The repertoire of the Island Consort is varied and loosely “classical”, focusing on sacred and secular music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Mostly we perform a cappella pieces but we have had the privilege to have accompaniment by the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra and Organists Peter Orme, John Nelson and Jenny Vincent

Due to the Public Domain nature of most of the works we perform, we make great use of The Choral Public Domain Library (CPDL), an Internet-based free sheet music website which specializes in choral music, and the IMSLP
Petrucci Music Library, a library of public domain scores.

January 5, 2024

A Choral Cornucopia (April 2024)

2:30pm 13 April 2024 - St. Andrew's United Church, Nanaimo

Nanaimo Tickets: $25 through the Port Theatre  or $25 cash at the door for Adults, $5 for Students, Children under 13, Free

What do you do when naming a harvest of wonderful repertoire that has no obvious relationships?: call it a “cornucopia”. Island Consort presents “A Choral Cornucopia” which begins with Salish Song, and an acknowledgement to the Snuneymuxw 1st Nation. Music Director, Bruce Farquharson has divided the rest of the program into 4 sections; Sacred, Contemplative, Foreign and Folk, with four selections in each section...

August 16, 2023

Bach & Beyond (November 2023)

2:00pm 25 November 2023 - Christ Church Gabriola
2:30pm 26 November 2023 - St. Andrew's United Church, Nanaimo

Gabriola Tickets: $20 cash at the door
Nanaimo Tickets: $20 (+ admin fee) through the Port Theatre or $25 cash at the door for Adults, $5 for Students, Children under 13, Free

Nanaimo Tickets via Port Theatre: 250-754-8550 or tickets.porttheatre.com

May 8, 2023

FIDDELIUM (May 18 2023)

Thursday May 18th 2023 7PM
The Port Theatre

This annual concert features over 50 local musicians ranging in age from 4 years to 60+, and it has become a favourite event in Nanaimo’s music community. This year we are excited to have the Island Consort Chamber Choir joining us as our special guest ensemble. Fiddelium were named as the Young Performers of the Year at the 18th annual Canadian Folk Music Awards in Vancouver last month.

January 24, 2023

To Music: To Life! (May 2023)

2:00pm May 6th - Christ Church Gabriola, Gabriola Island
7:30pm May 7th - St. Andrew's United Church, Nanaimo

In our many dimensions of life and living, the music we listen to, perform and appreciate forms an integral part of our psyche. Our concerts are always an exploration of history, in that our music was conceived and composed yesteryear – sometimes recently, sometimes centuries ago

November 9, 2022

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES with the Vancouver Island Symphony (Dec 2022)

December 3rd 2022 5pm and 7:30pm,  Port Theatre

We will be joining the Vancouver Island Symphony for a concert for the whole family featuring favourite carols and songs.

For tickets and more information: https://www.vancouverislandsymphony.com/christmas-memories-dec-2022/

August 26, 2022

Choral Treasures (Nov 2022)

2:00pm November 5th 2022 - Church of St John the Divine, Courtenay
7:30pm November 6th 2022 - St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Nanaimo

The Island Consort Chamber Choir presents its postponed Spring 2020 program, Choral Treasures. These Treasures express and endearingly celebrate a broad range of our “human condition”.

April 11, 2022

Lyrics of Love (May 2022)

May 7th 2022, 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Nanaimo May 9th 2022, 7:30 pm Knox United Church, Parksville “In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love” (Locksley Hall, Tennyson). And here we are, the Island Consort, to celebrate Love and Spring in a program of poetry readings and song. It is an interesting exercise to partner a selection of poems with choral repertoire – each from a vast library of compositions – and we hope that you enjoy our choices. Admission is adults $20, students $5 and under 13, free at the door.  COVID19 Protocols: All attendees will be required to be masked throughout the performance. Vaccinations are appreciated. Any provincial health orders at time of performance will be respected

November 10, 2021

Singing for Christmas (Dec 2021)

We are thrilled to announce that we will be presenting a heart-warming Christmas concert Singing for Christmas on Saturday, December 11th at 2:30 p.m. The performance will take place in the spacious auditorium of St. Andrew’s United Church at 311 FitzWilliam Street in Nanaimo. Tickets $20 per adult and $5 for students. Children under 13 are free. 

The Island Consort is pleased/excited to be back singing and performing in this season of Christmas 2021.  Thankfully most of our members have re-joined us but you will see a few new faces.  This program has many familiar songs and carols – some with new melodies and arrangements - that we hope you will enjoy.  Some are organ-accompanied which, I think, adds to the flavour of Christmas and for which we are again fortunate to have Jenny Vincent as accompanist.

 

January 12, 2020

Choral Treasures (POSTPONED DUE TO COVID19)

We are disappointed to announce that all three of our concerts this April are cancelled. We wish for all our members and audience to remain safe and healthy through this COVID-19 pandemic and as such we are following recommendations of our governments on limiting group activities.

When it is safe to hold concerts again we will be ready to bring you "Choral Treasures" at that time. 

