Referred to as the German Tina Turner, Meike has had a full-time career as a singer spanning over 23 years.  She most recently completed her contract as one of the lead vocalists at the Friedrichstadt Palast in Berlin, the largest show palace in Europe. She sang to a daily sold-out crowd for 4 years, and some days twice. Whether it’s classical opera, rock, disco, 70s, 80s, 90s pop or current top 40, Meike delivers with versatility, confidence and a wide range of tones. She aims to impress every time! (musicmeike@gmail.com)

Renate, a classically trained flutist, is a member of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver and frequently collaborates with other members and local talent to offer musical treats at Hycroft.

Pat studied at the University of Alberta where she specialized in performance piano and bassoon as well as music history.  She was a registered music teacher in Edmonton, Victoria, Toronto and Vancouver for 46 years, played organ in 2 churches, played bassoon in 2 symphony orchestras and has been a professional accompanist for over 60 years for singers, choirs and instrumentalists.  A member of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver, Pat was the UWCV Club pianist from 2002 – 2024.

1:00 pm

L’Esprit Français Musical will present a selection of 16 traditional and mid-20th Century French and English Christmas songs.

The soloists are sopranos Danièle Walker and Rosemary Gahr and mezzo soprano Courtenay Webber.  They are joined by singers Susan Wilkinson and Maureen Prentice and accompanists Patricia Stark playing the piano and Dave Webber playing the guitar. The singers in L’Esprit Français Musical are current or past members of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver who started singing as part of their weekly meeting to practice conversational French.

The Hycroft Singers are a group of members of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver who get together on a regular basis for the fun of singing.  Celebrate the start of the season by joining them to sing well known Christmas songs – everyone is welcome!

Since moving moved to Canada in 2007, Domagoj Ivanovic has quickly established himself as a violinist and an educator in the greater Vancouver area. As a performer he has shared the stage with some of the top ensembles in Vancouver, such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, and Turning Point Ensemble. Originally from Zagreb, Croatia, he began studying violin at the age of seven. During his studies he was the recipient of numerous prizes and awards in violin competitions at the national and international level.  Described as a player with “clear technique and great sensitivity” he has performed all over Europe and North America, as well as China, Taiwan and Singapore.  Domagoj is one of two Artistic Directors of the Vancouver Chamber Players who offer a monthly chamber music concert at Hycroft.

Derek Zhi Guang Chiu is a highly acclaimed Canadian pianist and music educator who has gained international recognition for his work. He is renowned for his versatility as a performer, music educator, clinician, adjudicator, and consultant. Chiu has garnered numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the prestigious Steinway & Sons Top Piano Teacher Award in Calgary on three separate occasions. As a performer, Chiu has presented solo and chamber music recitals in Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United States and has had orchestral engagements across Canada. He is an Ambassador for the Royal Conservatory and a member of their College of Examiners.

Referred to as the German Tina Turner, Meike has had a full-time career as a singer spanning over 23 years.  She most recently completed her contract as one of the lead vocalists at the Friedrichstadt Palast in Berlin, the largest show palace in Europe. She sang to a daily sold-out crowd for 4 years, and some days twice. Whether it’s classical opera, rock, disco, 70s, 80s, 90s pop or current top 40, Meike delivers with versatility, confidence and a wide range of tones. She aims to impress every time! musicmeike@gmail.com

Paul Just graduated with a MMus in Opera from the University of British Columbia. He has sung with Vancouver Opera, DragonDiva Operatic Theatre, and Burnaby Lyric Opera. In addition to performing, Paul has acted as producer for numerous concerts and concert opera performances. In 2016, Paul switched gears and began pursuing theatre and musical theatre on a professional level and has performed in productions in Vancouver including Amélie, Into the Woods, Trouble in Tahiti and Dead Man Walking. Paul also appeared on Xing Guang Da Dao (Star Road) in 2011 for China Central Television, one of the most watched television programs in China, where he and his singing partner Chloé Hurst advanced to the final round of the competition.

