OUR VISION

To be an innovative and inclusive performing arts company that fosters personal and artistic excellence, and elevates Calgary’s cultural fabric. 

OUR MISSION

To develop lifelong skills in leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and self-confidence through high-quality performing arts instruction and experiences in a safe and supported environment, where young people are given the opportunity to grow, express themselves, and develop their potential through singing, dancing, acting, and performing.

OUR VALUES

Excellence

• We provide an environment where the freedom to strive, fail, try, and persist leads to the fulfillment of each singer’s highest potential.
• We bring experienced and credentialed staff, a strong foundation of music education, and professional teaching standards to every classroom and program.

Inclusion

• We provide a place that offers a path to unlimited opportunities for growth as a performer to children and youth with any skill or experience level in singing.
• We believe that every voice is worthy and valuable, and we strive to create and maintain a culture of belonging, safety, and acceptance.

Performing

• We design performing opportunities that support children and youth to develop resilience, risk-taking, and confidence.
• We value the process of creating, and prioritize the well-being and development for our learners as integral to this process.

Community

• We engage performers, families, volunteers, and staff to support each other respectfully in a shared sense of purpose and joy.
• We build leaders and engaged citizens who contribute to our city and beyond.

Collaboration

• By coming together and sharing our expertise with each other and the greater artistic community, we enrich our understanding, create as partners what we could not do alone, and expand the possibilities for artistic expression.

YOUTH SINGERS IMPACT

Youth Singers provides:

• Performance training
• Choral singing
• Dance and choreography
• Show choir experience
• A safe and inclusive space
• Stage performances
• Touring and travel opportunities
• Growth in confidence
• Leadership and advocacy skills
• Responsibility and time management skills
• Friendship
• Community

Youth Singers of Calgary Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Approved January 16, 2021

As artists, teachers, performers, leaders and community members, the Youth Singers of Calgary whole-heartedly embraces the on-going work of Diversity and Inclusion. We commit to fostering a community that is anti-racist, and will promote the fair and equitable treatment of all who cross our path, including singers, audience and staff, alike. We will amplify the voices of those who are under-represented, and will celebrate and model creativity, generosity, and a willingness to listen, as we begin our steadfast journey towards becoming a more purposefully inclusive, diverse and embracing space.

We will work towards creating a collaborative environment that seeks to attract, develop and retain staff and performers who reject discrimination in all its forms, and who instead, actively promote the inclusion of those with differing abilities and disabilities, genders and gender expressions, sexual orientations, cultures, ethnicities, races, ages, neurodiversity, and various religious, spiritual and other beliefs.

We acknowledge that we have much to learn, as we strive to uplift and prepare the next generation of leaders through the disciplines of music, dance and acting. May our words, actions, music choices and programs be a reflection of the justice, fairness and loving acceptance we wish to see in the world.

About YOUTH SINGERS OF CALGARY

The story of Youth Singers of Calgary began in September, 1985, when Shirley Penner founded a small 28 voice Junior High choir at the Mount Royal Conservatory. Following four successful and exciting years of operation and growth, Shirley recognized a need in the community for a choral based performing arts organization that would add elements including dance, theatre, production, staging and lighting.

Shirley enlisted help from fellow artists and educational professionals, and they came together to create an organization whose commitment to music, excellence in teaching and strong teamwork endures to this day. Almost thirty years later, Youth Singers continues to be a model for ingenuity, innovation and collaboration, providing broad performing arts training and opportunities for young people.