The Nelson Choral Singers has been a beloved part of Nelson’s music community for many years. We are a large, non-audition choir that presents concerts twice a year—at Christmas and in the spring.

Our repertoire spans a wide variety of music, both secular and sacred, and we welcome anyone who loves to sing to join us.

We also enjoy collaborating with other choirs in the area, inviting them to share the stage in our concerts. These partnerships not only delight our audiences with diverse performances and styles but also provide opportunities and a platform for smaller choirs to showcase their repertoire.

Note that there are two parts to this spring session. You can register for just one, or both.

#1 Choralpalooza

Kathleen Neudorf will lead two rehearsals (Jan 7 and 14) to prepare the choir for Choralpalooza, which is happening Saturday, Jan 17, at the Capitol.

We will be singing:
• Peace Like a River
• Ad Astra

We are not charging for these rehearsals, and Kathleen would love to have lots of singers participate!

The event is organized by the Nelson District Arts Council, and profits from ticket sales will go towards funding choir bursaries. Each of the 10 invited choirs will perform for about 10 minutes. There will be two performances (2 pm and 7:30 pm), plus an earlier tech rehearsal.

Further information on the event here.

Note: If you wish to watch all the other choirs sing at Choralpalooza, you will need to purchase a ticket from capitoltheatre.ca. Otherwise, you are expected to leave the theatre immediately after the Nelson Choral Singers perform.

#2 Regular Spring Session

Our regular spring session begins Wednesday, January 21, with guest music director David Lane. Please join us, and spread the word to others.

As usual, we’ll be rehearsing on Wednesday evenings, 7 pm–9 pm, in the Nelson United Church (602 Silica Street).
Enter the church via the rear door — the one with the ramp leading up to it.

We’re aiming for concerts towards the end of April.

Payment

Payment for the spring session ($120) is due the week of January 21 via:

• e-transfer (payments@nelsonchoralsingers.org), or
• cash/cheque at the first rehearsal

If you are new to the choir and would like to try it out for a couple of weeks before committing, feel free to do that.

If you supply your contact information now, we will know how many singers to expect at our first practice and will be able to send you further email updates.

REGISTRATION

Please indicate which parts you are registering for:

☐ I will be participating in Choralpalooza and will attend rehearsals on January 7 and 14. (No charge.)

☐ I am registering for the Spring 2026 session beginning January 21. Cost is $120 for the session.

Name:
Phone number:
Email:
Section (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone/bass):

David Lane

Here is some information about David we sent out earlier. Many of you will have met him; he worked with the basses and tenors at our sectional rehearsal in October, and he was a guest musician at our December 2024 Jubilate Deo concert, playing the electronic keyboard.

Who am I?

Hi NCS! I am excited for our term together. My choir experience started in high school in Alberta. I was playing drums for the jazz choir when the director — largely against my will — drafted me to sing in the other choirs (more due to her lack of low voices in the choir than any sort of demonstrated experience or skill on my part).

I studied voice at The School for Music Vocations in Iowa, in a program that was largely focused on small ensemble vocal jazz singing. I finished my BMus in Jazz Performance (Vocal major, Piano minor) at St. FX University in NS, all the while singing in small ensembles, a cappella groups, and larger choral groups.

I went on to get a Bachelor of Music Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland. After NL, I moved to Toronto, where I worked full-time as a performer and vocal coach for 9 years. During those years, I sang in the vocal quartet Cadence and a 6-person Pop/R&B a cappella group called Duwendé.

I was assistant conductor for Concord Vocal Ensemble, worked as a section lead in many United and Anglican churches, and picked up any other vocal gigs that came my way. My work with Cadence included clinicing and adjudicating choirs at various festivals, as well as leading rehearsals and workshops centered on the voice.

Since moving to Nelson 4 years ago, I’ve been involved as the rehearsal accompanist/collaborative pianist with Lalin Vocal Ensemble. I look forward to making music with all of you!

Repertoire

My guiding principle for the programming selection so far has been feel-good music that is gratifying to sing and has an uplifting message. I want to pick music that really allows us to focus on the joy of singing together.

In terms of style, expect mainly a mixture of light gospel and contemporary choral, with possibly one or two more traditional choral selections as well.

Sampling of selected pieces:
• Good News – Coco Love Alcorn
• We Are One – Brian Tate
• Draw the Circle Wide – Mark Miller

Official artist bio

Formerly of the multi–Juno-nominated vocal quartet Cadence, David is a jazz singer and keyboardist who has been beatboxing for almost two decades and enjoys exploring the limits of the human voice. He holds degrees in Jazz Music Performance and Music Education and is a dynamic and engaging performer with over 12 years of international touring experience and 500+ educational workshops.

He currently sings with the New York City–based group Duwende. He has appeared on America’s Got Talent, toured with Grammy Award–winning artists, opened for Jay Leno, and his two groups have garnered more than 11 million views on YouTube. As a solo artist, David uses his RC 505 Loopstation to combine jazzy keyboard harmony with vocal experimentation and beatboxing, creating full song arrangements and improvised soundscapes on the fly.

We are a mixed SATB choir of approximately 60 voices.  Previous musical experience including the ability to read music would be helpful, but is not required. You will be guided through our program of music under the sure hand of director Kathleen Neudorf, and your fellow choristers.

Covid

Click here to read more about covid

Costs

Costs are $120 per season/concert.

Executive Committee

Kathleen Neudorf is a highly respected choral conductor, celebrated for her warm leadership style, engaging sense of humor, and deep commitment to community music. She has been the director of the Nelson Choral Society (NCS) since 2004, where she has built a strong, inclusive community of singers, fostering a welcoming environment that encourages musical growth and camaraderie. Under her guidance, NCS has become a significant part of the cultural life in Nelson, British Columbia.

In addition to her work with NCS, Kathleen has made significant contributions to several other choirs in the region. She directed SongCore, a children’s choir where she nurtured the musical development of young singers emphasizing fun and the joy of making music together. Kathleen was also the artistic director of the Cottonwood Singers, a chamber music choir known for its rich vocal harmonies and expressive performances. Additionally, Kathleen leads the Inspirare Women's Choir, an ensemble that celebrates the unique voices and perspectives of women. The choir's performances often include a diverse range of styles, and Kathleen’s passion for varied choral repertoires has helped the group develop a distinctive sound.

Kathleen’s work extends beyond the choirs she directs; she is a passionate advocate for the power of community choirs and the role of music in bringing people together. Her leadership is defined by a balance of musical expertise and personal warmth, creating a space where singers can feel both challenged and supported. Through her efforts, Kathleen has made an indelible impact on the local music scene, inspiring a love for choral music across all age groups and levels of experience.

For any further information about any aspects of singing or working with the Nelson Choral Singers, please contact us at info@nelsonchoralsingers.org

Or you can mail us at:

Nelson Choral Singers
802 observatory st,
Nelson BC, V1L 4Z4

If you are looking for the setup document for the risers/shell click here to download (1MB version 2019)