Call for Applications:

 2026 Collaborative Pianist

Choral Canada is seeking a Collaborative Pianist for the 2026 National Youth Choir of Canada.

The National Youth Choir of Canada (NYCC) is one of Canada’s finest youth choirs. It is a one-of-a-kind professional development opportunity for some of Canada’s best emerging choral artists. Truly national in scope, the choir is made up of singers between the ages of 19 and 26 who audition from across the country every two years. Dr. Julia Davids will conduct the 2026 NYCC, along with the Apprentice Conductor (soon to be announced).

The NYCC convenes in a different region every two years in association with Podium, Canada’s national biennial choral conference and festival. The NYCC 2026 rehearsal and training week will take place in Vancouver, BC from May 3-8. The NYCC will then tour through British Columbia with multiple performances and workshops, culminating in a final weekend of performance and attendance at PODIUM 2026 in Victoria (May 15). It is required that the collaborative pianist be on-site and travel with the choir throughout the rehearsal week and tour.

The successful applicant will be an accomplished collaborative pianist with experience working with professional-level choirs.

Applicants must reside within the tour region.

The NYCC program will use English as the primary language.

NEW Application Deadline: June 15, 2025

Contract: May 3-16, 2026 (inclusive) plus advance preparation and independent rehearsal
Remuneration: $3,500 honourarium

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How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants should forward a letter of interest, resume, and list of 3 references to Choral Canada, by email to [email protected], on or before June 15, 2025. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Choral Canada is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in all its work, and to being fair and equitable in practice. It strives to build diversity and inclusivity into its teams, committees, programs, and services, thereby fostering an organizational environment in which all people wishing to participate may flourish.

If applying online is a barrier, please contact Choral Canada for alternative arrangements (written/oral applications) at (647) 606-2467 or [email protected].

Please share this opportunity with anyone in your network or community who you think might be eligible and interested. If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact us at [email protected].

Selection

Choral Canada will establish a Selection Committee that includes senior Choral Canada Staff as well as a member of the NYCC Committee. The Selection Committee will review all applications and will select individuals for interview. Selection will be based upon the individual’s application and the qualifications outlined above.

All individuals who apply will be contacted directly regarding the outcome of the process.

About the National Youth Choir of Canada

​The National Youth Choir of Canada (NYCC) is a project of Choral Canada, and is one of Canada’s finest youth choirs.  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. 

Initiated in 1984, the National Youth Choir has won critical acclaim across Canada since its inception. Conductors for the National Youth Choir have included many of Canada’s preeminent choral conductors. The National Youth Choir has performed at every Podium - the biennial national choral conference and festival - since 1984, and was also featured at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Vancouver in 1993 and Festival 500 in 1999.
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The National Youth Choir traditionally meets in the same region of the country where Podium is held. After an intensive week-long rehearsal, the choir embarks 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/community 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.

Dr. Julia Davids, 2026 Guest Conductor

Dr. Julia Davids is passionate about the difference music makes for individuals and communities. A native of London, Ontario, Julia grew up singing in the Amabile Youth Singers, the Ontario Youth Choir, and the National Youth Choir of Canada, for whom she was the first Apprentice Conductor.

Julia is the Artistic Director of the JUNO-nominated Canadian Chamber Choir (CCC), Canada’s only professional choir with national representation. Now in its 25th season, the CCC creates, celebrates and communicates Canadian identity through choral performance and education, and is dedicated to building community through choral singing. Julia is the Stephen J. Hendrickson Director of Choral Activities and Music Department Chair at North Park University, Chicago. She conducts the University Choir and Chamber Singers and teaches Vocal Pedagogy and Choral Conducting. Julia is co-author with Stephen LaTour of the award-winning book Vocal Technique – A Guide to Classical and Contemporary Styles for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers published by Waveland Press, now in a second edition.

For a more detailed biography, please visit www.nycc.ca/artistic-team

Organization Description

Choral Canada is the National Arts Service Organization for the choral and group singing arts sector and community in Canada. We are a member based organization that provides professional development, advocacy, resources, and opportunities to build connections from coast to coast to coast. Our members include conductors/leaders, educators, composers/music creators, students, managers/administrators, choral industry leaders, professional/national choirs, and more. In 2016-17, Choral Canada produced with Hills Strategies Inc. the first ever national choral census which found that 3.5 million Canadians sing in a choir/singing group. Choral Canada not only serves its membership, but also strives to serve the entire choral and group singing arts sector across the country.

​We are currently in the midst of our five-year strategic plan called “Pathways to Tomorrow: Resilience, Relevance and Growth in the Choral and Group Singing Arts Sector in Canada”. As we continue on this transformational journey, we look forward to building new relationships, offering relevant programming, and advocating for group singing across the country.

Banner: NYCC 2024 (Montreal, QC), featuring collaborative pianist Pierre McLean. Photo: Émilie Versailles