For one night only,Vancouver Youth Choir (VYC) presents Village, an evening of vibrant choral music that celebrates family, community, and togetherness, on stage at the Orpheum Theatre, May 24th.
Fresh off winning the Fleischmann International Trophy at the recent Cork International Choral Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious choral competitions, with the highest score ever recorded in the competition’s history. Vancouver audiences will have the chance to experience
The largest concert in Vancouver Youth Choir’s history, the uplifting choral event will feature 600 youth singers, with special guest, Vancouver’s own folk artist and activist, Luke Wallace. The program reflects the rich diversity of its singers and their families, with music in French, Irish Gaelic, Spanish, Mandarin, Cree, Italian, Farsi, Fijian, Indonesian, and Innu — alongside the premiere of four new works and arrangements.
“VYC is an organization shaped by the conviction that music has the power to unite across every unique background, and Village is anchored in those values,” says Carrie Tennant, VYC Founder & Artistic Director. “Our young singers bring with them a remarkable breadth of cultures, faiths, and lived experiences — and what they create together on stage is a genuine reflection of that richness. More than a performance, Village is an invitation into a community of belonging, where many voices share the same space with openness and joy.”
Village will feature a dynamic mix of children and young adult voices, ranging from ages 8-24, including VYC Kids (102 singers ages 8-9), VYC Treble 1 & 2 (196 singers ages 10-13), VYC Junior (75 singers ages 14-15), VYC Voices (153 singers ages 16-24), as well as the organization’s flagship auditioned professional training choir for advanced singers, Vancouver Youth Choir (70 singers ages 15-24).
Each ensemble will perform their own sets and then come together for an unforgettable conclusion to the evening, 600 voices in a concert experience performed by VYC’s largest-ever choir. Village will also include a featured performance by VYC’s annual parent choir.
The musically diverse program also features the world premieres of four original works and arrangements; including a new arrangement of Shenhaye Saheli (Sea of Yearning) — a beloved hit by Persian icon Googoosh; Tipatshimun, a new song by Innu composer and VYC alumnus Alex Vollant; and two new works by special guest Luke Wallace, a new arrangement of Easy on the Earth, performed with the VYC Kids ensemble, and an original composition, Be the Arc, with VYC Voice.
Regarded as a modern-day Pete Seeger, Luke Wallace is a dynamic force in the world of folk music, using his talents as a songwriter and choral arranger to champion environmental causes and inspire positive change. A featured performer at the United Nations Water Conference in 2023, Wallace has toured extensively across North America, spreading a message of hope and action in the fight against climate change.
Vancouver Youth Choir’s Village, takes the stage May 24, 2026 at 6:30om at the Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe Street. For more details and tickets visit vancouveryouthchoir.com