40th Season, here we go... Canadian Reflections

Sunday, October 26, 2025

  • 1:15 pm Call for Orchestra (everyone ready to begin tuning on stage at 1:25)

  • 1:15 pm Call for Chorus (everyone on stage and ready to begin run-through and sound check by 1:30)

Please park as far from the church entrances as you are able (back of the parking lot or street/surrounding neighborhood) so that our audience guests have plenty of available spots.

Orchestra “green room” is the Fireside Room

Chorus “green room” is the Prayer Room

- This is where you can leave your personal items and hang out before the concert and during intermission. Be sure to grab everythinig you brought, after.

To distribute washroom usage a bit, ROCA members please use the preschool washroom during intermission.

Here is the full schedule:

  • 11:45 - worship service ends - Fraserview staff starts stage breakdown

  • 12:15 - Chris/West Coast Recordings arrives to start unloading/setting up

  • 1pm - Chairs team arrives

  • 1:15pm - everyone else arrives

  • 1:25pm - Orchestra tunes

  • 1:30pm - Rehearse/soundcheck

    Rough run-through of the full program in order - “top and tail” as Brigid says.
    Please focus and keep talking to a minimum.

  • 3pm - Concert begins with President offering announcements

Chorus will be onstage for the entire program and will enter/exit the Sanctuary/stage from both sides of the lobby. Orchestra (and soloist, conductors, etc) will use the stage entrance. Repeat after intermission.

Concert dress Orchestra: concert black

Chorus: concert black with black bowties and red pocket poofs
OR long opaque black skirts/hose/socks/close-toed shoes with red sequin shell under black lace jacket (secured at top button only).

Jewelry is welcome, but not too flashy please to avoid audience distraction.

Please avoid the use of scents such as perfumes or body sprays and hair sprays, etc - we will be in close proximity on stage and many members have allergies. Clean bodies and appropriate deodorant/anti-persperant is sufficient!

Concert Program Order for your folders:

Fall Fair - Godfrey Ridout

Gate Gate - Brian Tate

Missa Brevis - Imant Raminsh

Emily Cheung, soprano soloist

- INTERMISSION -

The Flight of Aphrodite, op.99 Michael Conway Baker

Stephen Robb, guest conductor, James Malmberg, violin soloist

Home I’ll Be - Rita MacNeil, arr. Larry Nickel

All the Little Rivers - Larry Nickel

This Is My Home - Bob Buckley, Brian Gibson

Full Program

An email to our Front of House Volunteers will go out soon. Volunteers will be asked to arrive around 1 pm to help set up so that audience may begin entering at 2. We are trying a new system this year to keep the lobby better organized. This may result in line-ups at the door, but if we are efficient, hopefully it will be minimal.

If you have friends or family arriving with you early who are attending as audience members, please let them know in advance, that they should check in at the front tables with their ticket information or to purchase their tickets or pick up from Will Call - at 2 pm. This may require stepping back outside with the line-up if there is one. We may still be setting up and not ready to check folks in or sell/distribute tickets before then. Please feel free to spread this info to anyone you know who is coming.

Additional Volunteers are still welcome!

Sell tickets! Share our FB posts. Forward your own via email. Get the word out and promote however you can to your communities.

Have any questions? Feel free to message our ROCA Admin, Rachel - roca.office@gmail.com

See you Sunday!

Countdown to Brahms

Sunday 30 March – 1:30-2pm arrive at Orpheum, entering by stage door on Smithe St; they’ll be checking you off on a list. I recommend leaving cars at Bridgeport, and taking Skytrain! Rehearsal starts 2pm. I’m Choir Marshal, so listen for instructions. We’ll check entries and exits before singing.

  • Rehearsal to 5:30pm. Time to eat – either bring food or find somewhere nearby. Choir rooms upstairs on 5th floor; one will be labelled as a quiet room for rest or reading (no talking). Orchestra will be below stage.

  • By 7pm you should be back in the building and changed; S/A aqua top/lace jacket/long skirt or palazzo pants; T/B all black

  • Concert at 7:30pm; we should be done by 9pm

There’s a detailed Orpheum instruction list from Mike Millard here.

