Audition for the 2020 National Youth Choir
Experienced choral singers ages 19 - 26 from all across Canada are invited to audition for the 2020 National Youth Choir.
Deadline: October 18, 2019
Deadline: October 18, 2019
Please carefully read the Audition Information for Singers document before filling out the application form.
Already have your materials ready? Fill out the online application form below.
2020 Conductor
Choral Canada is pleased to announce that Dr. Jean-Sébastien Vallée has been selected to conduct the 2020 NYCC.
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Jean-Sébastien Vallée
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 |
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
2018 National Youth Choir
The 2018 National Youth Choir was conducted by Jeff Joudrey, who leads Halifax Camerata Singers, Atlantic Canada’s premier chamber choir. The 2018 National Youth Choir consisted of 41 young singers representing all of Canada’s 10 provinces and 1 territory. The Choir’s training week was held in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador at the Memorial University’s School of Music, after which the National Youth Choir traveled through Newfoundland on a six-concert tour finishing back in St. John’s. Here they had their culminating performance at the PODIUM Conference and Festival where they performed for Canada’s choral leaders, a community including guests choirs, conductors, composers, educators, and administrators.
Artistic Team
Jeff Joudrey, Conductor
Gabrielle Gaudreault, Apprentice Conductor
Phil Roberts, Collaborative Pianist
Selected Singers
British Columbia
Gina Johnson, Kathy Haddadkar, Zachary Power, Adien Reimer
Alberta
Christina Sawchuk, Elsie Hoover, Jackson Berry, Nathan Bootsma,Graeme Climie
Northwest Territories
Beverley Rockwell
Saskatchewan
Kayla Jacobs, Bailey Smith, William Matthews, Trevor Flemings
Manitoba
Katharina Unruh, Erika Rasmussen, Charlie Carrier
Ontario
Nila Rajagopal, Georgia Lin, Stephen Gagnon-Ruscio, Dan Ryan
Québec
Katrina MacKinnon, Evangeline Stone-Barney, Matthew Adam
New Brunswick
Olivia Lapointe, Clare Maguire, Joseph Goodwin, Isaiah Yankech
Nova Scotia
Lacie Sutherland, Margaret Currie, Elyse Delaney, Rhian Merritt, Ryan Henwood, Connor Grey, Luke MacLean
Newfoundland and Labrador
Grace Rose, Chandler Coish
Prince Edward Island
Tara Llewellyn, Melissa Lewis, Ian Soloman, Gaige Waugh
Jeff Joudrey, Conductor
Gabrielle Gaudreault, Apprentice Conductor
Phil Roberts, Collaborative Pianist
Selected Singers
British Columbia
Gina Johnson, Kathy Haddadkar, Zachary Power, Adien Reimer
Alberta
Christina Sawchuk, Elsie Hoover, Jackson Berry, Nathan Bootsma,Graeme Climie
Northwest Territories
Beverley Rockwell
Saskatchewan
Kayla Jacobs, Bailey Smith, William Matthews, Trevor Flemings
Manitoba
Katharina Unruh, Erika Rasmussen, Charlie Carrier
Ontario
Nila Rajagopal, Georgia Lin, Stephen Gagnon-Ruscio, Dan Ryan
Québec
Katrina MacKinnon, Evangeline Stone-Barney, Matthew Adam
New Brunswick
Olivia Lapointe, Clare Maguire, Joseph Goodwin, Isaiah Yankech
Nova Scotia
Lacie Sutherland, Margaret Currie, Elyse Delaney, Rhian Merritt, Ryan Henwood, Connor Grey, Luke MacLean
Newfoundland and Labrador
Grace Rose, Chandler Coish
Prince Edward Island
Tara Llewellyn, Melissa Lewis, Ian Soloman, Gaige Waugh
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 2020 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.