Celesta Women's Choir

Three years ago Peter Vanderhorst created the Celesta Women's Choir in West Vancouver, Canada. Most of the singers are current or past members of choral programs in their high schools and so it enables students to continue their choral studies beyond the high school years. Many of the singers were members of previous Treble Choirs at West Vancouver Secondary School that successfully competed in music festivals and competitions across Canada and the United States. The choir studies a challenging repertoire that ranges from 16th century madrigals to 20th century avant garde compositions. It focuses on Canadian literature and enjoys a close working relationship with Canadian composer and arranger Stephen Hatfield. Celesta is rapidly making a name for itself in Greater Vancouver and hopes to establish itself as one of the foremost women's ensembles in the Lower Mainland.

Peter Vanderhorst

As Director of Choral Activities at West Vancouver Secondary School, Peter Vanderhorst built and developed a choral program that saw its Treble Choir gain international attention from San Francisco to Washington, DC. Following impressive first-place finishes at music festivals across the U.S. and Canada in the last five years, Mr. Vanderhorst earned the distinction of director of the most outstanding choir at the prestigious Gold Festival in Washington, DC, in 1999, which allowed his choir to present its repertoire at the Kennedy Center for the performing Arts.