VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto is a vibrant, innovative choral organization for children and youth ages four to twenty-five.
2011-2012 marks VIVA!’s twelfth season as a downtown group of choirs whose mission is to provide children and youth with artistically excellent musical opportunities in a supportive, inclusive environment. Founded in 2000 by Carol Woodward Ratzlaff in response to widespread cuts to school arts programs, our membership is drawn from the downtown area and across the GTA, with a present membership of over 120 choristers. All choirs are inclusive to and provide support for youth who have disabilities.
VIVA is comprised of five youth choirs: the Preparatory Chorus (ages 4-6), Junior Chorus (ages 6-10), Main Chorus (ages 9-16), and SATB Youth Choir (senior high school students, university age, and young professionals), and ECS, an entry-level training choir.
Unique to Toronto, VIVA!’s programming culminates in the SATB Youth Choir, and SATB repertoire is an integral part of each VIVA! concert. The Youth Choir has performed under the direction of Helmuth Rilling; in a joint concert with the Master Chorale at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto; and as guests of the Orpheus Choir under the direction of (VIVA! board member) Robert Cooper. They perform one work with orchestra annually.
Teaching assistants and vocal coaches are drawn from the Youth Choir to mentor and work with the younger singers. VIVA!’s Mentoring Program forms an integral part of the curriculum, providing young leaders and aspiring educators with vital opportunities to work with children and youth. Each choir boasts a number of Teaching Assistants and vocal coaches who are selected to assist with and instruct various activities with the choirs.
VIVA! has an enduring relationship with the National Ballet of Canada, performing in 25 shows of the Nutcracker each December for the last ten years. They have also sung with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra; onstage at Roy Thomson Hall; and in Carmina Burana with Hart House Chorus, University of Toronto, alongside soloists (VIVA! board member) Darryl Edwards and Kevin MacMillan. Recognized for diverse programming, VIVA! has collaborated with such artists as Gary Relyea, Monica Whicher, George Sawa and Traditional Arabic Music Ensemble, Shannon Mercer, Giles Tomkins, Kenny Kirkwood, saxophone, and dancers from the Native Canadian Centre.
Our choirs have toured to New York City and Wales, London, and Oxford, England under the direction of composer Bob Chilcott. Upcoming touring opportunities include a trip to Greece in the summer of 2012.
Canadian composers whom VIVA! has commissioned/premiered include James Rolfe and Juliet Palmer (Dopey, The Moon, 2010), Alice Ho (Earth Songs, 2008 and Bridge of One Hair, 2006), Leslie Arden (The Best Years, 2005), Wende Bartley (Once a Shoreline, 2004, with Jumblies Theatre), Andrew Ager (The North Wind, 2002), and Norman Gabriel Nurmi (The Night Was Cool, 2001, Sleep, 2006).
VIVA!’s goal of authentic music making and community building through the best possible repertoire is achieved by a team of fine musicians, members of the Mentoring Program, and a dynamic Board of Directors.
VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto are members of Choirs Ontario.
Website Photography by: Erika Jacobs, Bill Fallis, Ria Tzimas, Kate Fowley
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