David Rain (b.1952) is a “late in life” Canadian choral composer, having caught the composing bug in his mid-60s.

Professionally, he received English and Law degrees from UBC and a Masters in Development Studies from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. For 40 years, he worked in the fields of international development and refugee and immigrant support, the last 12 years as a fundraiser.

David has been an amateur singer most of his life, singing with the Christ Church Cathedral boys choir in Vancouver in the 1960s and with the Vancouver Bach Choir in the 1970s. After a 10-year hiatus while living in Tanzania, he settled in Ottawa, where he sang tenor with the a cappella choir The Stairwell Carollers for 28 years.

He began composing in his spare time in 2015 and has written or arranged over 30 songs since. Five of his songs have been premiered in public performances, with four songs published by Cypress Choral Music.

David is a great fan of Mahler, Bruckner and pioneering Medieval & Renaissance composers. He donates 50% of his income as a composer to two Ottawa charities: the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization and Orkidstra, an “El Sistema”-inspired program for kids from under-served communities.

You are invited to explore his website and have a listen to his songs. Interested choirs can find sheet music details on the individual song pages.