2025-2026 Season
Our 29th season
Fall 2025
Island Bel Canto Singers unveils its 29th season with an All-Canadian music line-up. The Central Island’s premier adult treble choir will perform songs of musical icons, such as: Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Susan Aglukark and Connie Kaldor – to name a few.
The singers of Island Bel Canto are excited to delve into a whole season of Canadian music and themes. They also welcome new singers to join them for two concerts this fall: in November, Songs for a Winter’s Night – featuring Lightfoot’s song of the same name, and including husband and wife duo Shanté van Horlick and Michael Mackinnon at Knox United Church, Parksville; in December, Christmas in Canada – a joint concert with the popular Festive Brass at St. Andrew’s United Church, Nanaimo. The spring’s Canadiana-based repertoire will be devoted to our country’s women poets and composers, with an event on International Women’s Day in March, and collaborative concerts with the Encore! Women’s Choir in both Nanaimo and Duncan.
Island Bel Canto Singers has always championed some Canadian music in its concerts. This year will be different – the whole season will feature nothing but Canadiana. The choir’s award-winning director, Fiona Blackburn, says “We have such a rich legacy of world-famous poets and composers, and there is so much music that celebrates our country. I was able to programme favourite songs like Joni Mitchell’s ‘A Case of You’ and Connie Kaldor’s ‘Wood River’. It just felt like the right time to wave our flag – musically!”
Treble singers who are interested to perform with this vibrant ensemble can find more information on the choir’s website: https://islandbelcanto.ca/sing-with-us/ Blackburn describes the group, “What brings us together is, of course, our love of singing. Rehearsals are joyful and full of laughter. We also welcome singers in Grade 12 and right up to singers in their 70’s – truly a multi-generational choir. We encourage new singers to try a couple of rehearsals first, to see if we are a good fit.” Rehearsals every Monday at Brechin United Church, Nanaimo 6:30-9:00pm.
November 29th, 7:00pm at Knox United Church in Parksville
Tickets available from choir members or through the Port Theatre Box Office.
December 6th, 7:00pm at St. Andrew’s United Church, Nanaimo. Tickets available at Eventbrite
Spring 2026
Sunday, March 8th – International Women’s Day Workshop
Time and Place: tbd
Saturday, April 25th @ St. Andrew’s United Church, Nanaimo
Shared Concert with Island Bel Canto Singers hosting Encore! Women’s Choir of Duncan
Saturday, May 9th @ Duncan Christian Reformed Church
Shared Concert with Encore! Women’s Choir hosting Island Bel Canto Singers of Nanaimo
Please check back for more details and ticket information.
updated November 6, 2025