Welcome to the Vancouver Swiss Choir

We are an easy going enthusiastic mixed voice choir of all ages and many nationalities. We enjoy singing multilingual Swiss folk and classic songs in choral settings. All those who love to sing are encouraged to join. Under the guidance of Dubravko Pajalic, we enjoy exploring a wide repertoire of Swiss folk music with a healthy dose of yodelling.

New singers welcome! Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass we have you covered!

Venes chanter avec nous! Kommen sie einfach vorbei! Viene con Noli! All nationalities are welcome!

Our choir performs two concerts and by invitation at other events through the year. We host a spring concert typically in late May and a Christmas concert in late November. We make time for enjoyable social time after rehearsals together.

Please contact any of the choir members below or email to join us at our next rehearsal.

Theresa Weltzin (Chair) 604-574-9069

Rolf Brulhart (Member) 604-224-6718

swisschoir@swiss-society.org

 

Rehearsals

Our practices take place on Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church, 7405 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby, V5J 4J8

Conductor

Dubravko Pajalic is a conductor, musicologist and composer originally from Zagreb, Croatia. He studied flute, guitar and informatics in Croatia, Austria and Canada. He edited and arranged many Croatian folk and classical pieces for chamber ensembles and choirs, and created music education TV shows. Mr. Pajalic has lived in Vancouver since 1992 and worked as an IT Manager at a research facility until 2018. During this time, he continued to work as a conductor, arranger, composer, author and music publisher. He conducts community and church choirs as well as serving as an organist at St. Mark’s church. He is now fully engaged in music.

Events

June 6, 2026 Saturday Spring Concert at All Saints Anglican Church on Royal Oak in Burnaby. Refer to the Spring Swiss Herald for more details.

June 24, 2026 Wednesday on behalf of the Swiss community performing at the New Westminster FIFA Fan Fest midday prior to the Swiss vs Canada men’s soccer match.

Membership

Choir membership fees are payable to the Swiss Society of Vancouver which includes membership in the Swiss Society, voting privileges, early notice to events, the society’s newsletter “The Swiss Herald” issued 6 times per year. Please refer to the fee schedule on the SSV website.

Membership

History

The Vancouver Swiss Choir was founded in 1966. From a modest 14 members, it grew to an impressing 62 members in 1981 when the choir hosted the 17th Pacific Coast Swiss Singing and by  Yodelling Festival of the USSSPC in downtown Vancouver.  This event was again hosted -the 27th Saengerfest-  by the Choir with large support from the Swiss Society of Vancouver in 2011 at UBC with a healthy membership of 33 singers under the baton of conductor Dubravko Pajalic.  He resigned in December 2018. Dr. Sergion Pires took over as conductor in February 2018 and resigned in early 2020. As of March 2020, Dubravko Pajalic is conducing the choir again.

Executive

President: Theresa Weltzin   604-574-9069    swisschoir@swiss-society.org

Treasurer: Rosi Schupbach

Musical Director: Dubravko Pajalic

Secretaries: Catherine Sands, Cora Schupp