Viva choristers, in grades four to six, enjoy a program designed to advance their musical skills and build new repertoire. Viva rehearses once a week for an hour and a half at Calgary Christian High School. It is an award-winning choir, having received the First Place award for singers ten years and under at the National Festival.

Viva takes part in a fall music camp, and performs at the Calgary Girls Choir’s annual concerts, Hark the Glad Sound Festive Concert and Celebrate!, the season finale. Last spring Viva was also the featured choir at the BC Choral Federation’s Children’s Chorfest in Whistler, under the direction of Guest Conductor Elaine Quilichini.

A highlight this season, Viva performed the Olympic Torch Relay anthem, There’s a Light / Cette Flamme, at the Chestermere Olympic Torch Celebration on January 19, 2010. Chestermere was one of only four Celebration points on the relay route through the City of Calgary and surrounding area. The Choir is proud to have been selected to participate in this historic event.

Weekly Viva Rehearsals

Jenny-Lynn McCue, Accompanist

Allegra, the children’s choir for singers in grades seven to ten, rehearses once each week for three hours at Calgary Christian High School.

The choir is recognized nationally and internationally for its many accomplishments. Allegra choristers, members of the CGC Youth Choir, received first place at the prestigious 2008 CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. The choir has toured Wales and England where it was awarded major prizes at the Llangollen international Musical Eisteddfod, and was also Choir-in-Residence at the National Conference of the Organization of American Kodály Educators in Chicago.

Each fall Allegra attends a music camp, a great start to the choir year. It also performs at the Choir’s annual concerts. Last spring Allegra and Ragazze premiered the Choir’s new commission, A Brighter Garden, by Canadian composer Paul Halley under the direction of Ms. Quilichini at the Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary. The choirs premiered the composition, now with orchestral accompaniment, at the Festive Concert on December 13 at the EPCOR CENTRE’s Jack Singer Concert Hall.

A highlight this fall, forty Allegra and Ragazze choristers were members of the Inter-Faith Youth Choir that performed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Ms. Quilichini, selected as Artistic Director of the Inter-Faith Youth Choir, was able to draw a truly inspired performance from the choir. The incredibly moving event welcomed the Dalai Lama to Calgary for the connect NOW Conference sponsored by The University of Calgary.

Allegra will also release new CD recordings in future. The choir is currently featured on several Calgary Girls Choir’s CDs.

Weekly Allegra Rehearsals

Edward Choi, Accompanist

Ragazze, the Full Chorus for singers in grade 11 through college and university, rehearses once each week for three hours at Calgary Christian High School. The choristers develop advanced musical skills, study a more challenging repertoire and perform a wide variety of exciting music in several languages.

In addition to its fall music camp and the Choir’s annual concerts, Ragazze also performs with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Last season the choir performed with the CPO to standing ovations for its traditional Christmas concerts at Grace Presbyterian Church.

Ragazze choristers were members of the Youth Choir, receiving first place at the prestigious 2008 CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. This was the third time the choir was awarded first place at CBC Radio’s choral competition!

This fall Ms. Quilichini was selected as the Artistic Director of the Inter-Faith Youth Choir for the event celebrating the visit of the Dalai Lama to Calgary. Held in the Pengrowth Saddledome, 200 singers drawn from across Calgary, including forty Ragazze and Allegra choristers, performed to a capacity crowd. The choir’s inspiring performance provided a moving and memorable experience for all.

The choir’s highly praised CD recordings were recently re-printed, and Ragazze will release new recordings in future.

Weekly Ragazze Rehearsals

Edward Choi, Accompanist

Artistic Director Elaine Quilichini invites choristers from Allegra and Ragazze to become members of Brava, the chamber choir, for special performance and recording projects.

Legal | Webmaster

Artistic Director | Choirs | Performances | Our Sponsors | Staff

Our Junior Music Program | Join the Choir | Related Links