The Vancouver Youth Choir sets their sights to the future in Brave New World
The award-winning ensemble’s season-end concert features brand-new commissions and Canadian premieres
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Vancouver Youth Choir. Photo by Derek Stevens.
The award-winning Vancouver Youth Choir (VYC) is staging its season-end concert at the gorgeously renovated St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church on June 4 at 7:30 pm. Filled with brand-new commissions and Canadian premieres, Brave New World explores themes of courage, character, and innovation, seeking to redefine what it is to be a choral artists in the brave new world.
In addition to featuring premieres from such well-known names as Laura Hawley and Corey Payette, the choir will also be premiering two works by singers in the ensemble, Will Clements and Emile Deedes-Vincke.
“This is diverse, compelling, powerful music,” says Vancouver Youth Choir founder and Artistic Director Carrie Tennant of Brave New World. “South African wedding songs, Edith Piaf, a heart-breaking ballad from Newfoundland band Hey Rosetta, the world premiere of Laura Hawley’s dystopian piece Sapiens featuring movement and multiple percussionists, a Levantine song arranged by Dr. Shireen Abu Khader, and music from Corey Payette’s musical Children of God—this concert is for folks who want their hearts filled and their minds stretched. Audiences can also look forward to some trademark VYC audience participation!”
Deedes-Vincke, who is concluding his third season as part of the ensemble, says of the show: “It's a dream come true for VYC to premiere one of my compositions. I'm so grateful The Ocean has been chosen by Carrie to be sung by these wonderful voices.”
Emile Deedes-Vincke.
Launched in 2013 with just 30 singers, VYC now serves over 320 youth and children in the Lower Mainland across seven separate ensembles, with age groups split from Kindergarten all the way up to age 24. VYC has gained international attention for its adventurous programming; commitment to performing and promoting music from underrepresented communities; and outside-the-box approach to shows, employing unique venues, multimedia, movement, and staging.
VYC has shot to prominence in the choral world, performing at festivals in Europe and across North America as well as at local festivals like the VSO New Music Festival and Push International Performing Arts Festival. In 2017, VYC was awarded first prize at the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs, and in 2019, VYC was invited to represent Canada at the American Choral Directors National Convention in Kansas City, garnering international acclaim for their performance. VYC has also a curated publishing series, the “Vancouver Youth Choir Choral Series”, working to promote diverse Canadian voices on the international stage.
With Brave New World, VYC will illustrate how it continues to push the boundaries of choral music. And as the organization heads into its 10th-anniversary season, it is welcoming new singers to carry on its progressive artistry; registration is now open.
For more information, see VYC.
Post sponsored by Vancouver Youth Choir.