Canto Vivo in Concert – Trovadoras: A Celebration of Women Songwriters of Latin America

VLACC is proud to once again present Canto Vivo in Concert with TROVADORAS: A Celebration of Women Songwriters of Latin America, an afternoon honouring the powerful and poetic women whose songs have helped shape the musical soul of Latin America.

Before renowned divas and crooners delighted international audiences with their renditions of Gracias a la Vida and Bésame Mucho, the creators of these iconic songs had been invisible to the world. Not anymore. Violeta Parra’s and Consuelo Velásquez’s compositions have finally found their rightful place among the most beautiful to ever come out of Latin America. In the last few years, contemporary singer-songwriters like Natalia Lafourcade and Marta Gómez have captivated music lovers worldwide and continue to inspire. But there are still many more trovadoras, young and old, who remain in the shadows.

In this, its third annual concert, Canto Vivo, led by Musical Director Sérgio Pires, will showcase the work of both acclaimed and little-known Latin American women. The choir will take you on a journey across the continent and along more than one hundred years, starting at the beginning of the 20th century in Brazil and ending in contemporary Guatemala, with stops in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba and Mexico.

Date: Sunday, June 7, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm (doors open at 2:00 pm)
Location: Rio Theatre (1660 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5N 1W1)

Join us in this celebration of the melodies, rhythms and words interwoven by the hearts and minds of gifted trovadoras latinoamericanas.

About Canto Vivo Choir

Founded by VLACC in 2017 under the direction of Sérgio Pires, Canto Vivo brings together singers from across Latin America, Canada, and beyond. Today, the choir has 37 members from 15 different countries. Over the years, Canto Vivo has performed at a variety of events and venues, including the Waterfront Theatre, the York Theatre and the Vancouver Playhouse. This June marks the choir’s third solo concert, featuring a lively repertoire of beloved Latin American songs in Spanish and Portuguese, many of which were specially arranged for the group by Sérgio himself.

About the Music Director

Sérgio Pires holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from Boston University and degrees in Musicology and Music Education from Brazilian institutions. Before moving to Canada, he was a professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Pires’ previous conducting engagements include the early music ensemble Brasil Barroco, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Chamber Choir and the Concordia Choir, Vancouver.

Guest Artists and Musicians

Caro Selva (Vocals)
Sheila Minatti (Vocals)
Baltazar Aguilera (Keyboard)
Carlos Cortes (Guitar)
Marcos Uribe (Guitar, Charango and Percussion)
Paula Faustino (Zabumba)

Creative Team

Carla Alcántara (Projection Designer)
Caro Selva (Graphic Designer)
Juliana Silva (Costume Designer)

Link to event: https://vlacc.ca/events/canto-vivo-in-concert-trovadoras-a-celebration-of-women-songwriters-of-latin-america/

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