Choir
The Vancouver Resonance Festival (VRF) Choral Program adopts a dual-track structure, allowing choirs to participate through either a Competition Track or a Non-Competitive Exchange Track.
This design balances professional evaluation, high-level public performance, educational exchange, and international cultural dialogue.
VRF Choral Program Regulations
Choirs are classified according to vocal formation and age structure as follows:
- Mixed Choirs
- Treble (Female) Choirs
- Male Choirs
- Children’s Choirs with an average age up to 8 years
- Children’s Choirs with an average age from 8 to 12 years
♪ The average age is calculated based on the information provided at registration.
Participation Structure
The Competition Track is intended for choirs seeking formal evaluation and professional adjudication.
Participating choirs will take part in the following festival activities
(subject to final scheduling by the organizer):
- Opening Ceremony and Opening Concert of the Festival
- Two choral workshops as part of the VRF Academy
- One full-length public exchange concert (approximately 60 minutes)
- One competition performance (20–25 minutes) in a main concert venue, evaluated by the international jury
- Selected choirs may be invited to perform in the VRF Gala / Highlight Concert
- Closing Ceremony and Festival Finale Activities
♪ Choirs in the Competition Track will receive formal jury feedback and are eligible for official awards.
♫ Jury feedback may be provided in written form, oral sessions, or both, depending on scheduling.
The Non-Competitive Exchange Track is designed for choirs that prioritize artistic presentation, international exchange, and high-quality concert experience, without ranking or scoring.
Participating choirs will take part in:
- Opening Ceremony and Opening Concert of the Festival
- Choral workshops as part of the VRF Academy
- One full-length public exchange concert (approximately 60 minutes)
- One featured performance in a main festival venue (20–25 minutes)
- Professional artistic feedback and exchange with conductors and choral faculty
- Selected choirs may participate in the VRF Gala / Highlight Concert, curated by the VRF Artistic Committee
- Closing Ceremony and Festival Finale Activities
♪ The Non-Competitive Exchange Track involves no rankings and no scores.
♫ Participation in featured main-venue performances and the Gala Concert is determined by artistic quality, program suitability, and overall festival curation, not by competition results.
Repertoire Requirements – Competition Track
Choirs in the Competition Track are required to present a program of 20–25 minutes, consisting of:
- One compulsory piece (announced by the organizer)
- One work by a composer from the choir’s home country or cultural background
- Additional freely chosen work(s) to complete the required duration
♪ Programs should demonstrate musical contrast in tempo, character, and style.
♫ This balance allows the jury to gain a comprehensive understanding of the choir’s technical and artistic capabilities.
🚫 Solo pieces of any kind are not permitted.
Repertoire Guidelines – Non-Competitive Exchange Track
- A public, full-length concert presented by the choir
- Program design is determined by the choir and confirmed with the organizer
- An intermission may be included if artistically appropriate
- Thematic programs, culturally representative repertoire, or complete works are encouraged
♪ The exchange concert represents the choir’s primary artistic statement within the festival.
♫ Program coherence and audience engagement are strongly encouraged.
- A curated performance as part of the festival’s main-stage programming
- The program may be selected from the full concert repertoire or newly designed
- The program should demonstrate artistic focus, musical quality, and expressive range
♪ This performance is part of the festival’s core public presentation.
♫ Clear pacing and representative repertoire selection are recommended
🚫 Solo pieces are not permitted.
Accompaniment & Technical Standards
- Choirs may provide their own piano accompanist
- Pianos are provided at all main concert venues and VRF Academy workshops
- The standard tuning for all pianos is A = 442 Hz
♪ This tuning standard applies uniformly across the entire festival.
♫ Choirs are advised to rehearse with this tuning standard in advance.
- Choirs must indic
Repertoire Submission & Copyright
- All participating choirs must submit their complete repertoire during the application process
- Any repertoire requiring piano accompaniment must be clearly indicated
- All performances must feature the choir as an ensemble
♪ Solo performances are not permitted under any circumstances.
♫ Choirs are responsible for securing all required performance and copyright permissions.
Honors, Awards, and Certificates
Based on the jury’s professional evaluation, the following level-based honors will be awarded:
- VRF Maple Gold Award
- VRF Maple Silver Award
- VRF Maple Bronze Award
♪ These awards represent achievement levels, not ranked placements.
♫ Evaluation criteria include overall musical quality, vocal balance, intonation, stylistic accuracy, interpretation, and artistic coherence.
Awarded choirs will receive official certificates and professional jury feedback.
- All choirs and members who successfully complete the Non-Competitive Exchange Track will receive a
VRF International Exchange Performance Certificate
♪ This certificate confirms participation in officially curated international performances.
- Choirs demonstrating outstanding artistic quality may receive the
VRF Artistic Recognition Award or other curated distinction honors
♫ These recognitions are granted at the discretion of the VRF Artistic Committee and do not imply ranking.
Compulsory Pieces for the competition
1. Mixed Choir
《The Lake Isle of Innisfree》
Composer : Eleanor Daley (Canada)
Duration : ~4’00
Level: SATB – Youth / Intermediate
2、Treble Choir
《Nigra Sum》（SSA version）
Composer : Michael McGlynn
Duration : ~3’30
Level : SSA Youth
3. Male Choir
《The Maple Leaf Forever》（TTBB youth arrangement）
Composer: Alexander Muir（Canadian Traditional）
Duration : ~3’00
4、Children’s Choir-with an average up to 8 years
《I’se the B’y》
Canadian Traditional (Newfoundland Folk Song)
Arr. Donald Patriquin
Duration : ~2’30
5、Children’s Choir-up to the age from 8-12 years
《Skylark Lullaby》
Composer : Sarah Quartel (Canada)
Duration : ~3’30
Level: Children / Intermediate
The VRF Choral Program is founded on the belief that excellence, diversity, and meaningful musical exchange can coexist within a single international festival framework.
Through competition, collaboration, and curated presentation, VRF provides multiple pathways for choirs to engage with the global choral community.