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Founded by Miss Lillian Sit in April, 2002, the Alata Harmonia Chorus of Canada started as a Chamber Ensemble of 18 members with Ms Giulietta Tam as Honorary Music Advisor. Its first concert, also the first a cappella performance in the Chinese music community, was held in July 2002 at the Willowdale United Church. The concert was a great success and was well-received by an enthusiastic audience of over 500. This initial success was then furthered by two more a cappella concerts on March 8, 2003 at the Willowdale United Church and on March 16, 2003 at the Toronto Heliconian Club. In September 2003, Miss Lillian Sit decided to expand the community of singers. Sixty keen, music-loving new members were recruited to form a separate group known as the Alata Harmonia Choir. Together, the new choir and the Alata Harmonia Chamber Singers make up the present Alata Harmonia Chorus of Canada. This development was aimed at enhancing the enjoyment of choral music and elevating the standard of choral singing through a learning process. It has sought to further explore different genres of music; the intrinsic richness and depth of choral music by experimenting with a combination of singing techniques and harmonies, as well as the conductor’s artistic interpretation of music. On a broader perspective, attempts have been made to feature repertoires covering a wide spectrum of musical styles: western and eastern, classical and contemporary, sacred and secular. Such vision will contribute to a cross-fertilization of eastern and western music, and bring with it new inspirations to our multi-faceted community. A case in point, on April 3, 2004, a joint concert between The Toronto Korean-Canadian Choir and the Alata Harmonia Chorus was held — a first of its kind. Under the energetic tutelage of Miss Sit, the concert was a resounding success, and it helped promote a better understanding between the Korean and Chinese communities. On April 23, 2005, the Alata Harmonia Chorus held a concert at the Willowdale United Church, featuring the development of choral music in the western world, and it was a success in enhancing both the appreciation and understanding of western choral music through the ages. On January 15, 2006, we were invited to participate in “The Same Song Concert”, China Central Television’s most popular programme, at Toronto’s Rogers Centre with an audience of 21,000. The concert was also taped to be broadcast across China during the Chinese New Year. Alata is committed to community work too. In December 2004, visits were made to senior homes where Christmas and seasonal songs were performed, bringing joy and warmth to the confined seniors. In the same year, Alata was invited to give a Christmas performance at Vaughan Mills Mall. On October 29, 2005, Alata held a concert at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, featuring works of Canadian-Chinese composers, and at the same time, raised funds for the Canadian Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

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