Make friends, travel the world, and share your voice

Sing With The Award-Winning Edmonton Youth Choir

The Edmonton Youth Choir is for music-loving youth in Grades 8 – 12

Perfect For anyone who is excited to

  • Learn a variety of engaging and diverse SATB songs. 

  • Share their love for singing and develop healthy, age-appropriate vocal technique.

  • Learn to read music and sight-sing with weekly music theory lessons.

  • Perform across Edmonton with the EYCC family of choirs and other leading arts organizations in the city.

  • Attend an annual retreat at Camp Nakamun.

  • Travel to participate in festivals and competitions across Alberta, Canada, and the globe.

  • Participate in fun weekly rehearsals focused on singing, musical skill-building, and connection.

  • Feel at home in a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community.

Check Out The Edmonton Youth Choir’s Impact and Legacy

5+

EYCC alumni sing professionally with Edmonton’s Pro Coro Canada

30+

Alumni have pursued post-secondary education in music

2

First-place awards in competitions like the World Choir Games

7

International tours to festivals and competitions across the globe

All The EYC Details

  • Rehearsals: Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:45 pm

  • Location: Southminster-Steinhauer United Church

  • Season Length: September 2024 – June 2025

  • Age Group: Grades 8 – 12 (Jr High and High School)

  • Performances: 5 – 6 per season

  • Conductors: Samara Bortz & Andrew Bortz

  • Early-Bird Tuition (Before June 15th): $810

Youth Choir Fees & Deposits

  • Early-Bird Annual Tuition for Harmonia is $810. To qualify for the early-bird savings, please register and submit your non-refundable $100 deposit before June 15, 2024.

    Regular Annual Tuition (after June 15, 2024) is $870.

    Tuition payments can be submitted in full in September or in two installments in September and December.

    In addition to tuition fees, at the start of the season, Youth Choir singers submit a $100 fundraising deposit per singer, a $100 music/uniform deposit per singer, and $100 volunteer deposit per family. These are refunded at the end of the choir season if the required fundraising and volunteering are completed and if the sheet music and uniform are returned without damage. You can read more about our policies here!

  • A $100 Registration Deposit is due upon registration.

    This deposit will be applied towards annual tuition fees and the balance will be owed in September (if paying in full) or in September and January (if paying in instalments).

  • Financial burdens should never get in the way of singing in choir. The Edmonton Youth Choir offers bursary funding to qualifying singers in need.

    Apply for a bursary here!

  • Families with multiple singers in EYCC ensembles receive a 10% discount on annual tuition fees.

Your Investment Includes

  • Weekly choir rehearsals from September – June

  • Fun weekly music theory skill-building (incorporated into rehearsals)

  • Quarterly weekend workshops or additional rehearsals

  • 5 – 6 performances per season

  • Formal choir uniform

  • A weekend retreat to Camp Nakaumun (included in tuition)

  • Leadership opportunities through our Mentorship Program

  • Tour subsidies and fundraising opportunities for local, national, and international travel

Meet EYC’s ConductorS

Hi, I’m Samara

I’m a conductor, singer, and music educator originally from Vancouver, and am now happy to call Edmonton home.

When I’m not at a choir rehearsal, you can find me walking in the River Valley, trying a new recipe, or working on a design project at my favourite coffee shop.

Hi, I’m Andrew

I’m a conductor, singer, and accompanist, currently pursuing a doctorate degree in conducting at U of A.

When I’m not at a choir rehearsal, I’m probably playing chess, experimenting with a new cocktail recipe, or hanging out with Samara and Pepper.

What’s Singing With The Edmonton Youth Choir Like?

  • "Every chorister is incredibly kind, and no one will judge you for how "good" of a singer you are. You're also exposed to a lot of cool music you wouldn't have heard anywhere else. All in all, it's a lot of fun!"

    Brooklyn Loong, Singer

  • "Andrew and Samara bring years of experience and education in multiple choral contexts. They are also truly invested in the growth and development of singers from early years all the way into early adulthood (and beyond)."

