Historia de Cantares Choir

The “Cantares” Venezuelan Choir is a non-profit organization created for promoting Venezuelan and Latin-American rhythms, both traditional music and folklore, through choral music. Cantares was established in June 2010, building on the long term choral experience of its founders.  Our mission is to accomplish goals beyond just choral activities. Thus, we aim to promote Venezuelan-Canadian cultural exchange, ensuring the preservation of our identity through generations, by exposing young Venezuelan-Canadians to the Venezuelan traditional music experience.

Our activities will not be limited to occasional performances, but will include a thorough research of the Venezuelan and Latin-American music and rhythms. With this knowledge, we will organize workshop-performances in which this information can be disseminated to the general public.

The choir includes 26 members. Our conductor, Juan Sosa, has an extensive experience in choral directing.  He studied at the Conservatory of Music of Valencia, Venezuela; and founded and conducted ¨The Columba Méndez Dorante¨ choir in Tinaco - Cojedes, Venezuela, for eight years. The choir is also honoured by having the soprano Gloria Vargas as vocal coach. Gloria is a well renowned lyric singer, having graduated from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, with a Master degree from the New England Conservatory of Music of Boston.

Christmas 2010 is the inaugural season of Cantares Venezuelan Choir. We will perform our Christmas repertoire at events organized by the Venezuelan Community in Calgary and also in public events offered to the delight of the Calgarian Society.