Join this fun-filled day camp in Vancouver for budding singers, dancers and actors. (Open to children entering Grade 2 in September and beyond.) 

BCCF Choral Stage 2024 is happening July 2-12 at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale in Vancouver!

Explore separate repertoire for younger and older singers, and enjoy the excitement of joining together for the big numbers! This year’s theme is ‘There’s A Place For Us’ (Drawn from Les Miserables, Hamilton, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, The Lion King, Mary Poppins & more!) Plus, a Taylor Swift medley; a Stranger Things medley; “Flowers” (Miley Cyrus); “Fearless” & “I See Stars” (Mean Girls); “Dance the Night Away”, “What Was I Made For?” & “Choose Your Fighter” (Barbie).

PRICE: $488 (including GST)

CLICK HERE to register.

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The camp will run 10-4 daily, Tues-Fri July 2-5 and Mon-Fri July 8-12.

If there is enough need we will run before and aftercare 9-5pm. 

2024 Faculty:

MARISA GAETANNE, M.Mus. won the prestigious Eckhardt Gramattee Competition and the Northwest District Metropolitan Opera Auditions after studying in London, New York and Florence. Known for her beautiful coloratura voice and vivacious personality, Ms. Gaetanne has sung professionally with solo recitals and orchestral engagements such as Mahler’s 8th Symphony, the Chorfest 2000 Brahms Requiem, and many performances of Carmina Burana. She has taught voice at UBC for the last 25 years and also taught at VCC for many years. After 20 years as conductor, Ms. G was appointed Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Children’s Chorus and Youth Choirs in 2009, Ms. Gaetanne has a background teaching Kodaly and Orff techniques for young children. She works to foster the personal and social growth of her students by creating a rehearsal atmosphere that promotes self-esteem, discipline, and a sense of accomplishment and pride. She is known throughout the community for her enlightened enthusiasm in her work with children. www.marisagaetanne.com

SKYE HARDING was born and raised in Vancouver and currently studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston. With a background in opera and musical theater, she studies vocal performance, songwriting, and production. Skye performs and writes in a variety of styles, including R&B, soul, jazz, pop, folk, and musical theater. During her summers in Vancouver, Skye works as a private vocal coach and as a stage manager for the Vancouver Jazz Festival and other music festivals around the lower mainland. She is passionate about coming together with people through music, acting, and movement to tell a story.

AVA MARIA SAFAI holds her BFA in Acting from the University of British Columbia. She is also an accomplished musician and singer-songwriter with over 40 original songs in her catalogue. Recent credits include: ​​King Lear (Promethean Theatre), INHUMAN/E (The Harlequin Theatre Society), Barefoot in Nightgown by Candlelight, The New Margo (Seeing Things Collective), and Revolt, She Said. Revolt Again. (UBC Theatre & Film). She is the proud recipient of many awards, including the Don S. Williams Grant and the Evelyn Jasiulko Harden Scholarship in Theatre. When Ava Maria is not acting, she is hard at work in the studio creating original music. Following the placement of her first single “Finding Hope” on Lifetime’s Dance Moms, Ava Maria released her debut album We’ve Got Issues, her EP The Butterfly Acoustic and her merchandise line at her concert on the Red Gate Revue Stage in 2018. She has garnered over one million views on YouTube, been featured in Maclean’s magazine, and was selected as The North Shore News’ “Favourite Local Celebrity” (2018). She also collaborates with her father to compose scores and soundtracks for feature films and television series. In 2019, she completed and published her second record He Loves Me (Not), as well her first holiday single In the Snow​. In October 2020, Ava Maria released her third album Goodbye, Dalloway ​to fans across the globe via an online release concert. Ava Maria is also an experienced director, choreographer, music producer, composer and writer. This year, Ava Maria debuted INHUMAN/E to a sold-out in-person audience at Presentation House Theatre and is currently on the team for the original musical The Girl Next Door in roles including composer-lyricist and music supervisor. She is known for bringing many of her talents on to every project she does.

