Lots of festive holiday Christmas concerts by area choirs and orchestras take place in December each year in Metro Vancouver.

Many of these events will likely be impacted by the spread of COVID-19 and the restrictions in place regarding large gatherings.

Concerts in Vancouver in December

Some of our favourite holiday performances include concerts by the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Vancouver Welshmen’s Choir, Chor Leoni, Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Oratorio Choir, Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir and the Marcus Mosley Chorale.

Click on any of the following events or performer names to jump to a specific topic, or read the entire article for information about all our favourite groups.

Yule Duel | Winter Harp | VOC Gospel Choir | Vancouver Symphony | Vancouver Chamber Choir | Vancouver Welshmen’s Choir | Chor Leoni | Vancouver Bach Choir | Vancouver Oratorio Choir | Good Noise Gospel Choir | Marcus Mosley | Singing Christmas Tree

Note: Schedules may change so check concert websites for exact details. Also, there are numerous Christmas concerts at schools and churches throughout Metro Vancouver – keep your eyes out for events close to your neighbourhood too.

Yule Duel and Robson Square Concerts

Prior to listing the concert dates and details for some of Vancouver’s top choirs and musical groups, it’s important to point out that on a Thursday evening in early December Vancouver’s Yule Duel: Caroling for a Cause event takes place. During this impressive fundraising event dozens of the Lower Mainland’s top choirs perform. Don’t miss it!

In 2019 Yule Duel: Caroling for a Cause was on Thursday, December 5th. (Note: Unlike in previous years, in 2019 Yule Duel took place in the plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, so not in Gastown.) Yule Duel may or may not be taking place in 2020 due to the spread of the coronavirus. Most likely it won’t.

Also, most years, for a dozen or so days in mid-December, plus on New Year’s Eve, free concerts take place at Robson Square. The performances are usually in the evenings from around 6:00 until 9:00 pm, as well as on the weekends in the afternoons.

Robson Square concert performers in recent years have included local favourites like Warren Dean Flandez, The Showstoppers, Rumba Calzada and others. Click Robson Square Ice Skating for more information.

Winter Harp Concerts

Winter Harp is an amazing Christmas tradition that would have celebrated its 27th year in 2020. Its concerts feature golden string instruments and others, beautiful velvet gowns, and backdrops of cathedral scenes and snow.

The Winter Harp 2020 season has been cancelled due to COVID-19. Musicians from the group are working on creating a recording which will instead be available online.

To give an idea of what to expect for future events, in 2019 its seven Christmas concerts included the following dates and locations:

• Tuesday, December 10th, 2019 – in Chilliwack at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre
• Wednesday, December 11th, 2019 – in North Vancouver at the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts.
• Thursday, December 12th, 2019 – in North Vancouver at the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts
• Sunday, December 15th, 2019 – in Maple Ridge at the ACT Arts Centre (with performances at both 3:00 and 7:00 pm)
• Wednesday, December 18th, 2019 – in New Westminster at the Holy Trinity Cathedral
• Friday, December 20th, 2019 – In Vancouver at the Christ Church Cathedral

For details click Winter Harp Concerts.

VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir

The VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir is an exceptional choir with over 100 members that’s led by the charismatic Checo Tohomaso.  The choir will likely not be performing this Christmas season due to the spread of the coronavirus.

They perform at various venues throughout the year, but their main Christmas concert last year was the following:

• Saturday, December 21st, 2019 – a Sweet Soul Gospel Celebration takes place at Shaughnessy Heights United Church at 1550 West 33rd Avenue on Saturday, December 21st, 2019. Tickets were available at the door beginning at around 6:45 pm and the show started at 7:30. Tickets were $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, $10 for youth (ages 10-15) and free for children ages 9 and under.

In addition to the above major concert, the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir also performs most years at Grouse Mountain during the Peak of Christmas some Sunday afternoons in the chalet. The concerts at the ski hill are free with general admission to the ski hill.

Vancouver Symphony Concerts

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra usually performs its annual A Christmas Tradition series of Christmas concerts at various venues throughout the Lower Mainland. 2019 concerts are listed below. This event will not be taking place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Note: Concert dates and other details were subject to change.)

• Tuesday, December 10th, 2019 – at 7:30 pm at the Michael J Fox Theatre at 7373 MacPherson Avenue in Burnaby.
• Wednesday, December 11th, 2019 –  at 7:30 pm at South Delta Baptist Church at 1988 56th Street in Delta.
• Thursday, December 12th, 2019 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at the Kay Meek Centre at 1700 Mathers Avenue in West Vancouver.
• Friday, December 13th, 2019 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at Centennial Theatre at 2300 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver.
• Saturday, December 14th, 2019 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at the Bell Performing Arts Centre at 6250 144th Street in Surrey.
• Sunday, December 22nd, 2019 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at the Orpheum Theatre at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver.

Click Vancouver Symphony Concerts for more details.

Vancouver Chamber Choir Concerts

Vancouver Chamber Choir concerts in 2019 included the following:

• Friday, December 6th, 2019 – Christmas Oratorio concert with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver.
• Friday, December 20th, 2019 – A Rose in the Middle of Winter concert at Pacific Spirit (formerly Ryerson) United Church at 2195 West 45th Avenue in Vancouver.

(Note: Concert dates and other details are subject to change.)

