Welcome to Carmina Bowena
About Us
Carmina Bowena (Songs of Bowen) is an "a cappella", or unaccompanied, choir of 14 singers located on Bowen Island, in beautiful British Columbia.
Formed in September 2021 during the pandemic, founder and director Nicole Thomas Zyczynski (Zuh-jin-ski) wanted to start a new choir on Bowen Island, a small ensemble of singers who are particularly fond of Renaissance music (1450 - circa 1600) and committed to artistic expression.
In addition to weekly choir rehearsals, which are held around Nicole’s dining table, the choir connects with audiences in their local community.
Now in their 4th season, Carmina Bowena are also preparing contemporary choral works from the 20th and 21st centuries by Canadian and International composers.
Interested in joining? Please email at: ntzharmonium@mac.com
Sola Musica (by Music alone)
In the aim of enhancing our Early music concert repertoire, Nicole was inspired in September 2023 to form an instrumental consort, inviting those from the choir who played instruments.
We have two clarinetists, a flute/whistle player, a harpist and Nicole on accordion.
The combination of instruments is most definitely not authentic for this Renaissance period we are exploring, yet brings joyous life to this music, in a very delightful way.
Interested in joining? Please email at: ntzharmonium@mac.com
Nicole Thomas Zyczynski (Zuh-jin-ski)
Nicole brings an exuberant passion to all of her work as teacher, performer, accompanist and composer. Music was her first language, and she revels in sharing it with others. She began playing piano at age four, the organ at age ten, and directing church and community choirs at age fourteen. She earned a Bachelor of Music in organ from UBC and completed graduate work at the Conservatoire Nationale de St. Etienne, France.