History and Highlights
2024
Harbour Voices! St. John’s Newfoundland
International Festival of Collective Singing Traditions
Invited Guest Choir to the inaugural Festival
2023
International Choral Kathaumixw, Powell River British Columbia
Kathaumixw “Choir of the World” Award
First Place: Children’s Choir competition
First Place: Folk and Cultural Traditions competition
Second Place: Contemporary competition
2022
Saskatoon Opera presents Bizet’s Carmen
Our Apprentice choir performs as street children in Bizet’s Carmen.
World Premiere of “Once Upon a Pond”
Commissioned mini-opera from Peter Tiefenbach. It’s all about ducks, platypuses and friendship
2021
“Sing Choirs of Angels”
Online Christmas concert, available December 20, 2021 to January 2, 2022
2020
“Comfort and Joy 2020”
Christmas YouTube video – click here to view.
2019
Commission and Premiere of “Don’t Laugh at Me”
Don’t Laugh at Me, arr. Peter Tiefenbach
“Cantare” choir added to the SCC family
“Cantare” is an adult treble choir comprised of SCC alumni.
Performance tour of Eastern Canada
Toronto Treble Festival with Zimfira Poloz and Henry Leck co-conductors
Two concerts at the invitational Indian River Festival in Prince Edward Island
Two concerts with Aella Choir from Ottawa in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia
2018
World Premiere of “It’s Just Greek to Me”
Commissioned mini-opera from Peter Tiefenbach
Saskatoon Opera’s production of Puccini’s La Bohème
Apprentice choir performs as street children
Songs of the Land
Joint concert and workshop with the Canadian Chamber Choir and the Kamala Youth Choir
uSing uSask Choral Festival, University of Saskatchewan
Preparatory and Apprentice choirs participate
2017-2018
Welcome Home!
The Saskatoon Children’s Choir sponsored a refugee family from Eritrea for a year.
2017
Musica Eterna Roma and Ravenna Festival, Italy
Second Place (Children’s Choirs)
Fourth Place (Gospel)
Performance tour of Italy
Performances in Pompeii, Naples, Rome and Ravenna
uSing uSask Choral Festival, University of Saskatchewan
All three choirs participate
2016
Where Peace Begins, SCC 20th Anniversary Concert and Reunion
Welcome Home Concert with Jeffrey Straker
Fundraising concert to support our “Welcome Home” Initiative to sponsor a refugee family to Saskatoon
True North: The Canadian Songbook CD Recording
Participation with Eleanor McCain on her CD, featuring 13 orchestras from around Canada and other well-known Canadian performers.
Choral Tapestry
Joint concert with the Vancouver Chamber Singers
2015
Grand Prix of Nations and the 2nd European Choir Games, Magdeburg, Germany
Gold Medal (Children’s Choirs)
Gold Medal (Folklore)
Performance tour of Germany
Performances in Cologne Cathedral, Hanover, Magdeburg and Leipzig
2014
Saskatoon Opera’s presentation of Mozart’s Magic Flute
Members of the Concert choir perform as spirits in Magic Flute.
Chorfest 2014, Regina
Concert Choir
2013
67th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Northern Wales
Second Place (Children’s Folk Choir)
Second Place (Cultural Showcase)
Performance tour of Ireland and England
Concerts in Greystones, Dublin, Corwen, Kenilworth and London
Bizet’s Opera Carmen
Apprentice Choir performed as street children in Bizet’s opera Carmen, a production of the Saskatoon Opera.
2012
Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils
“Stars for Saskatchewan” Concert Series performances in Estevan and Yorkton
Commission and World Premiere in memory of Mary Anne Kowal
Deep Peace, Healing Light by Leonard Ens
Inspired by the Bard
Concert Choir performs with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Mayor and City Council Swearing-In Ceremony
Preparatory Choir
United in Song Choral Festival: Prince Albert
Apprentice Choir
2011
Sing Africa!
