Lots of festive holiday Christmas concerts by area choirs and orchestras take place in December each year in Metro Vancouver and 2019 will be no exception.

Concerts in December 2018

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 | 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

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 in Gastown. During this impressive fundraising event dozens of the Lower Mainland’s top choirs perform in the streets. Don’t miss it!

In 2018 Yule Duel: Caroling for a Cause is on Thursday, December 6th.

Also, most years, for 10 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 6:30 until 9:30 pm, as well as on the weekends in the afternoons.

Robson Square concert performers last year included local favourites like Warren Dean Flandez, The Showstoppers, Rumba Calzada and others. Click Robson Square Ice Skating for more information (although concert information won’t be listed until close to the time).

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

• Saturday, December 1st – a Sweet Soul Gospel Celebration. In recent years the event has taken place at St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church at the corner of Nelson Street and Burrard on the Friday before Christmas Day. In 2018, however, it will likely happen at the beginning of December, but exact details and location are still being determined (as of mid-October 2018). Tickets are usually available at the door beginning at 6:45 pm and the show starts at 7:30. Tickets are usually around $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, $10 for youth (ages 10-15) and free for children ages 9 and under. (2018 details to be confirmed.)

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

Vancouver Symphony Concerts

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs its annual A Christmas Tradition series of Christmas concerts at various venues throughout the Lower Mainland. 2018 concerts are listed below.

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

• Wednesday, December 12, 2018 – at 7:30 pm at South Delta Baptist Church at 1988 56th Street in Delta.
• Thursday, December 13, 2018 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at the Kay Meek Centre at 1700 Mathers Avenue in West Vancouver.
• Friday, December 14, 2018 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at Centennial Theatre at 2300 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver.
• Saturday, December 15, 2018 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at the Bell Performing Arts Centre at 6250 144th Street in Surrey.
• Sunday, December 16, 2018 – at 7:30 pm at the Michael J. Fox Theatre at 7373 Macpherson Avenue in Burnaby.
• Friday, December 20, 2018 – at 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street.
• Saturday, December 21, 2018 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street.
• Sunday, December 22, 2018 – at 7:30 pm at St Andrew’s Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street.

Click Vancouver Symphony Concerts for more details.

Vancouver Chamber Choir Concerts

Vancouver Chamber Choir concerts in 2018 include the following:

• Friday, December 7th, 2018 – Handel’s Messiah concert with conductor Jon Washburn at the Orpheum Theatre at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver. The concert includes performances by the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Pacifica Singers, Vancouver Chamber Orchestra and a number of Canadian soloists.
• Friday, December 14th, 2018 – A Joyful Christmas 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.)

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 performs at the following places and dates in 2018:

• Wednesday, November 28, 2018 – “Sounds of Christmas” with Burnaby Central High School Choir at Michael J. Fox Theatre at 7373 MacPherson Avenue in Burnaby.
• Saturday, December 1, 2018 – “Sounds of Christmas” with North Surrey Secondary School Choir at White Rock Baptist Church at 1657 140th Street.
• Sunday, December 2, 2018 – “Sounds of Christmas” at Massey Theatre at 735 8th Avenue in New Westminster.
• Tuesday, December 4, 2018 – “Sounds of Christmas” at the Surrey Arts Centre at 13750 88th Avenue in Surrey.
• Friday, December 7, 2018 – “Sounds of Christmas” with Argyle Secondary School Choir at Centennial Theatre at 2300 Lonsdale Avenue.
• Saturday, December 8, 2018 – “Sounds of Christmas” with Magee Chamber Choir at Shaughnessy Heights United Church at 1550 West 33rd Avenue.
• Saturday, December 15, 2018 – “Sounds of Christmas” with the W.J. Mouat Secondary School Choir at the Abbotsford Arts Centre at 2329 Crescent Way in Abbotsford.

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

Click Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir for more details.

Chor Leoni Concerts

The Chor Leoni men’s choir has five concerts in December 2018 including four in Vancouver over two days and one in West Vancouver.

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

• Friday, December 14, 2018 – Christmas with Chor Leoni at 8:00 pm at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street in Vancouver.
• Saturday, December 15, 2018 – Christmas with Chor Leoni at 3:00 pm at West Vancouver United Church at 2062 Esquimalt Avenue in West Vancouver.
• Sunday, December 16, 2018 – Christmas with Chor Leoni at 8:00 pm at West Vancouver United Church at 2062 Esquimalt Avenue in West Vancouver.
• Monday, December 17, 2018 – Christmas with Chor Leoni at 5:00 and 8:00 pm at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street in 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 performs at the following places and times in 2018:

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

• Saturday, November 17, 2018 – Christmas at Oakridge Centre at 650 West 41st Avenue with the elementary school-aged Toccatas at 2 pm and Grades 5 to 8 Chorales at 4 pm as part of the arrival of Santa Claus to the mall (FREE).
• Sunday, November 18, 2018 – Christmas at Hycroft University Women’s Club with the choir’s school-aged Toccatas, Chorales and Chorus at various times throughout the day between 11:30 am and 3:15 pm.
• Sunday, December 2, 2018 – Christmas with the Bach Choir at 2 pm at the Orpheum at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver. The concert features all eight of their choirs as well as an organ and brass quintet.
• Thursday, December 6, 2018 – the Sarabande choir of young adults performs at the annual Yule Duel Carolling for a Cause event in Gastown on Water Street. Admission is by donation and dozens of other choirs also participate.
• Sunday, December 8, 2018 – Handel’s Messiah at 7:30 pm at the Bell Performing Arts Centre at 6250 144 Street in Surrey.

Vancouver Oratorio Choir Concerts

The Vancouver Oratorio Choir is a group of close to 90 Christian vocalists and musicians. Their main Christmas concert in 2018 is in November and it’s free!

• Sunday, November 18, 2018 – A Celebration of Faith Concert 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 group performs over the Christmas season at the following venues and times in 2018 (most of which in past years have sold out):

• Friday, December 14, 2018 – Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas with guest Jazz vocalist Maureen Washington at 8 pm at Christ Church Cathedral at 690 Burrard Street in Vancouver.
• Saturday, December 15, 2018 – Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas with guest Jazz vocalist Maureen Washington at 3 and 8 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. Christmas performances in 2018 include the following:

• Saturday, December 15, 2018 – 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 51 years as of 2018. It features around 10 concerts that include choir, vocal ensemble, orchestra, dancing and acrobatic performances at Broadway Church at 2700 East Broadway in Vancouver.

2018 shows run on Friday December 7th and 14th at 7:30 pm, and on the Saturdays and Sundays of December 8 & 9 and 15 & 16 at both 3:00 and 7:00 pm.

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.

Important 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.