Vancouver Youth Choir

What Vancouver Youth Choir does

The Vancouver Youth Choir (VYC) is a Canadian registered charitable non-profit operating under the Vancouver Choral Arts Society in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 2013 by Artistic Director Carrie Tennant, the organization has scaled from 30 singers to more than 730 singers across 16 ensembles and 8 choir levels serving children and youth aged 5 to 24. Programming is organized as an age-tiered ladder from introductory ensembles (VYC Tiny for Kindergarten through Grade 2, VYC Kids for Grades 3-4, VYC Treble for Grades 5-8, VYC Junior for Grades 9-11) through to the auditioned VYC Voices ensemble (Grade 11 to age 24, no experience required) and the flagship Vancouver Youth Choir (ages 15-24), supported by a Professional Training track for advanced singers. The technology layer is minimal and non-proprietary: VYC uses third-party ticketing platforms (Showpass, Eventbrite), standard social media channels, and YouTube for concert distribution, with no internal software product.

VYC's operating model is a hybrid arts-and-education non-profit with six interlocking revenue streams: (i) subsidized season tuition ($750-$815 per singer, September-May), (ii) concert ticket sales at premium venues such as the Orpheum Theatre and Chan Centre, (iii) government and foundation grants from the City of Vancouver, BC Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts and Chorus America, (iv) individual donations and planned giving, (v) corporate sponsorships at four tiers ranging from $1,000 to $15,000+, and (vi) publishing royalties from the Carrie Tennant Choral Series (Hal Leonard; E.C. Schirmer/Galaxy Music) and the Vancouver Youth Choir Choral Series (Cypress Publishing). Outreach programming is a strategic pillar and includes the Indigenous-led VYC Kindred and VYC Partners programs, free school touring concerts, a Concert Bursary Program for Schools, Intercultural Music Workshops covering 15+ vocal traditions, and a Bursary and Subsidy Program through which roughly 1 in 4 singers receive additional needs-based aid on top of universally subsidized tuition.

The organization has accumulated significant third-party validation, including the 2026 Fleischmann International Trophy at the Cork International Choral Festival (highest score in the competition's 71-year history), the 2025 Margaret Hillis Award for Artistic and Organizational Achievement from Chorus America, performances at Carnegie Hall and the IFCM World Symposium on Choral Music in Istanbul in 2023, and selection as North American representative at the 2025 Jeju International Choral Symposium in South Korea. Operations are led by a small professional staff of 8 under Founder/Artistic Director Carrie Tennant and incoming Executive Director Vicki Cummings (effective August 17, 2026), supported by an artistic team of dedicated ensemble conductors, pianists, and Indigenous teaching artists.

Name

Vancouver Youth Choir

Legal name

Vancouver Choral Arts Society

Website

https://vancouveryouthchoir.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vancouver Youth Choir is a Canadian registered charity operating an age-tiered choral training program for 730+ young singers aged 5-24 across 16 ensembles in Vancouver, supplemented by outreach programs, international touring, and choral music publishing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Choral Music Education and Performance

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Music Publishers (51223)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD), Custom Music & Original Score/Composition (MPAIALAD)

Keywords

• Youth choral education
• Community choir programs
• Choral music publishing
• Concert performance services
• Music outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver, British Columbia

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Registration Fees: Season tuition fees for various choir programs including subsidized rates for all singers. Flagship ensemble tuition is $815 per singer for September-May season.
2. Concert Ticket Sales: Revenue from season concerts at venues including the Orpheum Theatre and Chan Centre. Tickets sold through Showpass and Eventbrite platforms.
3. Choral Music Publishing: VYC curates published choral series including Carrie Tennant Choral Series (Hal Leonard, E.C. Schirmer/Galaxy Music) and Vancouver Youth Choir Series (Cypress Publishing), generating royalties from sheet music sales.
4. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from City of Vancouver, BC Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and various foundations including Chorus America grants.
5. Individual Donations and Sponsorship: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, monthly giving programs, employer matching gifts, planned giving/bequests, and corporate sponsorships at various levels ($1,000-$15,000+).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Vancouver Youth Choir delivers a tiered, age-appropriate program of choral ensemble training and performance for singers ages 5-24, ranging from beginner choirs (VYC Tiny) through the flagship auditioned ensemble, supplemented by outreach programs (Indigenous-led VYC Kindred and VYC Partners, school touring concerts, intercultural workshops) and three published choral music series distributed through Hal Leonard, E.C. Schirmer/Galaxy Music, and Cypress Publishing. Revenue is generated via subsidized tuition, concert ticket sales, publishing royalties, government/foundation grants, and individual/corporate donations and sponsorships.

