Our Story

Ablaze Vocal Arts Ensemble is a new group of choirs founded and directed by Dorianna Holowachuk and located on Treaty 4 Land in Regina, Saskatchewan. Ablaze Vocal Arts Ensemble was born out of the ongoing hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the Ablaze VAE choristers began singing together as an ad hoc choir under the direction of Dorianna Holowachuk in 2021 to sing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Regina Symphony Orchestra. 

At first it seemed an inauspicious return to collective singing. Initial rehearsals for Beethoven's Ninth were held over zoom and all subsequent rehearsals were done masked. However, despite many challenges, a love of music and singing prevailed and produced a wonderful and uplifting performance in May 2022. 

Many of these same singers then returned to participate in an auditioned choir assembled for a performance of Handel's Messiah with the Regina Symphony Orchestra in December 2022. After a highly successful performance of Handel’s Messiah with the RSO, this resilient group of choristers wasn't ready for their time together to be over, and their desire to continue making music remained strong. 

Thus, Ablaze Vocal Arts Ensemble was born!