A born Vancouverite, RACHEL BUTTRESS (she/her) proudly makes her living as Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver Bach Children’s Choirs alongside Marisa Gaetanne, as a music educator at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music (VSOSoM), and as a performing artist. Whether she is on the stage or in the classroom, Rachel strives to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive to all. Rachel was an inaugural student of the VSOSoM’s Performance Preparatory Programme, studying with Diane King. She earned her Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from the University of British Columbia under tutelage of Marisa Gaetanne and Prof. Nancy Hermison. Rachel obtained her Bachelor of Music degree studying with Sally Dibblee at Mount Allison University, graduating with distinction. She also holds a Diploma of Music and Conducting Certificate, both from Capilano University. Rachel is an accomplished performer in concert, recital, and on the opera stage. She has performed as soloist for many large works, including Orff’s Carmina Burana, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, and Handel’s Messiah. Operatic performances include Mary Crawford in Mansfield Park, Gianetta in The Gondoliers, The Brothel Keeper in Shadow Catch, and Frau Fluth in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor. Rachel has performed alongside the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for multiple of their Traditional Christmas Concerts. Rachel’s passion for performance is equaled by her passion for music education. She teaches private and group classes for students of all ages and stages, in the disciplines of voice, piano, ukulele, and Early Years Music. Believing music has the power to spark confidence, creativity, and community in students of all ages, Rachel aims to fuel her student’s passion for music, while teaching the skills and techniques needed to achieve their musical goals.

PENELOPE BOYSE is an independent dancer, teacher and choreographer from the UK, now based in Vancouver. She trained in London, UK at the prestigious Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts, where she studied many genre of dance and Musical Theatre. She completed her post-graduate training at the London Centre of Performing Arts where she earned her ISTD Licentiate teaching qualifications in Modern, Imperial Ballet and Tap. She is now working towards her Tap and Modern Fellowship, with a goal of becoming a certified Examiner.

After graduating, Penelope began her professional career as a dancer, singer and actress, performing in various dance and Musical Theatre companies, with extensive European tours. She has now been teaching and choreographing for over twenty years, preparing students of all ages, abilities and levels for examinations, competitions and performances.
In 2001, she opened her own dance studio, with over 200 students, many of whom have graduated post-secondary institutions with dance focuses and are now successfully performing in London’s West End, in contemporary companies around the world, and on Broadway. Most recent accolade, a male student cast in ‘Hamilton’, West End of London.
In 2010 Penelope traveled to New Zealand, to run a school of over 400 students. She guest taught and examined at Wellington Dance and Performing Arts Academy. Danced with NZ school of Dance, and adjudicated a televised nationwide dance competition, ‘Stage Challenge’!

From New Zealand, she travelled to Melbourne, Australia, and in 2011 she moved to BC, Canada. Where she ran yet another school in the beautiful Okanagan.
In 2012 Penelope relocated to Vancouver, where she proudly joined the faculty at Richmond Academy of Dance and Arts Umbrella.

Since then she has continued training around the world, both as a dancer and teacher. In countries such as Canada, New York, UK… to name but a few. She has also studied counter technique and fascia release therapy, with a view to developing these skills in the future. Back

Pianist CHRISTOPHER KIN MING WONG is a much sought-after music educator, collaborative pianist, and adjudicator. Born and raised in Vancouver, he is a passionate and dedicated musician. He has over twenty five years experience teaching piano privately, ranging from beginner to diploma level while his collaborative work with instrumentalists spans the orchestral spectrum. Mr. Wong enjoys adjudicating festivals and sharing musical ideas with young musicians. He has adjudicated for the Clef Society of Burnaby’s Scholarship and Music Festival(2013), the Student Performer’s Guild Festival(Fall 2014, Spring 2017, 2021 online edition) the Chilliwack Lions Club Music and Dance Festival(2017) and the North Fraser Music Festival(May 2019). He is a pianist of diverse musical interests, having worked extensively with the UBC Opera Ensemble, BC Youth Choir, University Singers and the BCCF’s summer music program, Choral Stage, led by Marisa Gaetanne. He also regularly plays for the West Point Grey Academy Junior choirs, directed by Eve Richardson. Furthermore he is pianist for the Toccatas, Chorales, ChorusCor and Chorus groups of the Vancouver Bach Children’s Chorus. He is known as Kin in the collaborative and choral world. Mr. Wong completed his initial musical studies with Rebecca Kelly and David Vandereyk. Later he studied with a number of celebrated musicians including Dr. Jamie Syer, Bruce Vogt, Jane Coop, Alexander Korsantia and Edward Parker. He holds a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s in Piano Performance from the University of Victoria. Additionally, he holds LLCM and FLCM performance diplomas from the London College of Music, Thames University, England as well as both ARCT Piano Performer and ARCT Piano Teacher (Royal Conservatory of Music) diplomas. Mr. Wong is a piano faculty member at the Vancouver Academy of Music and also runs a very busy private teaching practice in Vancouver. 

For more information:

Contact Anita Lindsay at 604-733-9687 or bccf@bcchoralfed.com