Welcome to the Cape Breton Chorale website!

50 years

The Cape Breton Chorale has been thrilling audiences since its formation fifty years ago. The Chorale has given more than 200 performances throughout the Maritimes, England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

The Chorale has shared the stage with a variety of musical stars, ranging from Celine Dion to Rita MacNeil and has performed before numerous visiting dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth II.

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Spring 2025

Paschae Amadeus

Choral music for Easter
Featuring the music of Brahms, Dett, Mendelssohn, and Mozart

 
Cape Breton Chorale
Ryan Billington, Conductor
Paula Jane Francis, Organ/Piano
Brandon Mollon, Assistant Director
 
When: Sunday, April 13, 2025, 3:00pm
Where: St. Andrews Presbyterian, 3 Queen St., Sydney Mines
Tickets: $30 general admission, available HERE, by calling (902) 270-2591, at the door.

Christmas With the Cape Breton Chorale

When: Saturday, December 7, 2024

Where: Ukrainian Parish Hall, Whitney Pier

 

Two events to choose from!

Festive Family Fun

Concert with sweets & coffee/tea

1:30 pm

Tickets: $10 Children under 12, $15 Students (with ID), $30 Adults,
$60 Family of four. Available here or by calling (902)270-2591.

Holiday Wine and Dine

Concert with three-course meal & wine or beverage

7:30 pm

Tickets: $60 Meal and concert (including gratuity) available until Dec 3, 2024
Concert only $20. Available here or by calling (902)270-2591
Cash Bar

 

Read More in the Cape Breton Post 

More details to come and will be posted here and on our socials. Follow @cbchorale to stay up to date

Fall 2024

 

Chasing the Years
Cape Breton Chorale and friends present
100 Years of Popular Song

Special Guests:

Ciarán MacGillivray,
tenor

Kurt Sampson,
bass and vocal percussion

Malcolm MacNeil,
guitar

Featuring the the winning submission of our recent Song Arrangement Competition by Benjamin Siegerson.

 
Come, Josephine, in My Flying Machine (1910) 
Fred Fisher - music
Alfred Bryan – lyrics
Benjamin Siegerson -- arrangement
 
Benjamin Sigerson is an award winning pianist and composer. He is based on Vancouver, British Columbia.
Find out more about this composer and his work by visiting

 

When: Saturday, November 2 2024, 7:30 pm,

Where: Sacred Heart Downtown, 217 George St, Sydney NS

Tickets: $30 General Admission, $15 Student (Valid Student ID required at the door). Available HERE or by calling (902)270-2591

Doors open at 6:30 pm
Bar service available
 

A Letter From Ryan Billington

Cheers to the Cape Breton Chorale!

On this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, I wish to welcome all members of the Chorale spanning 50 years of music making, our patrons, and guests. You have all played very important roles in the continued success of the organization whether as choristers. soloists, instrumentalists, Executive members, Board members, or supporters all in your own unique ways, whether for a short or long duration. On this significant milestone, we all gather to commemorate our collective achievements, challenges, highs and lows, and of course share in some beautiful music.

I have been honoured to serve as the director for the Cape Breton Chorale since 2017 and feel fortunate to have met Sr. Rita Clare in the 2017-2018 season. As I progressed through the rigorous audition process, I was able to spend a few moments getting to know her. I had heard of her work with the Chorale for many years before this time. Having been appointed director by Sr. Rita and the hiring committee surely counts as one of the proudest achievements of my time in Nova Scotia and my entire music career. I am pleased to join everyone in remembering her with great thanks as our founding director.

It has always been a warm and grounding experience to meet so many people in the greater circle of the Chorale and its patrons over the past 7 years. When I came to Nova Scotia in 2004 to work at StFX University, I didn't know more than one person in the entire province. Since joining the Chorale, I seem to always be meeting someone who is connected to other people through the group or through StFX over many generations and scenarios. It is wonderful to be a part of this network of educators, musicians, spiritual leaders, and professionals of all kinds.

Together as the Cape Breton Chorale family, lets salute all of those who have passed on, those who have remained steadfast to carry on singing, and those who will keep the music going into the future -- Congratulations on 50 years of singing, and here's to many more!

With Sincere admiration,

Ryan Billington

2024 Sister Rita Clare Scholarship Recipient

The Cape Breton Chorale is pleased to announce that Victoria McDougall is recipient of the 2024 Sister Rita Clare Scholarship.

Photo Credit: Warren Gordon

Coxheath resident Victoria McDougall is a recent graduate of Riverview Rural High School (French Immersion Certificate). She will be attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston this fall where she will begin her Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance.

 

Victoria has been studying piano and theory with Katherine Fraser since the age of seven. She has also studied voice under Robyn Cathcart and Deborah Jeans. She has studied with Monica MacNeil while at Riverview, along with Joe Waye for guitar. She has been very involved with productions at local theatres and has also danced since a very young age.
Victoria has also been awarded the following:
 
- A full tuition scholarship to the Berklee College of Music
- The Helen Creighton Foundation Prize for Singing
- The Melvin J Findlay Prize for Baroque Piano
- The Dorothy Dean Wilkinson Scholarship
- The Russell LeBlanc Memorial Scholarship

The Cape Breton Chorale congratulates Victoria and extends best wishes to all applicants on their graduation. We wish all of you the best in your future endeavours!