“the most exciting small choir in the land”
John Fraser – National Post
Internationally renowned for performances and recordings that sparkle with fresh insight and vibrant musicality, musica intima has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting vocal ensembles.

12 professional singers make up the personnel of musica intima. Lloyd Dykk of the Vancouver Sun says “the flexibility and agility that are a function of their small size is partly what makes them so exciting.” But what makes musica intima truly unique is that they rehearse and perform without a conductor. In rehearsal, they exchange ideas freely while exploring their own musical creativity. In performance, they engage the audience with a spontaneity and freshness all their own.

In October 2003, musica intima made their Glenn Gould Studio debut in Toronto for CBC Radio Two and filmed their second national television special, for CBC TV. In May 2004, the ensemble’s collaborated with renowned British cellist Steven Isserlis, and in August 2004, they collaborated the French Baroque specialist, conductor Hervé Niquet.

Founded in 1992, musica intima has become an innovative and integral part of Vancouver’s cultural fabric. In addition to an annual series of self-produced concerts, musica intima regularly collaborates with other arts organizations including Festival Vancouver, Vancouver New Music, Modern Baroque Opera, and Pacific Baroque Orchestra. Several guest artists have also performed with musica intima, including singer/conductor Paul Hillier, pianist/composer Uri Caine, actor Christopher Gaze, percussionist Salvador Ferreras, the Celtic-funk band Mad Pudding, the Borealis String Quartet and writer/broadcaster Bill Richardson. The ensemble has performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and HRH Prince Andrew and has been featured on two national television specials.

A distinctly Canadian ensemble, musica intima’s members hail from coast to coast. They regularly commission and perform works by Canada’s leading composers, and they have performed throughout Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. The twelve members all have busy careers contributing to Canada’s cultural life as teachers, soloists, music directors, composers and arrangers. Information about arrangements and compositions written for musica intima by members of the ensemble can be found at www.musicaintima.org.

musica intima’s concerts and recordings are often heard on national and international broadcasts. Their self-titled debut CD (MI001) was nominated for a 1999 Juno Award. Their second CD “clear” (ACD 2 2227) was released on the ATMA Classique label to international acclaim in February 2000, and “invocation” (ACD2 2284), their recording of 20th-Century sacred music, was released in January 2002. The ensemble’s first Christmas disc, “nativité” (MVCD 1154) was released by CBC Records November 2002, immediately became a best-selling disc across Canada, and was nominated for a 2003 Western Canadian Music Award. The ensemble has also been involved in recording projects with artists as diverse as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, composer Owen Underhill, and rock musician Matthew Good.

Young and exciting, musica intima is fast becoming known as one of the musical world’s newest gems.
“one of North America’s best vocal ensembles”
David Vernier– ClassicsToday.com
www.musicaintima.org (read less)

“the most exciting small choir in the land”
John Fraser – National Post
Internationally renowned for performances and recordings that sparkle with fresh insight and vibrant musicality, musica intima has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting vocal ensembles.

12 professional singers make up the personnel of musica intima. Lloyd Dykk of the Vancouver Sun says “the flexibility and agility that are a function of their small size is partly what makes them so exciting.” But... (read more)