  • Tuesday 1 April – dress rehearsal 2! We do have stage extensions, so the front two and the back row will be on chairs; middle rows sit on risers.
    This will mostly be a tidy-up rehearsal, with some focus on the things I will do differently from Edette – so make sure your pencil has a good eraser!

  • Saturday 5 April – as long as all goes well on Tuesday, sound check will be at 6pm, for about 45min. Chorus will be in the usual preschool room; Orchestra in the Prayer Room; Vivaldi in the ex-office on the corner. All the hallway from the bathrooms to the Mellis Rd door will be performer space.
    We have no community partner for this, since there’s no intermission.
    If you have anyone who can help with Front of House, please contact Rachel
    Post-concert, Vivaldi hope to have some social time at Moxie’s (Sandman Hotel, 3233 St Edwards Rd). The sign-up sheet gave me: AnneP & Brian, Cindy, Lea & Ron, Bernie, Max, Alex and me. Anyone else? Please let me know soon so I can pass it on to Michelle in Vivaldi – we need to have space booked...

  • Tuesday 8 April – NO REHEARSAL! You deserve an evening off!

  • Tuesday 15/22 April – rehearsals as normal

  • Saturday 26 April is the Raffle selling deadline.  The QR code is on our website; the URL is the all-purpose one;  if you want the one that auto-connects for ROCA, it is
    https://bccf.rafflenexus.com/a/richmond-chorus-roca  Your challenge is to get some non-ROCA people supporting us by buying tickets!  There are only 9 orders totalling $260 so far - our goal is $1200+

  • Tuesday 29 April – RICHMOND SINGS – with local choirs, in support of the community meal program based at Gilmore Park United. Please note that this will be a 6:30pm call for a 7pm concert (we have kids involved). Let me know if you can’t be there at 6:30pm, because I’ll be organizing teams for choir placement (those of you who’ve done Richmond Sings will know what I mean, the rest will learn!)
    We will sing Wie Lieblich, something uptempo and Canadian (Royal Hudson or Watching the Apples Grow) and lead O Canada and Down By the Riverside

  • Tuesdays 6, 13, 20, 27 May – rehearsals as usual – probably at least one will be with orchestra.

  • Tuesday 3 June – dress rehearsal

  • Tuesday 7 June – A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

Program is: (bolded has Chorus)
Mozart – Marriage of Figaro – overture, opening duet and aria – both soloists
Rossini – William Tell – Villagers Chorus
Bellini – Norma – Casta diva (w chorus) - Chloe
Wagner – Tannhauser – O du mein holder - Aaron
Nicolai – Merry Wives of Windsor – Moonlight Chorus
Mozart – Magic Flute – duet “Pa-pa-pa” - both
Verdi – Nabucco – Va Pensiero (chorus)
Puccini – Gianni Schicchi – O mio babbino caro - Chloe
Bizet – Carmen – Toreador Song (w chorus) - Aaron
Leoncavallo – I Pagliacci – Neddo/Silvio duet - both
Lehar – Merry Widow – Lippen Schweigen (w chorus)–both soloists - in English, so the audience can join on an encore

— Brigid

Preparing for Brahms Requiem

Joint Retreat - BRAHMS REQUIEM - Sunday, March 2, 2025

Venue: St. Philip’s Anglican Church Hall/Gym - 3737 W 27th Ave., Vancouver

Parking: street as marked and the school lot across the street

Enter: via the left staircase when facing the church (gym is to the right)

Please keep the space SCENT free - to avoid triggering allergies

**If you require a music stand - please BRING one :)

There will be video and audio recording done of the three rehearsal blocks (by the Vivaldi CC team) - but no open Zoom link. The recordings will be shared afterwards.

