SAENGERFEST 2020
Sängerbund History
Sängerfest 2020 Committee
Participating Choirs
AVC Melody Choir
Concordia Choir Vancouver
MGV Lyra
Kelowna Liedertafel Choir
Concordia Choir Spokane
Victoria Harmony Choir
Liedertafel Harmonie Portland
Gesangverein Arion
Info for Choirs
Nord Pazifischer Sängerbund
The Nord-Pacific Sängerbund was founded in 1901 in Bellingham, bringing together all German choirs existing at that time in the North Pacific region. Its roots, however, reach back to the year 1851 when a group of German immigrants started a male choir in San Francisco. Soon after this, eight more choirs were established. In 1858, Portland founded its first German choir and in 1861, the Germania Singing Group in Victoria was started. By 1883 Spokane had a Concordia Männerchor. Tacoma followed in 1890, Bellingham in 1891, Seattle and Everett in 1892.
The formation of the Nord- Nord-Pacific Sängerbund was officially announced in 1901. In 1902, choirs from Bellingham, Tacoma, Portland, Seattle and Walla Walla gathered in Seattle to participate in the first North Pacific German Song Festival. From then on, Festivals were held annually (1903 - 1905), and subsequently – with one exception – every other year (1911- 1936). After a pause during the difficult years of W.W.II, German choirs resumed their activities and reunited in 1952 to celebrate their first post-war and overall 15th Song Festival in Seattle. Since then, Festivals have been held every two to three years.
The sixties, seventies and eighties saw the birth and growth of numerous German choirs in British Columbia. Joining the Nord-Pacific Sängerbund, they extended its territory as far north as Prince George. While the Pacific singing enterprise began only with male choirs, Nord-Pacific Sängerbund now consists of two male and ten mixed-voice choirs.
The purpose of the Nord-Pacific Sängerbund is to maintain musical fellowship among German choirs in the North Pacific region, and to keep alive and promote the precious gift of German music and culture.
Song Festivals:
1902….Seattle
1903….Walla Walla
1904….Tacoma
1905….Portland
1907….Spokane
1909….Everett
1962….Vancouver
1967….Victoria
1984….Kelowna
1996….Nanaimo
1998….Prince George
​2015...Vancouver
2017...Kelowna
2020...Vancouver