The Aurora Celebration Choir was founded by Amy Stephen and has been singing joyfully, performing for neighbourhood audiences, and raising money for local charities for many years. Below are a few pics from over the years. We welcome all singers who love to gather joyfully and harmonize. We have a lot of fun, and we sing a lot of songs. Singing pop and traditional songs from around the world, Aurora celebrates through music and poetry.
2025 Spring Session begins Feb 19 - Jun 1
Concert Sunday, June 1st at 2:30 pm
Come join us! Being able to read music is helpful, but not necessary. If you're unsure of your vocal part, you can meet with one of our directors over the phone, or over Zoom to help determine your vocal range. We provide rehearsal tracks to help with learning parts and for home practice in case you have to miss a rehearsal or two. We have 16 rehearsals, and perform a concert that includes special guest musicians.
Our Spring Session this year is directed by Amy Stephen.
Fees: $150 for Spring session, paid by e-transfer to [email protected]
or by cheque or cash at rehearsal
As always, we have a sliding scale that you can discuss confidentially with our directors.
Our repertoire for this season is:
All Souls Night (Loreena McKennitt)
Asimbonanga - Johnny Clegg (in honour of Nelson Mandela)
Bye Bye Blackbird - Dixon/Henderson
Canto de Pilon - Traditional Venezuelan
Crowded Table - The Highwomen
Dayung Sampan - Indonesian Folk Song
Feeling Good - Bricusse/Newley
Happiness - from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
Hope Lingers On - Lissa Schneckenburger
Hymn to Freedom - Oscar Peterson
Rainbow Connection - from the Muppet Movie
Spirit Eternal - Carl Strommen
Turn Turn Turn - by Peter Seeger (sung by the Byrds)
Yellow Bird - Caribbean Folk Song
When the pandemic hit, most choirs went online if they could. Aurora kept singing online weekly just to stay together.
This 'Harp Circle Choir' is made up of many Aurora singers, plus others, performing "The Parting Glass", arranged by Amy.
This 'Harp Circle Choir' is made up of many Aurora singers, plus others, performing "The Parting Glass", arranged by Amy.
Here are a few Aurora Celebration Choir audio tracks from different years ~ enjoy!
Maculele
a Brazilian song of welcome (from the album Nazare Pereira) featuring soloist Juan Saldarriaga
a Brazilian song of welcome (from the album Nazare Pereira) featuring soloist Juan Saldarriaga
Blue Green Hills of Earth
the beautiful anthem for the earth from Paul Winter's Missa Gaia
the beautiful anthem for the earth from Paul Winter's Missa Gaia
Sur le Pont d'Avignon
a Quebecois call & response featuring Graham Tait on lead vocals, feet & accordion,
based on performance by La Boutine Souriante. So much fun!
a Quebecois call & response featuring Graham Tait on lead vocals, feet & accordion,
based on performance by La Boutine Souriante. So much fun!
About the Director: Amy Stephen
While completing her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of British Columbia from 1988 - 1992, Amy was fortunate to study choral conducting with James Fankhauser, who directed the University Singers. She also studied classical voice and piano. Amy was a member of the University Chamber Singers, and has appeared throughout the years with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, musica intima, the Vancouver Cantata Singers, and the One Human Family Gospel Choir. As a featured soloist and instrumentalist, Amy has performed and recorded with Chor Leoni, Elektra, Laudate Singers and Capilano University Singers.
While living in Nanaimo from 2016-2019, Amy founded and directed the Phrase-ology Choir as well as
the Island Baha'i Choir, and was director of the St. Paul's Anglican Church chancel choir.
Over the past 25 years Amy has professionally directed the following choirs: Aurora Celebration Choir, the interfaith Oneness Choir (part of the ACCF), the Harp Circle Choir (part of the ACCF), Joyful Voice Community Choir, Coquitlam Celebration Choir, Gilmore Park United Church Choir, Bring Your Own Voice Community Choir, the Phraseology Choir, and the interfaith One Voice Choir.
For several years, while Amy was in Nanaimo, Aurora was continued and directed by Amy's mom,
the very talented Elsie Stephen.
Amy's choral compositions and arrangements have been published by Hal Leonard and Cypress Publishing, and have been performed by choirs across North America.
Amy received her Bachelor of Music degree in voice and piano, and her Bachelor of Education degree (Secondary, Choral Specialist), from the University of British Columbia. She has spent the last 15 years teaching music in BC schools and currently teaches for SD40.
While completing her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of British Columbia from 1988 - 1992, Amy was fortunate to study choral conducting with James Fankhauser, who directed the University Singers. She also studied classical voice and piano. Amy was a member of the University Chamber Singers, and has appeared throughout the years with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, musica intima, the Vancouver Cantata Singers, and the One Human Family Gospel Choir. As a featured soloist and instrumentalist, Amy has performed and recorded with Chor Leoni, Elektra, Laudate Singers and Capilano University Singers.
While living in Nanaimo from 2016-2019, Amy founded and directed the Phrase-ology Choir as well as
the Island Baha'i Choir, and was director of the St. Paul's Anglican Church chancel choir.
Over the past 25 years Amy has professionally directed the following choirs: Aurora Celebration Choir, the interfaith Oneness Choir (part of the ACCF), the Harp Circle Choir (part of the ACCF), Joyful Voice Community Choir, Coquitlam Celebration Choir, Gilmore Park United Church Choir, Bring Your Own Voice Community Choir, the Phraseology Choir, and the interfaith One Voice Choir.
For several years, while Amy was in Nanaimo, Aurora was continued and directed by Amy's mom,
the very talented Elsie Stephen.
Amy's choral compositions and arrangements have been published by Hal Leonard and Cypress Publishing, and have been performed by choirs across North America.
Amy received her Bachelor of Music degree in voice and piano, and her Bachelor of Education degree (Secondary, Choral Specialist), from the University of British Columbia. She has spent the last 15 years teaching music in BC schools and currently teaches for SD40.