Phoenix Chamber Choir: Phoenix Rising

In 2005, high school student Anny Chen composed a work for choir. It was sung by the Phoenix Chamber Choir (Vancouver), one of the best vocal ensembles in Canada, and the only Canadian representative in the European Broadcasting “Let the Peoples Sing” international choir competition in 2007.

Chen was not alone. Three young choral composers in 2005 received wonderfully positive coverage on the regional CBC Radio Two show North by Northwest. 4 other composers joined in 2007.

They had all participated in the Phoenix Chamber Choir's Young Choral Composers Development Program. Launched by the choir in 2005, the program offers high school and university students a hands-on opportunity to learn about all elements of choral writing, including contemporary techniques, textures and notation. The participants, engaged with the choir at all stages of the composition process, have their pieces sung, discussed and recorded in a workshop situation. Several compositions are then chosen to be premiered at a Phoenix concert.
 
Its 25th anniversary in 2008 was the occasion to further develop the program. With the support of the Canada Council, the choir commissioned 3-minute a cappella chamber works from 2 graduates of the program. The young composers were mentored by the artistic director of the Choir, Dr. Ramona Luengen, during the entire composition process.

For Anny Chen, the choir was seminal in showing her the path she wants to take: “Because of your program, I finally came to an epiphany that music was an integral part of myself that I could never give up. I never felt as passionate about music until the night the choir performed it in the Spring Concert… When the concert was over that night, I realized that I wanted everything to continue.” Who knows how many others will follow, developing the Canadian repertoire?