For the first time in over two years, The Choirs YYJ will be back together performing in front of an audience.
Since its inception the group has welcomed hundreds of members into its ranks to belt out a variety of pop, folk and indie music.
“It’s all contemporary music, contemporary I guess from the 70s forward generally,” says choir director Marc Jenkins.
“All the arrangements are original to the choir with the occasional exception.”
Normally YYJ’s calendar would be dotted with concerts throughout the capital region, but for the past few years COVID has meant plenty of Zoom sessions and smaller scale outdoor gatherings.
“I got some singers to do some recordings and then I would play those from my music studio at the same time as me singing trying to recreate the feeling of a choir,” says Jenkins.
“It was really wonderful because it meant at the end of the day I knew I’d be able to sing the songs even though we were muted on Zoom,” says choir member Tia Maddaloni.
Now with pandemic restrictions easing the choir will take to the stage at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium for a concert that will act as a thank you for frontline workers.
“We donated 200 tickets to Island Health employees,” says Jenkins.
“That felt like a really great thing to do as well as of course donating all ticket sale proceeds after expenses of course to the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.”
The Choirs YYJ’s winter concert kicks off at 7 p.m. on Mar. 20t. For tickets and more information visit their website.
Cole Sorenson
