SIMCOE YOUTH CHOIR
Glowing Hearts Charity is thrilled to have founded the Simcoe Youth Choir! This program is all about fun, community, and connection!
Participants will love learning contemporary pieces in a variety of styles, tailored to the singers in the group. There will be opportunities for our juniors and seniors to perform together, as well as on their own, with our seniors working on harmonies.
What?
This 12-week community choir is inclusive and open to all children in grades 3 to 8.
When and Where?
Hillcrest Public School in the library on Mondays (with no rehearsals on school holidays), starting on Monday, September 18th.
Juniors (grade 3 to 5) 6:15-7:15pm
Seniors (grade 6 to 8) 7:30-8:30pm
Prior to the first rehearsal there will be vocal check-ins to assess range, etc. These are not auditions.
Cost?
$60 for the 12-week program plus $10 for a Simcoe Youth Choir t-shirt if the participant doesn't have one already. Funding may allow t-shirts to be covered for all participants, so we will sort this out in the fall after the program has started. Glowing Hearts Charity will cover the full cost for those needing assistance.
Requirements:
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Willingness to learn, participate, be respectful, and attend rehearsals to prepare for community and final performances (dates TBD)
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No previous experience or music reading ability needed
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No auditions
For inquiries, please email sarah@glowingheartscharity.org
"Wow, I was blown away by last night's performance! The level of organization and professionalism for a musical ensemble in its debut season was incredible! I am a huge advocate of choral music, and youth choral music specifically (I run the vocal music program at Eastview Secondary School), and it is beyond encouraging to see this going on in the community. Having an experienced organization with committed volunteers backing this ensemble is a huge benefit, with initiatives such as these so often being run by one (overwhelmed) person. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Joanne Potts as musical director, as she and I have collaborated in the past and I know how amazing she must be in that position."
-Dave Stewart, Eastview Music Teacher
Joanne Potts-Choir Director
Joanne is a long time music advocate and children’s music leader in the elementary school community. She worked as a regular classroom teacher with the SCDSB for most of her 34 year career, incorporating music into all aspects of school life. She led the Maple Grove Choir in concerts, competitions and community events. She also directed more than 20 annual school musicals involving whole divisions of 150-200 students at one time. As a music specialist, she spent the last 2 years of her career teaching music to grades K-8 and mentoring other teachers, as music education finally became a priority for all schools. Joanne is a strong believer that all children should have access to music education and values musical performance as a means to develop confidence, stamina, resilience, cooperation and countless other learning skills. Joanne developed a passion for music as she studied piano and voice through the Royal Conservatory of Music and embraced her own experiences with university and community choirs and musical theatre. As a teacher, she inspires children to find joy in making music and sharing music with others. Joanne is honoured to have joined the SYC in the last 5 weeks and is thrilled with the progress the choir has made in preparation for this inaugural concert. She would like to thank Glowing Hearts for the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of young people.
Dan Bist-Accompanist
Dan has been Simcoe Youth Choir’s accompanist since the spring of 2023. A lifelong musician, Dan was fortunate to start music lessons on piano at age 5, followed by pipe band snare drum at age 7, bagpipes at age 10, Irish bodhrán at age 26, ukulele at age 42, and singing in a choir at age 46.
Before the Simcoe Youth Choir, notable piano-related events include solo accompaniment for the Star o’ Robbie Burns, keyboard accompaniment for the Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band live stage show “Seanchaidh”, and performing at the occasional wedding.
Beyond piano, Dan has been an adjudicator with the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario since 2009, qualified to judge Drumming and Ensemble. He is a professional-level snare drummer, and former member of the World Champion drum corps of the Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band.
Dan currently plays keys for the Louisiana Cajun/blues ensemble “Bayou Simcoe”, and sings with the Simcoe Singers.