THE AMABILIS SINGERS

Amabilis Singers was originally formed in 1980 as the Douglas College Community Choir. In 1989, the ensemble became an independent community choir and adopted the name Amabilis Singers, inspired by the Amabilis Fir (Pacific Silver Fir), a species native to the coastal forests of British Columbia. The botanical name amabilis means “lovely” — a description the choir was very happy to embrace.

For more than four decades, Amabilis Singers has brought together passionate singers from across Burnaby, New Westminster, and the wider Lower Mainland to explore diverse and challenging choral repertoire in a welcoming and collaborative environment. While rooted in community music-making, the choir has consistently pursued artistic excellence through ambitious programming, thoughtful musical interpretation, and long-term artistic growth.

The ensemble has performed music spanning many musical periods and styles, from major choral masterworks to contemporary Canadian compositions. Repertoire has included Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Kim André Arnesen’s Magnificat, and works by composers including Bach, Handel, Lauridsen, Whitacre, Rachmaninoff, Ešenvalds, Katerina Gimon, and many others.

The choir has been shaped by several important artistic leaders throughout its history. Founder Diane Loomer established the ensemble’s enduring spirit of musical curiosity, community connection, and artistic integrity. Her influence on Canadian choral music extended far beyond Amabilis through her work with organizations including Chor Leoni, Elektra, and EnChor.

Following Diane Loomer’s retirement in 1996, Anne Wilson Unger led the choir for a decade marked by artistic growth, memorable large-scale performances, festival participation, and collaborative projects, further strengthening the ensemble’s musical foundations before Ramona Luengen became Artistic Director in 2006. Under Luengen’s sixteen years of leadership, the choir continued to expand its artistic ambitions while deepening its commitment to expressive and challenging repertoire. With Frank Lee as Artistic Director for two years, the choir further developed its sound and collaborated with groups of young musicians. At several important transition points in the choir’s history, including the return from the pandemic, Carrie Taylor’s leadership helped strengthen the choir’s focus on choral skills, musical growth, and sense of community.

Amabilis Singers has also developed a growing commitment to Canadian choral composition and commissioning. In recent seasons, the choir presented the complete world premiere of Ramona Luengen’s You Who Bear the Light, a three-part commissioned work based on texts by Jan Richardson. The choir is currently developing a long-term Canadian Choral Commission Initiative leading toward its 50th anniversary season in 2030, including plans to commission and premiere multiple new Canadian works over the coming years.

A particularly memorable chapter in the choir’s history was its 2015 concert tour to Italy, where performances took place in remarkable venues including the Pantheon in Rome, the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, the Duomo d’Orvieto, Abbazia di Sant’Antimo, and Florence’s Piazzale Michelangelo.

Today, Amabilis Singers continues to rehearse and perform in Burnaby under the leadership of Artistic Director Man Li and long-time accompanist Ingrid Verseveldt. In recent seasons, the choir has entered an exciting new period of artistic growth, presenting increasingly ambitious programming while continuing to strengthen its commitment to Canadian choral music, collaborative community music-making, and artistic excellence.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Man Li, Amabilis Singers continues to build a forward-looking artistic program while celebrating 45 years of choral music in our community.