ENSEMBLE LAUDE is an award-winning choir for adult treble voices known for innovative programming, ground-breaking performance and recording projects, and exceptional beauty of tone.
Founded in 1999 by Dr Elizabeth MacIsaac and led since 2024 by Artistic Director, Kathryn Whitney, ENSEMBLE LAUDE sings a broad repertoire ranging from the earliest notated music, through folk and world music, to today’s most exciting and beautiful contemporary choral compositions.
Known for their signature pure-toned yet richly expressive a cappella singing, ENSEMBLE LAUDE’s concerts showcase the beauty, depth, power, and exceptional flexibility of treble voices in their infinite variety.
A featured choir at Choral Canada’s national Podium conference in Newfoundland in 2018, and at the International Choralies Festival in France in 2016, ENSEMBLE LAUDE is dedicated to expanding audiences and showcasing Canadian contemporary composers at home and abroad.
In addition to our regular concerts on Southern Vancouver Island, the choir sings an annual tour of coastal British Columbia, touring internationally to sing every few years.
Now under our new Artistic Director, Kathryn Whitney, ENSEMBLE LAUDE is entering into an entirely new era. Join us at one of our upcoming concerts to hear this exceptional ensemble carry 26 years of singing experience into an exciting future filled with creative growth, innovative performance projects, new musical partnerships, expanding audiences, and the beautiful, uplifting singing Ensemble Laude audiences have come to know and love.
Ensemble Laude Choral Society
The ELCS is a registered non-profit society in Canada dedicated to encouraging and promoting the education and performance of choral music.
Board of Directors
- President: Jessica Stewart
- Vice-President: Carmen Valles
- Treasurer: Marnie Latour
- Secretary: Carolyn Ingbritson
- Members at Large: Laurie Bayley, Megan Haggerty, Irene Rathbone, Gail Saiger, Megan Scott, Lorrie Shaw
Ensemble Laude in the news
Reviews & Articles
- She Grew Up with the Feminist Movement and Started a Choir, Monday Magazine, May 2024
- Well-known Victoria choir releasing first album in over 10 years, Sam Duerksen, Victoria News, April 24, 2024
- Women’s Choir Warms up for French Concerts, Kevin Bazzana, Times Colonist, July 7, 2016
- Ensemble Laude Takes Flight, Travis Paterson, Saanich News, July 7, 2016
- Immersion in the sound, Article by Mollie Kaye, Focus magazine (p. 38), June 2015
- Illuminations: Songs Toward the Light, Review by Elizabeth Courtney, Music In Victoria, Dec 2014
- Sanctuary: Chambers of the Heart, Review by Elizabeth Courtney Music in Victoria, April 27, 2014
- Classical Music: Ensemble Laude sings music of healing, Article by Kevin Bazzana Times Colonist, April 23, 2014
- North of the Arctic Circle, Review by Elizabeth Courtney Music in Victoria, November 15, 2013
- Ensemble Laude Interview and Performance, with Sheryl MacKay CBC’s North by Northwest, Saturday, January 26, 2013
- Ensemble Laude, Victoria Community TV December 9, 2012
- Interview with Elizabeth MacIsaac, Article by Lisa Szeker Madden Focus Magazine, December, 2010, page 20
- A Journey of Medieval Song and Dance, Review by James Young Music in Victoria, March 16, 2008
- Tapestry: Songs from World Traditions, Review by James Young Music in Victoria, June 4, 2006
Accolades
- 2018: Spotlight choir at the national Podium choral conference in St John’s, NL.
- 2017, Elizabeth MacIsaac awarded the Amy Ferguson Award for outstanding choral direction fostering excellence in superior vocal practice.
- 2016: Invited choir at the international Choralies festival in France.
- Second Place in Equal Voice in the 2015 CBC National Competition for Amateur Choirs.
- 2014: Review of our Sanctuary concert, Spring 2014, from Music in Victoria.
- 2013: Winner of the Honourable Barbara A. Hagerman Choral Award (Class 100) at the Performing Arts BC provincial festival.
- 2013: Victoria Choral Society Award (In Memory of Dr. Lionel Adey) for the “Most Outstanding Choral Performance”, Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival
- 2013: Voted Victoria’s “Favourite Classical Performer or Group” in Monday Magazine’s annual M Awards. For the previous three years, Ensemble Laude was chosen as Victoria’s “favourite vocal ensemble” making this this choir’s fourth consecutive M Award.
- 2012: The BC Choral Federation (BCCF) selected Elizabeth MacIsaac as the 2012 recipient for the Herbert Drost Award for “distinguished service and support of choral music throughout BC.”
- 2012: Ensemble Laude’s chamber group, Encanta, won the Capriccio Choir Award for a choir which demonstrates excellence and “The Spirit of Choral Music.” at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival
- 2012: Encanta won first place in the Equal Voice category and Ensemble Laude won second place at the International Choral Kathaumixw.
- 2011: Legacy award from Arts Sustainability Victoria for its “high level of contribution to the community and to your arts discipline in particular.”