Young Singers Biography
Young Singers is a unique community children's choral program founded in 1992 by its Artistic Director Anna Lynn Murphy, originally in co-operation with the Town of Ajax. Through this program, children from the age of six and up are provided with opportunities to combine the discipline of learning with the joy of singing, and the art of performing. Over the past fifteen years, the organization has flourished as they have empowered over 600 children throughout the Durham Region, by fostering their creativity through music and positive role models. They have proudly achieved charitable status and have become a powerful entity in the arts community.
Each year the Young Singers organization promotes two concerts in order to showcase the achievements of each of the four individual choirs. In addition to local concerts and charitable events, the Young Singers have become known as the choral ambassadors for the Durham Region. They appear regularly for both corporate and charitable fundraisings events, including Children's Wish Foundation, United Health Network, Providence Centre, Toronto Children's Aid Foundation and Durham West Arts Centre.
In 2009, Young Singers were proud to join Canadian composer Stephen Hatfield on the Nashville stage of the Grand Ole Opry with music legend Ronnie Milsap, Broadway star Lawrence Hamilton, internationally renowned soprano, Kallen Esperian, and choirs from Tennessee, Alaska and New Jersey, as part of the Crossroads Children's Choral Festival. In the summer of 2007, Young Singers toured Nova Scotia, where they performed at the Canada Day Celebrations at Citadel Hill in Halifax. Impromptu performances included Peggy's Cove, the fortress of Louisbourg, as well as a sold out concert with the Men of the Deeps in Glace Bay. They have performed from coast to coast, in British Columbia as they participated in the 2005 Coastal Sound International Choral Festival, and also touring the Maritimes in 2001. A major trip to England in 1998 gave the singers an opportunity to participate in the Canterbury International Choral Festival and to perform at Salisbury and Canterbury Cathedrals as well as Canada House.
Recordings
- Sing! released in 2002 to commemorate Young Singers' 10th anniversary
- Rise Up & Sing! released in 2005
- Stand Together, Sing Forever released December 2009
Young Singers Recent Performance Opportunities
- Opening act for the Beatles Tribute at General Motors Centre
- Special guest performers at the Dragon Ball at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, in support of the Yee Hong Centre
- The Great Hall of Hamilton Place, as guests of the internationally acclaimed North Metro Chorus
- As part of the ensemble for "Robert Pilon and Friends" Concerts in Muskoka and Toronto
- At Metro Convention Centre for Children's Aid Foundation "Recognition Night"
- At local Rotary Music Festivals and Ontario Vocal Festivals, where they received top honours, with invitations to appear at National Musicfest in Ottawa and Banff
- At St. James Cathedral, Toronto for the installation of Bishop Colin Johnson with over 1,000 guests in attendance
- Gala Fundraisers with Robert Pilon at the Carlu, the Royal York Hotel and the CNE Muzik Building for North York General Hospital's United Health Network and the 150th Anniversary of the Providence Centre.
- Vivaldi's "Gloria" with Durham Youth Orchestra and the "Rutter Mass" with Durham Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra
- As participants in the Malcolm Dalgleish choral workshop, with a final performance a the Toronto Centre For the Arts
- For the Queen at her Golden Jubilee celebrations during The Festival of Ontario
- National Anthems for the Prime Minister's Confederation Dinner at the Toronto Convention Centre, for The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club and the Toronto Argonauts Football Club at Rogers Centre, for the Toronto Marlies Hockey Club at Ricoh Centre and at The Woodbine Racetrack
- As guest artists for the CBC Dramatic Reading of "A Christmas Carol"
- As principal players in R. Murray Schafer's epic environmental opera "The Enchanted Forest"
- Gala 15th Anniversary Concert, "The Journey". Don Harron joined the choir as a special guest, and the finale featured a massed choir and alumni performance of a commissioned work, "Music in Her Heart"
Young Singers Travel Opportunities
- Toured and performed in the summer of 2009 in Nashville Tennessee as part of the Crossroads Children's Choral Festival
- Toured Nova Scotia in the summer of 2007, with appearances at Citadel Hill on Canada Day, and with the Men of the Deeps in Cape Breton, as well as at a traditional Ceilidh, and impromptu performances at Peggy's Cove and the Fortress of Louisbourg
- Toured British Columbia in the summer of 2005 and participated in the Coastal Sound International Choral Festival
- Toured the Maritimes in the summer of 2001 for 10 days including an appearance in Charlottetown on Canada Day and a guest appearance with the Men of the Deeps
- Toured England in the summer of 1998 for 10 days including performances at Salisbury and Canterbury Cathedrals, Canada House and St. James' Piccadilly Church
Other past performance highlights
- Performed with Donny Osmond in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"
- Appeared on July 1, 2000 as guest artists for the "Protocol Show" for the Department of Canadian Heritage organized by the National Capital Commission and broadcast nationally on the CBC for over 75 000 people on Parliament Hill, Ottawa
- Guest artists at the 20th Anniversary Celebrations for Today's Parent Magazine
- Featured artists for Brockville Concert Association
- Performed a benefit concert with Michelle Wright for the Children's Miracle Network and Delcrest Children's Centre
- Participated in recording soundtrack and video shoot for the song "It Takes a Child" for Canadian artist Chantal Laurin's CD release
- Performed a benefit concert for Batten Disease at the Toronto Centre for Performing Arts
- Appeared on CITY-TV - Breakfast Television & on Christmas Eve Show for the CBC program Midday