Pacific Voices Society

The Pacific Voices Society is a Canadian nonprofit organization based in British Columbia, recognized as a charitable society under Canadian law with the business registration number 119249530RR0001. It operates as a family of choirs dedicated to training and motivating singers of all ages to pursue musical excellence.

History and Background

Founded originally as the Pacific Mennonite Children’s Choir in 1978 under the leadership of Nancy Dyck, Pacific Voices has evolved into a respected choral organization known for its commitment to high-quality music education and performance. Over the years, it has garnered widespread recognition within the Fraser Valley and beyond, with a strong presence in community concerts, festivals, and recordings.

Mission

The Society’s mission centers around training and motivating singers to achieve vocal and musical excellence in a way that glorifies God and inspires joy both in performers and audiences. Rooted in the rich heritage of choral music within the Mennonite church, the organization upholds a faith-based foundation, emphasizing that every singer is endowed with unique gifts that can be developed through dedicated choral instruction.

Vision

Pacific Voices envisions:

• Providing opportunities for singers to experience the challenge, joy, and reward of high-caliber choral singing.
• Encouraging musical development through exceptional instruction, performances, tours, festivals, and recordings.
• Building community within the choir to foster personal development, social growth, friendships, respect, and accountability.
• Establishing partnerships to sustain the choir financially and musically.
• Ensuring financial responsibility to support continuous growth.
• Acting as ambassadors locally and internationally.

These goals are pursued through collaboration among singers, families, the Board of Directors, staff, and the wider communities involved.

Activities and Programs

The organization conducts a variety of programs including:

• Community concerts open to the public.
• Music rehearsal camps designed for skill enhancement.
• Regular in-person rehearsals to maintain and improve choir performance.
• Mini recording sessions to document the choir’s work.

Auditions for various choir divisions are held multiple times annually, supporting singers at different skill levels and ages.

Funding and Support

As a registered charitable organization in British Columbia, Pacific Voices Society issues income tax receipts for donations over $20. The Society’s funding is sustained through tuition fees, concert revenues, fundraising activities, and generous support from individual and business donors. This financial support is crucial for maintaining the quality and reach of its music programs.

Cultural and Community Impact

Pacific Voices not only promotes musical excellence but also serves as a community-building entity. It contributes to the cultural landscape by making choral music accessible and enjoyable, fostering social connections among diverse groups, and providing life-enriching experiences through music.

Pacific Voices Society continues to be a prominent organization in Canadian choral music, blending musical artistry with faith-based values to enrich the lives of its members and audiences alike.

[1] https://pacificvoices.ca/support [2] https://pacificvoices.ca/about [3] https://www.pacificvoices.org/about/ [4] https://www.charitydata.ca/charity/pacific-voices-society/119249530RR0001/ [5] https://lightmagazine.ca/pacific-voices/