I was there at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony when I first heard Shane Koyczan’s poetry, “We Are More”. Fifteen years later I would find I recognized his name on another piece of poetry that completely drew me in. What struck me most about Shane’s poetry, “I Sit Before Flowers”, was how simple the actions were when compared with the enormity of the thoughts behind them. I was instantly transported back in time to important moments of learning, community, loss, grief, and reflection throughout my life. In this piece I attempted to bring that contrast into the music with the singsong melodies moving through moments of dense harmonies and quiet stillness. The arrangement of "I Sit Before Flowers" was commissioned by Carrie Tennant for the Vancouver Youth Choir and premiered in April 2024. The Vancouver Youth Choir also took this piece to the Jeju International Choral Festival in South Korea February 2025. Text by Shane Koyczan - Shane's Website
This piece is available on ECS PublishingA stunning piece for mixed choir, the lyrical melodies paint the text, reflective of life's important moments.
The Vancouver Youth Choir, under the direction of Carrie Tennant, performs “I Sit Before Flowers" by Emile Deedes-Vinke, text by Shane Koyczan.
What started out as an exercise in one of my Lyric Diction classes at Capilano University turned into one of my favourite compositions. I challenged myself to paint the ever-changing sea using the piano and also to find those contrasting feelings of deep calm or despair through the flow of the voices. Text by Nathaniel Hawthorne - "The Ocean"
This piece is available to purchaseA ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
The Vancouver Youth Choir, under the direction of Carrie Tennant, performs “The Ocean" by Emile Deedes-Vinke, text by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Many people from Vancouver travel to the Okanagon during the summer months to relax in the sunshine. The route through the interior of BC from Vancouver is filled with beautiful scenery through the Rocky Mountains. However, to me this journey is made even better during the winter months, when snow covers the mountain peaks, and the quietness of the frozen landscapes takes my breath away. I wrote "Winter" to reflect those feelings of serenity on those trips, and the joy of standing atop our local mountains. Instead of looking out over the city I would turn around and gaze over the endless snow covered terrain. Special thanks to the Seycove Secondary Chamber Choir and artistic director, Melodie Langevin, for premiering "Winter" in 2018; one of my first attempts at choral composition. Text by Emile Deedes-Vincke
This piece is available on Cypress Choral MusicLoved singing this one!
The Vancouver Youth Choir and VYC Voices Chamber, under the direction of Carrie Tennant, performs “Winter" by Emile Deedes-Vinke.
My very first commission, "Ignite" holds a special place in my works. Orginially commisioned in 2019 by Lars Kaario, artistic director of Laudate Singers, "Ignite" has been performed all across Canada. From the premiere in Vancouver by Laudate Singers, to the Central Manitoba Youth Choir's amazing virtual choir video during the pandemic, and more recently sung by the Shallaway Youth Choir at the lighting of the flame during the opening ceremony of the Canada Games 2025 in Newfoundland and Labrador. Text by Emile Deedes-Vincke
This piece is available on Cypress Choral MusicFrom despair to hope, from darkness to light, Ignite is a joy to sing.
Shallaway's Camerata Ensemble, under the direction of Kellie Walsh, performs “Ignite" by Emile Deedes-Vinke.