Under the leadership of acclaimed Founder and Artistic Director Elaine Quilichini, Calgary Girls Choir has offered exceptional choral programs since 1995. An internationally recognized choral organization, Calgary Girls Choir inspires and empowers girls and young women through music.

Over the past 30 years, thousands of choristers have participated in Calgary Girls Choir programs, developing exceptional musicianship, artistry, confidence, and lifelong friendships. Our Kodály-based choral program includes:

  • Dolce (Grades 1–4) — Maegan Bishop, Choir Director
  • Viva (Grades 4–7) — Elaine Quilichini, Choir Director
  • Brava (Grades 7–12) — Elaine Quilichini, Choir Director
  • Espressa Women’s Choir — Elaine Quilichini, Choir Director

Each season offers weekly rehearsals, community-building retreats and workshops, and performances at Calgary’s premier venues. A defining priority of Artistic Director Elaine Quilichini is the commissioning of new Canadian choral works, providing choristers with the rare opportunity to meet living composers and perform world premieres. Through the cultivation of healthy vocal technique, beautiful tone and intonation, and engaging, sophisticated repertoire, Calgary Girls Choirs consistently deliver outstanding performances.

Our two senior ensembles—Brava (Grades 7–12) and Espressa Women’s Choir—tour internationally in alternating years, acting as artistic ambassadors and sharing Canadian choral repertoire with audiences around the world. Most recently, in 2026, Brava completed a successful tour of Spain, performing at the Edeta International Youth Music Festival and earning critical acclaim for the choir’s exceptional artistry.

Many alumni have pursued successful careers as professional choral singers, opera singers, folk and popular musicians, and music educators, while others continue to find joy singing in community and amateur choirs. Regardless of where their musical journeys lead, our choristers all leave with a lasting passion for music.

Our Singers Receive:

  • Training in vocal excellence and choral artistry, taught through the Kodály approach and compelling repertoire.
  • Exciting performance opportunities, locally, nationally and internationally.  Recent tours: Spain (2026), Latvia/Estonia (2025).
  • Opportunities to develop and premiere new work by living composers.
  • Development of important life skills such as confidence, integrity, leadership, teamwork, focus, and discipline.
  • A supportive and close-knit community where lifelong friendships develop and each chorister is nurtured.
  • Community outreach opportunities that create service-minded and civically-engaged citizens.
  • Global awareness which is developed through singing in foreign languages, telling stories (through song) from various cultural perspectives, and world travel.

Reputation for Excellence

Since its founding in 1995 by Artistic Director Elaine Quilichini, the Calgary Girls Choir Society has inspired girls and young women to meet the creative challenge of choral music performance. The CGC is recognized nationally and internationally for its dazzling performances and many accomplishments: first-place awards and major prizes at Canadian and international competitions; prestigious performances at the National Conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, ACCC Podium, and the Organization of American Kodály Educators; features on national television; premieres at the Banff Centre for the Arts; concerts with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Calgary Civic Symphony; and commissions of new works by Canadian and international composers such as Mark Sirett and Margaret King. The CGC have won at the Vienna Music Festival, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, and in local, provincial, and national competitions within Canada. They were awarded first place four times in the ACCC National Choral Competition!

Our Mission

To create and nurture life-enriching connections and experiences for girls and women through choral excellence.

Our Vision

A world where every girl and woman is empowered to use her voice.

Our Philosophy

Choristers are encouraged to be their best and strive for excellence—a work ethic that encourages polishing pieces for performance and develops vocal technique, leadership, and teamwork.