Our Origin Story
What began as a longing for students to connect grew into something far beyond what we could have imagined.
In 2017, Rebecca invited a handful of singers to gather in her condo’s amenities room to try something new.
Since then, we’ve built a studio from scratch, weathered a pandemic, and celebrated more joy than we can quantify.
Through it all, one thing has never changed: the power of music to bring people together and keep us going, even when things get hard.
We’re still writing the story. We’d love for you to be part of it.
Becoming the Founder
First Steps as a Voice Teacher
In 2006, Rebecca began teaching voice in Vancouver as a certified Speech Level Singing coach, working with beginners, pros, and everyone in between. She also ran The Mix, a live showcase for local emerging artists.
Early Connections
Jared (age 14) and Rachel (age 23) begin studying voice with Rebecca — the start of two of her most important musical relationships.
Mentor Mode
By 2012, Rebecca was mentoring voice teachers internationally. She taught at vocal camps across Europe and was a repeat presenter at the Institute for Vocal Advancement conference in Las Vegas, sharing advanced technique and pedagogy with top vocal coaches from all around the world.
A New Vision Takes Root
In 2016, Rebecca taught at European Vocal Camp and it felt like magic. The week was full of creativity, connection, and joy.
It showed her what was missing back home: a space where singers could grow, belong, and feel free to be fully themselves.
She returned to Vancouver with a new vision to build a community rooted in music, growth, and human connection.
Recognized for Impact
In March 2016, Rebecca was nominated for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Arts, Culture & Design. It was a meaningful acknowledgment of her growing impact as an artist and educator.
Before We Were Chorus
The First Choir
In 2017, Rebecca launched YVR Pop Choir out of her apartment building’s amenities room, bribing her private students with wine and cheese just to try it out. The goal was simple: bring people together to sing and connect.
She grossly underestimated the demand and within hours, the 20-person cap was full, and a waitlist of over 50 followed. The choir was born overnight.
Singing for a Cause
The very first concert raised $2,570 for VOKRA (Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association) where Rebecca had adopted her cat, PJammies. With a deep love for animals, she founded the choirs not just to build community, but to give back.
From the beginning, the mission was clear: use our voices to raise money for animal rescues and support those who can’t speak for themselves. By the end of the year, we had raised over $14,000.
$14,000 Raised
Introducing B-Roll: Vancouver's first R&B Choir
In 2018, Rebecca launched a second group: B-Roll, Vancouver’s only R&B choir. Born from her own love of soul, groove, and gospel-inspired vocals, B-Roll gave singers a new way to explore rhythm and richness in harmony and quickly took on a vibrant identity of its own.
Rachel Steps In
In 2018, Rachel began supporting operations, drawing on her background in college admissions to bring stability to our growing community. Her systems and care became essential as the choirs expanded.
$29,000 Raised
Big Apple, Big Milestones
By 2019, our choirs had grown to over 140 singers. That fall, we were invited to perform at a vocal event at Lincoln Center in New York City, our first international performance. The trip deepened our bonds and marked a turning point in our journey as a true musical community.
The Choir That Could
By 2019, our choirs had grown to over 140 singers across multiple groups. The energy was electric. Every week was filled with harmony, laughter, and momentum.
That same year, we were hired to record ads for Disney’s The Lion King and Uber’s holiday campaign. It was the first time we saw just how far a community-first choir could go.
$42,000 Raised
The Pandemic Pivot
A World On Pause
When the pandemic hit, everything stopped. Our choirs shrank from 140 voices to just 20 who chose to stay.
Each Tuesday, that small group gathered on Zoom. We laughed. We cried. We held space.
Rebecca kept arranging music. Jared made virtual videos. Rachel and Rebecca worked unpaid to keep the community alive. Even on mute, even without applause, we sang.
We owe so much to the singers who stayed. They carried the spark that kept us going.
United in Resilience
In 2020, we hosted a virtual choir summit and launched a “Sing Every Day” challenge to stay connected through music.
Together, we raised over $10,000 for the Vancouver Food Bank and BC Crisis Centre, offering support when it mattered most.
Chorus Studio Launches Online
In June 2020, Rebecca and Rachel took a leap of faith and opened Chorus Studio online.
We didn't have walls yet, just a dream shared across screens. Rebecca began shaping The Connection Method, a complete approach to voice that balances technique, style, performance, and community.
$53,000 Raised
Chorus Studio: The Early Years
In-Person Rehearsals Return Outdoors
After over a year online, we finally sang together again while masked and distanced, under the Burrard Bridge. Singing outdoors by the water felt healing, and became the start of our Sunset Beach summer concert tradition — a joyful, open-air event we still host every year.
A Home of Our Own
After months of searching, we opened our first brick-and-mortar studio in Mount Pleasant. What began online during the pandemic became a permanent home for lessons, rehearsals, and community.
Here, we revived YVR Pop Choir and B-Roll, and launched Pacific Soul.
When the first singers gathered around, Rebecca stepped up to the mic and said, “Welcome home.”
Many tears were shed as we sang together again for the first time in our new home.
$65,000 Raised
Weathering the Storm
Alongside the joy and excitement of opening our first studio, came unexpected challenges.
Just months after we opened our new studio, a flood forced us to move out and temporarily relocate.
But little did we know, something even harder was coming.
Rachel, our co-owner, the steady hand behind so much of what we built, was diagnosed with an incurable cancer.
Even as her capacity shifted, her wisdom and care remained at the heart of the studio. Her courage became part of our foundation, not just in how we ran things, but in how we chose to show up for each other.
$85,000 Raised
Stepping Into the Spotlight
We welcomed new faculty: Jodie, Nova, and Marie, expanding our capacity to serve singers with warmth, excellence, and care.
Jared launched Spotlight, our musical theatre and dance-pop choir, adding a bold new layer to our offerings. And we took the stage at the flagship TED conference, sharing our sound at one of the world’s most influential events.
$95,000 Raised
Becoming Mighty
A Growing Legacy
All four choirs reached full capacity with waitlists for the first time. What began as Rebecca’s dream had become a shared legacy, powered by hundreds of voices and shaped by Rachel’s steady hand behind the scenes.
This year, we opened up charity voting to the whole community. For the first time, members chose where we gave. It marked a shift in how much Chorus Studio had grown beyond one person’s vision into something collectively held.
$104,000 Raised
Five Years Mighty
We marked our fifth anniversary with our biggest celebration yet: a packed house, joyful performances, and the launch of something brand new.
The Mighty Chorus, our 18-singer ensemble, took the stage for the first time. Made up of some of the most talented singers from across our choirs, this group brought a new level of artistry to our community. It was a night to remember. Not just a milestone, but a promise of what’s still to come.
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