The Saskatoon Children's Choir was founded in 1996 by its present artistic director Phoebe Voigts. In the ten years since the choir's inception, they have developed a reputation for their musical sound, creative spirit and commitment to artistic excellence. The choir performs a wide variety of choral compositions with a particular emphasis on classic literature, international folk music and Canadian works. The choir is sponsored and nurtured by the Saskatchewan Music Educators Association.
The choir is regularly appearing as guest artists of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and accepted invitations to perform with the Calgary Girls Choir, Prairie Virtuosi, the University of Saskatchewan Greystone Singers, the Barenaked Ladies and Canadian folk singers Valdy and Connie Kaldor. Recording credits include four compact discs, feature performances on CBC radio and CFQC television, and the CBC Christmas CD A Gift of Song with baritone Henri Loiselle.
The Saskatoon Children's Choir holds the conviction that music crosses all cultures and borders, that all children can be a voice for peace and that they have an obligation to contribute to building a future of hope for the world. From 2000-2002 the Saskatoon Children's Choir supported the International Campaign to Ban Landmines through concerts, education platforms and signatures supporting the Mine Ban Treaty. This project, endorsed by Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, included a performance tour of France and Spain, the release of the CBC cd Fields Interrupted, and a guest performance at the Canadian/American International Peace Gardens. In 2005 and 2006 the choir performed the children's opera Brundibar in Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg. This opera was first performed in 1942 by the children of the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp.
The Saskatoon Children's Choir has twice been awarded Kathaumixw's Elmer Iseler Award (2000 and 2004) for best performance of a Canadian work. Other recognition's include First Place (folk) from the International Choral Kathaumixw (2000); First Place (children's choir) at the Festival Internacional de Musica de Cantonigros (Spain: 2002); Second Place (children's choir) and Second Place (folk) from Kathaumixw 2004; and the Leslie Bell National Award for Choir (2003). Both Apprentice and Concert Choirs have been awarded the Isabelle Mills Award for outstanding choral achievement.
If you would like further information about our organization, please feel welcome to contact the choir office at 306 249 3927.