Canadian tenor Adam Fisher is rapidly gaining attention for his charismatic stage presence in a wide range of repertoire. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Adam joined Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Program in 2010 and has since appeared in leading roles in Edmonton, Victoria and Toronto. He is equally at home singing opera, oratorios, operettas and Broadway musicals. Adam has created roles in several contemporary operas, including John Estacio’s “OURS” commemorating the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in the First World War and Tapestry Opera’s powerful 2017 production about human trafficking, Oksana G.   Recent highlights for Adam include Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Lieutenant Joe Cable in South Pacific with Calgary Opera in the Village, as well as Salute to Vienna concerts in Florida and Canada.

Referred to as the German Tina Turner, Meike has had a full-time career as a singer spanning over 23 years.  She most recently completed her contract as one of the lead vocalists at the Friedrichstadt Palast in Berlin, the largest show palace in Europe. She sang to a daily sold-out crowd for 4 years, and some days twice. Whether it’s classical opera, rock, disco, 70s, 80s, 90s pop or current top 40, Meike delivers with versatility, confidence and a wide range of tones. She aims to impress every time! musicmeike@gmail.com

Tatiana’s love for the piano and for collaborative involvement in various musical forms is evident.  She is a core member of the Vancouver Piano Ensemble and has performed in North America, Europe & Asia to wide acclaim. As a pianist, piano collaborator and teacher, Tatiana welcomes any opportunity to share her art with students, colleagues and audiences.  tatianatyulenevapianostudio on Strikingly

Elvira Lagji started learning the cello at age six. She graduated from the Music High School in Durres, Albania, and was awarded her Bachelor of Music with Honours in Cello Performance from the Academy of Fine Arts, University of Tirana. After her graduation she assumed a number of orchestral positions and played as a cello soloist performing in Albania, Italy and Greece.  Since coming to Canada in 1999 with her family, Elvira settled in Vancouver and soon developed a following in her chosen career – both as teacher and performer. She is an active member of the Vancouver Cello Club, and the Burnaby Symphony Orchestra. She also became the cellist in two piano trios – the Wrelek Trio and the Appassionata Trio. She was a cellist in the Stradivari Ensemble, a string orchestra of excellence led by the international maestro and violin virtuoso, Robert Rozek.

Kit Eakle is an internationally known jazz violinist, violin teacher, educator, and publisher of music education materials. He has a Master’s in Music Education from The University of Victoria, Canada. He is currently working on a book about the history of jazz violin. He has shared a stage with John Lee Hooker, David Grisman, Turtle Island String Quartet, Jason Anick, Mads Tolling, Linton Garner (Errol’s brother!), and performed as a member of the Hot Club of Marin, Django Obscura, The Sons of Emperor Norton, Sugar Moon, The Mark Holzinger Band, and his own Kit Eakle Quartet. http://fiddlekit.com/kiteakle.html

Described as “stunning” for her portrayal of Ulrica in “Un Ballo in Maschera” (Vancouver Entertainment), Elena brings passion and expressiveness to repertoire in both opera and concert settings. Ms. Razlog sings mezzo-soprano with the Vancouver Opera.  Elena is a co-creator and a performer in the “Opera, Fairy Tales and Magic!” operatic show that was featured in the 2019 Vancouver Opera Festival.  This show was also part of the Vancouver Opera 2020-2021 Digital Season. Highlights of Elena’s performances as a guest soloist include concerts in collaboration with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, UBC Symphony Orchestra, Plzen Opera Orchestra, Karlovy Vary Opera Orchestra and other.      https://share.google/ITIKc5ApOMYWCbwcu

Renate, a classically trained flutist, is a member of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver and frequently collaborates with other members and local talent to offer musical treats at Hycroft.