Singers - please bring:

- Your score

- Pencil

- Water bottle

- Finger foods to share (please no nuts - mark GF and vegan/vegetarian items)

Orchestra members - please bring:

- A music stand (there are none at the venue)

- Your music

- Pencil

- Water bottle

- Finger foods to share (please no nuts - mark GF and vegan/vegetarian items)

- (Brass players - please bring something for emptying valves - avoiding slippery floors)

Break-down of the day

1PM - venue will be opened by Freda Miller, President Vivaldi CC

1:15-2:15 - combined choirs - please sit beside singers from “the other choir”

Jeon Mok collaborative pianist

- Warm-up

- Key spots:

- Movement 2 - page 20 - Letter H (measure 198) to measure 231

- Movement 3 - page 30 - measures 17-33 - matching articulation

- Page 38 - Letter F (measure 144) to end of movement

- NOTE: trying Movement 5 (sop solo) seated

- Movement 6 - opening to measure 28 - for matching articulation

- (We will work the transition from C into the Vivace WITH orchestra)

- Page 75 - measure 208 to Letter K (m. 266) - fugue balance and articulation

- Movement 7 - run for tuning and diction (time permitting)

- You will “mark” or shadow as the orchestra rehearses it’s tricky spots

2:15 - orchestra final set-up and tuning - choir stretch break

2:30 - 3:30 - orchestra rehearsal - singers can “shadow” or just listen

- Key points and transitions (not full run-through)

- Movement 1 - mm. = 74-76 for the quarter note

- From measure 119 to the end

- **final measure: strings will pizz with first harp note - winds/brass will play their chord

AS the harp plays the 10th note in the arpeggiated chord**

- Movement 2 - pick-up to letter G to measure 237

- Movement 3 - opening to letter C (measure 66)

 - Measure 103 to end of movement

- Movement 4 - Letter A to fourth measure of B (measure 69)

- Movement 5 - **mm.=50 for the quarter note** - opening to letter B

- Letter D (oboe/cello duet) - to letter E

- Tune final chord

- Movement 6 - opening to letter A

- Letter C to letter D (for transitions)

- Measure 201 to letter G (transition and fugue)

- Pick-up to measure 339 (11 before the end of the movement) - subito p etc

- Movement 7 - mm.=66 for the quarter - Letter D to the end

3:30 to 4:00 - Break and sharing of finger foods (set up by volunteers)

4PM - Soloists called

4:00 to 5:45PM - Full run-through together

6:00 to 7:00 - Social Time

Thank you for making time for this rehearsal together - giving us a chance to build community
as we build this iconic work... it means a lot to everyone involved!

 Orpheum Timings March 30th:

 12:30 – 2:30 Orpheum crew assemble risers and orchestra

1:30 – Tympani & Harp, choir and orchestra can arrive

2:00 – warm up

2:30 – 3:00 entrances & exits

3:00 – 5:00 tutti making music

5:00 – 5:30 ?

5:30 – 7:00 dinner break 6:00 to 7:00 NO ONE ON STAGE (Members can bring their own food or go out)

7:00 on site

7:15 line up

7:30 curtain

Dressing rooms – Choirs up on 5th floor, Orchestra below stage (where VSO hangs), soloists in small dressing rooms, largest space will be the quiet room, smaller for Edette and possibly a second quiet space.

Chorus dress for both concerts: Tuxes / Aqua

Orchestra dress: all black formal

Happy New Year!

Hello ROCA Members, Please find the latest information from your Artistic Directors of Chorus & Orchestra below. The Member Contact Lists on the Members Page have been updated for this term (scroll down to find them). Thanks for your patience, this has been a very busy but successful season so far!

Chorus:

German Pronunciation Guide for Brahms Requiem

There are many Brahms German Requiem recordings, but here is one with score to follow along with: Brahms German Requiem YouTube Recording

Chorus Rehearsal Schedule:

  •  Tuesdays - January 7, 14, 21, 28, February 4,

  • *Sunday 9 February – joint choir afternoon rehearsal at St Philips Dunbar, followed by potluck.

  • Tuesdays February 11, 18, 25

  • *Sunday 2 March – both choirs and orchestra, as above

  • Tuesdays March 4, 11, 18, 25 note that spring break falls mid-month -  but I’m not going to take a rehearsal off till after the Brahms

  • Sunday 30 March – Orpheum Theatre; dress rehearsal 2:30-5:30pm; time to eat and change; concert at 7:30pm

  • Tuesday 1 April – Fraserview; dress rehearsal 7:30-9:30pm

  • Saturday 5 April – 6pm soundcheck; 7:30pm concert

                Then I’ll probably give you April 8 OFF!  

