Cantaré is the ensemble for boys and girls ages 11 to 14. Singers are challenged to new heights of musical sophistication through the study of high quality repertoire in unison and two / three / four part harmony. Performance opportunities within the community and tours are an important enrichment to the training these advanced singers receive.

In competition, Cantaré has received hight praise and accolades.  In 2001, Cantaré was awarded First Prize at the National Music Festival. Chosen to represent Calgary at the Alberta Provincial Choir Festival (National stream), Cantaré has also earned numerous awards in that competition.  Cantaré has won numerous awards, medals and scholarships at the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival and has consistently earned Superior ratings at Choralfest.

Members of our Cantaré ensemble have been featured performers in Calgary Opera’s productions of Tosca, Carmen, Turandot, Magic Flute, Dead Man Walking, Sweeney Todd, Hansel and Gretal, Susannah and Filumena; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Alberta in 2005; the Kodály Society of Canada; the Alberta Kodály Society; the Alberta Choral Federation; Calgary Concert Band; University of Lethbridge Singers; Chefs of UNICEF Gala; Banff International Television Festival Awards Ceremony; Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Gala; Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival Stars of the Festival Concert; Bob Carlisle and Orchestra; Bishop Grandin High School; and, the Calgary Bach Society.

Touring is an important enrichment to the comprehensive training these young singers receive.  In adition to touring on their own, singers from Cantaré often join with those in Cantando [known as Cantidad] to share in this life-changing experience.

Rehearsals: Wednesday's from 6:15 to 8:45 PM click on image for enlargement

Awards

National Music Festival of Canada:

First prize (2001)

Dr. and Mrs. JFK English Plaque and Scholarship (2001)

Alberta Provincial Choir Festival (National Stream):

First Prize (2001)

Olga Nickle Memorial Scholarship and Alberta Choral Federation Plaque (2001)

Second Prize (2008-2002) (2000 - 1999)

Alberta Provincial Choir Festival (Provincial Stream):

First Prize(2007)

Alberta Choral Federation Scholarship and the Wind River Music Festival Plaque (2007)

Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival:

Numerous gold seals (2009 - 1999)

Kiwanis Club of Calgary Foothills Scholarship (2009, 2008)

Calgary Foundation Scholarship - Esther Honens Fund (2005 - 2001)

Calgary Foundation Scholarship (2000)

Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival Medal (2009 - 2000)
Dalton Memorial Medal (1999)

Kiwanis Scholarship (1999)
T. Eaton Award (2009)

Knights of the Round Table Award (2002, 2001)

Macleod Dixon Scholarship (1999)

Choralfest (presented by The Alberta Choral Federation):

Superior Rating (2008 - 1998)

Rehearsals: Wednesday's from 6:45 to 8:45 PM Musicianship Classes: Wednesday's from 6:15 to 6:45 PM click on image for enlargement

Tours

CME New Millennium Festival / CME Institute with Doreen Rao, University of Toronto (2005)
Pacific International Children's Choir Festival in Eugene, Oregon with Doreen Rao (2000)
UNISONG Festival in Ottawa with Bruce Pullan (1999)

Cantidad
[pronounced CAN - tee - dad an Italian word which means "singing"]

Our ensemble which combines singers from Cantaré and Cantando is known as Cantidad.  The joint rehearsal time shared by the two ensembles in one of the most important and unique components of our program.  This combined ensemble benefits from the leadership of our senior Cantando singers and the large size provides the opportunity for all the singers to experience complex, advanced, four part treble repertoire which would not be feasible for either ensemble to perform on its own.

Cantidad is invited to perform at many prestigiuous concerts and events such as: the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (Beethoven 9, Howard Shores' Lord of the Rings Symphony, John Adams' On the Transmigration of Souls); the Holocaust Remembrance Service; the Calgary Civic Symphony; Festival Chorus (Missa Gaia, St. Nicolas, and Joshua); the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Inaugural Ars Day; and, the Hadassah National Convention.

In competition, Cantidad is a frequent winner of numerous awards and scholarships and earns the highest accolades and praise from adjudicators and audiences alike.

Touring is an important enrichment to the training these exuberant young singers receive -- and, together they have travelled the world.  We look forward to our upcoming concert tour of Germany in July 2009 which will build on the overwhelming success of our Italy Tour in 2006 where this ensemble sang in historic venues throughout Italy including Sunday noon Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Awards

Alberta Provincial Choir Festival (National Stream):

Second Prize (2008, 2007, 2005)

Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival:

Numerous gold seals (2009 - 1999)

Kiwanis Club of Calgary Foothills Scholarship (2009, 2008)

Calgary Foundation Scholarship - Esther Honens Fund (2005)

Knights of the Round Table Award (2009)

Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival Medal (2008 x 2, 2007, 2005)

Choralfest (presented by The Alberta Choral Federation):

Superior Rating (2008)

Tours

Germany Tour 2009

Niagara International Music Festival with Stephen Hatfield (2008)

Coastal Sound International Choral Festival with Bob Chilcott and Christian Grases (2007)
Concert Tour in Italy (2006)
Organization of American Kodály Educators National Conference, San Francisco (2004)
SEVEC Exchange with the Bach Children's Chorus, Toronto (2004)
Mississauga Children's Choir Festival with Simon Carrington (2004)
Southern Ontario and Niagara International Music Festival with Jonathan Willcocks, St. Catherine's Ontario (2003)