Concert - "Let It Be"
Our Season Finale, Beatles Extravaganza with Orchestra & Chorus Together!
Concert - "Carols for Choirs (& Orchestra!)"
Please note this is a Tuesday night at 7:30 pm - our only weeknight, evening concert of the season.
AGM November 4, 2025 (2025-2026 season)
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 @ Fraserview MB Church
Begins at 8:00 pm - when break time begins during rehearsal
Concert - "Canadian Reflections"
Orchestra & Chorus Together
Dress Rehearsal: Tuesday, October 21 (call time TBA)
Call time on Concert day - October 26 = 1 pm
Concert Dress
Chorus:
-black lace jackets over the red sequin shell
-long black skirt (roughly ankle-length), opaque black tights or socks, close-toed black shoes
and
-black tux, white shirt, red bowtie, red sequin pocket “poof”
Orchestra:
-all black
ROCA Summer Gathering
Bring a chair, bring a picnic, bring an instrument - but most importantly, bring yourself! We’ll gather to catch up on our summer happenings and things MIGHT get musical. Hope to see you there!
Clean & Classic
Featuring Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante and Vivaldi’s Gloria.
Orchestra and Chorus
2023 AGM
Be sure to join us for our Annual General Meeting for all Chorus, Orchestra and Board members of Richmond Orchestra & Chorus Association.
When We Were Young
Note for the Concert
Costumes for the concert
Dress is basic black - whatever that means for you. Printed T-shirts are OK - I'm not going to get steamed about "it has to be all black" but that's our basic. However, to that you can add extras as appropriate to period - so add some preppy stuff for Beach Boys, sunglasses etc, tie-dyed stuff, fringes, beads, leather. Miniskirts and boots are OK, bell-bottoms or wigs. You can go glam or rocker chick. We're not doing Kiss, so no face-paint!
Some people will really play with it, some people will stay safe... That's all OK....
- Brigid
BCCF Chorfest 2023!
May 26-27 in one of 3 cities- your choice:
Kelowna
Gibsons
Courtenay
*different clinicians in each city- check the BCCF website for more info and registration: https://bcchoralfed.com/chorfest/
Note: Toby is the accompanist for the host choir and chorfest in Gibsons!
REGISTER SOON!
Rehearsals- Orchestra @Fraserview; Choir @South Arm
Note the venue swap for this rehearsal night— Orchestra is at Fraserview and choir is at South Arm**
Body-Mapping session for ROCA singers!
Come and join Nicholle for her Body-Mapping session. MONDAY 1 MAY. It'll be at Fraserview, at 7:30pm, and won't be more than 90 minutes. Nicholle says to come wearing comfortable clothes that don't restrict movement. You don't need to bring anything except the Faure, which we may or may not use - I just wanted you to have something you sing beautifully if she asks to hear you.
"The Music's Always There" CHORUS CONCERT
ROCA arrives at 6pm, ready to rehearse; BREAK at 7pm; Concert at 7:30pm
CONCERT ATTIRE: black pants, socks, shoes for all; women- black tank with green ponchos; men- no tie; black mask optional
The Music’s Always There
Both choirs:
Mairi’s wedding trad.Scottish, arr Chilcott
Richmond Chorus
Cantique de Jean Racine Gabriel Faure, ed. Rutter
Psalm 23 (from Requiem) John Rutter
with XXXX (violin)
Steveston/London Choir
Run (One Republic) R. Tedder arr. Narverud
See Stars (from Mean Girls) J. Richmond arr. Brymer
TBA Michael Mikulin
Remember This Jonas arr. Emerson
Richmond Chorus
Little Jazz Mass Bob Chilcott
Both choirs
The Music’s Always There With You John Rutter
INTERMISSION
Richmond Chorus
Blow Blow John Rutter
Both choirs
Greensleeves trad. arr Chilcott
By Shallow Rivers Michael Mikulin
Richmond Chorus
Walking the Red Road Bob Chilcott
Prayer for Ukraine John Rutter
Gaelic Blessing John Rutter
And so it goes Billy Joel, arr. Chilcott
Buffalo Gals trad.arr Chilcott
Both choirs
The Terrible Tale of Tom Gilligan trad. arr.Rutter
Down by the Riverside trad.arr Rutter
with Steve Johnston, bass & Mike Ferguson, drums
Chorus FULL REHEARSAL with SLC
Full Rehearsal:
6pm Steveston-London choir
7pm ROCA with SLC
*no need for formal choir attire tonight; ambassadors please be ready to arrive early/greet the SLC teens
The Music’s Always There
Both choirs:
Mairi’s wedding trad.Scottish, arr Chilcott
Richmond Chorus
Cantique de Jean Racine Gabriel Faure, ed. Rutter
Psalm 23 (from Requiem) John Rutter
with XXXX (violin)
Steveston/London Choir
Run (One Republic) R. Tedder arr. Narverud
See Stars (from Mean Girls) J. Richmond arr. Brymer
TBA Michael Mikulin
Remember This Jonas arr. Emerson
Richmond Chorus
Little Jazz Mass Bob Chilcott
Both choirs
The Music’s Always There With You John Rutter
INTERMISSION
Richmond Chorus
Blow Blow John Rutter
Both choirs
Greensleeves trad. arr Chilcott
By Shallow Rivers Michael Mikulin
Richmond Chorus
Walking the Red Road Bob Chilcott
Prayer for Ukraine John Rutter
Gaelic Blessing John Rutter
And so it goes Billy Joel, arr. Chilcott
Buffalo Gals trad.arr Chilcott
Both choirs
The Terrible Tale of Tom Gilligan trad. arr.Rutter
Down by the Riverside trad.arr Rutter
with Steve Johnston, bass & Mike Ferguson, drums
Funeral for Cathy Bartrop's partner Liz Meier: Sat, Feb. 11
No “performance”, just hymns. Please contact Brigid if you can support Cindy by being part of the choir.
