Music Director: John Goulart
John Goulart established Bow Valley Chorus in 2001. In the year 2000, John was also the musical director of the Bow Valley Millennium Choral Event, where he conducted the 100 voice Bow Valley Millennium Choir in performances of Mozart's Requiem at the Banff Centre, accompanied by full orchestra which included members of the Calgary Philharmonic. In 2005, John was selected as one of six international participants in the National Conductor's Symposium, where he collaborated with Master conductor Jon Washburn, and also conducted the Vancouver Chamber Choir in concert. John was the proud recipient of the prestigious 2013 Con Spirito Award from the Alberta Choral Federation. This award recognizes the spirit and dedication of individuals and their commitment to choral music in their local community.
John also enjoys the reputation of being one of Canada's finest guitarists. He is an international prize winner and has appeared with several of Canada's leading orchestras, including the Calgary Philharmonic; Regina Symphony; Northern Chamber Orchestra; Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestre de Concerts Populaire (Montreal Symphony). His award winning recordings have received extensive airplay on CKUA Radio in Alberta and across Canada on the CBC Radio Network. John is also a sought after adjudicator and teacher and continues to perform concerts, record, produce, adjudicate, and conduct masterclasses.
John Goulart established Bow Valley Chorus in 2001. In the year 2000, John was also the musical director of the Bow Valley Millennium Choral Event, where he conducted the 100 voice Bow Valley Millennium Choir in performances of Mozart's Requiem at the Banff Centre, accompanied by full orchestra which included members of the Calgary Philharmonic. In 2005, John was selected as one of six international participants in the National Conductor's Symposium, where he collaborated with Master conductor Jon Washburn, and also conducted the Vancouver Chamber Choir in concert. John was the proud recipient of the prestigious 2013 Con Spirito Award from the Alberta Choral Federation. This award recognizes the spirit and dedication of individuals and their commitment to choral music in their local community.
John also enjoys the reputation of being one of Canada's finest guitarists. He is an international prize winner and has appeared with several of Canada's leading orchestras, including the Calgary Philharmonic; Regina Symphony; Northern Chamber Orchestra; Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestre de Concerts Populaire (Montreal Symphony). His award winning recordings have received extensive airplay on CKUA Radio in Alberta and across Canada on the CBC Radio Network. John is also a sought after adjudicator and teacher and continues to perform concerts, record, produce, adjudicate, and conduct masterclasses.
Hannah Pagenkopf, Soprano
Praised by The Calgary Herald for the “special, silvery beauty and expressiveness” of her voice, soprano Hannah Pagenkopf has enchanted audiences in her hometown Calgary and abroad. She has appeared as a soloist with Juno award-winning ensemble Rosa Barocca, The Firebird Symphony & Chorus, Bow Valley Chorus, Luminous Voices, Calgary Bach Society, and Mountain View Art Song Festival, among others.
Hannah has also been featured by various orchestras throughout Alberta including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. In 2020 Hannah reached the nationals of the NATS Artist Awards competition in New York City, placing 2nd and winning an additional prize for “Most Promising Singer”. Other highlights include two solo recitals in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and participating in the Neil Semer Vocal Institute in Germany.
Praised by The Calgary Herald for the “special, silvery beauty and expressiveness” of her voice, soprano Hannah Pagenkopf has enchanted audiences in her hometown Calgary and abroad. She has appeared as a soloist with Juno award-winning ensemble Rosa Barocca, The Firebird Symphony & Chorus, Bow Valley Chorus, Luminous Voices, Calgary Bach Society, and Mountain View Art Song Festival, among others.
Hannah has also been featured by various orchestras throughout Alberta including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. In 2020 Hannah reached the nationals of the NATS Artist Awards competition in New York City, placing 2nd and winning an additional prize for “Most Promising Singer”. Other highlights include two solo recitals in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and participating in the Neil Semer Vocal Institute in Germany.
Christina Lanz, Mezzo
Cristina is thrilled to be singing the music of Handel's Messiah with Bow Valley Chorus this holiday season! Praised by San Francisco Classical Voice for her "flair and musical vibrancy," Cristina is a dynamic and thoughtful performer. As a versatile artist, Cristina has performed in opera, theatre, and musical theatre productions across a variety of musical genres including Baroque, operetta, and contemporary music. Some of her favourite roles include: Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Estelle (Later the Same Evening), Baker's Wife (Into the Woods), and Mrs. Gibbs (Our Town). Cristina has performed as a member of the Calgary Opera Chorus in productions such as Carmen, The (R)Evolution of Steve Jobs, the 2023 Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show, and L’Elisir d’Amore. She has also sung locally with companies such as Good Mess Opera Theatre, the Firebird Symphony and Chorus, and Calgary Concert Opera. In 2026, she can be seen singing the role of Mercedes in excerpts from Carmen at Calgary Civic Symphony's Afternoon at the Opera and in Calgary Opera's Arias and Ales concert in March.