Due to the coronavirus the Vancouver Chamber Choir will not be performing over the 2020 Christmas Season. Click Vancouver Chamber Choir for more details and for concerts at other times of the year.

Vancouver Welshmen’s Choir Concerts

The Vancouver Welshmen’s Choir performed at the following places and dates last year:

• Friday, November 29, 2019 – “Christmas Traditions Around the World” at the Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street in Vancouver.
• Saturday, November 30, 2019 – “Christmas Traditions Around the World” at White Rock Baptist Church at 1657 140th Street.
• Sunday, December 1, 2019 – “Christmas Traditions Around the World” with Winter Harp at Massey Theatre at 735 8th Avenue in New Westminster.
• Friday, December 6, 2019 – “Christmas Traditions Around the World” at Centennial Theatre at 2300 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver.
• Saturday December 7, 2019 – “Christmas Traditions Around the World” at Shaughnessy Heights United Church at 1550 West 33rd Avenue in Vancouver.
• Tuesday, December 10, 2019 – “Christmas Traditions Around the World” at the Surrey Arts Centre at 13750 88th Avenue in Surrey.
• Sunday, December 15, 2019 – “Christmas Traditions Around the World” at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre at 9201 Corbould Street in Chilliwack.

(Note: Concert dates and other details are subject to change.)

The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir may or may not be performing during the 2020 Christmas season. Coronavirus restrictions have resulted in cancellation of most, if not all, concerts up to this point. Details are to be confirmed. Click Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir for more information.

Chor Leoni Concerts

The Chor Leoni men’s choir had three concerts in December 2019 with two occurring in downtown Vancouver and one in West Vancouver. The Chor Leoni concerts will likely not be taking place in 2020 due to COVID-19.

(Note: Concert dates and other details were subject to change.)

• Saturday, December 21st, 2019 – Christmas with Chor Leoni: Angels Dance at 4:00 and 8:00 pm at the Orpheum Theatre at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver. This performance also features the Arts Umbrella Dance Company.
• Sunday, December 22nd, 2019 – Christmas with Chor Leoni at 3:00 pm at West Vancouver United Church at 2062 Esquimalt Avenue in West Vancouver.

Tickets cost $20 to $45. $10 admission is also available for students in sections B and C.

Click Chor Leoni for more information.

Vancouver Bach Choir Concerts

The Vancouver Bach Choir performed at the following places and times in 2019:

(Note: Concert dates and other details were subject to change.)

• Sunday, December 1st, 2019 – Christmas with the Bach Choir at 2 pm at the Orpheum at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver. The concert featured all eight of their choirs as well as an organ and brass quintet.
• Saturday, December 14th, 2019 – Handel’s Messiah at 7:30 pm at the Orpheum at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver.

Christmas season concerts for the Vancouver Bach Choir will likely not be taking place in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Vancouver Oratorio Choir Concerts

The Vancouver Oratorio Choir is a group of close to 90 Christian vocalists and musicians. In 2019 they had two Christmas concerts and both were free! The concerts will not be taking place in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the restrictions around large gatherings.

• Sunday, November 24th, 2019 – My Soul Magnifies the Lord at 7:30 pm with guest performers from the Church at 19twenty Church at 1920 Argyle Drive in Vancouver. Free!
• Sunday, December 8th, 2019 – My Soul Magnifies the Lord at 7:30 pm with the VOS Chorus & Chamber Orchestra at Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church at 11295 Mellis Drive in Richmond. Free!

See the Vancouver Oratorio Choir website for more information.

Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir

The Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir is the choir in residence at Christ Church Anglican Cathedral in downtown Vancouver. The choir will likely not be performing during the 2020 Christmas season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The group performed over the Christmas season at the following venues and times in 2019 (most of which in past years have sold out):

• Friday, December 13th, 2019 – Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas with guest Jazz vocalist Maureen Washington at 8:00 pm at Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street in Vancouver.
• Saturday, December 14th, 2019 – Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas with guest Jazz vocalist Maureen Washington at 3:00 and 8:00 pm at Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street in Vancouver.

For more information see the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir website.

The Marcus Mosley Chorale

The Marcus Mosley Chorale is a choir with over 60 members. Due to COVID-19 restrictions regarding large gatherings the Marcus Mosley Chorale will likely not be able to perform during the 2020 Christmas season.

Christmas performances last year in 2019 included the following:

• Saturday, December 14th, 2019 – a Christmas concert at Highlands United Church at 3255 Edgemont Boulevard in North Vancouver at 7:30 pm.

The Singing Christmas Tree Concerts

The Singing Christmas Tree is an annual event that’s been taking place for 52 years as of 2019. It features around 10 concerts that include choir, vocal ensemble, orchestra, dancing and acrobatic performances at Broadway Church at 2700 East Broadway in Vancouver.

2019 shows ran on Friday December 6th and 13th at 7:30 pm, and on the Saturdays and Sundays of December 7th & 8th and 14th & 15th at both 3:00 and 7:00 pm. This event will likely not be taking place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying restrictions placed on large gatherings.

Admission to the concerts is FREE (or by donation) and tickets are available online. The event sells out though, and tickets are oversold, so even if you have a ticket be sure to arrive at least an hour early. Also, seating is not reserved but on a first-come first-served basis.

For more details check out the Singing Christmas Tree website.