Spiritus Chamber Choir is a Calgary-based award-winning amateur choir founded in 1995. Under the direction of Timothy Shantz since 2008, Spiritus has been recognized both nationally and internationally for its high quality performances, musicianship and unique collaborations. Concert programming by the choir portrays a broad range of repertoire, from Monteverdi to MacMillan. In addition to performing choral classics, Spiritus has commissioned works by Canadian composers including Allan Bevan, Georgina Craig, Quenten Doolittle, Jeff Enns and George Fenwick. Spiritus also regularly collaborates with such diverse groups as the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Early Music Voices, New Works Calgary and Old Trout Puppet Workshop and VoiceScapes, allowing the choir to showcase the strong musical abilities of the singers. Most recently, Spiritus was awarded the prestigious Healey Willan Prize in the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs as well as first place in the mixed-voice and contemporary music category (2013). In May 2011, at the Florilège Vocal de Tours International Choral Competition (Tours, France), Spiritus won the Ministry of Culture prize for the best performance of a work by a French composer and second prize. Spiritus has produced four recordings to date, including the latest CD, All the Stars Looked Down (2012). The choir has also recorded James MacMillan’s “Seven Last Words from the Cross” for release in the spring of 2014.