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Experience the beauty of classical choral music in Collingwood, Ontario.

Songs of the Season concert poster

Our Chorus

ChoralWorks Collingwood Choir

About the ChoralWorks Choir

ChoralWorks Collingwood is a 30-voice classically oriented chamber choir performing major works from great composers. We rehearse most Monday evenings and present concerts in the Collingwood area. Recent and past performances include Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Orff's Carmina Burana, Vivaldi's Gloria, and many more.

Directed by Brian Rae.

Brian Rae, Director

Brian Rae

Our Director was organist at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Toronto for 40 years and was bestowed Papal Honours in 2006, as a knight of St. Gregory. An alumnus of St. Michael’s Choir School, he has held many positions in over 40 years at the school, including Director of Choral Music, Tour Director, organ and theory teacher as well as conductor of the Tenor-Bass and Senior Choirs. He was also head of the Instrumental and Theory Departments. Conductor, organist and accompanist, he now resides in Collingwood with his wife Dolores. At present he is an organist at St. Mary’s Church, Collingwood, and conductor of ChoralWorks Choir in Collingwood.

Guest Artists & Soloists

ChoralWorks frequently collaborates with talented professional soloists and accompanists for our major works.

Maeve Palmer

Maeve Palmer (Soprano)

"Triple Threat"... coloratura” (Opera Canada) Maeve Palmer is an alumna of the Rebanks Family Fellowship and the University of Toronto Opera School.

Maeve is a prize winner of the 2021 Jim and Charlotte Norcop Prize in Song (UofT), and a prize winner of the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. She has performed with Tapestry Opera, New Music Concerts, Continuum Contemporary Music, Chorus Niagara and Opera Atelier.

This season, Maeve stars in the leading role in Kalman’s The Czardas Princess with Toronto Operetta Theatre. Recent operatic roles include Lydia, The Handmaid’s Tale (Banff Centre) and Adina, L’Elisir d’Amore (Highlands Opera Studio. Maeve has appeared as the soprano soloist in Bach’s Matthäus Passion, Mass in B Minor, Honegger’s King David, Bernstein’s Mass and Britten’s Hymn to St. Cecilia. Concert performances this season include debuts with Mandle Philharmonic in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Koerner Hall, and Messiah with St. James Cathedral Choir and Orchestra.

Past Concerts

A selection of our previous performances:

A Christmas in Song 2025 Poster

A Christmas in Song

November 28 & 29, 2025

Festive choral favorites and holiday classics performed at First Presbyterian Church, Collingwood.

A Spring Serenede

A Spring Serenede

May 3, 2025

a spring symphony for the masses to enjoy

A Christmas Tapestry

A Christmas Tapestry

Dec 13 & 14 2024

A holiday special with some favorites

A Spring Serenede

A Spring Symphony

May 4, 2024

A spring symphony for the masses to enjoy

A Christmas Delight

A Christmas Delight

Dec 2, 2023

Our 10th anniversary show! Come for the joyus melodys of the season

The Coronation

The Coronation by Mozart

Apr 22, 2023

Mozarts Masterpiece

A Brief Hiatus and Triumphant Return

2019-2023

After vibrant seasons through spring 2019, ChoralWorks took time for reflection and renewal. We returned stronger in 2022 with Handel's Messiah, followed by acclaimed performances of Mozart, Orff, Bernstein, and seasonal favorites—continuing our commitment to exceptional choral music in our community.

Carmina Burana Poster

Carmina Burana

May 11, 2019

Carl Orff’s powerful modern classic based on medieval poems depicting the pleasures of life and love. An outrageous choral showstopper full of fantastic melodies and unstoppable energy.

Messiah 2018 Poster

Handel's Messiah

November 30, 2018 (7:30 PM) & December 1, 2018 (2:00 PM)

George Frideric Handel’s beloved oratorio, a timeless Christmas tradition.

Featuring soloists: Mila Ionkova (Soprano), Anna Bateman (Mezzo-Soprano), Ernesto Ramirez.

Last Night at the PROMS Poster

Last Night at the PROMS

May 5, 2018 (7:30 PM)

A celebratory program featuring Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 ("Land of Hope and Glory"), wonderful soloists, and a professional orchestra.

Noël 2017 Poster

Noël

December 2, 2017 (7:30 PM)

Featuring Vivaldi's Gloria in D, Buxtehude's cantata The Infant Jesus, a gospel rock treatment of Go Tell It On The Mountain, and a unique variation of Jingle Bells.

Media & Interviews

Radio interviews and features with director Brian Rae on Bill’s Classical Jukebox:

Article: ChoralWorks Re-launch with Messiah

2022

ChoralWorks prepares to re-launch after COVID cancellations with a performance of Messiah.

Read the article on CollingwoodToday

Carmina Burana Interview

April 29, 2019

Brian Rae discusses the choir and the upcoming Spring Concert: Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.

Messiah Interview

November 20, 2018

Brian Rae chats about the upcoming Christmas concert: Handel’s Messiah.

Last Night at the PROMS Interview

April 26, 2018

Brian Rae discusses the presentation of Last Night at the Proms.

Christmas Concert Interview (2017)

November 23, 2017

Brian Rae talks about the Christmas concert program and Handel’s Messiah.

More videos, photos, and audio coming soon as we update our archives.

Join Us

ChoralWorks maintains its integrity as a choir of trained voices. Requirements include the ability to read music and an audition with Director Brian Rae. If you love performing major classical choral works and can commit to most Monday evening rehearsals (7–9 PM), we invite you to contact Brian for an audition.

Phone: 705-444-5857
Email: sirbrianrae@gmail.com