Victoria Choral Society

Our Mission

To excel in the performance of classical and contemporary choral works, provide innovative development opportunities to young local artists, and inspire joy and passion for choral music in our community.

About the Victoria Choral Society

The Victoria Choral Society, directed by Brian Wismath, is an auditioned, mixed-voice symphonic choir dedicated to presenting the finest choral music from baroque to contemporary. Founded in 1934, the Victoria Choral Society has played a leading role in Victoria's cultural life, and has performed with every Victoria Symphony conductor since the Symphony's inception.

The choir was created after 200 singers, representing most of the church choirs of the day in Victoria, assembled in 1934 to sing Messiah. They agreed to continue singing together to promote choral music, and the Victoria Choral Society, at that time called the Victoria Choral Union, was formed. The instrumentalists who played with the choir later formed the Victoria Symphony.

Recent performances with the Victoria Symphony include Wagner's Lohengrin (Third Act), Verdi’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Britten’s War Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah. Each year, the Victoria Choral Society produces its own concerts with orchestra and soloists, most recently Bach’s Magnificat, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Brahms' Schicksalslied, Matthew Coleridge’s Requiem, Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of the Year, Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, Leonard Enns’ This Thirsty Land and Ten Thousand Rivers of Oil, John Estacio’s The Houses Stand Not Far Apart, Ola Gjeilo’s Luminous Night of the Soul and Sunrise Mass, Handel’s Joshua, Larysa Kuzmenko’s Golden Harvest, Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang, Knut Nystedt’s Immortal Bach, Rheinberger’s Mass in C Major, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

The choir is proud to collaborate with many community partners including Ballet Victoria, Pacific Opera Victoria, Victoria Chamber Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, and Vox Humana Chamber Choir.

The Victoria Choral Society is a member of the BC Choral Federation, the Association of Canadian Choral Communities, and Chorus America.