A feeling of family and friendship is a cornerstone of the Nanaimo Youth Choir for its young members.
“I’ve met some of my best friends in here and the people who are definitely the closest to me. It’s a place I always felt super comfortable and to be myself and everyone is so accepting,” said Sarah Osborne, a member of the youth choir for 12 years. “Every year we become more and more like a family as we’ve all grown into the choir together,”
She said that members would do anything for each other.
“We are all so close and enjoy being around each other and it is a nice environment to be in,” said member Alaria Lessard-Northrup.
For Osborne singing is an emotional experience.
“I feel like music has an emotional connection you can’t duplicate anywhere and you can connect with music in a way and it’s almost like picturesque in your head if you are singing about a certain place or like certain emotions,” she said. “For me I almost find it’s like a video that is going through my head … I almost disappear in the place.”
Choir member Katrin Hannesson finds joy in performing.
“I think it’s just a joy to be onstage and I feel so happy with all these people I love so much surrounding me,” said Hannesson. “I love to sing onstage. I just feel so peaceful.”
Choir member Katrin Hannesson finds joy in performing.
“I think it’s just a joy to be onstage and I feel so happy with all these people I love so much surrounding me,” said Hannesson. “I love to sing onstage. I just feel so peaceful.”
Choir member Katrin Hannesson finds joy in performing.
“I think it’s just a joy to be onstage and I feel so happy with all these people I love so much surrounding me,” said Hannesson. “I love to sing onstage. I just feel so peaceful.”
For some of the young singers the choir has allowed them to gain more confidence.
Taryn Pistor, who joined the choir when she was 10 said at first she was shy and introverted.
“I wouldn’t talk at all and that was for my first year, because of choir I am able to talk in front of everyone in the choir and sing in front of everyone and that translated into other parts of my life and school and everything. It’s helped me a lot socially,” said Pistor.
This year the Nanaimo Youth Choir is celebrating its 25th anniversary and is performing during two concerts to mark the milestone. The choir sings Friday (June 2) and Saturday at St. Andrew’s United Church. Both shows are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 or $25 for both concerts, and children 12 years and younger are admitted for free. Tickets are available at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music, located at 375 Selby St.
The first evening will feature returning alumnus and the second evening features current members.
