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  • SUMMER CAMPS
    • Week 1 | July 13-17 AGES 4-6
    • Week 2 | Aug 10-14 AGES 6-8
    • Week 3 | Aug 17-21 AGES 9-12
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Oakville Choir for Children & Youth
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OAKVILLE CHOIR FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH
  • Our Programs
  • SUMMER CAMPS
    • Week 1 | July 13-17 AGES 4-6
    • Week 2 | Aug 10-14 AGES 6-8
    • Week 3 | Aug 17-21 AGES 9-12
  • Artistic Director
  • About

Our Programs

A PLACE TO GROW AT EVERY STAGE

OC ensembles support singers from early childhood through late adolescence. Each program builds musicianship, leadership capacity, and confidence within a strong, inclusive community grounded in artistic excellence.

Season: September – June
Mid Year Entry Option: January – June, subject to ensemble capacity

Regular attendance at rehearsals and performances helps singers grow and ensures the success of the ensemble.

If you are unsure which ensemble is the best fit, our artistic team is happy to guide you through the registration process.


LITTLE VOICES

Ages 4–6 | JK–Grade 1

Little Voices offers a joyful and enriching introduction to choral singing and early music education. Through singing, movement, rhythm activities, percussion, and creative expression, young singers develop foundational musical skills in a playful and supportive environment.

Early music literacy is introduced in age appropriate ways, helping children build confidence, listening skills, and comfort performing.

Tuesdays
4:00–4:40 PM
4:50–5:30 PM
5:45–6:25 PM
St. John’s United Church
262 Randall Street, Oakville

Wednesdays
5:20–6:00 PM
St. John’s United Church
262 Randall Street, Oakville

Season Includes

• Winter Concert
• Spring Concert

Commitment

One weekly rehearsal plus concerts.


GROWING VOICES

Grades 2–5

Growing Voices provides structured choral training that introduces harmony, ensemble awareness, and foundational music literacy. Singers develop healthy vocal technique, score reading skills, and independent learning habits.

Introductory music theory and music literacy skills are integrated into rehearsals.

Rehearsals
Wednesdays
6:15–7:30 PM
St. John’s United Church
262 Randall Street, Oakville

Season Includes

• Full day retreat (September)
• Winter Concert
• Spring Concert
• Regional festival participation
• Community performances


TESTIMONIAL

Chorister
“I always look forward to rehearsals because everyone is supportive and we learn so much every week.”
OC Chorister, Growing Voices


VIBRANT VOICES

Grades 5–8

Vibrant Voices is an intermediate ensemble focused on developing musical independence and expressive performance. Singers strengthen vocal technique, rhythmic precision, sight singing skills, and collaborative ensemble habits.

Structured sight singing and theory work strengthen independent musicianship.

Rehearsals
Wednesdays 4:45–6:15 PM
St. John’s United Church
262 Randall Street, Oakville

Season Includes

• Full day retreat (September)
• Winter Concert
• Spring Concert
• Provincial festival participation
• Collaborative performances


UNITED VOICES

Ages 13–19

United Voices is our senior ensemble for experienced youth singers seeking advanced choral training. The ensemble explores diverse and challenging treble repertoire across a range of musical styles, with an emphasis on vocal technique, musical interpretation, ensemble discipline, and artistic maturity.

Advanced music literacy training includes structured sight singing and weekly theory assignments.

Rehearsals
Wednesdays 6:30–8:30 PM
St. John’s United Church
262 Randall Street, Oakville

Season Includes

• Overnight retreat (September)
• Winter Concert
• Spring Concert
• Ontario Youth Treble Festival
• Collaborative major works
• Community event performances

Young Leaders Program

Senior singers mentor younger choristers, support rehearsal routines, assist with sectional work when appropriate, help support music literacy and theory routines, and represent OC within the broader community.

Additional rehearsals may be required for major works.


CHAMBER VOICES

Chamber Voices is OC’s advanced small ensemble and provides elite training in addition to participation in United Voices.

