About the Choir
Our History
The Malaspina Choir is a 65+-member community choir based in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Founded in 1970, the Choir has been bringing together musicians and music lovers from all walks of life for more than three decades. The Choir has performed in Nanaimo and Victoria; singing a wide range of choral repertoire including Classical choral masterworks, Jazz, Motown, Gospel, Broadway, and Folk music. The Choir has performed with Frank Mills, Gary Fjellgaard and Valdy and sang Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Handel’s Messiah with the Vancouver Island Symphony. In recent years we have placed more emphasis on the classical choral repertoire and worked to emphasize our values: joy in musicality and being part of a cultural tradition; learning and being challenged; versatility, professionalism, accomplishment and pride in performance; our connections with audiences and our contributions to community groups and organizations.
Our Team
Wade Noble, Music Director
Wade Noble has been the Music Director of the Malaspina Choir since 2002. He is sought after as a conductor, instructor, clinician and baritone soloist throughout Vancouver Island. In addition to his work with the Malaspina Choir, Wade conducts the Sooke Philharmonic Chorus and Ekoos Vocal Ensemble in Sooke, and PRIMA Choir at the University of Victoria. Wade is an enthusiastic and exuberant conductor and well known for being able to bring out high levels of musicianship from people of widely varying skills and backgrounds. He is dedicated to inspiring the musicians who work with him to reach past their limits and take on increasingly challenging works. Wade holds a Bachelor of Music and a Masters of Music degree from the University of Victoria.
Sharon Wolzien, Accompanist
Sharon Wolzien has recently moved to Vancouver Island from Colorado where she was an Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Northern Colorado. She has performed throughout North and South America, the Far East, Egypt and New Zealand as a soloist and chamber musician. Within the US she has performed with many ensembles including the Group for Contemporary Music and the New Music Consort in New York City, the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado, her Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music and her Bachelor of Music degree from Texas Christian University.
Our Society
The Malaspina Choir is a registered non-profit organization that is governed by an Executive Committee that is elected by the Choir membership. An Annual General Meeting is held each year in the fall. Malaspina Choir is a registered charity, Charitable # 119029577RT0001.
Annual General Meeting - Tuesday November 16, 2010 Vancouver Island University, Building #320, Choral Room 8:30 p.m.
Our Executive Board
The Executive Board is elected from the Choir's membership. The Board makes decisions on policies of the organization and ensures the artistic and financial well being of the organization. The Board meets once a month. Board positions include President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sectional Representatives (4) and Librarian. The Music Director sits as an Ex-Officio member of the Board. Job descriptions are available for all elected positions. If you are interested in being on the Executive, please speak with Sara Frisch, President.
