Ola gjeilo and dr irene messoloras at the bella concert hall

  • Sat November 29th

    Hear the works of Ola Gjeilo performed by the acclaimed composer himself in a very special solo piano concert in the Bella Concert Hall.

    Gjeilo will perform a selection of his greatest compositions in the spectacular Bella Concert Hall.

  • Sun November 30th

    Join us for an en-masse choral performance of Ola Gjielo’s work, with orchestral accompaniment, directed by renowned conductor Dr Irene Messoloras.

    The audience will enjoy Gjeilo’s most celebrated works, including The Sunrise Mass, “Ave Generosa,” “The Rose,” and “Northern Lights.

  • Perform with ola gjeilo - APPLICATIONS CLOSED waitlist only

    Auditioned choristers only - a once in a lifetime opportunity to rehearse and perform with one of the most celebrated choral composers of the 21st century.

    Participants will take part in three rehearsals directed by Gjeilo, with additional instruction from acclaimed choral conductor Dr. Irene Messoloras. The weekend will culminate in a mass choral concert, Luminous Night of the Soul, on November 30, 2025.

    Registration includes five hours of rehearsal/workshops with Ola Gjeilo and Dr. Irene Messoloras, three pre-rehearsals led by Kantorei director John Morgan, copies of the choral scores used in the performance, and the opportunity to learn from one of the leading choral composers of his generation.

    APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

About ola gjeilo and dr irene messoloras

  • ola gjeilo

    Ola Gjeilo is one of the most performed composers in the choral music world.

    He was born in Norway in 1978 and moved to the United States in 2001 to begin his composition studies at the Juilliard School in New York City. He now lives with his wife Irene in Laguna Niguel, California.

     Ola is an exclusive Decca Classics artist, and his Decca choral albums include “Ola Gjeilo”, “Winter Songs” & “Dreamweaver”, featuring Tenebrae, Voces8 and the Choir of Royal Holloway, as well as the solo piano albums “Night” & “Dawn”. His global streams have now surpassed 230 million.

  • Dr Irene Messoloras

    Dedicated to inspiring musicians and audiences through a determined passion for musical excellence, Dr. Irene Messoloras maintains an active career as a sought-after conductor, clinician and adjudicator, leading ensembles in powerful and dynamic performances across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

    Irene Messoloras is the conductor of Meridian, a London-based professional choir, the Director of Choral Activities at the University of California, Irvine and currently serves as the Associate Chair of the Music Department. 

    Under Messoloras’ leadership, her choirs have been celebrated as some of the finest in the United States, earning invitations to perform at the prestigious American Choral Directors Association National Conferences in both 2023 and 2021. Other recent performances include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Beijing Concert Hall. 

    Irene Messoloras is the recipient of numerous awards for creative programming, diversity and inclusivity, community engagement, and conducting. Recently, Dr. Messoloras was awarded the Grand Prize for conducting at the World Classical Music Awards (2023), the Vivaldi International Music Competition Grand Prize Winner (2023), and received first place with special recognition at the Bach International Music Competition (2023).

    In 2024, Messoloras’ UCI Chamber Singers earned second place in the American Prize Classical Music Competition for Best Choral Performance. The ensemble was also finalists for the Ernst Bacon Award for their outstanding performance of American music. 

    Dr. Messoloras received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of California, Los Angeles at the Herb Alpert School of Music.

Please browse our FAQ section to find answers to any questions you may have.

  • Hosted by Mount Royal Kantorei, Luminous Night of the Soul is a unique celebration of the music of renowned choral composer Ola Gjeilo and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for choristers to perform his music on stage and under his guidance.

    The weekend will include workshops and rehearsals with the composer and a mass choir performance of his works at the Bella Concert Hall with guest conductor Dr. Irene Messoloras from University of California Irvine.

    Ola will also perform a piano concert on November 29th.

  • Pre-rehearsals: November 3, 10, 17, 2025

    1st rehearsal with Ola Gjeilo and Irene Messoloras & Ola Gjeilo solo piano recital: November 29, 2025

    Final rehearsals & concert: November 30, 2025

    Location: Bella Concert Hall, Mount Royal University, Calgary

  • An evening with Ola Gjeilo, a piano concert at The Bella (November 29, 7:00 PM) - (no chorister participation)

    Luminous Night of the Soul – A mass choir concert featuring Ola Gjeilo (November 30, 7:00 PM)

  • Complete the chorister application (above). We will contact you by SEPTEMBER 2nd to let you know if your application has been successful. Successful applicants will be emailed a link to complete their registration and pay the applicable fees.

  • Yes. Singers from any choir or individual vocalists are welcome. Balance across SATB voice parts will be maintained.

  • Only unaffiliated singers may be asked to submit a short video audition. Details are outlined in the application form.

  • $269 per chorister (early bird, by September 15th)

    $299 Regular (after September 15th)

    • Three pre-rehearsals with John Morgan (Nov 3, 10, 17)

    • Five hours of rehearsals/workshops with Ola Gjeilo & Dr. Irene Messoloras

    • A social reception

    • Copies of all music (participants keep their scores)

    • Participation in the final mass choir concert featuring Ola Gjeilo.

  • Yes. As this is administered through Mount Royal University, participants will be eligible for an education tax credit.

  • Pre-Rehearsals (with John Morgan):

    • Nov 3, 10, 17 – 7:15 PM to 9:45 PM in the Leacock Theatre, Mount Royal University

    Workshop & Performance Weekend:Saturday, Nov 29, 2025

    • 3:00–5:00 PM – Rehearsal with Ola & Irene in the Bella Concert Hall

    • 5:00–7:00 PM – Dinner Break

    • 7:00–8:00 PM – Ola Gjeilo Solo Recital in the Bella Concert Hall

    • 8:00–10:00 PM – Chorister Social (location TBC)

    Sunday, Nov 30, 2025

    • 1pm - 2.30pm – Rehearsal with Ola and Irene in the Bella Concert Hall

    • 3:30–5:00 PM – Rehearsal with Orchestra

    • 5:00–6:15 PM – Dinner Break - bring your own!

    • 7:00–9:00 PM – Final Concert featuring Ola Gjeilo

    You can find a MAP of the Leacock Theatre location HERE.

    You can find a MAP of Parking Locations HERE.

  • You must attend the rehearsals with Ola on November 29th and 30th and we strongly advise that you attend all prior rehearsals with John Morgan. If you are unable to attend rehearsals prior to the event weekend, please let us know.

  • Tickets to both events (Nov 29th and Nov 30th) will be available at tickets.mru.ca

    A 25% discount code for Ola Gjeilo’s piano recital will be available to all participating choristers.

  • Repertoire includes:

    • Luminous Night of the Soul

    • Tundra

    • Ave Generosa

    • Northern Lights

    • The Rose

    • Ubi Caritas

    • Across the Vast, Eternal Sky

    • Sunrise Mass (entire)

  • Yes. Sheet music is included in the registration fee and belongs to the participants.

    Music packages can be picked up from the MRU Conservatory Office beginning September 8th during MRU Conservatory summer hours:

    MRU Conservatory Front Desk

    Mon-Fri 8am to 4pm

    Room ED0300 (Ground level of the Taylor Centre for Performing Arts. Entrance is off the intersection of Richard Road SW and Westmount Way SW)

  •  Email: luminousnight@kantorei.ca

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