Product overview

Vancouver Youth Choir is a youth choral arts organization offering a tiered, age-appropriate program of choir ensembles — from VYC Tiny (Kindergarten–Grade 1) through the flagship Vancouver Youth Choir ensemble (ages 15–24) — as well as VYC Voices, an accessible no-experience-needed ensemble for Grade 11 to age 24. These choir programs are supported by outreach initiatives including VYC Kindred (Indigenous-led intercultural drumming and singing), the VYC Partners Program (Indigenous music education in schools), School Touring Concerts, Intercultural Music Workshops, and a Bursary & Subsidy Program. The organization also curates three published choral music series: the Carrie Tennant Choral Series (Hal Leonard), the Carrie Tennant Choral Series (E.C. Schirmer/Galaxy Music), and the Vancouver Youth Choir Choral Series (Cypress Publishing), all featuring repertoire performed and championed by the choir's artistic team.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VYC Tiny: Entry-level choir for Kindergarten to Grade 2 singers, introducing young children to choir in a fun environment.
• VYC Kids
• VYC Treble
• VYC Junior
• VYC Voices
• Vancouver Youth Choir (Flagship)

Products and services

• VYC Tiny Entry-level choir for young singers in Kindergarten through Grade 2, offering a fun first step into choir where children build confidence and find joy in making music together.
• VYC Kids Choir for singers in Grades 3-4, where participants build musicianship and long-lasting friendships in a joyful and creative environment.
• VYC Treble 1 & VYC Treble 2 Treble choirs for Grades 5-6 (VYC Treble 1) and Grades 7-8 (VYC Treble 2), where singers build musicianship and long-lasting friendships while developing vocal technique and musicality.
• VYC Junior Choir for singers in Grades 9-11, offering advanced training and performance opportunities where talented young singers take on sophisticated four-part SATB repertoire.
• VYC Voices A no-experience-needed ensemble for singers from Grade 11 through age 24, offering a welcoming, high-quality musical experience with placement interviews instead of formal auditions.
• Vancouver Youth Choir (Flagship Ensemble) The organization's flagship auditioned ensemble for advanced singers ages 15-24, providing high-calibre professional-level training with international touring, intensive commitment, and performances at prestigious venues including the Orpheum Theatre and Carnegie Hall.
• Professional Training Program Advanced professional-level training track for advanced singers within the VYC program, offering intensive musical development alongside the regular choir programs.
• VYC Kindred A free Indigenous-led intergenerational intercultural drumming and singing program that bridges cultural gaps by immersing participants in the music and culture of the Indigenous people of the local territory.
• VYC Partners Program An Indigenous music education program that brings Indigenous artists directly into Vancouver elementary school classrooms (Grade 3-5), fostering cultural understanding and supporting truth and reconciliation through music.
• Concert Bursary Program for Schools Provides free concert tickets and bus transportation for students and teachers to attend VYC performances at the Orpheum Theatre and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.
• VYC School Touring Concerts Free 45-minute interactive concerts delivered by award-winning VYC singers directly at elementary schools, bringing world-class choral music to students regardless of their school's location or resources.
• VYC Intercultural Music Workshops Workshops led by professional musicians and culture-bearers from around the world, exploring diverse repertoire, history, and vocal techniques from over 15 vocal traditions including Ojibway, Turkish, Korean, Woodland Cree, Persian, Finnish, and Arabic.
• VYC Singer Subsidy & Bursary Program Financial accessibility program offering subsidized tuition for all singers and needs-based bursary support to ensure all children and youth aged 5-24 can participate regardless of financial circumstances.
• Carrie Tennant Choral Series (Hal Leonard) A published choral music series through Hal Leonard featuring innovative repertoire curated by Artistic Director Carrie Tennant for choirs of all levels, including works by Katerina Gimon, Ken Steven, Patrick Watson, and others.
• Carrie Tennant Choral Series (E.C. Schirmer / Galaxy Music) A newly launched choral series through E.C. Schirmer's Galaxy Music offering eclectic and innovative repertoire for choirs of all levels, reflecting Carrie Tennant's innovative programming and artistry.
• Vancouver Youth Choir Choral Series (Cypress Publishing) A curated choral series from Cypress Choral Music featuring repertoire that Carrie Tennant and the Vancouver Youth Choir have performed and loved, championing new works by emerging Canadian composers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ singers ages 5-24 served annually across 16 ensembles
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and minor.

