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Choirs

Singing has been part of Latvian culture since time immemorial and choral singing a mainstay of Latvian culture and social life since the mid-nineteenth century. Choirs are the cornerstone of the Song Festival tradition, which has been ongoing since 1873 through good times and bad. Even when song festivals could not be held, Latvians did not stop singing. Singing socially and in choral groups was among the most important traditional practices that continued in DP camps and later in other Latvian communities around the world.

Over the  years, choirs have been among the most durable elements of Latvian community life – among the first to be formed and persisting to the present day. Over the years, conductors and composers have also been enthusiastic participants in Latvian community life since more than half of culture workers fled the country in advance on the encroaching Red Army in 1944/45. 

 

Brampton Latvian Society Choir

Hamilton Beverīna Choir 

DV Saskaņa Women's Choir of Hamilton

Hamilton Christ Ev.-Lut. Church Choir

Hamilton Christ Ev.-Lut. Dzintars Youth Ensemble 

Hamilton Latvian Society Choir

Hamilton Latvian Singing Group

Hamilton Latvian School Choir

Hamilton Atmiņa Girls Ensemble 

Hamilton Mens Choir

DV Men's Choir of Canada

Latvian Catholic Association Choir of Canada

Kitchener Latvian Choir

London Latvian Choir

London Mixed-Voice Choir

Montreal Mixed-Voice Choir

Montreal Atbalss Mixed-Voice Choir 

Montreal Latvian Choir

Montreal School Choir

Montreal Junda Men's Choir

North American Latvian Mens Choir Straume

Ottawa Singers Group

Ottawa Latvian Choir

Ottawa Latvian School Choir

Sudbury Rota Mixed-Voice Choir

Sudbury Rota Women's Double Quartet

Dziesmuvara Student Association Choir

Senatne DV Womens Ensemble of St. Catharines

St. Catharines Choir Kokle

Toronto Baptist Church Choir

Līga Women's Double Quartet of Toronto

Zīle DV Women's Choir

Daina Mixed-Voice Choir of Toronto

Toronto Dzirksts Chamber Choir

TLB Latvian School Choir

Toronto Latvian Catholic Association Choir

Toronto Valodiņa School Choir

Toronto Latvian High School Choir

Toronto Pensioners Association Choir

Toronto Pensioners Pusstunda Mens Choir

Toronto St. Andrew's Church Choir

Toronto St. John's Church Choir

Toronto St. John's Church Vocal Ensemble

Toronto Kalvis Mens Ensemble

Toronto Viesturs Mens Choir

Toronto Ziemelis Choir

Skanda Ensemble of Toronto

Klaritas Ensemble of Toronto

Toronto Latvian House Friends of Song 

Hamilton Youth Choir Jaunbalss

Toronto Latvian Choir



Black and white photograph of Londonas choir from 1965, showing ten men in dark suits standing in back row and fourteen women in white blouses arranged in front rows.
Four people wearing traditional folk costumes with embroidered vests, white shirts, and decorative headpieces stand together indoors.
Latvian choir group Koris Jaunbalss posed in formal black attire, 1979.
Black and white formal group portrait of approximately twenty people in matching black and white vests, arranged in three rows.
Large group in formal attire posed on stage with curtain backdrop and flags.
Nine performers in traditional Eastern European folk costumes posed against purple backdrop.
Large group in traditional Eastern European folk costumes posed before draped backdrop in formal indoor setting.
Large group photo of Kokle choir from St. Catharines, Ontario, wearing traditional embroidered vests and white shirts.
Black and white photograph of the Rota choir with conductor Vitolds Buņķis, featuring three rows of performers in formal attire.
Group of people in traditional Eastern European folk costumes standing behind a black grand piano with Canadian flag.
Typed concert program from Toronto Conservatory dated April 5, 1959, listing classical music compositions and performers.
Large group photograph of students and teachers from Toronto Latvian Saturday School, 1970s.
Women's choir performing at piano with international flags and autumn decorations in background.