Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: 7:30 pm (6:30 pm Lobby Doors Open)
Location: York Theatre (639 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3W3)

ALMA, Songs of the Soul, is a musical journey through the beating heart of Latin American culture, where voices intertwine to tell stories of love, longing, resilience, and joy. Canto Vivo Choir breathes life into the essence of Latin music, celebrating the soul’s many voices: the whispers of nostalgia, the echoes of love, and the melodies that connect us across time and space.

Join us for a night where music pulses with feeling, and every note is sung straight from the heart!

In the voices of Canto Vivo, el alma, the soul takes myriad shapes – a blue butterfly fluttering its wings in a fragrant garden in Guayaquil, the dignified presence of a caballero walking on a Lima sidewalk, a wistful heart that looks south to its native Buenos Aires, the ideals of a revolutionary fighter running for his life in La Higuera… From the nave of South America down to Chile and Argentina, and then north, all the way to Mexico, with stops in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, Canto Vivo will take you on an adventure steeped in melodies and rhythms that will make your hips sway and your feet fly; a musical journey overflowing with intriguing stories and an unforgettable experience that will move you to the core and lend wings to your soul.

About Canto Vivo Choir

Founded by VLACC in 2017 under the direction of Sérgio Pires, Canto Vivo brings together singers from across Latin America, Canada, and beyond. Today, the choir is made up of 30 members representing 14 different countries. Over the years, Canto Vivo has performed at a variety of events and venues, including the Vancouver Public Library, the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Waterfront Theatre, and The Annex. This June marks the choir’s second solo concert, featuring a lively repertoire of beloved Latin American songs in Spanish and Portuguese, many of which were specially arranged for the group by Sérgio himself.

About the Music Director

Sérgio Pires holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from Boston University and degrees in Musicology and Music Education from Brazilian institutions. Before moving to Canada, he was a professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Pires’ previous conducting engagements include the early music ensemble Brasil Barroco, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Chamber Choir and the Concordia Choir, Vancouver.

Special Guests and Team

Roraima Albornoz & Ignacio Frechero (Vocals)
Yesenia Florez (Vocals)
Marcos Uribe (Guitar, Charango and Percussion)
Osvaldo Nicolás Ledesma (Guitar)
Baltazar Aguilera (Keyboard)
Hana Hermanek (Flute)
Candelario Andrade (Projection Designer)
Carolina Silva (Graphic Designer)

Funded by BC Arts Council and BC Community Gaming Grants

Sponsored by Deloitte, Mi Tierra Latina, and Boteco Brasil

With the Support of Britannia Community Services Centre and The Roundhouse