Karen Nell-Bennett,

Artistic Director

Jon Day,

Accompanist

Jon Day is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, musical director, producer, and educator. Over a career spanning 30 years, Jon has the privilege of sharing the stage with an extensive list of international and local artists including; Alex Acuna, Howard McCrary, Oscar Cartaya, Sean Jones, Hugh Fraser, Ross Taggart, P.J. Perry, Jamey Aebersold, David Braid, Jann Arden, Elizabeth Shepherd, Judy Niemack, Jack Semple, Doug Riley, Clarence Clemens and the "Temple of Soul", among others. 

After nearly 8 years living and working abroad, Jon returned "home" to Calgary in 2012 where he joined the jazz performance faculties at Mount Royal University and Rocky Mountain College. Jon now works as a sought-after freelance performer, producer, recording artist, songwriter, orchestrator, and educator.

Jon has been accompanist for Cum Vino Cantus since 2021.

 

In 2006, a spark of an idea was ignited by four friends: they imagined a community where they could share their love of music, musicianship, and passion for performing with like-minded people.  

The modest group would soon become the wonderfully brash, fiercely social,  and musically exigent choir known today as Cum Vino Cantus. Oh, and don’t forget oenophilic; after all, the Cum Vino Cantus name comes from Latin, for “with wine, comes singing.” 

Today, Cum Vino Cantus is a community-based, non-auditioned adult choir with high expectations. Our repertoire is eclectic, traditional, novel, ancient, and multicultural.  The four founding members’ vision is alive in the musical community they created not so long ago.

Our Mission

Cum Vino Cantus is a musical organization that aspires to push the boundaries of the choral tradition in Calgary by engaging the artistic community to cultivate an all-embracing approach to performance.  Our choir seeks to explore the sonic possibilities of music through exploration of unique spaces and venues within our city.

“I have made countless life-long friends through singing with CVC. This community is awesome!”
— Julie Reader, Former President of Cum Vino Cantus Choral Society

OUr Values

  • We pursue musical excellence without compromising our sense of fun or love of drink.

  • We put creativity first: to think outside of the box and not to be afraid to explore the unknown.

  • We believe music is a dialogue between the performers and the audience.

  • We aspire to musical growth through diverse and challenging repertoire.