*The Sunday rehearsals in February and March are not optional, though the following potluck is; I’ll post timings as soon as I have confirmation from Edette.

Orchestra:

Program for February 22 Rising Stars Concert:

Handel Fireworks Overture - https://imslp.org/wiki/Music_for_the_Royal_Fireworks,_HWV_351_(Handel,_George_Frideric)

Vivaldi Violin Concerto in A minor (1st movement)-  https://imslp.org/wiki/Violin_Concerto_in_A_minor,_RV_356_(Vivaldi,_Antonio)

Marcello Oboe Concerto (complete) - https://imslp.org/wiki/Oboe_Concerto_in_D_minor,_S.Z799_(Marcello,_Alessandro)

Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 1 (2nd and 3rd movements) - https://imslp.org/wiki/Clarinet_Concerto_No.1_in_F_minor%2C_Op.73_(Weber%2C_Carl_Maria_von)

Intermission

Grieg Peer Gynt Suite 1(movement 4) - https://imslp.org/wiki/Peer_Gynt_Suite_No.1%2C_Op.46_(Grieg%2C_Edvard)

Dukas Sorcerers Apprentice - https://imslp.org/wiki/L%27apprenti_sorcier_(Dukas%2C_Paul)

Grieg Piano Concerto (Movements 2 and 3) - https://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto,_Op.16_(Grieg,_Edvard)

Orchestra Rehearsal Schedule:

Jan 14, 21, 28

Feb 4, 11, 18, 22

Concert:

Feb 22

Notice of AGM 2024 & Updated Covid Protocol

Hello Richmond Orchestra & Chorus Members,

This is your official notice of our 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Time: 8:00 pm (expanded break between rehearsals)

Location: South Arm United Church (11051 No. 3 Rd, Richmond) - in the Sanctuary

Please plan to attend. Please make sure you sign in. Our Board members will offer reports from this past season and fiscal year and you will have an opportunity to learn about how our great organization is doing, and ask questions should you have any. And, we will approve our budget for this season.

All ROCA members have a voice and a vote at our AGMs. Mark your calendars and see you there!

ROCA – Revised Covid Guidelines October 2024

Covid guidelines have evolved over the years, based on known science and the advent of vaccines. ROCA’s Health and Safety Committee has therefore revised our guidelines developed in 2022.

These new guidelines are based upon the most recent (July 2024) information provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

The ROCA community is blessed to have a wide range of members, some of whom have conditions which put them at increased risk of infection. Therefore, in the interest of keeping everyone healthy, Orchestra and Chorus members must continue to self monitor for symptoms of respiratory illness and Covid prior to attending rehearsals. Completing a Covid test is an excellent tool to check for illness if you are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is.

ROCA recommends that members follow current BCDC recommendations to self isolate at home until a fever is gone for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medications, (48 hours for vomiting or diarrhea) and until symptoms have subsided and you feel well enough to participate in daily activities.

ROCA recommends that members mask and maintain physical distance from other members if they are well enough to attend rehearsal after self isolating, with the understanding that they may be contagious up to 5-10 days after symptoms appear depending on the severity of their illness.

ROCA Health and Safety Committee
October 2024


Most recent emails from Admin & Chorus Conductor

In case you missed it…

From Admin (September 23):

Wardrobe
Let Rachel know If you need costume pieces. Our wardrobe deposit fee for shells, jacket & "triangle" is $100. $25 is non-refundable for wear and tear. $75 would be returned to you if you leave the Chorus. The deposit for pocket squares (poofs) to be worn with tuxedos is $25. Cash, cheque or etransfer (use "rocaisgr8" for the security answer) are all great!

Pub Night: Beach Boys Sing-Along
We need to sell tickets, folks, to make this event a success. Direct everyone HERE to purchase tickets for this fun - fundraiser!! It's coming up fast. There are several burger options and you get to choose your beverage (non-alcoholic included). Kids are welcome until 8 pm. If you have any questions, please let me know. We could also REALLY use some help at this event (checking names at the door and handing out tickets, selling tickets "at the door" to folks who don't already have one, selling 50/50 raffle tickets, etc). If you're planning to come anyway, please consider giving us a hand at some point during the event. Reply to this message and let me know if you're able and willing - thank you!