• New Dublin VoicesstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Ireland's leading chamber choir conducted by Bernie Sherlock. Performed together at Newman University Church Dublin following Cork International Choral Festival.
• Singing Girls of TexasstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Fort Worth-based choir performed in collaborative SXNW concert at First Baptist Church Vancouver, one-night collaborative concert of artistry and joy.
• Simon Fraser University Education DepartmentstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop a program introducing aspiring teachers to VYC Kindred approach, working alongside Indigenous teaching artists to incorporate Indigenous music and culture into educational practice.
• Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing newcomer youth workshops led by Indigenous musicians, offering welcoming musical experiences for immigrant youth in the Lower Mainland.
• Early Music VancouverstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for December performance of Vivaldi's Gloria at the Chan Centre.
• Music on MainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree outdoor performance at Music on Main's Summer Pop-Up Concerts at Mount Pleasant Park.
• Hal LeonardstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMusic publisher for Carrie Tennant Choral Series, distributing choral arrangements by Carrie Tennant and VYC repertoire to choirs worldwide.
• Cypress Choral MusicstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher for Vancouver Youth Choir Choral Series, featuring Canadian composers and VYC-performed repertoire available to choirs globally.
• E.C. Schirmer / Galaxy MusicstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher for Carrie Tennant Choral Series, offering eclectic repertoire for choirs of all levels.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Peers

• National Arts Centre (Canada): Canada's national performing arts centre with youth music programs, training initiatives, and government funding relationships. Vicki Cummings previously held Corporate Development roles at NAC; useful as a strategic comparator and partner/funder relationship.

Others

• Chorus America: Industry association and grantmaker for North American choral organizations; awarded VYC the 2025 Margaret Hillis Award and Indigenous Music Education Program grant, functioning as both a recognition body and a key funding partner.
• Hal Leonard Corporation: World's largest music publisher and VYC's distribution partner for the Carrie Tennant Choral Series; represents the publishing infrastructure through which VYC's choral arrangements reach choirs globally.

Direct peers

• Toronto Children's Chorus: Canada's other flagship youth choral organization, operating a tiered ensemble structure (Beginner through Chamber Choir) for ages 5-18 with comparable artistic reputation, competitions, and touring focus. Directly comparable in mission, age range, and talent pipeline.
• American Boychoir School: Premier North American youth vocal ensemble with international touring, prestigious competitions, and a tuition/fundraising blend. Comparable in artistic ambition, touring footprint, and the publishing/licensing adjacency.
• Canadian Children's Opera Company: Toronto-based youth vocal organization offering tiered ensemble training for children and youth, with similar concert touring, outreach, and tuition-based revenue model. Comparable mission and programmatic structure.
• Minnesota Youth Choirs: Tiered youth choir organization (Beginner through Premier Ensemble) with extensive community outreach, international touring, and a similar non-profit funding model including tuition, grants, and donations.

Regional players

• Calgary Children's Choir: Western Canadian youth choir operating tiered ensembles with performances, festivals, and community outreach in Alberta. Comparable programmatic structure serving a similar market segment in a different region.
• Pacific Spirit United Church Choir: Local Vancouver-area choral organization that hosts VYC audition rounds; represents the broader community choir ecosystem in the same geography and overlaps with VYC's feeder audience.

Broad incumbents

• Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: Vancouver's largest orchestral institution and a likely employer of incoming ED Vicki Cummings; serves as a key arts partner and audience-sharing organization in the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xthreads.com/@vancouveryouthchoir
• YouTubeyoutube.com/vancouveryouthchoir
• Facebookfacebook.com/vancouveryouthchoir
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vancouver-youth-choir
• Instagraminstagram.com/vancouveryouthchoir
• TikToktiktok.com/@vancouveryouthchoir

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vancouver Youth Choir