Musica Intima

What Musica Intima does

Musica Intima Society is a Canadian not-for-profit charitable organization (registered charity #872525530RR0001) operating as a 12-voice a cappella chamber choir ensemble founded in 1992 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The ensemble operates under a distinctive shared leadership model with no conductor, allowing the twelve auditioned professional singers to exchange ideas freely and engage audiences directly. Its core product is live choral performance of contemporary and commissioned Canadian works, supplemented by CD recordings (distributed through its own shop and streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Bandcamp), and a digital sheet music publishing arm called musica printima (established 2022) which returns 80% of sales to composers. The ensemble also runs community and education programs including Songcology (a workplace choir at BC Cancer Agency since 2017), the novum musica composer mentorship program, and a First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Arts commissioning fund established in 2021.

The organization's go-to-market is event-driven: tiered ticketed performances in Vancouver-area venues (West Vancouver United Church, Vancouver Unitarian Church) with national touring (notably the NAGAMO project across Ottawa, Toronto, London, Montreal, St. John's, Winnipeg, and Edmonton). Revenue is diversified across four streams: ticket sales (Adult $45, Senior $40, Under 35 $30, Student $15), recurring "Inner Circle" donation/membership ($50–$100/year for 25% ticket discount and benefits), album and sheet music sales, and grants from government arts councils plus private foundations. The notable strategic projects include NAGAMO (2022, JUNO-nominated and WCMA-winning), the upcoming mâmowintowin follow-up scheduled for August 2026 with a live CD recording planned for 2027, and ongoing Indigenous artist collaborations with composers Andrew Balfour and Sherryl Sewepagaham. The ensemble has been recognized by the JUNO Awards (nominations 1999, 2023) and Western Canadian Music Awards (2010, 2023).

Name

Musica Intima

Legal name

Musica Intima Society

Website

https://musicaintima.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Musica Intima is a 12-voice Canadian a cappella chamber choir ensemble (founded 1992, Vancouver) operating under a shared leadership model without a conductor, serving concert audiences via live performance, recordings, and digital sheet music publishing (musica printima).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber Choir Performance

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Session Musicians & Vocalists (MPAIAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Choral ensemble performances
• Vocal music publishing
• Digital sheet music
• Community choir programs
• Chamber choir recordings

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from live concert performances including individual event tickets and season subscriptions through the Inner Circle membership program offering 25% discount on all tickets.
2. Album and Sheet Music Sales: Sales of CDs through the shop and digital sheet music via musica printima, their in-house digital publishing house offering exclusively digital choral music with 80% of earnings going to composers.
3. Donations and Membership: Tax-deductible donations through the Inner Circle program at $50 or $100 annually, providing priority seating, behind-the-scenes content, and open rehearsal access.
4. Grants and Sponsorships: Funding from government arts councils (Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council), private foundations, and corporate sponsors supporting commissioning, touring, and recording projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Musica Intima is a 12-voice Canadian chamber vocal ensemble that performs and records contemporary a cappella choral music without a conductor under a shared leadership model. The ensemble operates musica printima, an in-house digital publishing house that distributes choral sheet music and routes 80% of earnings to composers. Additional offerings include ticketed live concerts, CD recordings, the Inner Circle donor membership program, the Songcology workplace choir program, commissioning of new Indigenous choral works, and educational workshops for choirs and composers.

