Upper Canada Chorus: Canada’s preeminent choral experience for youth

An extraordinary experience for elite singers, UCC has cultivated some of the finest musicians in our city for over 20 years.

UCC Grades 1-3: Living Arts

We believe that all forms of artistic expression support each other and enrich the overall development of each child. Our desire is to tap into the natural enthusiasm for discovery in every child and transform it into a lifelong passion to pursue deeper learning and growth.

As students actively engage in a diversity of art forms, they deepen their understanding of the world around them, and develop a keen capacity to communicate within it. For us, it all starts with the voice. Our goal is to produce great communicators, so we seek first to develop strong vocal skills through singing. And, by integrating different art forms into the choral landscape, we improve comprehension and long term retention, promote healthy risk taking, creativity, collaboration, mutual respect, expression, and confidence.

UCC Grades 4-12: Our Flagship Choral Program

For over 20 years The Upper Canada Chorus has created a benchmark for Children’s Choirs around the world. Now in our 22nd season, having impacted tens of thousands of students across the GTA, we continue to promote the unique communicative power of music. Watch the video below to get a glimpse of the UCC program, then come Meet With Us! to discuss the options available for our 2021/2022 season.

COVID-19: Changes to our 2021/2022 Season

Covid-19 has changed virtually every facet of our lives. We believe it is more important now than ever for children and teens to understand the tangible benefits of community, and to be grounded in arts and culture. And yet, safety must necessarily be at the forefront of every discussion concerning the education of our youth.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have decided to temporarily suspend activity in all but one of our campuses across the GTA for the 2021/2022 season. Our Thornhill campus stands as the only facility we will operate this coming season for in-person rehearsals. All other rehearsals will be conducted in our Virtual Campus via encrypted Zoom. We are accepting only a very small number of new applicants this season to our in-person rehearsals, and we have only limited space remaining in our Virtual Campus.  In order to apply you must submit the application below, and email a video of the applicant (or a link to the video) to admin@uppercanadachorus.com. Note please that admission to the in-person Thornhill Campus is by audition video only.

For questions contact us today admin@uppercanadachorus.com

Upper Canada Chorus

Registering now for our 24th season!

Come sing with an extraordinary group
of young musicians.

Watch Our Video

What We Do, And How…

We believe in the extraordinary capacity of each individual to adapt and learn, and to approach the world with an almost magical sense of wonder and discovery. It is this innate human spirit that launches young people on a quest to acquire language, to fascinate over the simple movements of nature, and to explore the natural sounds and rhythms all around us.

At The Upper Canada Chorus, we use the most compelling attributes of live arts to create inspiration for young people and their audiences. We do it by focusing on 3 core educative principals. They are:

  • The Atmosphere of Environment

    A positive, nurturing environment certainly includes the aesthetic surroundings, but also refers to the strong sense of community we believe is necessary for young artists to grow.

  • The Discipline of Habit

    Blending both knowledge and action perfectly, experience in the arts prepares students for success in life. We encourage and cultivate the habitual behaviours of confidence and leadership.

  • The presentation of LIVING IDEAS

    We believe arts education should be presented in such a way that it causes students to engage with the world and people around them.

Upper Canada Chorus Faculty

Brian Rawlins
Brian Rawlins
Brian Rawlins is a professional Toy Inventor and Brander with international clients including Disney and Sesame Street. He received formal music education at the University of Toronto and Royal Conservatory. Brian currently serves as the Artistic Director for the Upper Canada Chorus.
Michelle Rawlins
Michelle Rawlins
Michelle is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Music. She studied Piano Pedagogy with the world-renown Merina Geringas, who remained a close mentor until Merina’s passing last year. Michelle is a co-founder of the Upper Canada Chorus, and is currently Director of Education.
Mark Camilleri
Mark Camilleri
Mark’s entire professional life embraces music. As a Music Director, Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Accompanist, Engineer, Producer, Conductor, and Recording Studio Owner. He has worked with artists including Audra McDonald, Il Divo, Celine Dion, The Tenors, Andrea Bocelli and many more, and is sought after around the world for his extraordinary abilities.
Katelyn Bird
Katelyn Bird
Currently studying Vocal Performance at the prestigious Glenn Gould School in Toronto, Katelyn has been heralded a “voice to watch” by the Toronto Star. Katelyn is a former Head Chorister at the Upper Canada Chorus (2014), and continues to support UCC as a Conductor in Residence.
Tina Desrochers
Tina Desrochers
Tina, originally from Montreal, Canada, is a passionate and versatile dancer. She has trained in many dance schools from Los Angeles to Montreal, France, Vancouver and New York. Tina is proficient at ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap and lyrical dance forms, and excels at choreography.
Joaquin Hidalgo-Nunez
Joaquin Hidalgo-Nunez
Joaquin Nuñez Hidalgo was born and raised in Cuba. His early inspiration was his musically gifted father Porfirio Nuñez, a former singer/guitarist with one of the oldest Cuban orchestras “Brisas de Nipe”.

In response to changes brought on by COVID-19, The Upper Canada Chorus will be suspending in-person rehearsals at all campuses except Thornhill for the 2021/2022 season. We will be accepting only a limited number of applicants this season. You may fill out the application below and submit your audition video to admin@uppercanadachorus.com. You will be notified on potential placement by July 20. Only successful applicants should submit a tuition payment by e-transfer.

THORNHILL CAMPUS

MONDAY EVENINGS

Until Covid-19 restrictions ease, our plan is to rehearse in small groups at varying start times according to provincial regulations.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church
140 Brooke Street, Thornhill

VIRTUAL CAMPUS

TUESDAY EVENINGS

Live by Zoom: 5:30PM-6:15PM

In addition, a video component will be filmed each week at the Monday in-person rehearsal, and must be completed by all Virtual Campus students within each week.

Come sing with Canada’s preeminent choral experience for youth.

Admission is by video audition.

You may submit your video audition by emailing a link to admin@uppercanadachorus.com