ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Lars Kaario founded Laudate Singers in 1995 and has been its sole Artistic Director. His vision for the choir has always been multi-faceted – offering the community the experience of exciting and varied choral performances, giving trained singers the enjoyment and challenge of singing in a high calibre choir, and exploring the vast choral arts repertoire while adding to it through compositional commissions. With the creation of Paragon Singers in 2021, a choir under the umbrella of Laudate Singers Society, Lars is pleased to offer similar opportunities to intermediate-level singers. 

Lars has built an impressive reputation as a conductor, singer and educator in his native Vancouver. His great love and commitment toward the choral arts is evident in his special abilities to inspire his singers/instrumentalists, and effectively communicate the enjoyment and subtleties of music to his audiences. His enthusiasm coupled with his excellent organizational skills and programming abilities have helped to characterize his concerts as “unforgettable, delightful, beautiful, and deeply satisfying musical experiences”. Mr. Kaario is an ardent supporter of young musicians and composers. He is keenly interested in and sensitive to performing Canadian music.

Mr. Kaario retired in 2021 after a 35-year career at Capilano University where he was Director of Choral Studies in the Diploma of Music Program, leading Capilano University Singers and Capilano University Festival Chorus. He was also the head instructor in the University’s Conducting Certificate Program. 

With his semi-retirement, Lars is thrilled to be able to spend more time teaching voice and conducting in his private studio. He enjoys working with all levels of singers, assisting them to “find their voice” no matter their age, experience or performance goal. 

Other ensembles Lars has directed include Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, Cecilia Ensemble Women’s Choir, Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, CBC Orchestra, West Coast Symphony, West Coast Summer Music Festival Orchestra and Chorus, Vancouver Cantata Singers, Greater Vancouver Operatic Society, and Theatre Under the Stars. He has performed leading roles in opera, light opera and music theatre. In oratorio, he has been tenor soloist in such works as Bach’s B Minor Mass, Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Mozart’s Requiem with many of B.C.’s major choirs and orchestras.