July 3, 2019

Music from the Heart (Nov 2019)

Nov. 29th, 7:30 pm at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Qualicum Beach


Dec. 1st, 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Nanaimo

February 20, 2019

Déjà Vu : A Retrospective (Apr 2019)

7:30pm April 12th 2019 – St. Mark’s Anglican Church,
Qualicum Beach
2:30pm April 14rh 2019 – St. Andrew’s United Church,
Nanaimo

Director Bruce Farquharson has assembled a collection of notable works, taken from each year of the choir’s 12-year history, that represent the many choral elements of the group’s performances.

with guest organist Jenny Vincent

 

August 27, 2018

Sing Hodie, Sing Noël (Nov 2018)

7:30pm Nov 30th 2018 – St. Mark’s Anglican Church,
Qualicum Beach
7:30pm Dec 2nd 2018 – St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church,
Nanaimo

Poulenc, Rutter, Schütz, Holst, Isaac, Lauridsen
An evening of Christmas Choral Music

with guest organist Jenny Vincent

 

February 5, 2018

There is Sweet Music (Apr 2018)

2:30pm April 14th 2018– St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Qualicum Beach
2:30pm April 15th 2018 – St. Andrew's United Church, Nanaimo

Can you feel the thrill of a soprano’s high C in Allegri’s Miserere Mei or the energy in Mozart’s Misericordias Domini or the sublime angst in Amazing Grace? “There is Sweet Music” is a program that offers the richness of Early Music, the vitality of Classical Music, the sublimity of Romantic Music and the diversity of Contemporary Music.

 

November 27, 2017

Sketches of Canada (Nov 2017)

7:30pm November 24th 2017 St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Qualicum Beach 7:30pm November 26th 2017 Brechin United Church, Nanaimo   A concert of Canadian choral music for the 150th anniversary of Confederation. It’s the year of Canada 150 celebration! This vast […]
May 12, 2017

Faire Melody of Remembrence (May 2017)

Oh, my goodness: it can’t be 10 years already!!! And, for those of you who have never heard us, it’s high time you took the plunge, got out of your easy chair and experienced an evening of live music. This […]
March 12, 2017

Singers and Strings: Guests of the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra (Mar 2017)

The advent of March, and early spring, is particularly welcome this year following an uncharacteristically cold and stubborn winter. And the music of the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Karl Rainer, is a welcome partner to the season […]
December 13, 2016

A Ceremony of Carols (Dec 2016)

December 3rd 2pm St. Marks Anglican Church 138 Hoylake Road West Qualicum Beach December 4th 730pm Brechin United Church 998 Estevan Rd, Nanaimo In a rare program for Christmas, the Island Consort Chamber Choir, directed by Bruce Farquharson, presents “A […]
January 7, 2016

And the Light Sings (Apr 2016)

April 17th, 7:30 pm at Brechin United Church and April 16th, 7:00pm at Gabriola United Church
November 2, 2015

This Shining Night (Nov 2015)

Sunday, November 29th 2015 7:30pm Brechin United Church Nanaimo, BC Adult: $18 Child: $under 12, free Student: $5 Music evokes images as well as emotions. “This Shining Night” is a program that is luminous and evocative – a choral performance […]
March 2, 2015

A Rose, A Kiss and A Feller (Apr 2015)

Sunday, April 26th, 2015
2:30 PM to 4:30 PM

Brechin United Church - 1998 Estevan Rd, Nanaimo

Soak up the serenity and spiritualism of Bruckner's "Christus Factus Est", Mendelssohn's "Ave Maria", Bach's motet "Der Geist Hilft" and Aarvo Part's "Da Pacem Domine". Feel the passion of unrequited love in Morley's "Fyer, Fyer", Scarlatti's "O Morte" and Lauridens' "Contre Qui, Rose". Tap your toes to Bach's "Gavotte and Fugue" with rhythm section performed in the style of the Swingle Singers, and enjoy arrangements of Robert Burn's "Ae Fond Kiss", the Irish "Dulaman" and Harry Somer's Newfoundland outport song, "Feller from Fortune". And more. . .
September 9, 2014

What Sweeter Music (Dec 2014)

A Joint Christmas Concert with the Sinclair Singers 7:30pm December 14th Brechin United Church, Namaimo Here is music to put you in the mood for the Festive Season. The Island Consort Chamber choir presents its first ever Christmas program, "What Sweeter Music", along with that sparkling youth choir, The Sinclair Singers - with a wonderfully varied package of Christmas repertoire.
September 9, 2014

Mozart & Friends (Nov 2014)

November 22nd, 2014 7:30pm Port Theatre, Nanaimo The Island Consort with be joining the Vancouver Island Symphony along with A Capella Plus and Pacific Spirit choir in presenting Mozart’s Requiem (completion R. Levin) Tickets : http://www.porttheatre.com/index.php/events/nov-2014/vi-symphony-1/  
January 20, 2014

East of Brandenburg (Apr 2014)

Sunday, April 13 2014 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM — NEW TIME Brechin United Church Nanaimo $18 at the door Children 12 and under are free Following the Sochi Winter Olympics which focuses on Russia here is a musical treat […]
August 19, 2013

