Our Choral Legacy
For more than 40 years, Lyrico Youth Choirs has inspired young people through exceptional choral music, meaningful friendships, and unforgettable experiences.
What began as Elk Island Regional Honor Choirs has grown into a vibrant community where generations of singers have discovered their voices, built confidence, and shared the joy of music.
As we continue this next chapter as Lyrico Youth Choirs, we celebrate the people, performances, and traditions that have shaped our history while looking ahead to the future.
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About Lyrico Youth Choirs
Formerly Elk Island Regional Honor Choirs
In 1984, as an extension of the music program offered by the Strathcona County Board of Education, Loretta Baker formed the Strathcona County Honour Choir for singers aged 10-14. By 1994, the choir had grown from 21 to 72 members. However, with the reduction in funding to all school boards, the Strathcona County School Board could no longer fund the Honour Choir Program.
With the threat of elimination of the choirs, it was taken over by a parent association. At the same time, the school board districts were changed by Alberta Education and the choirs began operating as the Elk Island Regional Honor Choirs Association. That same year, Monica Dear founded a Youth Choir for singers aged 14-19 as a natural progression for the grade nine students graduating from the Honour Choir. In September of 1998, Barbara Sadler Wells founded the Junior Choir for students aged 7-10 as a preparatory group for the Honour Choir.
Recently the choirs have changed their name and brand to Lyrico Youth Choirs to celebrate their 40th Anniversary. They currently have two choir levels – the Junior Choir and the Senior Choir. Most of the members come from Strathcona County, Edmonton and surrounding areas.
Each year, the choirs have hosted Winter and Spring concerts and performed at a variety of public functions including the opening ceremonies of the Western Canada Summer Games, the Festival of Trees, the Chamber of Commerce Trade Fair, and at nursing homes, schools, churches, and the Alberta Legislature. Since 2007, the choir has presented the Imagine concert, a fundraising concert to benefit local youth charities. Members have attended workshops, retreats, and music festivals and toured a variety of locations, including Vancouver, Banff, Whistler, and Kamloops.
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The mission of Lyrico Youth Choirs is to promote excellence in musical education by establishing and maintaining choirs composed of interested children selected through an audition process. The artistic objectives of the association are:
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Facilitate the instruction and training of the members of the choirs in both the theoretical and practical principles of music, particularly choral music, and its performance.
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Facilitate choir performance and participation in public or private functions, festivals, or competitions.
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Promote, preserve and enhance the singer and audience's lifelong appreciation for choral music.
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Lyrico Youth Choirs have been blessed with dedicated conductors, accompanists, choir managers, parent Board Members, and volunteers who have guided the group since 1984!
Nothing Stopped Us!
During the 2020/21 season, the COVID-19 pandemic meant we couldn't gather to rehearse or perform in person. Like choirs around the world, our singers learned their music from home, recording their individual parts and videos separately before they were carefully combined into virtual choir performances.
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While it was a very different way of making music, the dedication and resilience of our choristers shone through. These performances stand as a reminder that even when we couldn't share the same stage, we remained connected through our love of singing.
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Thankfully, we are now back where we belong: rehearsing, learning, and performing together in person.
The Tradition of "Here's to Song"
This performance of "Here's to Song" was recorded at our 40th Anniversary Concert and included many choir alumni. It was a celebration that honoured four decades of musical excellence and community. The evening also marked a significant milestone as Elk Island Regional Honor Choirs officially became Lyrico Youth Choirs.
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For many, "Here's to Song" has been the traditional way we close our final concert of the season. When a Grade 12 chorister is graduating, they are invited to sing the opening solo, recognizing their years of dedication and celebrating the impact they have made on the choir before the full ensemble joins together.
The Story Continues
More than four decades of music have created thousands of memories, and we've only just begun sharing them.
Over the coming months, we'll be adding photographs, concert programs, newspaper clippings, stories from alumni, and milestones from every era of the choir. From unforgettable performances and international tours to lifelong friendships and inspiring directors, our history is built from the experiences of every singer and family who has been part of our journey.
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If you have photos, memorabilia, or stories from your time with Elk Island Regional Honor Choirs or Lyrico Youth Choirs, we'd love to hear from you. Together, we can preserve this history for future generations of singers.
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"Here’s to song, here’s to time;
Here’s to both with friends of mine;
Here’s to friends who raise their voices high.
Kings have riches widely lain,
Lords have land, but then again,
We have friends and song no wealth can buy."
Become a Friend of Lyrico
The friendships, confidence, and sense of belonging that come from singing together don't have to end with graduation. Friends of Lyrico is our community choir for adults who love to sing, whether you're returning to music after years away, or singing in a choir for the very first time.
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Meeting every other Wednesday evening, Friends of Lyrico is a casual but committed group where all experience levels are welcome. We understand that life is busy, so arriving a little late or occasionally missing a rehearsal isn't a problem. There are no auditions and no previous choir experience is required.
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More than just a chance to make music together, Friends of Lyrico helps support the ongoing work of Lyrico Youth Choirs. A portion of membership fees goes directly toward creating opportunities for our Junior and Senior choristers, allowing adults in our community to enjoy singing while helping the next generation do the same.
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Friends of Lyrico is now rehearsing, and new members are welcome to join us. If you've been thinking about singing again, or have always wanted to give choir a try, we'd love to have you.
Stay Connected
Stay connected with everything happening at Lyrico Youth Choirs. Subscribe to our newsletter for concert announcements, registration updates, special events, audition information, and stories from our choir community.
Follow Us
You can also follow us on social media for photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes moments throughout the season. We'd love to have you as part of the Lyrico community, whether you're a current choir family, alumni, or simply someone who believes in the power of music.
