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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Assistant Director

 

The Cape Breton Chorale invites applicants for a new Assistant Director position beginning August 1, 2024, and continuing until May 1, 2025. The position reports to the Artistic Director and contributes to realising the musical goals of the organization.

The ensemble is looking forward to presenting new and exciting concert events in the 2024-2025 season including one dedicated to arrangements of popular songs for choir. Rehearsals and events take place primarily within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Remuneration: $2,500

Duties of the Assistant Director will include:

  • attendance at rehearsals, sectional rehearsals, dress rehearsals and concerts,

  • participating as a singer throughout the season,

  • service on the Chorale Music Committee,

  • preparing or gathering rehearsal aids for choir members,

  • leading sectional rehearsals,

  • conducting a piece in each concert event through the season,

  • helping to lead rehearsals in the artistic director’s absence,

  • posting score information online for choristers,

  • keeping singers well informed of instructions and performance details.

 

Desired qualifications include a music degree, basic piano skills, basic conducting skills, understanding of harmony, evidence of experience in musical leadership. Some experience in choral leadership is considered an asset.

 

 

Applicants should submit a short letter of interest and a resumé to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on or before July 12, 2024.

Celebrating 50 Years

 

 

Our Shining Night

Concert and Reception

When: Saturday, May 4, 2024, 7:30 pm

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

Tickets: $50: includes concert, reception and free drink, and entry into the door prize

New: $30: concert only

Available HERE

Read all about it in the Cape Breton Post: Our Shining Night with the Cape Breton Chorale. Published April 29, 2024.

All are welcome to this event. We anticipate a sellout crowd, so be sure to get your tickets early.

 

 

Golden Gala

Three-course Gala dinner for current and former members and their plus ones. 

When: Friday May 3, 2024. Cocktails beginning at 6 pm, Dinner at 7 pm

Where: The Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club Room at Flavor on the Water, 60 Esplanade, Sydney NS

Tickets: $75. RSVP HERE

Space is limited last day to RSVP: April 15

Read all about it in the Cape Breton Post Calling all Cape Breton Chorale Alumni. Published March 13, 2024.

Listen to our interview with The Coast 89.7 FM 

 

 

 

Fall 2023

December 17, 2023

Christmas With The Cape Breton Chorale

Christmas 2023

Join us for an afternoon of seasonal music. We are thrilled to premier 'O Christmas Time' by Dr. Roydon Tse, the winner of our first Competition For Young Composers. 

When: Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 3:00pm
Where: Church of Christ the King, 19 Trinity Avenue, Sydney

Tickets:$30 general admission By calling 902-270-2591, from members, online here


October 13, 2023

Celtic Colours International Festival: Rita, Rita, Rita

The Cape Breton Chorale will be participating in the Celtic Colours International Festival this year. Mark Friday, October 13th on your calendars and we will see you at the Savoy Theatre for Rita! Rita! Rita! which will honour the legacies and contributions of Rita Joe, Rita MacNeil, and our founding director, Sister Rita Clare.

The list of performers include:

The Men of the Deeps
Cape Breton Chorale
Morgan Toney & Keith Mullins
Kalolin Johnson
Ryan J. MacNeil & Ewan and Maël MacNeil
Angela MacDonald & Duane Nardocchio
Lawrence Cameron

Please see the festival link below to book your tickets today!

celtic-colours.com/events/rita-rita-rita/

And The Winner Is...

O Christmas Time by Dr. Royden Tse

We are thrilled to announce the winning selection from the Cape Breton Chorale Competition for Young Composers: 'O Christmas Time' by Dr. Royden Tse. 

The Chorale will perform this piece during our Christmas concert on December 17, 2023.

RoydenTse

Dr. Tse, named one of the CBC Music's "Top 30 under 30" classical musicians is a multiple award winning composer based in Toronto.
We encourage you to visit https://roydontse.com/ to find out more about Dr. Royden Tse's work.
Congratulations to Dr. Tse from the Cape Breton Chorale!

Composition Competition

The Cape Breton Chorale is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Year! As part of the 2023-2024 season, we are inviting submissions for our first competition for young composers.

The deadline for submissions is October 16, 2023.

The winning submission will be performed in
December of the 2023-2024 season at our concert, Christmas with the Cape Breton Chorale.

Prize Amount: $1500

Eligibility and Guidelines for Submission

This competition is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and landed immigrants who are 35 years of age or younger. Submissions must not be previously commissioned,
performed, or published.

General

The work must be original, not an arrangement of an existing work. We encourage an individual creative approach to choral writing that suits our ensemble well. The submissions will be
adjudicated by a panel from the Cape Breton Chorale organization.

Text

Composers should choose their own text, either a sacred text based on an aspect of the Christmas tradition or one that expresses universal, seasonal, and/or holiday themes. Texts
must be approved for public performance and recording or be in the public domain. Composers are responsible for securing permission from text copyright holders.

Length, Instrumentation, and Voicing

• Submissions should be 3-6 minutes in length.
• While there may be some a cappella sections, a piano accompaniment should be included.
• Solo(s) for soprano, alto and/or tenor may be included.
• SATB choir of approximately 40 singers. Soprano and Alto parts may include divisi.
• An additional instrument part may be included.

Score Preparation

Scores must be clearly legible and may be handwritten or formatted with notation software. Submissions should be presented in open score format, with accompaniment set below the vocal parts. Closed score should only be used for sections with purely homophonic textures.

Instrument part(s), if applicable, should be included in the score above the vocal parts in concert key. A separate instrument part in the correct instrument transposition must also be included.

Submission Instructions

There is no entry fee for this competition.

Include the composer’s name, contact information, and title of work in the body of the email. Only the title of the work and text author (if different from composer) should be included as
part of any attached file.

Example: Christmas in Cape Breton.2023.pdf

The adjudication panel will see the anonymous scores. Composer identity will remain hidden from the panel until after the selection has been made.

Submit the score, any applicable instrument part, and/or text sheet (translations are appreciated, if applicable) of the completed work in PDF file format via email to the address included below. Include a letter of permission for use of the text, if applicable.

The inclusion of a notation software demo recording (mp3 or wav format) is appreciated but not required.

Please submit files to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Selection, Awards, Performance

The organization will identify the winning composer and notify them by phone and/or email on or before November 1, 2023.

An honourable mention may be declared. In this case, we may ask the composer’s consent to perform their piece in December 2023 along with the winning composition.

A live performance of the winning composition will take place on December 17, 2023. The composer will receive a live recording of the piece within 60 days of the performance.

Full information available here