About NYCC
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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. For each edition of NYCC, Choral Canada commissions a composer who lives in Canada to write a piece for the NYCC. The NYCC also performs the winning piece from Choral Canada's Competition for Choral Writing.
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“National Youth Choir is an indispensable experience for emerging artists. The challenge of rehearsing and touring a programme in a short time frame allows each singer the opportunity to rise to new heights in their musicianship. It's also an excellent preview of the work environment of professional ensembles. Because of the skills and confidence I gained in National Youth Choir, I was more prepared for the transition from music student to working in professional ensembles.”
— Kieran Kane (Bass, NYCC 2014) |
Initiated in 1984, the NYCC has won critical acclaim across Canada since its inception. The ensemble has performed at every Podium conference since 1984, has sung at the opening ceremonies of Expo 1986, was featured at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Vancouver in 1993 and Festival 500 in Newfoundland 1999. In 2017, the NYCC partnered with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada for the first time, performing in the Edges of Canada tour, one of the Canada 150 signature projects celebrating our nation’s sesquicentennial. The NYCC has had extensive radio airtime on CBC Radio and Radio Canada.
The NYCC program begins months before their in-person tour with online meetings to connect with fellow choristers, discuss repertoire, meet composers, and receive professional development in areas such as business management, vocal health, and mental health. Some of these professional development workshops happen in person during the tour.
The NYCC traditionally meets in the same region of the country where Podium is held in the month of May. 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 venues 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, song sharing, and educational events, including workshops with local elementary, high school and community choirs.
The NYCC experience forms a lasting bond among participants, creating a national network among the future leaders of Canada’s choral and group singing communities.
In the past, conductors for the NYCC were nominated and selected by a panel of their peers. Conductors are now chosen by applying for the position and undergoing an interview process with a panel of esteemed choral conductors in Canada. Past NYCC conductors include some of Canada’s preeminent choral conductors. They are 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), Jeff Joudrey (2018), and Jean Sébastien-Vallée (2020, 2022).
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For a detailed history of the choir, please click here.
For more information about Choral Canada, visit our website at choralcanada.org
The NYCC program begins months before their in-person tour with online meetings to connect with fellow choristers, discuss repertoire, meet composers, and receive professional development in areas such as business management, vocal health, and mental health. Some of these professional development workshops happen in person during the tour.
The NYCC traditionally meets in the same region of the country where Podium is held in the month of May. 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 venues 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, song sharing, and educational events, including workshops with local elementary, high school and community choirs.
The NYCC experience forms a lasting bond among participants, creating a national network among the future leaders of Canada’s choral and group singing communities.
In the past, conductors for the NYCC were nominated and selected by a panel of their peers. Conductors are now chosen by applying for the position and undergoing an interview process with a panel of esteemed choral conductors in Canada. Past NYCC conductors include some of Canada’s preeminent choral conductors. They are 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), Jeff Joudrey (2018), and Jean Sébastien-Vallée (2020, 2022).
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For a detailed history of the choir, please click here.
For more information about Choral Canada, visit our website at choralcanada.org
