The Victoria Philharmonic Choir is an auditioned, mixed-voice ensemble with a wide-ranging repertoire of choral masterworks from the Renaissance to the 21st Century. Here performing Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Victoria BC, June 2024.

The Victoria Philharmonic Choir & Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy join musical forces in
THE ARMED MAN: A MASS FOR PEACE - Karl Jenkins
Saturday June 7, 2025
7.30 pm, Christ Church Cathedral
The final concert of the VPC'S 20th season reflects humanity's long history of conflict, its resilience, and its capacity for hope.
Conductor Peter Butterfield and the choir are honoured to share the stage with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, which is directed by Lt (N) Benjamin Van Slyke.
Marking the 81st anniversary of the D Day landings in Normandy, the musical offerings range from short pieces in the first half of the program to the main work on the program: The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins.
First presented in 2000, the work begins with a 15th century French folk song, L'Homme Armé (the Armed Man) and incorporates inspirations from many cultures and ancient and modern texts. Soloists are Jennifer Turner (soprano), Aidan Johnston (alto), Felix Butterfield (tenor) and Alex Chen (bass).
Tickets are $35 regular / $10 student (plus eventbrite fees) and are available from Eventbrite. Children under 13 are admitted free and do not require an advance ticket.
Doors will open at 6.45 pm - festival seating.
The VPC is grateful for the support from the CRD Arts & Culture Support Service, and the Victoria Foundation.

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The Choir

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Music Director

“It is a pleasure to sing with our Music Director Peter Butterfield because of his choice of repertoire, his sense of humour, his musicality, his expectation that we can always do better and his ability to bring the choir up to a high standard of performance.”

— Bass Chorister

“Thank you for an excellent performance of St. Matthew’s Passion last night. Thanks be to Peter Butterfield for a superlative job in approximating the heavenly host in a way that all listerners could truly understand. The principals were lovely and affecting, and the orchestra played with elan. An inspiring and enchanting evening!”

— David B. Audience Member, April 21, 2019

“When you achieve oneness with a composer, even for a few bars, everything disappears. Everything: the individual, the conductor, the music itself. It can all disappear in a flash of perfection.”

— Peter Butterfield