Laudate Singers
Lars Kaario, Conductor
2009/10 Season
Working in a hospital in an intensive care area, singing with Laudate helps me to relax and contributes to a sense of balance in my life. Music has always played a very important part of my life, both as a singer, and as an instrumentalist, playing the piano and guitar with various touring ensembles, and teaching flute while attending university. Having graduated with three Bachelor degrees already, I'm currently working on my Masters degree, and then, who knows? I never intend to stop learning!
Zulfikar is a third year Jazz student majoring in voice and composition at Capilano University in North Vancouver. He has sung both classical and jazz music in various choirs and has had experience in solo singing. He was a member of the 2004 British Columbia Music Educators' Association (BCMEA) Honour Jazz Choir, and is currently a member of Nitecap, the leading vocal jazz ensemble at Capilano University. As well as being a vocalist, Zulfikar is also a proficient saxophonist.
George "Geordie" Roberts has been active in Vancouver choir circles since moving to Vancouver from the Okanagan 27(!) years ago to study music at UBC. He teaches at Capilano University Music Department and really appreciates his Tuesday night "sabbaticals" at Laudate rehearsal. He and wife Frances (also a choir director) have three sons under the age of 13 — enough for a barbershop quartet some day!
Bruce Sled graduated from the University of British Columbia School of Music in 1998 where he studied music composition with Stephen Chatman. He has won numerous awards for his choral compositions, and he has had his opera ‘The Nightingale and the Rose’ performed at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts in 1998. His music has been performed by many high profile choirs in Canada, the United States and internationally, and has been broadcast on CBC radio. He is very happy to be the composer-in-residence for the Laudate Singers and is excited to be singing with the choir. As well as being a composer, he is an elementary school music teacher in North Vancouver. When he is not composing, he can be seen running, camping, and drinking coffee. If you would like to know more about his music you can contact Bruce at brucesled@yahoo.com.