    Jennifer Venance, Parent

  • " My daughter has felt very welcome since the first time she walked through the doors to join EYCC. Communication is great and they seem very organized. She loved the choir retreat at the beginning of the season because it gave the kids a chance to get to know each other really well right away."

    Megan Bell, Parent

  • "As a parent, I like that the choir sings to a high standard, while making rehearsals enjoyable for the children."

    Jane Baker, Parent

  • "If you're on the fence about joining - do it. My mum made me join, but now I love it."

    Emily Baker, Singer

  • "I strongly believe that music, and most especially singing, is good for you - both mentally and physically. I cannot think of a better and more supportive choral community in which a child or teen should explore their abilities and feel at home with others."

    Juliet Bryce, Parent

REGISTER NOW

Answers To Your Questions About The Edmonton Youth Choir

  • Youth Choir singers learn, perform, and record a variety of different kinds of music, like classical choral standards, contemporary choral, works from around the world, musical theatre, pop, vocal jazz, and more.

  • Our weekly Tuesday rehearsals take place at Southminster-Steinhauer United Church (10740 19 Ave NW).

    Concerts typically take place at different venues across the city, such as McDougall United Church, City Hall, SSUC, and First Baptist Church.

  • We require all Youth Choir singers to do a vocal placement with the conductors before the first rehearsal. This includes vocal warm-ups, a short prepared song, and a musicianship assessment. Think of it like a mini voice lesson!

    After registration, we will be in touch to schedule your vocal placement. These typically take place in the first week of rehearsals in September.

  • For insurance purposes, we require all prospective singers to complete the registration form and deposit prior to attending rehearsals. If after trying a few rehearsals it’s not a good fit and you need to withdraw from Youth Choir, we will provide a prorated refund for tuition fees.

  • While previous choral experience isn’t required (we often have new singers join!), it’s an asset.

  • In EYC, we require singers to attend all regular Tuesday rehearsals and 5 – 6 performances per year. This is crucial for reaching our high standards of artistic excellence. Attendance for the annual Camp Nakamun retreat and tours is optional, but encouraged.

    The choir is a team and while it may seem like missing one voice is no big deal, it has a significant negative impact on the ensemble.

  • EYCC has a long history of dedicated, positive, and spirited volunteering! Because we are a non-profit organization, we rely on parent volunteers to help keep our programs running smoothly.

    We collect a $100 volunteer deposit and each choir family is required to volunteer a few times throughout the year to get the deposit back. You can find all the details about our volunteer policy here.

  • At the time of registration, we collect a $100 deposit to hold your spot. This deposit is applied toward your annual tuition fees.

    Tuition fees can be paid in full by the first rehearsal in September or in two installments due in September and December.

  • Yes, we have a bursary program for families who qualify for financial assistance. Apply for a bursary here.

  • We do. Families with multiple children, teens, or adults in EYCC ensembles receive a 10% discount on annual tuition fees.

  • In addition to annual tuition, we collect a $100 fundraising deposit per singer, a $100 music and uniform deposit per singer, and a $100 volunteer deposit per family. These fees are refundable if the required fundraising commitment and volunteer hours are completed by the end of the season and if the uniform and sheet music are returned without damage.

    Choir tours are optional, but encouraged! Families pay for choir tour fees and the Edmonton Youth Choir subsidizes travel costs when possible. Fundraising opportunities are provided throughout the year to help individual singers’ pay for their tour fees.

  • For concerts, singers have two options for formal uniforms. Option A is a choir dress, choir scarf, black opaque tights, and black shoes. Option B is dress pants, a white dress shirt, a vest, a bow-tie, and black dress shoes with black socks.

    The organization supplies the uniforms and families are required to purchase their own black socks or tights and black dress shoes (no boots or runners).

Did we miss something? Please get in touch with our team

READY to sing with EYCC?

Registration Is Easy

  1. Create a new account inside our Portal.

  2. Select the choir(s) you are registering for, click “add to cart,” and proceed with the checkout process.

  3. Fill out the info form, read the policies, pay your registration deposit, and you’re good to go.

  4. Keep an eye on your inbox for September start-up details.

Join The Edmonton Youth Choir

It’s Time To Make Tuesday Your Favourite Day Of The Week