IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 National Youth Choir tour and professional training program was not able to take place in May 2020 as planned. Choral Canada continues to evaluate the possibilities for the future of this program. We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.
Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 National Youth Choir tour and professional training program was not able to take place in May 2020 as planned. Choral Canada continues to evaluate the possibilities for the future of this program. We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.
First-ever National Youth Virtual Choir of Canada
Please enjoy watching the 2020 National Youth Choir of Canada perform "She Walks In Beauty" composed by Kevin Pirker, winner of Choral Canada's 2020 National Competition for Choral Writing.
Please also enjoy watching the alumni of the National Youth Choir of Canada perform "All Of Us" from "Considering Matthew Shepard" composed by Craig Hella Johnson.
Please also enjoy watching the alumni of the National Youth Choir of Canada perform "All Of Us" from "Considering Matthew Shepard" composed by Craig Hella Johnson.
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2020 National Youth Choir of Canada
Dr. Jean-Sébastien Vallée, Conductor
Thomas Burton, Apprentice Conductor
Christopher Gaudreault, Pianist
Thomas Burton, Apprentice Conductor
Christopher Gaudreault, Pianist
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Soprano
Olivia Albert (AB) Julia Brotto (ON) Mélanie Dupuis (NB) Natasha Gosling (BC) Isobel LeBlanc (QC) Emily Parker (ON) Brianna Penner (SK) Diana Rockwell (NT) Grace Rose (NL) Alexandra Sorensen (PE) Livia Szojka (AB) Katharina Unruh (MB) Tenor Jarred Beckerton (NB) Oliver Dalton (BC) Stephen Gagnon-Ruscio (ON) Nathan Gritter (ON) Ryan Henwood (NS) Arthur Jack (SK) Jim McClean (PE) Clint McLachlan (MB) |
Alto
Dominique Adams (AB) Zoë Gotziaman (MB) Emilia Grindlay (AB) Rachel Lutz (NS) Angela Myshkowsky (MB) Avery Opalka (NS) Beverley Rockwell (NT) Adelle Sawatzky (SK) Greer Schatz (NL) Danica Steenkamp (BC) Evangeline Stone-Barney (QC) Kiley Venables (ON) Bass Matthew Adam (QC) Graeme Climie (AB) Mark Daudlin (BC) Trevor Flemings (SK) William Ireton (SK) Élie Lefebvre-Pellegrino (QC) Kai Leung (ON) Luke Munchinsky (MB) Aidan Reimer (BC) Tim To (AB) |
2020 Artistic Team
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Jean-Sébastien Vallée, Conductor
Jean-Sébastien Vallée is an internationally recognized conductor, scholar, and pedagogue. Dr. Vallée is Music Director of the Ottawa Choral Society, director of the renowned choir of the Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul in Montreal, and Director of Choral Studies and Chair of the Conducting Area at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. Previously, he served as Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, and was on the choral faculty of the University of Redlands. |
In addition to his interest in choral, operatic, and orchestral music, Jean-Sébastien is an advocate for contemporary music, making it one of his priorities to premiere and commission works by young composers and to program rarely performed repertoire. As a scholar, Dr. Vallée has been invited to present his research at national and international conferences including those of the American Choral Directors Association, Festival 500 in Newfoundland, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, Podium (the national convention of Choral Canada), the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and
Humanities, and the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music, in Barcelona.
Upcoming activities include Unisong 2019 in Ottawa, Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light at Carnegie Hall, concerts at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, a tour with the National Youth Choir of Canada, and lectures at the 12th World Symposium on Choral Music, in New Zealand. Maestro Vallée’s work has been broadcast nationally and internationally by CBC Radio and PBS and can be heard on several recordings, including his recent albums entitled Lux (ATMA, 2017) and Requiem (ATMA, 2018).
WWW.JSVALLEE.COM
Humanities, and the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music, in Barcelona.
Upcoming activities include Unisong 2019 in Ottawa, Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light at Carnegie Hall, concerts at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, a tour with the National Youth Choir of Canada, and lectures at the 12th World Symposium on Choral Music, in New Zealand. Maestro Vallée’s work has been broadcast nationally and internationally by CBC Radio and PBS and can be heard on several recordings, including his recent albums entitled Lux (ATMA, 2017) and Requiem (ATMA, 2018).