Product overview

Musica Intima is a 12-voice Canadian vocal ensemble operating as a not-for-profit charitable organization. The core offering is professional choral performance and recording, supported by musica printima (established 2022), an in-house digital publishing house for sheet music. Additional offerings include CD recordings through the CD Shop, concert tickets and Inner Circle subscription membership, community programs (Songcology, Education & Outreach), commissioning initiatives for Indigenous artists, and specialty projects like NAGAMO and the Storyteller-in-Residence program. The ensemble generates revenue through ticket sales, donations, CD/sheet music sales, and corporate sponsorships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Musica Printima: In-house digital publishing house for bespoke vocal music, established in 2022. Composer-centric model where 80% of earnings go directly to composers.
• novum musica
• Inner Circle

Products and services

• Concert Tickets Tiered individual tickets for live a cappella performances at venues in the Vancouver area, with categories for adults, seniors, under 35, and students, purchasable through the ensemble's website.
• Inner Circle Membership Annual donor membership program at $50 (Inner Circle) or $100 (Inner Circle+) tax-deductible tiers that provides a 25% discount on all concert tickets, priority seating, behind-the-scenes videos, and invitations to open rehearsals and special events.
• musica printima Digital Sheet Music Exclusively digital choral sheet music from a small catalog of works commissioned by, written for, or performed by musica intima, priced between $2.50 and $7.50 per piece, sold globally through an online storefront.
• CD Shop Recordings Physical CDs from the ensemble's catalog including NAGAMO, Clear, Debut, Forgotten Peoples, Nativité, O Nata Lux, Invocation, Into Light, Thirst, and 20, priced at $20 with debut album at $10, shipped within Canada.
• Songcology Workplace choir program established in 2017 with the BC Cancer Agency, led by professional singers as a weekly community choir for clinicians, administrative staff, managers, researchers, and building personnel to support workplace wellness and team building.
• Education and Outreach Workshops Workshops and mentorship programs for choirs of all levels, including the novum musica biennial emerging-composer mentorship scheme (established 2014) and touring workshops delivered across Canadian cities including Ottawa, Toronto, London, Montréal, St. John's, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.
• MIDWINTER EP Seasonal digital EP of choral recordings available for streaming and digital download through major music platforms and Bandcamp.

Quantifiable outcome

• NAGAMO project reached 1000+ singers through workshops across Canada
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Canadian Music Centre BCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration on the 2024 novum musica program for emerging composers.
• BC Cancer AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership to deliver Songcology - a weekly community choir program for BC Cancer Agency staff supporting workplace wellness and team building.
• Andrew BalfourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComposer and curator of the NAGAMO project - a groundbreaking exploration of Indigenous and Renaissance choral music. Featured artist on NAGAMO album and mâmowintowin project.
• Sherryl SewepagahamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCree-Dene composer whose works are featured on musica printima and performed by the ensemble. Her KISIWÎPÊHKAHAM series is published by musica intima.
• Sonny AssuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLigwiłda'xw of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nations artist who created the cover art for NAGAMO album (2022).
• Early Music VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Cognitive Dissonance event featuring world premiere of new works and collaboration exploring Indigenous perspectives on early music.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chanticleer: San Francisco-based vocal ensemble originally formed as a 12-voice group and renowned as a GRAMMY-winning conductorless ensemble. Closest international analog to musica intima's self-directed, no-conductor a cappella model and small-ensemble format.
• The Sixteen: UK-based choir and period-instrument orchestra founded by Harry Christophers. Comparable as a high-profile vocal ensemble with a substantial recording catalog spanning historical and contemporary repertoire.
• Roomful of Teeth: US-based vocal ensemble focused on commissioning new works across vocal techniques with a GRAMMY-winning recording catalog. Comparable in its heavy commissioning focus, contemporary-classical positioning, and small flexible ensemble format.
• The King's Singers: UK-based a cappella vocal sextet with a five-decade track record of touring, recordings, and commissioning new works. Directly comparable in format, commissioning focus, international touring scope, and recital-driven revenue model.
• Stile Antico:
• Anonymous 4: US-based female vocal quartet specializing in medieval and contemporary repertoire with an extensive recording catalog. Comparable as a small professional vocal ensemble with strong recording and commissioning profiles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/musicaintima
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/musicaintima
• Facebookfacebook.com/musicaintimacanada
• Instagraminstagram.com/musicaintima/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/musica-intima

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Musica Intima