The Cantilon Chamber Choir is widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading children’s choral ensembles. Founded in 1999 by conductor, Heather Johnson, this choir maintains a rigorous national and international touring schedule. Since its inception, the Cantilon Chamber Choir has been honoured with numerous awards in national and international competitions. Most recently (2018), the choir was awarded 1st Place in the Youth Choir category at the Béla Bartók International Choral Competition in Debrecen, Hungary. Previous honours in this prestigious festival include 2nd Place – Youth Choir (July 2014) and 1st Place – both Youth and Children’s Choirs (July 2006). Special awards in 2006 in Hungary also included Best Performance of a Hungarian Work and Purest Intonation and Interpretation.
Other notable awards have included:
The Cantilon Chamber Choir has released four CDs: The Time of Snow, the newest Christmas recording featuring Edmonton harpist Nora Bumanis, That Yongë Child, a collection of Christmas music including Benjamin Britten’s ‘Ceremony of Carols’ and William Mathias’ ‘Salvator Mundi’, Blessed Is the World That Sings, featuring sacred and folk music recorded during the choir’s first trip to England and Wales, and Bonny Wood Green. This disc includes music by prominent Canadian composers as well as Poulenc’s Petites Voix and Rautavarra’s “Suite” de Lorca.
In addition to its regular concert series, the Cantilon Chamber Choir regularly performs with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Pro Coro Canada, Alberta Ballet, the Edmonton Opera Company and the Richard Eaton Singers.