The Stairwell Caroller 2010 - 2011 brochure

Our 2010 - 2011 brochure -- Info and concerts

Away In a Manger, sung by Ottawa-based choir, The Stairwell Carollers - YouTube

The Stairwell Carollers perform the age old favourite, Away in a Manger at St. Charle's Church in Ottawa, On., Canada -- Christmas concert 2000

This song is available on Laudemus cum Armonia , the carollers newest CD.

All our CDs are available HERE.
Net proceeds from CD sales go towards helping local charities. 

The Stairwell Carollers are an cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Lutebook Lullaby - William Ballet, The Stairwell Carollers, Ottawa

Giant tree at the National Gallery, Ottawa

Lutebook Lullaby by William Ballet, performed by Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009. 

The Stairwell Carollers are an cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

The Stairwell Carollers in Dynamic -- Choirs Ontario Newsletter

The Choirs Ontario Newsletter in PDF format. We are on page 11...

Da Capo -- On our 30th year Celebration 2007

Pete directs at the rehearsal with returning Stairwellers for the 30th reunion celebration

 Da Capo  
-- celebrating the choir's past -- illuminating our present 
-- inspiring our future...

On our 30th year -- by David Rain, Tenor 
December, 2007

Single file, they stride purposefully up the deep stairwell and gingerly place themselves across the narrow church steps, resplendent in their hand-made green and red Christmas cloaks. A warm round of applause erupts as a goateed, golden-haired gentleman with heavy black shoes follows them into view and bows humbly in acknowledgement.

Dress rehearsal

From under his cloak, he deftly pulls out a shiny tuning fork and with a wide grin strikes it solidly across his right temple. “Do, so, me, do”, he can be heard chanting to the others, as he steps back to join them in line. Then, with a subtle lifting of his left eyebrow, the group responds as if one and suddenly the joyous strains of “Oh come, all ye faithful” are heard ringing through the pews, much to the delight of the gathered throng.

'Tis a scene repeated time and again each Christmas by one of Ottawa’s best kept secrets: the 24-voice Stairwell Carollers.

Ottawa U. stairwells

They’re a choir quite unlike any other. From their very humble beginnings in the stairwells of the University of Ottawa, this tiny group of singers has grown to become one of Ottawa’s premier a cappella choirs, with three Christmas CDs and one Renaissance madrigal CD professionally-produced this past decade.

The choir is led by their dynamic founder and director, Pierre Massie, a man of many hats. For 17 years, his day job has been music teacher with the Ottawa Carleton School Board, and he is currently Head of Fine Arts at Glebe Collegiate High School. He has also found time to indulge his passion of leading the Stairwell Carollers since their inception in 1977.

Our Director, Pierre Massie

He is renowned for his unusual style of conducting from within the tenor section itself, using everything imaginable within his reach to conduct with: his eyebrows and his eyes of course, not to mention his head, his music book, his nose, his ears and even his teeth.

Pierre is also an award-winning composer, twice having won first prize in the prestigious Toronto Amadeus Choir Christmas Carol and Chanukah Song Writing Competition, most recently this past November.

The Stairwell Carollers are not just about music, however. Right from the get-go they have been a true community choir in the best sense of the word; and their community has been a vast one indeed.

CFRA Xmas Exchange broadcast 1985

In addition to the hundreds of concerts they have performed in the Ottawa-Gatineau area itself, the choir ventures far afield 

TWEET THIS POST!

Da Capo -- On our 30th year stairwellcarollers.blogspot.ca/2010/10/da-cap… #Ottawachoir #choralmusic #charitable
— Stairwell Carollers (@StairwellChoir) September 17, 2012

The Wild Wood Carol - John Rutter -- sung by the Stairwell Carollers

        The Wild Wood Carol - John Rutter, sung by Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009.

The Stairwell Carollers are an a cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie.

A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Missa brevis - Antonio Lotti, The Stairwell Carollers, Ottawa

                          Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform "Missa brevis" a 17th century sacred mass by Antonio Lotti (ca. 1667 -- 5 January 1740).

Buy our CDs!

UPDATE

This version of "Missa brevis" is available on our new sacred songs from the Renaissance CD, "Cantate Domino", released  October 2012.

Visit our website

Audio: Tom Barnes.  St-Charles Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 8th, 2001.

Editing: Pierre Massie

LOOKING FOR A GOOD FUNDRAISER FOR YOUR ORGANISATION, PARISH OR GROUP?

                           Would you like to raise funds for your organization by selling Stairwell Carollers CDs?

Here’s how it works. Take some CDs on consignment, plus posters and information on our concerts. They make lovely gifts, and for each CD that you sell, you keep $5 for your group. 

There is a simple consignment agreement for you to fill out and sign. (We can tailor the agreement, the number and choice of CDs, even the form, to fit your fund-raising circumstances.) 

Interested? Please contact Susan Pullan by phone at 613-825-4261 

or by email at spullan01@gmail.com