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 2019

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

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 2019 Yule Duel: Caroling for a Cause is on Thursday, December 5th.

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 include 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 celebrates its 26th year with seven concerts in the Lower Mainland in 2019. The concerts feature golden string instruments and others, beautiful velvet gowns, and backdrops of cathedral scenes and snow.

2019 Christmas concerts include 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. They perform at various venues throughout the year, but their main Christmas concert is the following:

• Saturday, December 21st – 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. Tickets are available at the door beginning at and around 6:45 pm and the show starts at 7:30. Tickets are around $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 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. 2019 concerts are listed below.

(Note: Concert dates and other details are 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 2018 include 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.)

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 in 2018. We expect 2019 details to be similar:

• 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 three concerts in December 2019 with two occurring in downtown Vancouver and one in West Vancouver.

(Note: Concert dates and other details are 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 performs at the following places and times in 2019:

(Note: Concert dates and other details are 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 features 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.

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, 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 group performs 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. Christmas performances in 2019 include 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 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.

2019 shows run 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.

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.