Chor Leoni – Erick Lichte conductor | Saina Khaledi – santour | Tina Chang – piano | Katherine Evans – trumpet | Michael Dirk – organ
Join us for our 34th annual Remembrance Day Concerts, a moving experience that invites reflection, meditation, and hope for a better world. This November 11, the soaring voices of Chor Leoni will ring out in the beautiful space at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United, honouring the fallen through a unique blend of classical, folk, and pop music as well as evocative readings. Step into a thoughtful emotional space where tradition meets current perspectives, sorrow meets solace, and remembrance opens the door to peace.
Tickets from $20-$70
35 and Under Ticket Pricing Available.
Free tickets available for any active or retired members of the military. Call the Chor Leoni Box Office to book: 604.263.7061
Take the time this Remembrance Day to pause, reflect, and be carried by the luminous voices of Chor Leoni as we remember the fallen and envision a better world together.
Saina Khaledi, an Iranian-Canadian musician, achieved significant recognition by emerging victorious in the Iranian Santour Festival in 2003. Holding a diploma from Iran’s most prestigious music school, the Tehran Music Conservatoire, Khaledi dedicated herself to her musical education and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Tehran Music University in 2007. Subsequently, she relocated to Canada in 2009. Since her arrival, Khaledi has performed extensively across various countries, including Iran, Austria, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and Canada. Her performances have showcased her versatility as a composer, soloist, and collaborator with esteemed groups such as Music On Main, Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra (VICO), Vashaan Ensemble, Vancouver Bach Choir, BC Chinese Music Ensemble (BCCME), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), Vancouver Opera Orchestra, Canadian Music Centre (CMC), Allegra Chamber Orchestra, Richmond Choir, VanChoir, Medusa Society, Artemis Society, National Orchestra of Iran Conservatoire, Mellal Orchestra, and Hamnavazan Ensemble. Additionally, she has actively participated in various music productions and recordings. Currently, Khaledi holds teaching positions at Capilano University, and offers private lessons.
Described as a "scintillating player" (Opera Wire) whose "...pianism was a wonder," (Opera Canada), pianist and coach Tina Chang is currently on the music staff at Vancouver Opera, and recently at Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland. Based in Vancouver, she has been involved with various arts organizations, including Arts Club Theatre, Chor Leoni, Sound the Alarm Music Theatre, City Opera, and Against the Grain Theatre. She holds her own private studio, and has held adjunct positions at University of British Columbia and Dalhousie University. Find out more about Tina at www.TinaChangPiano.ca.
Praised for her “solo work of exceptional quality” by the Boston Globe, Katherine Evans is in her fifth season as principal trumpet of the Newport Symphony in Newport, OR. She previously held principal trumpet positions and appeared as a soloist with several regional symphonies around Boston, MA. In Vancouver, Ms. Evans can be heard primarily as a soloist and freelancer. She appears with Turning Point Ensemble, the Vancouver Brass Orchestra, and OneTwoTrio, and has been featured in multiple recital series including those at Holy Rosary Cathedral, St. Andrews-Wesley, and UBC. She is recorded on the Centuar, Chéldar, and Albany labels.
As one of Vancouver’s more active and versatile organists, Michael Dirk is equally at home offering solo concerts, accompanying the many fine choirs/ensembles of the region, improvising an entertaining accompaniment to a silent film, or serving liturgically in various worship styles. During his BMus program at UBC, he studied organ with Ed Norman and Denis Bédard. Michael then continued as graduate assistant with full scholarship, to the eminent teacher, Clyde Holloway, at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University of Houston, Texas, where he received his Masters degree. Subsequent studies include the Cavaillé-Coll organs of Paris, as well as the Fr Willis organs and Cathedral choir school systems of London. Michael has performed for national festivals of the Royal Canadian College of Organists for which he serves as Vice-President and Education officer, as well as the Association of Anglican Musicians national conference. Since 2012, Michael has been the Music Director/Organist of St John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church. He is frequently invited to showcase the Orpheum’s historic Mighty Wurlizter for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, having studied with Robert MacDonald (Radio City Concert Hall NYC) and Charlie Balogh (Organ Stop, Mesa). A sought after clinician, Michael has offered numerous workshops for the RCCO and British Columbia Music Educator Association, as well as articles for Organ Canada Journal.
Shireen is a Palestinian Jordanian Canadian artist, composer and educator living in Toronto, Canada. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Oberlin College Conservatory in 1994 and a Master’s degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California in 1998, Shireen’s musical odyssey drew her to Palestine to teach music for several years. Expanding on her experience and passion, Shireen founded Dozan wa Awtar Music Establishment in 2002, which contributed greatly to her personal and professional development. She earned her PhD Music Education from the University of Toronto in 2019.
B.E. (Brittney Elizabeth) Boykin is a distinguished composer, conductor and pianist, renowned for her dynamic artistry and profound contributions to the world of music. As a composer with an evolving career with notable collaborations and commissions, Boykin’s music has been highlighted with performances at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.
In the past 35 years, Craig Carnahan has received over 50 commissions for original compositions. His music has been heard in performances by (partial list) the Los Angeles Master Chorale (Los Angeles, CA), Conspirare (Austin, TX), Ensemble of These Times (Berkeley, CA), Cantus (Minneapolis, MN), the Dale Warland Singers (St. Paul, MN), Zeitgeist (St. Paul), cellist Joseph Johnson (Montreal, Canada), Chor Leoni (Vancouver, Canada), Kantorei (Denver, CO), Music on the Hill (Westport, CT), The Atlanta Master Chorale (Atlanta, GA), and over thirty of the GALA-member choruses in North America. His music has been described as “absorbing, richly textured and emotionally stirring” (Minneapolis Star Tribune).
Malcolm Dalglish is a choral composer and director, hammer dulcimer, spoons, bones, and chin music virtuoso who presents programs of original folk choir and dulcimer music, stories, mime, rhyme, rhythm, and song.
Ken Cormier is a pianist equally at home in the classical, pop, and jazz genres. Upon completion of his classical studies at the UBC School of Music, his professional career began with 3 seasons as repetiteur with Vancouver Opera. He then moved into the world of professional music theatre, first with the Livent Company, and more recently with Vancouver’s Arts Club, in whose productions he continues to work regularly as keyboardist, arranger, and musical director. Ken has been with Chor Leoni since 1998. He makes his home in Burnaby with his wife Lisa and their two wonderful children.
Born in 1964 in Dublin, Ireland, Michael is a composer of music and lyrics, film maker and runs the three connected vocal ensembles that he founded ANÚNA, M’ANAM and Systir. His extensive musical output includes a number of choral pieces that have entered the standard repertoire of choirs all over the world.
Don Macdonald (born 1966) is an internationally recognized composer of film and choral music, and he has an eclectic musical background as a performer, producer, and educator. His diverse body of work spans music for theatre and dance, published choral works, and forays into everything from rock and jazz to world and folk music.
©Chor Leoni 2025