Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir Open House

If you are interested in singing Jewish music and perhaps even joining a choir, the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir invites you to attend an open house as we begin the 2026-27 season!

Following a short introduction to the choir, current members will perform a brief selection from our repertoire and then teach an easy-to-learn song in Yiddish for everyone to sing along. Choir members will then answer questions so that participants can get the flavour of the choir, our repertoire, and what kind of commitment joining the choir involves (such as rehearsal schedule, performances, etc.).

Our mid-level, amateur choir (no auditions!) welcomes new members from all cultures, ages, genders, sexualities, and abilities.  Light refreshments will be provided!

Tuesday, September 22nd from 7:30-9pm

Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture

6184 Ash St., Vancouver, BC V5Z 3G9​

➤   How to Get Here / Building & Accessibility Information

Free parking is available on the street or in the underground parkade.

RSVP is required to make sure we have enough snacks and supplies for everyone!

The Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir was founded at the Peretz Institute (now the Peretz Centre) in 1980 by Searle Friedman with the aim of keeping Jewish folk music alive, sharing community favourites, uncovering forgotten tunes, and exploring new arrangements in Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), and English. As one of the last surviving choirs in Canada performing Yiddish music, the choir has also been entrusted with preserving Canadian Yiddish music and bringing cultural treasures back to the community and into contemporary contexts for all generations.

The choir rehearses weekly on Tuesday evenings and performs several times a season, including a spring concert and holiday songs at non-religious observances of major Jewish holidays. Our repertoire ranges from traditional Jewish folk songs and theatre tunes to more sophisticated cantatas and other longer works, including repertoire for major Jewish holidays. All music is taught in transliteration (no prior knowledge of Jewish languages is required).

We are a friendly and eclectic group of Jews and non-Jews, ranging from our 20s to 80s, with a long history of overlapping with the LGBTQ+ community and many queer/trans members. Each singing part (SATB) is supported and mentored by a section leader, as well as long-time conductor David Millard and a piano accompanist. We work to be a neurodivergent-friendly, anti-abelist, and progressive space and stand with the long revolutionary Yiddish history of advocating for peace.

The VJFC Open House is part of Culture Days 2026 (Sep. 18th to Oct. 4th), Canada's celebration of arts, culture, and heritage with thousands of free events presented in hundreds of communities across Canada. Culture Days encourages the public to discover and champion the importance of arts and culture in their communities, and inspire year-round support of local artists, creators and organizations. Find free events at culturedays.ca