Pat studied at the University of Alberta where she specialized in performance piano and bassoon as well as music history.  She was a registered music teacher in Edmonton, Victoria, Toronto and Vancouver for 46 years, played organ in 2 churches, played bassoon in 2 symphony orchestras and has been a professional accompanist for over 60 years for singers, choirs and instrumentalists.  A member of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver, Pat was the UWCV Club pianist from 2002 – 2024.

Referred to as the German Tina Turner, Meike has had a full-time career as a singer spanning over 23 years.  She most recently completed her contract as one of the lead vocalists at the Friedrichstadt Palast in Berlin, the largest show palace in Europe. She sang to a daily sold-out crowd for 4 years, and some days twice. Whether it’s classical opera, rock, disco, 70s, 80s, 90s pop or current top 40, Meike delivers with versatility, confidence and a wide range of tones. She aims to impress every time! musicmeike@gmail.com

The soloists are sopranos Danièle Walker and Rosemary Gahr and mezzo soprano Courtenay Webber.  They are joined by singers Susan Wilkinson and Maureen Prentice and accompanists Patricia Stark playing the piano and Dave Webber playing the guitar. The singers in L’Esprit Français Musical are current or past members of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver who started singing as part of their weekly meeting to practice conversational French.

The Hycroft Singers are a group of members of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver who get together on a regular basis for the fun of singing.  Celebrate the start of the season by joining them to sing well known Christmas songs – everyone is welcome!

Referred to as the German Tina Turner, Meike has had a full-time career as a singer spanning over 23 years.  She most recently completed her contract as one of the lead vocalists at the Friedrichstadt Palast in Berlin, the largest show palace in Europe. She sang to a daily sold-out crowd for 4 years, and some days twice. Whether it’s classical opera, rock, disco, 70s, 80s, 90s pop or current top 40, Meike delivers with versatility, confidence and a wide range of tones. She aims to impress every time! musicmeike@gmail.com

Paul Just graduated with a MMus in Opera from the University of British Columbia. He has sung with Vancouver Opera, DragonDiva Operatic Theatre, and Burnaby Lyric Opera. In addition to performing, Paul has acted as producer for numerous concerts and concert opera performances. In 2016, Paul switched gears and began pursuing theatre and musical theatre on a professional level and has performed in productions in Vancouver including Amélie, Into the Woods, Trouble in Tahiti and Dead Man Walking. Paul also appeared on Xing Guang Da Dao (Star Road) in 2011 for China Central Television, one of the most watched television programs in China, where he and his singing partner Chloé  Hurst advanced to the final round of the competition.

Chloé Hurst (soprano) is an active singer, pianist and teacher in Vancouver. Hailed by Opera Canada as having “enviable clarity and precision,” her talent has taken her around the world. Chloé has had the privilege of performing across North America, Europe and China in operas, concerts, recitals and competitions. Past operatic roles include Adina (L’elisir D’amore), Micaëla (Carmen), Mimì (La Bohème) and many more. As a versatile performer, Chloé has also sung various works with orchestra such as Handel’s Messiah, Berlioz’s Les Nuit D’été and Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony. Shortly before the pandemic, she won first prize in the Canadian Division of the 28th World Music Competition.

Aaron Durand holds a Master’s degree in operatic performance and is known for his “beautiful, fluid baritone” (Globe & Mail), “sense of the comical and the ludicrous” (Calgary Herald), and a profound enjoyment of art that makes you think. He has performed across three separate continents, and in roles across the entire operatic spectrum, from Guglielmo (Così fan tutte) and Schaunard (La Bohème) to John A. MacDonald (Louis Riel) and “The Dying Man” in the avant-garde electronic opera, Pandora. Other highlights include The Overcoat with Tapestry Opera and Vancouver Opera, premiering The Rocking Horse Winner with Tapestry Opera, and sharing important Newfoundland history through Ours with Opera on the Avalon. Aaron has also been active behind the stage, forming an irreverent classical music company in Toronto, and the local duo Opera 101 with soprano Chloé Hurst.