Chamber Voices is a select treble ensemble drawn from United Voices based on demonstrated musicianship, commitment, and leadership. Membership is primarily by invitation. Choristers who express interest may also be considered.

Chamber singers focus on refined tone, precision, blend, advanced treble repertoire, and independent musical preparation. The rehearsal process is collaborative and leadership focused, and singers are expected to prepare music independently between rehearsals.

The ensemble represents OC at select festival appearances, special performances, and community engagements when appropriate.

Rehearsals
Wednesdays 5:15–6:15 PM
St. John’s United Church
262 Randall Street, Oakville

Additional tuition applies.


TESTIMONIALS

Chorister
“I love being part of OC because we work hard, have fun, and get to perform amazing music together.”
OC Chorister, Vibrant Voices

“Our child has been part of OC for several years, and it has been an incredibly positive experience. We’ve seen growth not only musically, but in confidence and friendships. The environment is supportive, inclusive, and something our family truly values.”
OC Parent

“OC has given our child a place to grow, connect, and truly enjoy music. From rehearsals to performances and retreats, every experience is meaningful and something he genuinely looks forward to.”
OC Parent

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Anjanette Bailey (she/her) has a Bachelor of Music degree (Education & Piano Performance) from McMaster University. She comes to us with 10 years of experience as an administrator in the non-profit sector with eight of those years in the choral arts as Choir Manager with the Hamilton Children’s Choir.

Throughout her career, Anjanette has had experience in Choral Music as an administrator, accompanist, chorister and conductor and brings that knowledge to the role of General Manager at Oakville Choir. She also teaches piano part time out of her studio in Hamilton, Ontario. She is passionate about music and music education for children and youth and looks forward to learning and growing along with the staff, choristers and families of the Oakville Choir community.

A native of Newfoundland and Labrador, Maria Conkey (she/her), is emerging as an inspiring and innovative conductor, clinician, and pedagogue in Canada’s choral scene. She is passionate about choral music as a means to create community and foster leadership in young people. In addition to her new role as Artistic Director of the Oakville Choir for Children & Youth, she is also currently the Junior Choir Conductor at St. Michael’s Choir School.

Maria is a graduate of Memorial University and the University of Alberta, where she studied choral conducting under the direction of Dr. Debra Cairns and Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff. She has worked with internationally acclaimed conductors such as Maria Guinand, Jon Washburn, and Fred Sjoberg. Past engagements include Artistic Director of Young Voices Toronto, the Conductor of the award-winning senior choirs at St. Bonaventure’s College (NL), and the Choral Director at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist (NL). She has also worked with Shallaway – Newfoundland Youth in Chorus and several children’s, youth, and adult choirs, including the Alberta Youth Choir and the University of Alberta Madrigal Singers. Maria is serving as President-Elect on the Board of Directors of Choirs Ontario.

Lianne Tan

As a youth, Lianne Tan sang in the Georgian Bay Youth Chorus and the Hamilton Children’s Choir, and she continues to greatly value children’s and youth choir organizations. As an adult chorister, Lianne has sung with such esteemed choral directors as Brenda Uchimaru, John Tuttle, Ian Sadler, Stephanie Martin, Lee Willingham, and John Laing, in choirs including the University of Toronto Trinity College Choir and the Cathedral Singers of Ontario. During the global pandemic of 2020/2021, Lianne enjoyed singing with the UK’s Stay At Home Choir, under conductor-composers Karl Jenkins, Gareth Malone, and Christopher Tin.

Lianne holds the ARCT diploma in piano performance, and the CRCCO diploma in organ. She is active as a church musician in the Hamilton and Halton regions. She also enjoys playing the cello in the Dundas Valley Orchestra. Since 1997, Lianne has served as Music Director and Organist at West Plains United Church in Burlington, where she leads the 16-voice choir and curates the Live!@West Plains concert series. Lianne also serves as cantor on the Taizé music team at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, Oakville. In 2012, Lianne was awarded the Order of Niagara from the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara, for her services to church music.