Posters & Publicity for our first concert: Oct 26
Please take a few posters to put up around your community! Tickets are available for purchase now! Forward our posts on FB and send out emails.

Fall Tune-Up Workshops
October 5 - sign up here!

From Brigid (September 23):

Big thanks all the ROCA folks who turned out on Saturday morning for the beginning of Culture Days - our "Klee Wyck" was appreciated, and Rachel had a busy day at the table, with Kathy's "Rainy Night Troubles" performing.  ROCA was obvious!

Some sad news for long-time ROCA singers - Barry Madden died on 21 September - he was 83, and had been dealing with poor health for some time. Barry sang with us 2004-2018, and was ready to record, or do anything tech - he was most proud of the recording he (illegally) managed to make of the Chorus singing at Carnegie Hall!

Please note the attached workshop info for October 5; Geordie Roberts is the clinician in Richmond. I am disappointed that we have only 4 ROCA singers officially registered - I hope that's just you being last-minute, but it's a good idea to register so we know where we are for music copies.  Please pass this poster on to anyone you know - they don't need to be in a BCCF choir, and it would be a good boost to high-school and church choir singers.

And then the following weekend is the Pub Night - please talk to Kathy Hori or Rachel if you can help or if you want tickets.

Alto sectional tonight (Monday);   soprano sectional next Sunday evening at Adele's;  tenor/bass sectional not till the evening of Friday 11 October...

Alison and Mary (both Choir 1) are away on Tuesday, and sadly, Graeme and Alex - so our poor tenors are WAY outnumbered.  Always be VERY nice to tenors who are present and singing!

The good news is that (though we lost Peter, Tony and Harry at the start of the season) we have THREE good basses joining us - Alex Gowans is director of music at Our Saviour Lutheran, and sang bass solo in the Faure Requiem some years back;  Don Harder sings with EnChor and is a CBC sound man; Jonathan Robinson is a friend from way back who I re-encountered while singing at St John's Shaughnessy - we're lucky enough to have him before he vanishes to New Zealand in November. Please make them welcome! I've put Don in Choir 1, and Alex and Jonathan in Choir 2.  I wish I could find tenors like that - but it took five
tries to find our soloist - they are obviously busy that evening!

Double-chorus stuff tomorrow night (sorry, tenors, but we gotta!) - we'll probably sing through the Kyrie and the Credo, so I hope you have all the little playful bits of the latter sorted out from last week!

See you on Tuesday.
Brigid

Our final concert of the season is right around the corner!

Please pump our May 4th Concert! You can find everything in your email, right here on the website and on Facebook. And if you can volunteer for Front of House - please let me know: roca.office@gmail.com

Then, we’ll have The Wonderful World of Music on June 8 to round out the year.

Here’s our “working” program and listening helps for Chorus members:

MAGICAL WORLD OF MUSIC CONCERT - JUNE 8, 2024

Orchestra: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Chorus: Disney Dreams to Share

Orchestra: TBA

Both: Over the Rainbow

*** Intermission ***

Orchestra: something from Harry Potter

Chorus: Double Trouble

Chorus: Be our Guest (A) Be our Guest (B)

Chorus: Colours of the Wind

Chorus: Under the Sea (A) Under the Sea (B) Under the Sea (C)

Orchestra: something from Narnia

Chorus: Into the West (LOTR) Annie Lennox

Both: Medley from “Frozen”

Holiday Sing-Outs

Caroling Singouts – updated as of November 21

Wednesday 29 November: Concert Realty breakfast
8-10am (1190 Hornby St, Vancouver)
Soprano – Rachel    Alto – Brigid
Tenor – Graeme      Bass – Bernie

Saturday 2 December: Winter Wonderland at City Hall lobby
6-7pm  Singalong w/ Mayor Brodie, and a performance spot...