ROCA Chorus gig- St. Mary's Kerrisdale (for funeral)
events TBA- this is a paid event for ROCA; chorus members please sign up with Brigid directly. Info to come via email.
Feast of Carols- St. Mary's Kerrisdale event
Join the congregation, and Brigid for the annual Feast of Carols.
The annual ROCA Christmas Party for both Orchestra and Chorus!
Just like the good old ROCA party days- except, after Christmas!….Bring something savoury or sweet, or some decorations or a performance! Orchestra and Chorus together for a party.
Hot drinks provided. BYOB :) Wear something festive- a New Year’s crown, hats, etc!
If you have decorations- especially a string of lights or battery operated candles, please bring them!
Please contribute a snack- sweet or savoury to share. Of course, our buffet snacks and finger food items are ‘eat at your own risk’ - we will provide napkins and plates but please bring serving utensils and be aware so we all keep healthy :)
at Edgewater Park complex in Steveston… common room building in the middle of the 3031 Williams Rd. complex.
Christmas Performance at Aberdeen Mall
repeat of the Food Bank concert rep! Dress festive!
Caroling- Minoru, Gilmore Gardens, Steveston!
Saturday 17 December
We’ve got both indoor and outdoor singing here, and you need to be Christmassy for both! Red binder (with possible extras for GG – see below). Dress in layers.... Plan to car-pool where you can.
12:45pm at Minoru Residence (Minoru/Gollner just south of Westminster Hwy) I think it’s pay parking. You will be asked to do a COVID test (standard RAT, I assume) or bring one you’ve done that morning, and be masked throughout. Interestingly enough, nothing shows online about visitor restrictions, but my assumption is that they would expect all visitors to have their vaccinations against COVID
(S) Laura, Amy (A) Brigid, Heather (T) Graeme , Don (B) Bernie
1-1:30pm - singing the following (though not necessarily in this order) – there will be two separate venues
Deck the Hall / O Christmas Tree
The Virgin Mary / O Little Town
possibly O Chanukah / White Christmas / JingleBell Rock
Silent Night / We Wish You a Merry Christmas
extricate ourselves when we can
**gathering by 2:15pm at Gilmore Gardens (4088 Blundell at No 1 Rd
– there is some visitor parking underneath from the Blundell entrance) Harry says you will be asked for vaccination proof - QR code from Gateway passport (I gather most folks have it downloaded); or any card showing two vaccinations. All visitors must be masked at all times.
(S) Laura, Amy, Pat, Rachel, Kathy, Karen, Susan if recovered (A) Genny, Liz, Kate, Heather (T) Graeme, Don, Chris (B) Harry (our host!) Bernie, Victor, Tony, Peter
2:30-3:15pm - singing the following (though not necessarily in this order)
Joy to the World / Hark the Herald /
Deck the Hall / O Christmas Tree
The Angel Gabriel / The Virgin Mary / O Little Town
Here we come a-wassailing
Carol of the Bells / JingleBell Rock
anyone Jewish? - O Chanukah / White Christmas / Rudolph
Silent Night / We Wish You a Merry Christmas
perhaps with a couple of readings...
**Bring A La Nanita / Mary Did You Know / Stable Dog – I don’t know how accessible the piano will be, but perhaps.... head down No 1 Rd, gathering at Richmond Museum (Moncton and First Avenue – give yourself time to find parking) before 4pm. Outdoor event; you may mask or not, as you please. It’s (sort of) under cover. Same folks as above, less Karen & Peter, plus AnnZ. Program much as above.
**4:05-4:30pm, because someone else is waiting to go on at 4:35pm. (And Richmond Singers are on at 5:05pm, if you can stay!)
By Saturday I will try to have program order and page numbers ready for you!CAROLING! Dress is FESTIVE and for the outdoor performance- WARM! bring your red binder, bells and hats and all that….
ROCA Orchestra Food Bank Fundraiser concert
orchestra to be ready to go at 7pm for a 7:30pm concert start
Food Bank donations online, or at the door in cash. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/richmond-orchestra-chorus-gives-to-the-richmond-fo/
Choir to attend and “sing a long”… no intermission. lots of fun!
"Magnificat" Christmas Concert
Chorus Christmas Concert - Magnificat!
Dress rehearsal /sound-check at 4:00pm in FULL dress (red sparkle tops with lace jackets and long skirts; black tuxedos white shirts and red ties/poofs)
Bring a snack for dinner or make plans to go somewhere nearby- break at 6:30pm; concert call at 7pm.
**cash donations at the door for the Food Bank; Tickets also sold at the door for this show! Do you have a friend or family member who might like to help with FOH? please let Laura know. Thanks!
Winter Wonderland at Richmond City Hall
Inside Richmond City Hall- we will join the mayor like the old days and sing some carols. Dress is FESTIVE! See you at 5:20pm by the big staircase, with your red caroling binder.