Image courtesy of the Arts Staff Choir
2025 has been another special year for the Arts Staff Choir, bringing together staff from across the Faculty of Arts to sing, connect with each other, and perform at campus-wide events. With over 65 members on the list, the choir continues to be a welcoming and accessible space for anyone that shares a love of singing.
A year of memorable performances
Early in the year, the group performed five songs at the UBC Blueberry Festival, led by guest conductor Christopher King, bringing a mix of choral and popular songs to festival-goers. In the Fall, they took to the stage at the Harvest Feastival, sharing three songs with the UBC community, including a singalong of “September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire.
A highlight this year was a special Indigenous-led program with guest artist Corey Payette, composer of Children of God. Payette taught the choir his choral piece “Gimikwenden Ina” (“Do you remember?”), sung in Oji-Cree.
For many members, the experience was deeply meaningful. Kamshi Kanavathy, Access Services Assistant at X̱wi7x̱wa Library, shared that “it is not every day that choir members are honoured by the presence and tutelage of the composers themselves. It was truly an emotional and magical experience to have Corey Payette himself lead, conduct, instruct, and sing along with us, especially considering the context of the piece. It was amazing and humbling to meet him and witness him mingling with choristers.”
Dr. Rosalin M. Miles, who attended with her daughter, expressed how moving it was to see First Nations song and story intertwined with contemporary music: “To hear voices of all ages and backgrounds singing together created a moment of unity and hope. A wonderful reminder that Indigenous culture and music have a sacred place in every artistic space.”
The choir performing at the 2025 Blueberry Festival.
The choir performing at the 2025 Blueberry Festival.
The choir performing at the 2025 Blueberry Festival, led by guest conductor, Christopher King.
The choir performing at the 2025 Blueberry Festival.
The choir performing at the 2025 Harvest Feastival, led by Director, Jonathan (Jono) Lee.
The choir performing at the 2025 Harvest Feastival.
The choir participated in an Indigenous-led program with guest artist Corey Payette, composer of Children of God.
Members of the Arts Staff Choir pictured.
The choir participated in an Indigenous-led program with guest artist Corey Payette, composer of Children of God.
Looking ahead to 2026
The choir will close out the year with a performance at the Arts Holiday Lunch, providing staff with a festive mid-day holiday concert.
Looking ahead to 2026, the choir will have its first major noon-hour concert of the year on February 11 at the Department of Asian Studies auditorium. All are invited to attend and tickets can be purchased by contacting Jennifer Suratos.
Interested in participating and sharing your musical talents? The first rehearsal of the new year will be on Wednesday, January 14, at the School of Music, Room 113. Rehearsals take place on campus every three weeks during the lunch hour, and the group remains open to all levels, whether you’re a seasoned singer or have never sung in a choir before.
There’s no audition, no time commitment, and no fees, just an opportunity to share your voice with colleagues, enjoy music, and connect across departments.
