YELLOWKNIFE YOUTH CHOIR SOCIETY

Susan Shantora, Conductor 

The Yellowknife Youth Choir was founded in 2014 as a result of a conversation between the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre and the Gryphon Trio. Our conductor, Susan Shantora was asked to create a youth choir to perform in the Listen-Up! NWT project that saw students in six NWT communities, including Yellowknife, participate in a musical empowerment project.  In 2016 the choir enjoyed an Experiences Canada exchange with the award-winning Bach Children's Chorus of Toronto.  Having just completed their third season, the choir continues to move ahead with new projects each year. In 2018 they enjoyed a tour in Nova Scotia. In 2019 the choir participated in the Alberta Children’s Choir gala concert at the Winspear Centre in Edmonton. In 2022 we travelled to Edmonton for sight-seeing, workshops and the ballet, symphony and musical theatre concerts and in 2023 we performed in Hay River and Fort Providence as guests of the Aurora Fiddle Society.

2024-2025

December 21- Songs for a Winter’s Night at Calvary Community Church with special guests Kara Charland, Claire Singer, Lisa Rayner, Carrie Young, Kamey Fenwick, Sierra Campbell, Beverley, Diana and Olivia Rockwell, voice and Johnson Wong, Rob Wilkinson and Aaron Juntilla, piano

March - Performance at the Yellowknife Music Festival

2023-2024

December - 40 below Christmas Show at Holy Trinity Anglican Church with special guest Andrea Bettger, violin and Keira Clinton, collaborative pianist.

March - Performance at the Yellowknife Music Festival - Gold award!

June - 10th Anniversary Concert - Water Song performed at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre with special guests Aaron Juntilla, Joseph Curran, Matthew Bui, Keira Clinton - piano; Katherine Oraas, Barbara Fortin-Clinton - violin; Joanna Wilson, Flora Camuzet - cello; Pat Braden - bass; Al Bee - drums; Maica Mac Eachern - flute

2022-2023

December - 40 below Christmas Show at Holy Trinity Anglican Church

March - Performance at the Yellowknife Music Festival - Gold award plus a recommendation to compete at the Alberta Provincial Festival.

May - Spring Concert at Holy Trinity Anglican Church with special guests École Sir John Franklin High School Concert Choir, Maica Mac Eachern, flute, Matthew Bui, piano, Diana Rockwell, soprano and Ari Snyder, accompanist

2022-2023

December - Video Christmas Concert

May - Spring Concert at Holy Trinity Anglican Church as special guests of the École Sir John Franklin High School Choir. Special guests Ari Snyder, accompanist and Barbara Fortin-Clinton, violin

2020-2021

December - Video Christmas Concert

March - Video performance submitted to the Yellowknife Music Festival

May - Backyard Spring Concert at École Sir John Franklin High School

2019-2020

December - 40 Below Christmas Show at Holy Trinity Anglican Church

February - Gala concert with special guests Calgary Girls Choir and Fireweed Children’s Chorus

March - Performance at the Yellowknife Music Festival

2018-2019

December - 40 Below Christmas Show at Holy Trinity Anglican Church

March - Performance at the Alberta Children’s Choir Gala in Edmonton at the Windspear Centre

March - Performance at the Yellowknife Music Festival

May - Spring Concert at Holy Trinity Anglican Church

2017-2018

December - 40 Below Christmas Show at Holy Trinity Anglican Church

March - Yellowknife Music Festival Performance

May - Tour to Halifax and the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

May - Spring Concert at Holy Trinity Anglican Church

2016-2017

December 2016

• 40 Below Christmas Show 2016 with the Yellowknife Youth Choir, the Cherub Choir, Barbara Fortin- Clinton, violin and parent choir members.

• A COSY Christmas as guests of Classics on Stage Yellowknife.

March/April 2017

• Performance at the Snowking Castle with the Cherub Choir.

• Performance at the Yellowknife Music Festival where the choir received a gold standing and a recommendation to the Alberta Provincial Music Festival

• Performance with Edmonton's Shumayela Choir and Yellowknife's Fireweed Children's Chorus

May / June 2017

• Canada: A Celebration featuring the Yellowknife Youth Choir, soloists and Barbara Fortin-Clinton, violin.

• Canadian Automotive Administrators Conference performance of the Canadian and American National Anthems.

2015-2016

2014-2015

December 2015

• The 40 Below Christmas Show with the Yellowknife Youth Choir and the Cherub Choir.

March 2016

• Performance with the Bach Children's Chorus at Northern United Place

• Performance at the Snowking Castle.

• Performance at the Yellowknife Music Festival

MayJune 2016

• Experiences Canada exchange with the Bach Children's Chorus of Toronto and performances at Agincourt Collegiate Institute, Briton House and the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts.

• School tour of 3 Yellowknife schools.

October 2014

• Inaugural concert at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre with the Gryphon Trio in the Listen Up! NWT launch.

December 2014

• The 40 Below Christmas Show with the Yellowknife Youth Choir

May 2015

• Listen Up! NWT concert at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre with conductor Rob Kapilow and the Gryphon Trio.

YYC BOARD

The Yellowknife Youth Choir Society is a not- for- profit organization. Board members serve for a one year renewable term.

Our current board members for 2023-24 are:

• Susan Shantora, Artistic Director/President

• Andrea Bettger, Director

• Kara Cherland, Director

NEW Members

The Board positions renew at our Annual General Meeting in September.   If you are interested in a position please get in touch with any of our Board members.