Performance tour and humanitarian project
Certificate of Appreciation
Canadian Lutheran World Relief “In recognition of SCC service to those in need around the world.”
Documentaries
The choir was accompanied to South Africa by a four-member CBC crew, resulting in award winning radio and television documentaries. Shauna Powers, Christopher Haynes, Benoit Ferradini and Denis Grenier.
Marysburg Summer Festival of the Arts
Concert Choir performs as guest artists
Performance with the Nylons
Apprentice Choir
Meewasin “Plant A Tree” Ceremony, with the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
Preparatory Choir
2010
Olympic Torch Relay
Performance
Power of Song
Concert Choir performs with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and Arvo Pärt’s Our Garden
Podium 2010 Saskatoon
National Convention of the Association of Canadian Choral Communities
World Premiere of curling mini opera Strangers in the House, composed by Peter Tiefenbach, Mark McCondach and Phoebe Voigts
CBC Broadcast
Strangers in the House
Shawna Powers, producer; Christopher Haynes, recording engineer
CD Release
Cantus Populi
Moose Jaw Kinsmen Festival
Apprentice Choir
Canticles of Light
Apprentice Choir performs with the Saskatoon Chamber Singers
2009
Summa Cum Laude Festival, Vienna, Austria
First Place (treble choirs)
Summa Cum Laude Award of the City of Vienna
Performance Tour
Austria and Czech Republic
Yellow Fish Road Recording Project
Apprentice Choir
2008
World Premiere, Filming Project and DVD Release
Flying Colours, by Stephen Hatfield
Regina, Saskatchewan
Canadian Chamber Choir
Joint concert and workshops
Apprentice and Concert Choirs
2007
Festival 500 Sharing the Voices
St. John’s Newfoundland
Still We Rise! Project
In support of the global fight against HIV and AIDS
Commission and Premiere
Yo Te Nombro Libertad, arr. Peter Tiefenbach
Marysburg Summer Festival of the Arts
Concert Choir performs as guest artists
Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils Concert Tour
Concert Choir performs as guest artists in Yorkton
2006
Opera Brundibár
Winnipeg
2005
Songbridge Project
Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China
Commission
Out of the Stars, by Peter Tiefenbach
Opera Brundibár
Saskatoon and Regina
CBC Radio broadcast (Shauna Powers, producer and Christopher Haynes, sound engineer) received the National CBC Award for best documentary in 2005.
CD Release
On Prairie Wings
Marysburg Summer Festival of the Arts
Concert Choir performs as guest artists
Lieutenant Governor’s Centennial Gala, with guests of honour, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh
Apprentice Choir
Performance with the Barenaked Ladies
Preparatory Choir
2004
International Kathaumixw, Powell River, British Columbia
Second Place (Children’s Choir)
Second Place (Folk)
Elmer Iseler Award for performance of Canadian work
2003
National Leslie Bell Award for Choir
Awarded by the Canadian Music Educators Association
Youth Choir Festival
Participated in “United in Song” Youth Choir Festival, Regina, Saskatchewan
2002
For Sake of Life Project (Year Two)
In support of the international campaign to ban land mines
European Peace Tour
France and Spain
Canadian/American Peace Gardens
Recording and CBC Radio Broadcast
Fields Interrupted
Festival Internacional de Musica de Cantonigros, Spain
First Place (Children’s Choir)
Fourth Place (Folk)
2001
Unifest, University of Sskatchewan
Isabelle Mills Award (Apprentice Choir)
For Sake of Life Project (Year One)
In support of the international campaign to ban land mines
2000
International Kathaumixw, Powell River, British Columbia
First Place (folk)
Elmer Iseler Award for performance of a Canadian work
1996-2000: Founding of the Saskatoon Children’s Choir
Unifest, University of Saskatchewan
Isabelle Mills Award (Concert Choir)
Canada Day 1998
Represented Saskatchewan in Unisong Festival, National Arts Centre, Ottawa
Youth Choir Festivals
Participated in youth choir festivals in Moose Jaw and North Battleford