Kirk Choral Scholars in National Youth Choir

April 2018

The Kirk’s four Choral scholars, Tara Llewellyn, Melissa Lewis, Ian Soloman and Gaige Waugh, have all been selected to join the National Youth Choir for 2018. All four study voice in the Music Department of the University of Prince Edward Island.

The National Youth Choir of Canada was founded by Choral Canada in 1984, for singers between the ages of 18 and 25. Every two years a quartet from each province or territory, representing the four voice parts, is selected to participate. The choir has won critical acclaim across the country since its inception and has done numerous recordings, as well as appearances on CBC Radio.

Our Choral Scholars will need to raise about $1,700 each to offset the cost of performing in the National Youth Choir, and to that end will be organizing a number of fund raising activities over the next few weeks. You are encouraged to offer them your support in this enterprise. Should you wish to do so, you can also direct a personal donation to our Choral Scholars by seeing Tara Llewelyn after Sunday service. Your support will be greatly appreciated and will help to facilitate a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

During 2018, the choir will be under the direction of Jeff Joudrey, Artistic Director of the Halifax Camerata Singers, which he founded in 1986, and Chorus Master of the Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus. He is also the Music Director at Trinity-St. Stephens United Church in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Dr. Phil Roberts, Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of PlayPianoNL and pianist of the Trinitas Chamber Ensemble, will serve as the choir’s accompaniest in 2018.