WWW.JSVALLEE.COM
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Christopher Gaudreault, Pianist
Christopher Gaudreault is a young ambitious conductor and pianist from Montreal. Christopher is currently in the first year of his master’s degree in orchestral conducting at the University of Michigan, where he studies with renowned conducting pedagogue Kenneth Kiesler. |
Prior to his studies in orchestral conducting, Christopher was an active choral conductor and collaborative pianist in the Montreal. Christopher completed his bachelor’s degree at the McGill Schulich School of Music, majoring in piano performance under the tutelage of Dr. Julia Gavrilova. He concurrently completed minors in choral conducting, with Dr. Jean-Sébastien Vallée, as well as music theory. While at McGill, Christopher was the recipient of multiple scholarships, including the Paul-Marcel Gélinas et Vema-Marie Parr Gélinas Piano Award, the Ellen Ballon Piano Scholarship, and the Constance Willey Prize. At McGill, Christopher has been heard on numerous occasions performing some of the great choral masterworks for choir and piano, notably playing second piano in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, and first piano in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle, both under the baton of Dr. Jean-Sébastien Vallée.
Prior to his studies in Michigan, Christopher held multiple choral conducting positions in the Montreal region, such as the artistic director of the Carousellers community choir, head of the music liturgy at St. Augustines of Cantebury parish, and assistant conductor of the great Montreal oratorio choir, the St. Lawrence Choir (Philippe Bourque). While studying conducting in Michigan, Christopher is still active as a collaborative pianist. He had the immense pleasure of performing Carmina Burana with the Ottawa Choral Society last May, and performed two recitals over the summer in the Saguenay Lac-St-Jean region with soprano Elisabeth Boudreault. He looks forward to accompanying the National Youth Choir of Canada in May 2020 with maestro Jean-Sébastien Vallée.
In addition to his passion for music, Christopher loves playing and watching baseball, baking desserts, adding to his large collection of colourful socks, and is a roller coaster enthusiast.
Prior to his studies in Michigan, Christopher held multiple choral conducting positions in the Montreal region, such as the artistic director of the Carousellers community choir, head of the music liturgy at St. Augustines of Cantebury parish, and assistant conductor of the great Montreal oratorio choir, the St. Lawrence Choir (Philippe Bourque). While studying conducting in Michigan, Christopher is still active as a collaborative pianist. He had the immense pleasure of performing Carmina Burana with the Ottawa Choral Society last May, and performed two recitals over the summer in the Saguenay Lac-St-Jean region with soprano Elisabeth Boudreault. He looks forward to accompanying the National Youth Choir of Canada in May 2020 with maestro Jean-Sébastien Vallée.
In addition to his passion for music, Christopher loves playing and watching baseball, baking desserts, adding to his large collection of colourful socks, and is a roller coaster enthusiast.
About the National Youth Choir of Canada (NYCC)
The National Youth Choir is a project of Choral Canada, and is Canada’s finest youth choir. It is a one-of-a-kind professional development opportunity for some of Canada’s best emerging choral singers. Truly national in scope, the prestigious choir is made up of singers between the ages of 19 and 26 who are auditioned from across the country every two years. Choral Canada strives to have a quartet from each province and territory (one voice per part) to make up the National Youth Choir.
Initiated in 1984, the National Youth Choir has won critical acclaim across Canada since its inception. Conductors for the National Youth Choir are selected by a panel of their peers, and have included many of Canada’s preeminent choral conductors. The National Youth Choir has performed at every PODIUM conference – the biennial conference of Choral Canada – since 1984, and was also featured at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Vancouver in 1993 and Festival 500 in 1999.
The National Youth Choir traditionally meets in the same region of the country where PODIUM will be held. After an intensive week-long rehearsal camp, the choir goes on a regional tour. Performances take place in prominent concert venues in major urban centres, and in local community halls and churches in remote and rural areas, reaching a diverse number of Canadians and bringing high calibre choral music to communities that may not otherwise have access to such an experience. While on tour, the Choir engages with local communities in concerts and education and outreach events, including workshops with local elementary, high school and community choirs. In so doing, the National Youth Choir promotes not only the utmost excellence in the choral art, but also perpetuates Canadian values of community outreach and volunteerism. Furthermore, the National Youth Choir experience forms a lasting bond among participants, creating a national network among the future leaders of Canada’s choral communities.
