Formed in 1997, Island Bel Canto Singers is a women’s community choir. We love to sing, laugh, share friendships and enjoy each other’s company. Most of all, we love to sing!
Our repertoire is diverse, from early classics to contemporary, sung a capella or accompanied and in a variety of languages.
The choir performs at concerts in the Winter and Spring each year, at which guest musicians from around the Island are featured. The choir also performs at community events throughout the year, and networks with other choirs, participating in enriching and extending the lively choral tradition in Nanaimo and surrounding area.
Artistic Director Fiona Blackburn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the choir. She has a B.Music in vocal performance, a B.Ed in secondary music, and a M. Mus. in choral conducting. She’s performed, recorded and toured for 13 seasons with Vancouver Chamber Choir, and for 5 seasons, she sang with Vancouver Opera in various roles. As the the Founding and Artistic Director of the BC Girls Choir, she’s toured the choir through numerous countries and led them to winning the coveted Children’s Choir of the World trophy, the highest honour at one of the world’s most prestigious competitions—the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. Fiona was awarded BC Choral Federation’s 2016 Healey Willan Award for her work in promoting choral singing in BC. She is known for her passionate support of the art of singing in all its forms, as well as her engaging and uplifting interaction with singers of all ages. In addition to her role with our choir, Fiona conducts Malaspina Choir.
Island Bel Canto Singers is also pleased to have Stefanie Unger as their accompanist. Stefanie is a versatile collaborative pianist with portfolio that includes a broad range of vocal and instrumental works in opera, oratorio, chamber music, musical theatre, church music and jazz. She is pleased to be part of Nanaimo’s vibrant choral community.
Women of all ages who love to sing and have some choral experience and sight-reading skills are welcome to try out. The choir accepts new members in January and September. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays at 6:45 pm at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. For more information, contact Penny at 250-802-3345, or go to our website at islandbelcanto.com.
Director: Fiona Blackburn
Accompanist: Stefanie Unger
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