Choirs

by Trish Horrocks

If you’re considering a move to Nanaimo and you’re interested in singing in a choir, there are tons of options.

• Aviva is our local LGBTQ+ choir https://aviva.choirgenius.com/node
• Malaspina Choir is a SATB group that presents large works like the Messiah https://malaspinachoir.com/
• There are at least 2 youth choirs, https://www.ncmusic.ca/group-lessons/nanaimo-youth-choir and https://vancouverislandsymphony.com/noteworthy-kids-sing/
• Island Consort is a classical chamber choir https://www.islandconsort.ca/
• the Tidesmen is a barbershop men’s chorus https://www.tidesmen.com/dbpage.php
• Then there are several non-auditioned community choirs: Camerata Singers https://www.cameratasingers.ca/ and Yellow Point Singers https://djroszmann.wixsite.com/ypsingers/
• A Capella Plus https://www.acappellaplus.ca/
• Nanaimo Rock Choir https://nicklariviere.com/nanaimo/

There are more choirs than this, for certain - I think Nanaimo has over 20 choirs! There is an organization called Nanaimo Sings that has tons of information about the local scene: https://nanaimosings.ca/

Music

by Trish Horrocks

• The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music has all-ages individual and group music lessons for a very wide variety of instruments and styles, but they focus primarily on classical music instruction. https://www.ncmusic.ca/
• the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association maintains a great list of local private music teachers. https://bcrmta.bc.ca/
• Two local music shops (Arbutus Music and Long and McQuade) also offer private instruction, but they focus more on pop/rock/jazz styles.
• There is a community band in the city (the longest continually running band in Canada) http://nanaimoconcertband.com/
• if you are looking to play chamber music, you can search for like-minded folk all over the world on the ACMP website https://acmp.net/directory/?mode=players
• The Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra is a community classical string ensemble open to players of all ages (minimum level RCM 7) https://www.nanaimochamberorchestra.com/