Initiated in 1984, the National Youth Choir has won critical acclaim across Canada since its inception. Conductors for the National Youth Choir are selected by a panel of their peers, and have included many of Canada’s preeminent choral conductors. The National Youth Choir has performed at every PODIUM conference – the biennial conference of Choral Canada – since 1984, and was also featured at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Vancouver in 1993 and Festival 500 in 1999.
The National Youth Choir traditionally meets in the same region of the country where PODIUM will be held. After an intensive week-long rehearsal camp, the choir goes on a regional tour. Performances take place in prominent concert venues in major urban centres, and in local community halls and churches in remote and rural areas, reaching a diverse number of Canadians and bringing high calibre choral music to communities that may not otherwise have access to such an experience. While on tour, the Choir engages with local communities in concerts and education and outreach events, including workshops with local elementary, high school and community choirs. In so doing, the National Youth Choir promotes not only the utmost excellence in the choral art, but also perpetuates Canadian values of community outreach and volunteerism. Furthermore, the National Youth Choir experience forms a lasting bond among participants, creating a national network among the future leaders of Canada’s choral communities.
Past Conductors of the National Youth Choir
The National Youth Choir has been under the direction of John Standing (1984), Jon Washburn (1986), Wayne Riddell (1988), James Fankhauser (1990), Elmer Iseler (1992), Diane Loomer (1994), Robert Cooper (1996), Iwan Edwards (1998), Leonard Ratzlaff (2000), Lydia Adams (2002), Kathryn Laurin (2004), Richard Sparks (2006), Julian Wachner (2008), Victoria Meredith (2010), Ivars Taurins (2012), Hilary Apfelstadt (2014), Michael Zaugg (2016), Timothy Shantz (2017) and Jeff Joudrey (2018).
2018 National Youth Choir under the direction of Jeff Joudrey
Support the National Youth Choir
“Through this ongoing project we have the opportunity to encourage and nurture our future singers and choral conductors. Helping them to understand, appreciate and value the power of choral music ensures the continuation of the choral tradition in this young, vital country of Canada.”
- The late Dr. Diane Loomer, NYCC Conductor 1994
By giving to the National Youth Choir, you help provide young Canadian singers with a truly incredible choral experience. Singers are challenged with exciting repertoire under the guidance of the Canada’s most esteemed conductors. At the Podium conference & festival, they are part of a Canada’s largest gathering of choral communities. They meet other singers from across Canada with whom they form lifelong friendships. They explore places they may never have been and make a lasting impact on the communities in which they perform and upon which they return.
- The late Dr. Diane Loomer, NYCC Conductor 1994
By giving to the National Youth Choir, you help provide young Canadian singers with a truly incredible choral experience. Singers are challenged with exciting repertoire under the guidance of the Canada’s most esteemed conductors. At the Podium conference & festival, they are part of a Canada’s largest gathering of choral communities. They meet other singers from across Canada with whom they form lifelong friendships. They explore places they may never have been and make a lasting impact on the communities in which they perform and upon which they return.
Sponsorship
Thank you to our 2018 Sponsors!
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If you would like to become a sponsor for the 2020 NYCC, please contact info@choralcanada.org
Advertising
For advertising opportunities, please contact programs@choralcanada.org
NYCC Alumni
As of 2018, there are 721 NYCC alumni! Many have gone onto successful careers as leaders in choral music and beyond.
Are you an NYCC alum? We want to keep in touch with you about our cherished NYCC program, possible alumni events, latest news, and more. Please fill out this quick and easy survey to update your information. Thank you!
Are you an NYCC alum? We want to keep in touch with you about our cherished NYCC program, possible alumni events, latest news, and more. Please fill out this quick and easy survey to update your information. Thank you!
Recordings
Highlights from the 1988, 1990 and 1992 editions of the NYCC are available on CD from Choral Canada at a cost of $18 per CD (postage and handling included). Please email programs@choralcanada.org for more information.