Alan Matheson is a Vancouver-based pianist, trumpeter, composer and arranger. He teaches at the music schools of the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Community College where he is an instructor in jazz piano and trumpet and at the Vancouver Symphony School of Music where he lectures in jazz history. He is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and studied with Vincent Cichowicz.  Alan also leads his own big band, nonet, septet and trio and has written arrangements for jazz legends Clark Terry and Bud Shank. As well, Alan has conducted big band tributes to Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman and Louis Armstrong. He has also performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Louis Bellson and Phil Woods. Alan’s compositions and arrangements for big band have been performed across North America.

Alan’s septet was featured along with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra at the 2016 Vancouver International Jazz Festival where they premiered Alan’s composition “Chaconne” for baroque and jazz chamber ensembles. Alan has a number of CDs: “Intrada” (2004) “Duetti” (2013), “Summer Evening” (recorded in Finland with bassist Wade Mikkola, 2015), and “Souvenirs” ( 2017). https://music.ubc.ca/profile/alan-matheson/

Skilled at playing a variety of instruments, including the guitar, piano, saxophone and, of course, ukulele, Joe finds the latter’s playability particularly appealing.  Teaching at community centres throughout Vancouver, including Kerrisdale for more than five years, Young’s overarching message to his students is “music is for everyone and classes with me are safe and non-judgemental spaces to experiment and learn.”

In addition to teaching, leading the Kerrisdale Ukulele Ensemble and the monthly Ukulele “play along” group at the Billy Bishop’s in Kitsilano (everyone is welcome!), Young is also a father and husband, sings solo and in local choirs and “loves taking time to learn new things.”  https://kerrisdalecc.com/ or  jhyoung81@yahoo.com

Renate, a classically trained flutist, is a member of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver and frequently collaborates with other members and local talent to offer musical treats at Hycroft.

Pat studied at the University of Alberta where she specialized in performance piano and bassoon as well as music history.  She was a registered music teacher in Edmonton, Victoria, Toronto and Vancouver for 46 years, played organ in 2 churches, played bassoon in 2 symphony orchestras and has been a professional accompanist for over 60 years for singers, choirs and instrumentalists.  A member of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver, Pat was the UWCV Club pianist from 2002 – 2024.

Referred to as the German Tina Turner, Meike has had a full-time career as a singer spanning over 23 years.  She most recently completed her contract as one of the lead vocalists at the Friedrichstadt Palast in Berlin, the largest show palace in Europe. She sang to a daily sold-out crowd for 4 years, and some days twice. Whether it’s classical opera, rock, disco, 70s, 80s, 90s pop or current top 40, Meike delivers with versatility, confidence and a wide range of tones. She aims to impress every time! musicmeike@gmail.com

The soloists are sopranos Danièle Walker and Rosemary Gahr and mezzo soprano Courtenay Webber.  They are joined by singers Susan Wilkinson and Maureen Prentice and accompanists Patricia Stark playing the piano and Dave Webber playing the guitar. The singers in L’Esprit Français Musical are current or past members of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver who started singing as part of their weekly meeting to practice conversational French.

The Hycroft Singers are a group of members of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver who get together on a regular basis for the fun of singing.  Celebrate the start of the season by joining them to sing well known Christmas songs – everyone is welcome!

Ensemble Étoile is a Vancouver-based women’s choir that has been singing classical, folk, and contemporary choral music since 2004. Under the direction of Roseanna Chu, the group offers 2-3 concerts each year. We are happy to have them back with us at Hycroft for the Holidays. https://www.facebook.com/choirensembleetoile/

The Hot Teas A Cappella group is based in Vancouver that sings a variety of music – from pop to electronic indie rock – in the a cappella style – no instruments! These graduates of UBC may be young professionals by day, but each singer has a musical history that includes at least five years of a cappella. https://thehotteas.com