Lots of festive holiday Christmas concerts by area choirs and orchestras take place in December each year in Metro Vancouver and 2018 will be no exception.

Concerts 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 | 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!

Also, from for 10 or so days in mid-December, plus on New Year’s Eve, free concerts usually take place at Robson Square. The performances are in the evenings from 6:30 until 9:30 pm, as well as on the weekends in the afternoons.

Robson Square concert performers in 2017 included local favourites like Warren Dean Flandez, The Showstoppers, Rumba Calzada and others. Click Robson Square Ice Skating for more information.

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:

• Friday, December 2st – a Sweet Soul Gospel Celebration at St Andrew’s Wesley United Church at the corner of Nelson Street and Burrard. Tickets are available at the door beginning at 6:45 pm and the show starts at 7:30. Tickets are usually $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 from 1 to 3 pm in the chalet. The concerts are free with general admission to the ski hill.

Vancouver Symphony Concerts

In 2018 the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra had a special holiday concert featuring the Canadian pop artist Jann Arden. See below for details.

• Wednesday, December 6, 2017 – A Jann Arden Christmas with the VSO at 8:00 pm at the Orpheum at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver.

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra also performs its annual A Christmas Tradition series of Christmas concerts with special guest host Christopher Gaze (of Bard on the Beach fame) and the UBC Opera Ensemble at various venues throughout the Lower Mainland. 2017 concerts included the following (and 2018 details will be similar):

• Friday, December 8, 2017 – at 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street.
• Saturday, December 9, 2017 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street.
• Sunday, December 10, 2017 – at 7:30 pm at St Andrew’s Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street.
• Wednesday, December 13, 2017 – at 7:30 pm at South Delta Baptist Church at 1988 56th Street in Delta.
• Thursday, December 14, 2017 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at the Kay Meek Centre at 1700 Mathers Avenue in West Vancouver.
• Friday, December 15, 2017 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at Centennial Theatre at 2300 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver.
• Saturday, December 16, 2017 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at the Bell Performing Arts Centre at 6250 144th Street in Surrey.
• Sunday, December 17, 2017 – at 4:00 and 7:30 pm at the Michael J. Fox Theatre at 7373 Macpherson Avenue in Burnaby.

Click Vancouver Symphony Concerts for more details.

Vancouver Chamber Choir Concerts

Vancouver Chamber Choir concerts in 2017 included the following:

• Friday, December 1, 2017 – Rejoice! European Carols & Readings is held at Ryerson United Church at 2195 West 45th Avenue.
• Saturday, December 16, 2017 – A Baroque Christmas: Bach and More takes place at the Orpheum Theatre at 601 Smithe Street.

Concerts in 2018 will be similar.

Click Vancouver Chamber Choir for more details.

Vancouver Welshmen’s Choir Concerts

The Vancouver Welshmen’s Choir performed at the following places and dates in 2017:

• Thursday, November 30, 2017 – “Sounds of Christmas” with Burnaby Central Secondary Choir at St Andrew’s Wesley Church at 1022 Nelson Street in Vancouver at 7:30 pm.
• Saturday, December 2, 2017 – “Sounds of Christmas” with Johnston Heights Chamber Choir at White Rock Baptist Church at 1657 140th Street at 2:30 pm.
• Friday, December 8, 2017 – “Sounds of Christmas” with Argyle Secondary Choir at Centennial Theatre at 2300 Lonsdale Avenue at 7:30 pm.
• Saturday, December 16, 2017 – “Sounds of Christmas” with Magee Chamber Choir at Shaughnessy Heights United Church at 1550 West 33rd Avenue at 7:30 pm.

Click Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir for more details.

Chor Leoni Concerts

The Chor Leoni men’s choir had five concerts in December 2017 including four in Vancouver over two days and one in West Vancouver.

• Friday, December 15, 2017 – Christmas with Chor Leoni at 4:30 and 8 pm at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street in Vancouver.
• Saturday, December 16, 2017 – Christmas with Chor Leoni at 4:30 pm at West Vancouver United Church at 2062 Esquimalt Avenue in West Vancouver.
• Monday, December 18, 2017 – Christmas with Chor Leoni at 4:30 and 8 pm at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street in Vancouver.

Click Chor Leoni for more information.

Vancouver Bach Choir Concerts

The Vancouver Bach Choir performed at the following places and times in 2017:

• Saturday, November 18, 2017 – Christmas at Oakridge Centre with the elementary school-aged Toccatas at 2 pm as part of the arrival of Santa Claus to the mall (FREE).
• Sunday, November 19, 2017 – Christmas at Hycroft University Women’s Club with the choir’s school-aged Toccatas, Chorales and Chorus at various times throughout the day.
• Sunday, December 3, 2017 – Christmas with the Bach Choir at 2 pm at the Orpheum at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver.
• Sunday, December 9, 2017 – Handel’s Messiah at 8 pm at the Orpheum at 601 Smithe Street in Vancouver.

Vancouver Oratorio Choir Concerts

The Vancouver Oratorio Choir is a group of close to 90 Christian vocalists and musicians. Their main Christmas concert in 2017 was in November and it was free!

• Sunday, November 26, 2017 – The Star of Bethlehem 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 performed over the Christmas season at the following venues and times in 2017 (most of which in past years have sold out):

• Friday, December 15, 2017 – 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 16, 2017 – 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 2017 included the following:

• Saturday, December 2, 2017 – at the Dundarave Festival of Lights in West Vancouver from noon until 2 pm. Free!
• Thursday, December 7, 2017 – at the Yule Duel event in Gastown featuring dozens of area choirs from 6 to 8 pm. By donation.
• Friday, December 8, 2017 – at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the venue’s “Out for Lunch” series of concerts from noon until 1 pm. Free with general admission or annual membership to the gallery.
• Saturday, December 16, 2017 – a Christmas concert at Mount Seymour United Church in North Vancouver from 7 to 9 pm. Tickets are $25-30.

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 10 concerts that include choir, vocal ensemble, orchestra, dancing and acrobatic performances at Broadway Church at 2700 East Broadway in Vancouver.

2017 shows ran on Friday December 8th and 15th at 7:30 pm, and on the Saturdays and Sundays of December 9 & 10 and 16 & 17 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.