Cristina is thrilled to be singing the music of Handel's Messiah with Bow Valley Chorus this holiday season! Praised by San Francisco Classical Voice for her "flair and musical vibrancy," Cristina is a dynamic and thoughtful performer. As a versatile artist, Cristina has performed in opera, theatre, and musical theatre productions across a variety of musical genres including Baroque, operetta, and contemporary music. Some of her favourite roles include: Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Estelle (Later the Same Evening), Baker's Wife (Into the Woods), and Mrs. Gibbs (Our Town). Cristina has performed as a member of the Calgary Opera Chorus in productions such as Carmen, The (R)Evolution of Steve Jobs, the 2023 Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show, and L’Elisir d’Amore. She has also sung locally with companies such as Good Mess Opera Theatre, the Firebird Symphony and Chorus, and Calgary Concert Opera. In 2026, she can be seen singing the role of Mercedes in excerpts from Carmen at Calgary Civic Symphony's Afternoon at the Opera and in Calgary Opera's Arias and Ales concert in March.
Jorge Avilés, Tenor
Argentina-born tenor Jorge Avilés made Canada his home after having studied voice and oratorio with the International Bach Society in his native city of Buenos Aires. In Calgary, he has been heard singing many leading and supporting roles with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Opera, the Civic Symphony and the Festival Chorus among others. The spinto quality of his voice has allowed him to venture into high Baritone roles such as Valentin in Gounod’s Faust and the title role in Purcell's Dido & Æneas. As a tenor, Mr. Avilés' operatic repertoire includes Gastone in Verdi’s La Traviata, Monostatos in Mozart's Magic Flute, Basilio in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, and Dr Cajus in Verdi’s Falstaff under the baton of Hans Graf. In the realm of oratorio, Mr. Avilés has sung the lead tenor in Mozart’s famous Requiem, Hændel’s Judas Machabeus, Mendelsohn’s Elijah (under the direction of Gerald Wirth), and the acclaimed Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez, as well as Bach's St John's Passion, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Benjamin Britten’s The Company of Heaven, Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saëns, and Haydn’s choral masterpiece Creation. Internationally, he’s toured Eastern Germany, Poland & the Czech Republic singing, among others, the lead tenor in Mozart’s “Sparrow” Mass in C.
Mr. Avilés is thrilled to once again sing with the Bow Valley Chorus under the baton of John Goulart.
Argentina-born tenor Jorge Avilés made Canada his home after having studied voice and oratorio with the International Bach Society in his native city of Buenos Aires. In Calgary, he has been heard singing many leading and supporting roles with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Opera, the Civic Symphony and the Festival Chorus among others. The spinto quality of his voice has allowed him to venture into high Baritone roles such as Valentin in Gounod’s Faust and the title role in Purcell's Dido & Æneas. As a tenor, Mr. Avilés' operatic repertoire includes Gastone in Verdi’s La Traviata, Monostatos in Mozart's Magic Flute, Basilio in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, and Dr Cajus in Verdi’s Falstaff under the baton of Hans Graf. In the realm of oratorio, Mr. Avilés has sung the lead tenor in Mozart’s famous Requiem, Hændel’s Judas Machabeus, Mendelsohn’s Elijah (under the direction of Gerald Wirth), and the acclaimed Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez, as well as Bach's St John's Passion, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Benjamin Britten’s The Company of Heaven, Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saëns, and Haydn’s choral masterpiece Creation. Internationally, he’s toured Eastern Germany, Poland & the Czech Republic singing, among others, the lead tenor in Mozart’s “Sparrow” Mass in C.
Mr. Avilés is thrilled to once again sing with the Bow Valley Chorus under the baton of John Goulart.
Kristian Lo, Bass
As a soloist, he has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Early Music Voices, RESOUND Choir, and Good Mess Opera Studio. As an ensemble singer, he has performed with Early Music Voices, Amadeus Choir, Elmer Iseler Singers, Luminous Voices, Babεl Chamber Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Opera, and City Opera Vancouver.
Kristian holds a BMus in Voice from the University of Calgary studying with Patricia Hrynkiw, and an Artist Diploma in Voice from the University of Toronto studying with Monica Whicher. Outside of music you can find him on his bike, rummaging through thrift stores, or "finding the next best bowl of ramen."
As a soloist, he has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Early Music Voices, RESOUND Choir, and Good Mess Opera Studio. As an ensemble singer, he has performed with Early Music Voices, Amadeus Choir, Elmer Iseler Singers, Luminous Voices, Babεl Chamber Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Opera, and City Opera Vancouver.
Kristian holds a BMus in Voice from the University of Calgary studying with Patricia Hrynkiw, and an Artist Diploma in Voice from the University of Toronto studying with Monica Whicher. Outside of music you can find him on his bike, rummaging through thrift stores, or "finding the next best bowl of ramen."
Executive Board
President: Linda Heywood
Vice President
Treasurer: Tom Paasuke
Secretary: Elena Silvestroff
Music Director: John Goulart
Board Members
Members at Large: Alexine Murray, Dr. Jean Michel Worms
