Rupert Lang, born in Alberta, took studies in fine arts after high school, later changing course to take his first degree (B.Mus. Honours in performance) at the University of Manitoba. He went on to England where he studied at The Royal School of Church Music, receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Certificate in Church Music and diplomas from The Royal College of Music and Royal College of Organists. Lang completed his studies in England at the University of Cambridge, St. John’s College, receiving an MA (Music) studying with George Guest, Gillian Weir and John Scott.
After returning to Canada, Lang became Organist and Director of Music at West Vancouver United Church. There he met and collaborated with Gillian Hunt as a soloist and a conductor and teacher for many years. In 1983 Lang also founded the Vancouver Children’s Choir. Since 1986 he has been Organist and Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral, where VCC is also choir in residence. Lang has taken his Cathedral choir on to win first prize 4 times in the Church Choir Category of the CBC National Amateur Choral Competition in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2006.
Also a composer, Lang has written music for both choirs he directs – a number of them published by Boosey & Hawkes – as examples: Agneau de Dieu, Can You Imagine?, Cantate Domino, Carol of the Child, Earth Teach Me, How Like an Angel, Kontakion, Mass For Many Nations, Spirit of the Child, Ubi Caritas and Under Heaven. He has received various commissions from groups such as Central Bucks West High School in Pennsylvania, Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, Christ Church Cathedral, EnChor, Vancouver Cantata Singers, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Vancouver Children’s Choir, Vancouver Men’s Chorus, and The World of Children’s Choirs 2001 Symposium.