Choir Nation’s kids choir “Tomorrow’s Voices” will perform their first concert Wednesday at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
The choir, composed of children ages seven to 16, will be directed by Niagara Music Awards World Artist winner Sarah Jerrom, accompanied by Juno-nominated singer-songwriter Royal Wood.
Niagara Music Awards Female Vocalist winner Katey Gatta will also be performing.
Mendelt Hoekstra, founder of Choir Nation, said the Tomorrow’s Voices started as a partnership with TD Canada Trust, Community Care and Big Brothers and Sisters, with a goal of giving kids that typically wouldn't have access to a choir the opportunity to do so — for free.
“Tomorrow's Voices does choir a bit differently, and aims to create a space for children who often don't have a platform to be heard,” said Hoekstra.
“For most of the Tomorrow's Voices this is the first time they have sung in a performance choir.”
He said Tomorrow's Voices has grown to have nearly 40 singers, and that Choir Nation even arranges rides to choir for a lot of the kids who aren't able to find a ride.
The choir itself, he says, is no free ride.
“These choristers choose to participate in this choir and are pushed to be musically capable while being encouraged to believe in themselves. It's working.”
Mendelt Hoekstra won the 2017 Art in Education award at the St. Catharines Art Awards, presented by the city. Tickets to Wednesday’s show are $15 and can be purchased here.
The event starts at 7 p.m.