North Island Choral Society
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Fall Program Hello Singers: Time for a look ahead at the NICS fall term. The registration form will be here on the website by August 14, 2023. We will be doing the following works with concerts set for Dec 1 and 2: Vivaldi’s Magnificat with soloists and orchestra. Berlioz’s The Shepherds’ Farewell choir only Poulenc’s Four Motets For Christmas Time choir only Finzi’s In Terra Pax choir and orchestra Elgar’s A Christmas Greeting choir and violins and piano We will be opening up online registration mid August. We will notify you a few days ahead.Once again we will be striving for a choir of 60 singers. Rehearsals start Tuesday Sept 5 at 7 pm at the Comox Valley Presbyterian Church. Rehearsals run 7 to 8:30. The choir meets every Tuesday evening 7:00 – 8:30 pm. Membership fees are $100 per session ($10 per year for membership), $30 for students, Winter and Spring sessions. Paul Colthorpe – Artistic DirectorPaul arrived in the Comox Valley in 1991 with his Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Education (U. Vic.), He has taught secondary school band and choir and elementary classroom music. He is also Director of Music Ministries at Comox Unitedu0026hellip;
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Donations
Supporting the Choir: We are a non-profit organization with charitable status. You will receive a tax receipt. If you use Canada Helps here you will receive the receipt right away. If you wish to donate by e-transfer, see the form below. If you wish to donate by cheque to NICS send to: PresidentNorth Island Choral Society1447 Valleyview DriveCourtenay BC, V9N 8T3 Canada Helps Donation Button E-transfer optionIf you would like to donate by e-transfer, please complete the form below to receive the North Island Choral Society e-transfer address Coast Mountains, photo by Charles Brandt
History
Choir History
History of North Island Choral Society In the Fall 2014 NICS celebrated its 30th anniversary. Now NICS is looking forward to celebrating a 40th year anniversary in 2024. The choir’s beginnings were in the mid 1980s with individuals wanting to stage Handel’s Messiah. Richard Walker was the founding member and first artistic director. His wife Christine Purvis was involved and may have been the organist. In 1989 its Exec sought BC Registered Society Status. Between 1989 and 1995 there were several artistic directors: Marcia Haley conducted for 3 years. Jane Gilchrist for one spring season. Our current accompanist, Elvera Penner, became accompanist in 1992 when Marcia Haley was artistic director. Then she took a break until 1995. Paul Colthorpe was hired as artistic director in the Fall of 1995. Elvera Penner joined him as accompanist and NICS is fortunate to have them continue. In 2014 NICS became a charitable organization, reporting to the Charities Branch of the Canada Revenue Agency.
Concert Posters
December 2006 Mozart Moments Winter 2012 Haydn “The Creation“ Spring 2013 Mendelssohn “Elijah” Spring 2014, Mozart “Requiem“ December 2015, “Magnificats” December 2016 “Oratorios” Spring 2016 Faure Requiem Spring 2017 Haydn Mass and Verdi Requiem Remembrance Day 2017 Faure Requiem December 2017 Sing-a-long Messiah Spring 2018 Milestones: Couperin, Gounod, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Arcadelt December 2018 Fantasy of English Carols: Rutter, Britten, Vaughn Williams, Holst Spring 2019 Brahms Beethoven and Bach December 2019 Choral Advent Spring 2022 Renew and Rejoice: Schubert Mass, Vivaldi Gloria December 2022 UK Yuletide: Handel to Holst Spring 2023 Mozart Requiem December 2023 A Christmas Greeting, Berlioz, Finzi, Mozart, Elgar, Vivaldi, Poulenc
List of Concerts
North Island Choral Society Concert Summary (1998-2023) October 1998: “I Heard the Owl Call My Name” (Benefit for CV Hospice Society)November 1998: “Oh! Canada” December 2004: Messiah(Soloists: Carrie Lemke, Catherine Knudsen, John Doughty, Wade Noble) December 2006: Mozart Moments”(Soloists: Amy Lelliot, Elizabeth Wilson, David Brown, Matthew Nichol) December 2007: Messiah(Soloists: Amy Lelliot, Lisa Deith, David Brown, Paul Boughen) Spring 2009: “A Mass of Medleys”(Soloists: Megan Skidmore, Lindsay Sterk, Phillip Marx) December 2009: “Carols at Christmastide”(Soloists: Megan Skidmore, Roger Helfrick) Spring 2010: Mozart Requiem(Soloists: Megan Skidmore, Lisa Deith, David Brown, Chris Bellamy) Winter 2010: Messiah(Soloists: Megan Skidmore, Lisa Deith, David Brown, Chris Bellamy) Spring 2011: “Melodious Spring” (Morely, Mendelssohn Bach, Buxtehude, Pachabel “Magnificat”, Charpentier “TeDeum”) (Soloists: Lisa Deith, David Brown, Chris Bellamy) Winter 2011: “The Gift of Glory” (Saint-Saens “Oratorio de Noel”, Vivaldi “Gloris”)(Soloists: Megan Skidmore, Amy Lelliot, Lisa Deith, David Brown, Chris Bellamy) Spring 2012: Haydn “Creation”(Soloists: Megan Skidmore, David Brown, Paul Buoghen) Winter 2012: “Chrismastide Carols” (Rutter, Byrd, Morley, Hallelujah chorus)Sing-along Messiah Spring 2013: Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”(Soloists: Megan Skidmore, Jenn Forslan, David Brown, Paul Boughe) Winter 2013: Vivaldi’s “Magnificat” Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols”(Soloists: Amy Lelliot and Lisa Deith) Spring 2014: Mozart’s “Requiem”(Soloists: Megan Skidmore, Lisa Deith, David Brown, Nicholas Allen)u0026hellip;
Supporters
Don and Brendan Somers RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
Photos
December Concert, 2022 Spring 2023 Rehearsal slide show, use arrows to view photos
Risers
Members
Link to Paul’s rehearsal schedule for the spring Link to choir information handout Paul’s Mozart video link resources
News for Members
2026-01-20
Website news – the new News blog
2026-01-18
Next President needed.
2026-01-09
Welcome to NICS 2026 Spring Term
2026-01-06
Cornelis Brink, sad news