Spiritus Chamber Choir Verified listing

“Quality attracts— and for lovers of fine choral music, Spiritus Chamber Choir has come to mean refinement, poise and rich expression in choral singing.” — Calgary Herald

Spiritus Chamber Choir is an internationally award-winning amateur choir founded in 1995, based in Calgary, Canada. The choir has been recognized both nationally and internationally for its high-quality performances, musicianship and unique collaborations. Spiritus is committed to excellence in choral music, performing for music lovers in Calgary and surrounding areas.

Concert programming by the choir portrays a broad range of repertoire. In addition to performing choral classics, the choir has commissioned works by Canadian composers Allan Bevan, Georgina Craig, Quenten Doolittle, Jeff Enns, George Fenwick and Zachary Wadsworth. Spiritus also collaborates regularly with such diverse groups as the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Opera, New Works Calgary, Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Early Music Voices/VoiceScapes, Pro Coro Canada, as well as many local choirs including The Calgary Renaissance Singers & Players, The Calgary Girls Choir, Cantare Children's Choir, EnChor Chamber Choir & Mount Royal Kantorei to name a few.

Among its many accolades, Spiritus was awarded the prestigious Healey Willan Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts at the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs in 2017 and 2013. In 2014 the choir earned 2nd prize at the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition in Cork, Ireland. At the same competition, Spiritus won the Heinrich Schütz Perpetual Trophy for the best performance of a work by the German composer. In May 2011, at the Florilège Vocal de Tours International Choral Competition (Tours, France), Spiritus won the Ministry of Culture prize for the best performance of a work by a French composer.

Spiritus has produced five recordings to date, the most recent being James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross (2014). This, as well as the album All the Stars Looked Down, are available online.