The High Art of Singing (Dec 2013)

Sunday, December 1st 2013 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM Brechin United Church Nanaimo $18 at the door Children 12 and under are free Pleasure, emotion, voice! These are the ingredients of “The High Art of Singing”, a captivating program of […]
November 12, 2012

Forever Young (Apr 2013)

Sunday, April 28th 2013 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM St Andrew's United Church 311 Fitzwilliam Street, Nanaimo with guests, The Nanaimo Youth Choir ”This is a wonderful collaboration between an adult choir and a children's choir presented in the excellent acoustic of St. Andrew's United Church. "Forever Young" features music by Di Lasso, Tchaikowsky, Saint-Saens, Barber, Tormis, Rutter and others. Focusing on youth and the young, the repertoire includes titles such as "The Cherubic Hymn" and "Five Childhood Lyrics", and includes a zany pair of speech choir selections from Bergmann's "Galgenlieder". The concert will end with both choirs combining to sing Humperdinck's beautiful "Prayer" from Hansel and Gretel.
August 2, 2012

Romance and the Romantics (Dec 2012)

Sunday, December 2nd, 2012 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM St. Andrew’s United Church – Nanaimo 311 Fitzwilliam Street $15 at the door As December arrives so does a wonderful program of classical a cappella choral music presented by The Island […]
April 3, 2012

… of Water and the Cosmos (Apr 2012)

Saturday, April 28th, 2012 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM St Anne’s St Edmund’s Anglican Church – Parksville 407 Wembley Road   Sunday, April 29th, 2012 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Brechin United Church – Nanaimo 1998 Estevan Road $15 at […]
November 13, 2011

Lux Aeterna (Nov 2011)

Sing Joyfully William Byrd (1540-1623) Thule, The Period of Cosmography Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623) Ego Flos Campi Clemens Non Papa (ca. 1510-1555) Magnificat Primi Toni G.P. da Palestrina (1525-1594) Nunc Dimittis Gustav Holst (1874-1934) Komm Jesu, Komm J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Hail, Gladdening Light […]
May 13, 2011

Echos (Apr 2011)

Ave Maria Josquin des Prez (1450-1521) Confitebor Tibi G.P. da Palestina (1524-1594) Sicut Cervus G.P. da Palestrina It Was a Lover and His Lass Thomas Morley (1557-1602) Ave Verum Corpus William Byrd (1540-1623) Confitebor Tibi* Claudio Monteverdi (1576-1643) As Pants […]
November 13, 2010

Passetyme with Goode Companye (Nov 2010)

Passetyme Henry VIII Sing We at Pleasure Weelkes Christe Jesu, Pastor Bone Taverner The Lamentations of Jeremiah Tallis Alleluia: Av e Maria – Virga Jesse Byrd Lay a Garland Pearsall To be Sung of a Summer Night (I and II) […]
April 13, 2010

Voices in Motion, Bodies that Sing by Dancers Dancing Dance Company (May 2010)

The Port Theatre, Nanaimo, May 7, 2010 Vier Galgenlieder Erik Bergman Water Night Eric Whitacre Helletused Veljo Tormis Five Childhood Lyrics: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Sing a Song of Sixpence John Rutter Komm, Jesu, Komm J.S. Bach Bogoroditse Devo […]
November 13, 2009

Music, as through a Kaleidoscope (Nov 2009)

Alla Riva del Tebro Palestrina Sweet, Stay a While Dowland Disdain Me Still Dowland Were Every Thought an Eye Dowland Kyrie & Gloria from Missa Puerorum Rheinberger Magnificat Buxtehude Laudate Dominum Mozart Ubi Caritas Lauridsen Ave Maria Biebl Magnificat Part Love Elgar […]
May 13, 2009

Songs, Serene and Sublime (Apr 2009)

The Leroy Kyrie Taverner Veni Creator Palestrina Lobet den Herrn Bach Missa Pro Defunctis Morales Ubi Caritas Durufle Let Us Now Praise Famous Men Vaughan Williams Madrigal Faure Matra Pictures Kodaly Turot Eszik A Cigany (See the Gypsies) Kodaly Esti Dal (Peaceful Dale) […]
May 13, 2008

Elizabethan Spring (Apr 2008)

Sicut Cervus Desiderat Pierre de la Rue Dum Transisset Sabbatum John Taverner O Sacrum Convivium Giovanni Pergolesi Ave Verum Corpus Lodovico da Viadana Ballo, “Movete Al Mio Bel Suon” Claudio Monteverdi – tenor solo – David Brown Cantata, “Befiehl dem Engel” Dietrich […]
November 13, 2007

Searching for Mozart (Nov 2007)

Hark, All Ye Lovely Saints Thomas Weelkes De Profundis Christof Gluck Miserere Mei Gregorio Allegri Exultate Deo Alessandro Scarlatti O Magnum Mysterium Tomas Luis Victoria Matona Mia Cara Orlando De Lassus Il Est Bel et Bon Pierre Passereau Beatus Vir […]
April 22, 2007

A Choral Renaissance (Apr 2007)