National Youth Choir 2008, Dr. Julian Wachner, Conductor
(Photo by Malcolm Macpherson)
Every two years, singers between the ages of
18 and 25 are auditioned across the country to form the
National Youth Choir. Initiated in 1984, the choir has won
critical acclaim across Canada since its inception. Some of
the finest Canadian choral conductors have been invited to
conduct the choir. The NYC has performed at all Podium
conferences since 1984 and at the 1993 World Symposium on
Choral Music in Vancouver. NYC concerts have been broadcast
nationally on the CBC Stereo Network.
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), Dr. Julian Wachner (2008)
and Dr. Victoria Meredith (2010).
National
Youth Choir 2010 conducted by Dr. Victoria Meredith in
performance at Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK
National Youth Choir 2012 will be held in Ontario
under the direction of Ivars Taurins
Ivars Taurins conducts symphonic and
choral repertoire with equal expertise. Founding
director of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, he was also
violist of the Tafelmusik Orchestra for its first 23
years. Under his direction, the choir has been praised
for its clarity, nuance and brilliance. Principal
Baroque Conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic
Orchestra since 2001, Ivars Taurins also appears as
guest director with orchestras and choirs across
Canada. Recent appearances include the Edmonton
Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo
Symphony, Orchestra London, Symphony Nova Scotia,
Windsor Symphony, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Toronto
Mendelssohn Choir, Pro Coro Canada and Elora Festival
Singers. He was director of the 2000 Ontario Youth
Choir, the 2003 Nova Scotia Youth Choir, and the 2004
Alberta University & College Choir. A passionate
lecturer and teacher, Ivars Taurins teaches orchestral
conducting and directs the early music ensembles at
the University of Toronto, and has been a guest
teacher/conductor at the Université de Sherbrooke in
Quebec, University of Western Ontario, University of
Alberta, and the Glenn Gould Professional School.
Ivars Taurins is director of the vocal/choral
programme at the annual Tafelmusik Baroque Summer
Institute.
Four singers from each province will be selected to form
the NYC.
For information on auditioning and costs, contact your
provincial federation or e-mail Christina Murray, Executive
Director, at exec.director@choralcanada.org
Highlights from the 1988, 1990 and 1992 editions of the NYC
are available on CD from ACCC at a cost of $18 per CD
(postage and handling included).
The Association of Canadian Choral Communities also
sponsors the National Youth Choir Conducting Apprenticeship
Program.