Carol of the Bells
Lo, How A Rose
De Virgin Mary
Jingle Bell Rock

Sopranos      Anne P,  Roxanne, Mary, Karen T, Susan, Doris
Altos            Kate, Liz, Jennifer, Cindy
Tenors          Graeme, Don, Chris
Basses          Tony, Brian, Victor, Will, Bernie, Harry

We’re inside, but dress Christmassy! 

Tuesday 5 December: Dress Rehearsal at Fraserview – 7pm start

          PLEASE COME IN CONCERT DRESS – Photographer working...

 Sunday 10 December: Concert at Fraserview – 1:30pm call for 3pm concert

      - please ask around for FOH help
- we may decide to carol a bit pre-concert or at intermission – or we might decide it’s too much! 
     - Let me know if you’d like to be part of a caroling group

Tuesday 12 December: ROCA party at Edgewater Park (details tba)

Saturday 16 December: Steveston Caroling

          2pm - Gilmore Gardens

          (S) Karen T, Amy, Laura, Rachel, Susan    (A)  Kate, Liz, Jennifer, Elizabeth
(T) Graeme, Don, Chris   (B)  Tony, Victor, Will, Harry

          3:30pm - The Maples

          (S) Amy, Laura, Rachel, Susan    (A)  Kate, Liz, Jennifer, Elizabeth
(T) Graeme, Don, Chris   (B)  Tony, Victor, Will, ?Harry

          5pm - Songs in the Snow – Steveston Museum

          (S) Rachel, Susan    (A)  Kate, Liz, Jennifer, Helen, Pat
(T) Graeme, Don, Chris   (B)  Tony, Victor, Will, Bernie

 Basic program (with tweaks – possibly readings at the residences; shorter for Songs in the Snow)

16      Joy to the World
20      O come, all ye  (1,3,4)
18      Lo, how a rose
3        Carol of the Bells *
CH     Deck the Hall
CH37 O Christmas Tree
26      De Virgin Mary *
11       Have Yourself a MLC
27b     White Christmas
12      Here we come a-wassailing *
22a     Rudolph
15      Jingle Bell Rock
CH42 Jingle Bells
CH19 Silent Night
27      We wish you             

Monday 18 December: Singing Christmas Card
10am-12:30pm – possibly some media interest!

          10 am: Presto Print (13988 Cambie Rd, Suite 383 - actually facing No 6 Rd)

                    Deck the Hall, Silent Night, We Wish You...

          10:15: RAPS (3380 No 6 Rd – right to the back)

                    Deck the Hall, Catmas Carols, JB Rock, SN, WWY

          10:45: Shelley Morris office (1130-10691 Shellbridge Way)

                    DtH, O Chanukah, JB Rock, WhiteC, WWY

          11 am: Richmond Food Bank (100-5800 Cedarbridge Way)

                    DtH, O Xmas Tree, Carol of Bells, JB Rock, SN, WhiteC, WWY

          11:30: Richmond Hospice (6460 No 4 Rd - park on Alberta Rd)

                    whatever...  there’s a piano...

(S)      Anne P, Pat H, Karen (to 10:30)    (A)     Helen, Kate, Liz (to 11:30), Jennifer
(T)      Graeme, Don , Chris                    (B)     Tony, Brian, Will, Peter

First Concert of the Season - Saturday, October 28th!

SATURDAY, OCT 28 - FIRST CONCERT “CLEAN & CLASSIC”

Concert begins at 7:30 pm at Fraserview MB Church.

Call-time for sound check and any last minute “stuff” is 5:30 pm.

Please try to park away from the church, if possible, to leave plenty of spots for our audience.

No scented products, please!

CHORUS:

  • Concert Attire = royal blue shell/lace jacket/long skirt or tux with royal blue pocket pouf

  • Bring hydration and make sure it’s labeled.

  • Personal items/valuables and “green room” area = Nursery Room (from the parking lot entrance to the church, turn right from the lobby)

  • We are not performing in the FIRST half of the program. Let audience members settle into seats first, then fill in as able and use balcony to enjoy the orchestra.

  • You can hold on to your music until Oct. 31st rehearsal.

We gratefully acknowledge our partners and sponsors for their generous support: