Founded in 2017 by Annabelle Paetsch, then Minister of Music at St Stephen’s Anglican Church, West Vancouver, this non-auditioned adult choir of 25-30 voices (initially called St Stephen’s Community Singers) has maintained its mandate to create community through music and to share music with the community. Although most singers are North Vancouver or West Vancouver residents, some travel from Burnaby or Vancouver to participate in rehearsals and concerts, which are held on the North Shore. Singing, especially in a group, has been shown to have many health benefits and to increase feelings of connection and relaxation – plus it is fun!

Repertoire is primarily SAB, although we are now expanding into SATB, and ranges in style from Canadian compositions and folk song arrangements to musical theatre, as well as Christmas and seasonal repertoire. NSCS has recently ventured into choral classics, e.g., Mozart and Faure. Accompanied by flutist Nancy Riecken and percussionist Hilary Clark, the choir has performed at Amica Lions Gate, the Westerleigh, and Kiwanis Garden Village, in addition to presenting public concerts in December and June, usually at St Stephen’s church. Occasionally the choir enjoys collaborating with community musicians such as Saxalamode saxophone quartet, Cadenza Academy Ensemble, harpist Dr. Bess Lu, violinist Jenny Essers, and percussionist Nick Apivor.

NSCS rehearses at St Stephen’s, 885 – 22nd Street (across from the West Vancouver Community Centre) on Thursdays from 3:30-4:45 p.m. Members support the choir through a modest fee per term. The fall term runs September through early December; the spring term begins in February and goes until mid-June.

Please email nscsingers@gmail.com for further information.