPitchSound's storytelling process projected on screen.
(ANNEX, 823 Seymour St, May. 10)
Mark Valenti
Acclaimed pianist Mark Valenti performs a soaring program of powerful & eclectic pieces. Joining us from Chicago, Valenti is an accomplished musician with an impressive career as a soloist & ensemble player across North America. Today he will perform Estampes by Debussy, 2 nocturnes by Chopin along with works by Prokofiev & Beethoven. Valenti will perform at 10:30 am & 1:30 pm. Presented by West Vancouver Community Arts Council.
(Silk Purse Arts Centre, 1570 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver, May. 13)
Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra’s 95th Anniversary Concert
The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra celebrates 95 years of musical excellence with a special anniversary concert on May 18, 2025, at the Orpheum. The milestone event showcases the talent and dedication of 280 young musicians across all four VYSO orchestras, from the foundational Debut and Junior Orchestras to the more advanced Intermediate and Senior ensembles. The concert offers an engaging program that highlights the artistic journey of these aspiring professionals and underscores the VYSO’s commitment to championing Canadian composers. Highlights from the repertoire include Carnival Overture by Oskar Morawetz — one of the most widely performed contemporary Canadian composers — and the revered Bramwell Tovey’s dynamic Sky Chase, which was originally written for the VYSO and was last performed by the orchestra in 2017. Adding to the celebratory atmosphere is the homecoming of special guest soloist Joanna G’froerer, the Principal Flutist of the prestigious National Arts Centre Orchestra and a VYSO alumna.
(The Orpheum at 601 Smithe St, Vancouver, May. 18, 2:00 p.m)
Avery Gagliano - piano recital
Celebrated as a "distinctive young talent" (International Piano), Avery Gagliano's talents have earned her the 1st prize and concerto prize at the 2020 National Chopin Piano Competition. More recently, she has been mentored by the legendary Sir Andras Schiff, who coaches her as well as invites her to concertize throughout Europe. She has performed in some of the world's most distinguished venues, including Carnegie Hall, Salle Cortot (Paris), the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, as well as the Louis Vuitton Foundation.
(Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St, May. 18, 3:00 p.m)
Elektra presents Legacy
Vancouver’s renowned adult treble voice choir, Elektra, is set to close its season with two performances of Legacy: on May 25 at Surrey’s Church of the Good Shepherd, and on May 31 at Vancouver’s Christ Church Cathedral. These concerts mark the final performances of Artistic Director Morna Edmundson’s tenure, who is stepping down after 38 years of visionary leadership.
Featuring an all-Canadian programme, Legacy is Edmundson’s "desert island playlist" of favourite Canadian compositions – all commissioned by Elektra over the decades – along with three Canadian premieres showcasing the choir's ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging talents.
(Good Shepherd Church, 2250 150 St, Surrey + Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard, Vancouver, May. 25 (Surrey) + May. 31 (Vancouver))
Trio Adiantum
Take in breathtaking chamber music performed by some of Vancouver's most talented classical musicians, Trio Adiantum: pianist Martha Brickman, violinist Jenny Essers, & cellist Brian Mix. This accomplished trio will perform works by Haydn, Beethoven & celebrated contemporary composer Dennis Alexander.
Trio Adiantum will perform at 10:30 am & 1:30 pm. Tickets $25-$28. Presented by West Vancouver Community Arts Council.
(Silk Purse Arts Centre, 1570 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver, May. 27)
Mikhail Voskresensky
For more than 60 years, Famed Russian pianist, Mikhail Voskresensky continues to give concerts internationally. The top prize winner of Schumann piano competition, Rio de Janeiro, Enescu in Bucharest and The First Van Cliburn competition, Voskresensky has captivated audience with his electrifying interpretations of the great piano literature of all styles.
His pupils have won more than 120 international prizes, including 61 gold medals.
(Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard St., Vancouver, May. 30, 7:30 p.m)
