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The Hamilton Children’s Choir (HCC) has been selected as one of 11 regional choirs to be part of an international gathering in China of top choral talent.
Forty-six members of the HCC’s touring ensemble, including 39 singers between ages 13 and 21, will be at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Macau, a special administrative region in China, from Aug. 23 to 28.
The HCC will be the only choir from North America or South America at the event, HCC told CBC Hamilton.
Organized by the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), the symposium, held every three years, brings together top children’s and adult choirs for a non-competitive celebration of the art form involving performances, workshops and other activities.
The first symposium was in Vienna in 1987 and has since been held in a dozen other cities, including Vancouver in 1993.
“It’s not a competitive event … the competition is to get in,” said Melanie Tellez, artistic director for the HCC. “It’s like the most exclusive event.”
A ‘very special’ opportunity
HCC submitted an application that included videos of its performances, and was selected for the symposium alongside the World Youth Choir, and choirs from places including Singapore, Australia, Denmark, Estonia and South Africa.
Event organizers say they received applications from over 30 countries. Choirs were chosen based on factors like artistry, regional representation and alignment with the 2026 theme
Reimagining the Future.
“It’s really exciting because the opportunities to travel that are supported and subsidized are very rare these days,” said Tellez.
“It’s very special because they are generously covering our lodging and our food for all 40 singers plus staff for the duration of the festival. We still have our own fees and of course we’re going for more than just the four days of the festival. But that’s what allows us to do this, because otherwise the cost would be really prohibitive.”
Brother, sister to travel together
Among singers who’ll be in China this summer are David McIsaac, 17, and his sister, Sarah, 13, who are in their eighth year with the Hamilton Children’s Choir.
“There’s a little bit of nerves, especially if it’s like a competition or if it’s a really big performance,” said David, who sings alto 2 and has previously travelled to Europe with the choir. But when it comes to choral events, the symposium is “the biggest stage in the world.”
Anna Rozenberg, David’s and Sarah’s mother, said it will be her daughter’s first big trip without her parents.
“But I’m quite comforted by the fact that David will be there,” she said.
“Also, the choir group is this incredible group of young people. They all look out for each other. They bring each other up…. And, in fact, that’s what Sarah said to me when we were talking about on this trip earlier in the year, that she feels that she’ll be OK because her friends will protect her and look out for her.”
Sarah, who’s a soprano 2, said she is looking forward to performing, spending time with her friends and seeing Macau.
The HCC is a community-based non-profit organization founded in 1975. Its touring ensemble group consists of 39 singers, five artistic team members, a conductor, a pianist, a percussionist, a cellist, a rehearsal assistant and two administrative assistants.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.cbc.ca ’
