To open its 2025–2026 season, the St. Lawrence Choir invites you on a musical journey devoted to sacred music, a blend of reflection, solace, and consolation, from the mystery of Advent to the radiance of eternity.

The program will be led by four emerging guest conductors — Johanna Schreibweis, Jeffrey Chan, Haodong Ma, and Kody Pisney — who will showcase sacred works of profound beauty, spanning centuries and choral traditions from Europe and beyond.

The first half evokes the fervor of expectation and the tenderness of the Nativity through sacred pieces by Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Mahler, and Villette, weaving together lyricism, contemplation, and brilliance.

The second half continues this spiritual journey of reflection, comfort, and sacred polyphony, featuring works by Schütz, Palestrina, and Howells — a testament to the richness and depth of sacred music across the ages.

A moment of solace to welcome the Advent season.

For its Spring 2026 concert, the St. Lawrence Choir presents Renaissances, a journey through the history of choral music, from the refinement of the Renaissance to the rediscovery of sacred song in the 19th century.

The first half will showcase the brilliance of European Renaissance polyphony, featuring emblematic works by William Byrd, Clément Janequin, and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. These masters of sacred music united spiritual fervor and vocal balance in works of timeless beauty.

The second half will evoke the choral revival of the 19th and 20th centuries, marked by a return to the purity of a cappella singing and inner expression. It will feature works by Edward Elgar, Maurice Duruflé, and Camille Saint-Saëns, composers whose music blends lyricism, contemplation, and spiritual depth.

Under the direction of guest conductor Andrew Gray, the St. Lawrence Choir will bring these works to life, celebrating the vitality and continuity of the choral art across the centuries.

To close its 2025–2026 season, the St. Lawrence Choir presents a program entirely dedicated to Canadian choral repertoire, under the direction of guest conductor Gabrielle Gaudreault.

The first half will highlight the richness and diversity of choral music from here at home, featuring works by Marie-Claire Saindon, Maurice Dela, and Lionel Daunais. These contemporary composers draw on poetry, nature, and heritage to create an expressive and deeply human musical language.

The second half will be devoted to the Quebec premiere of La Chasse-Galerie, a work by Rémi St-Jacques inspired by the famous legend of Quebec folklore, written for choir, piano, and percussion.

A concert celebrating the vitality of contemporary choral creation and the richness of Quebec’s musical heritage.