We are in the process of adding the finishing touches. Continue reading below for an overview of our 2024-2025 choral season.
"Winter Winds... & Voices!" with Ottawa Wind Ensemble
Sunday, December 8th 2024, 3 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle. Buy tickets here!
MosaiK Choral Festival 2025 with Guest Director Kathleen Allan
Saturday, March 1st 2025, 7:30pm at Ecole De La Salle. Buy tickets here!
Spring Concert
Date & Details TBA, St. Thomas the Apostle
Harmonia Choir of Ottawa was formed in 2003 to provide an opportunity to perform choral music from Canada and around the world. While the choir has performed music from the choral canon, they also perform a broad range of repertoire with a focus on promoting local, and Canadian composers and compositions. The choir has performed in concert with various musicians over the years, including Julie Nesrallah, Kenny Rogers, the Maple Leaf Brass, Divertimento Orchestra, Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, Regimental Band of the Governor General's Foot Guards, the Ottawa Wind Ensemble, and was invited to sing Brahm's German Requiem in Carnegie Hall with John Rutter directing, and at Lincoln Centre with composer Ola Gjeilo.
In 2025, the choir returns to Carnegie Hall, with an invitation from Alberta conductor Laurier Fagnan, to join his and other choirs in a performance of the Levin edition of the Mozart Requiem. In addition to regularly premiering new works, and arrangements, including commissions from Canadian composers Mark Sirett, Stephen Hatfield and Matthew Emery, the choir has taken on various projects including Harmonia's MosaiK Choral Festival, bringing top-notch Canadian choral conductors and composers together with local choirs to celebrate Canada's mosaic through music.
Kurt Ala-Kantti, Artistic Director and founder of Harmonia Choir of Ottawa and the new Ottawa Boys Choir has been directing community adult and children's choirs for over twenty years. He is presently also Director of Music for St. Thomas the Apostle Anglican Church, Music Director for the Cumberland Community Singers, as well as conductor of the Ottawa Children's Choir "Viva Choir" Orleans, having served as Concert Choir and Boys Choir director there previously. Kurt served as Artistic Director for the national choral festival "Unison Festival Unisson" in 2014. With a keen interest in choral performance and excellence, Kurt is a frequent paid chorister in local choirs, and has been a member of several local choirs, including being a founding member of the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, singing professionally with the Juno Award winning Ottawa Bach Choir, and the Dicken's Carollers of Ottawa, and currently singing with the Ewashko Singers.
Tom Sear, Collaborative Accompanist, is also the Accompanist for Musica Viva Singers, Cumberland Community Singers, Choir of St. Thomas the Apostle, the Ottawa Boys Choir and the Orleans Viva Choir of the Ottawa Children's Choir. In addition to working with choirs, he also accompanies instrumental and vocal soloists and students, and enjoys teaching piano and music theory privately from his studio in Orleans. He studied at the University of Ottawa under Andrew Tunis and Jean Paul Sevilla. In 2007 he completed his studies and earned a Masters degree in music with a focus in piano performance. He also has some background as a percussionist.
Christopher Askwith, Composer-in-residence, completed his Bachelor's Degree in Music at Carleton University. While there, he studied voice with Susan Blyth-Schofield and composition with Dierdre Piper and Kelly-Marie Murphy.
Auditions for each season are held in September, but are also held during the year, with admission after the following concert. Our auditions are not that scary! We also ask that you join us for a rehearsal first, so you may audition us! Come out and join us. Call (613) 833-1812 or email info (at) harmoniachoir.com
Rehearsals take place at St. Thomas the Apostle Anglican Church, 2345 Alta Vista Dr, next to the Fire Station. Click Here for a map!
The Choir rehearses from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings from September until May. There is a #44 bus stop directly out front. Click Here for #44 route info!