Belle Canto Women’s Choir
Choir presentation
This diverse ensemble of adult female voices shares the common goal of performing high-quality choral music. Belle Canto was the first choir formed within the Cantilon Choirs family and remains its only adult ensemble. Through its tours and recordings, Belle Canto has distinguished itself as one of today’s leading women’s choirs.
Originally composed of university students, the choir today consists of amateur singers from all walks of life. Belle Canto particularly enjoys exploring contemporary repertoire from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, much of which has been recorded on its two albums, Invocation and Sing!
THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Heather Johnson
Heather Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Lethbridge (Canada), a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta (Canada), as well as a diploma from the Kodály Pedagogical Intézet in Kecskemét, Hungary. After a five-year tenure at Alberta College as Artistic Director of the Schola Cantorum program, Heather founded the Cantilon Choral Program in 2001. This comprehensive community choral program involves over two hundred singers ranging from five years old to adults. Widely recognized for her ability to inspire young musicians, Ms. Johnson seeks to create an atmosphere where every singer can experience the joy of choral art and, through this, understand the importance of their individual role in the creative process.
Since their inception, Ms. Johnson’s choirs have received numerous awards in provincial, national, and international Competitions. Her women’s choir, Belle Canto, recently participated in the Johannes Brahms International Choral Competition in Wernigerode, Germany (2013), where it was the only choir to receive three gold medals, ranking second in the folk choir and chamber choir categories. At the Seghizzi International Choral Competition in Gorizia, Italy (2010), they achieved second place in the romantic and contemporary categories, as well as the award for the festival’s best artistic program.
Previously, Belle Canto participated in the Cork International Choral Festival in Ireland in 2007, where it secured second place in the International Fleischman Trophy Competition. This choir also achieved second place for women’s chamber choirs at the third annual International Choral Olympics held in Bremen, Germany, in 2004.
The Cantilon Choirs have repeatedly received first places in provincial and national music festivals. Her women’s choir, Belle Canto, and her children’s choir, the Cantilon Chamber Choir, have both won first place in the prestigious CBC Choral Competition for amateur choirs. Ms. Johnson’s choirs regularly tour Canada and Europe.
Belle Canto Women’s Choir
Choir presentation
This diverse ensemble of adult female voices shares the common goal of performing high-quality choral music. Belle Canto was the first choir formed within the Cantilon Choirs family and remains its only adult ensemble. Through its tours and recordings, Belle Canto has distinguished itself as one of today’s leading women’s choirs.
Originally composed of university students, the choir today consists of amateur singers from all walks of life. Belle Canto particularly enjoys exploring contemporary repertoire from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, much of which has been recorded on its two albums, Invocation and Sing!
THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Heather Johnson
Heather Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Lethbridge (Canada), a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta (Canada), as well as a diploma from the Kodály Pedagogical Intézet in Kecskemét, Hungary. After a five-year tenure at Alberta College as Artistic Director of the Schola Cantorum program, Heather founded the Cantilon Choral Program in 2001. This comprehensive community choral program involves over two hundred singers ranging from five years old to adults. Widely recognized for her ability to inspire young musicians, Ms. Johnson seeks to create an atmosphere where every singer can experience the joy of choral art and, through this, understand the importance of their individual role in the creative process.
Since their inception, Ms. Johnson’s choirs have received numerous awards in provincial, national, and international Competitions. Her women’s choir, Belle Canto, recently participated in the Johannes Brahms International Choral Competition in Wernigerode, Germany (2013), where it was the only choir to receive three gold medals, ranking second in the folk choir and chamber choir categories. At the Seghizzi International Choral Competition in Gorizia, Italy (2010), they achieved second place in the romantic and contemporary categories, as well as the award for the festival’s best artistic program.
Previously, Belle Canto participated in the Cork International Choral Festival in Ireland in 2007, where it secured second place in the International Fleischman Trophy Competition. This choir also achieved second place for women’s chamber choirs at the third annual International Choral Olympics held in Bremen, Germany, in 2004.
The Cantilon Choirs have repeatedly received first places in provincial and national music festivals. Her women’s choir, Belle Canto, and her children’s choir, the Cantilon Chamber Choir, have both won first place in the prestigious CBC Choral Competition for amateur choirs. Ms. Johnson’s choirs regularly tour Canada and Europe.