From 1998-2018, Lianne was chapel organist and science teacher at Appleby College in Oakville, where she collaborated with Dr. Sarah Morrison to provide the chapel choir programme. Lianne also holds degrees in biomedical engineering (M.Eng., McMaster), education (B.Ed., Toronto), and lay ministry (DipLM, Wycliffe).

Lianne finds great joy in accompanying, leading, and supporting singing, and is thrilled to be part of the OCCY team!

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    Yvonne Choi

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    An accomplished solo and collaborative pianist, Yvonne Choi has had tremendous success working with both singers and instrumentalists in the Greater Toronto Area and Kitchener/Waterloo. Winner of the WLU Concerto Competition, the Ken Murray Concerto Competition, and the Penderecki String Quartet Prize, her aptitude for solo and collaborative performance is evident.

    Yvonne has had the privilege of playing twice as the featured soloist with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, Wilfrid Laurier Symphony Orchestra, and Wilfrid Laurier Reading Orchestra. She has also had the honour of sharing the stage with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Chinese Orchestra, and Cambridge Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed in Masterclasses for world class musicians such as Barbara Hannigan, Lawerence Lesser, Michael McMahon, the Penderecki String Quartet, and the Chiara String Quartet to name a few.

    Yvonne is passionate in community outreach as she is a firm advocate for inclusivity and unity. Using music as a communicative tool, Yvonne works with all ages to build accessibility around music. Yvonne is currently the Director of Music for Glen Abbey United Church in Oakville. She was the Co-Music Director, Keyboardist and Vocal Coach for York University’s production of 9 to 5 the Musical. She was also the Music Director, Keyboardist and Conductor for Spirit Express’ Leap of Faith at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. Yvonne is the collaborative pianist with various choral ensembles in the GTA, such as A Few Good Men (Oakville Children’s Choir), Resonance (Mississauga Festival Choir), and Windago. She also maintains an active teaching studio, with students achieving awards of distinction, and she is a sought-after private studio accompanist for all instruments.

    Building on her Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University under the guidance of Leslie De’Ath, Yvonne completed her Masters in Collaborative Piano Performance under Lydia Wong from the University of Toronto. Throughout her continuing musical career, she has received coachings by renowned pedagogues such as Marietta Orlov, Steven Philcox, Jamie Parker, and Joseph Johnson. Yvonne has been the recipient of multiple scholarships, notably the Richard Kehn Scholarship in recognition of being an outstanding student in the area of music performance, Ken Murray Scholarship, Lydia Wong Scholarship and the Penderecki String Quartet Prize.

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    Charlene Pauls

    Dr. Charlene Pauls has enjoyed a multifaceted career as a Soprano Soloist, Choral Conductor, Pedagogue and Voice Clinician across Canada and on international stages. She has appeared as soloist with conductors such as Robert Shaw and Helmuth Rilling, and has directed choirs on stages that include the World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia, and Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. Her background as a professional singer has greatly informed her approach to choral directing, and has provided a strong foundation in building healthy choral sound. Dr. Pauls has been affiliated with the Oakville Choir for Children & Youth since 2005, and serves as the “Raise Her Voice – Chamber” conductor, and Associate Music Director. Highlights from recent years include collaborating with Dr. Sarah Morrison on producing the OCCY 2016 recording, “Shine On”, appearances at Podium 2018, and being part of the Canada Council project “…float…” in St. John’s Newfoundland in July 2018. In addition to her involvement with OC, Dr. Pauls is also Music Director at the Anglican Church of the Incarnation in Oakville, and Artistic Director of the Guelph Chamber Choir, a dynamic organization in neighbouring Guelph with an active concert season of oratorio and concert programs. Dr. Pauls has a home voice studio in Oakville, is in demand as an Adjudicator across the county, and frequently presents research at academic conferences across North America. In 2018, Charlene received the Ontario Arts Council “Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting,” a biennial award to acknowledge excellence in the field.