It Takes A Community To Nurture Tomorrow’s Voices.
TCU Place will be the new home of Tomorrow’s Voices, a barrier-free, audition-free, non-profit choir for children who love to sing for the sheer joy of it. Beginning in September, 2021, or as soon as live choir sessions are permitted, children ages 7 – 18 from under-served communities will have the opportunity to expand their musical knowledge, sing their hearts out and perform on one of the most revered stages in Saskatoon – the Sid Buckwold Theatre at TCU Place. There is no cost, no previous singing experience required, and no audition required. We will also provide healthy snacks during rehearsals. The choir will meet weekly at TCU Place to rehearse.
Working in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters Saskatoon, we will be looking for 15-30 kids to get started. This will be the 4th location of Tomorrow’s Voices and the first expansion outside of Ontario, with other locations currently operating in Hamilton, Niagara, and Toronto, ON.
Tammy Sweeney, CEO of TCU Place will spearhead the expansion, with TCU Place being the primary sponsor of Tomorrow’s Voices Saskatoon. “Making a positive impact in our community is at the heart of everything we do, and we are passionate about bringing the community together. This allows us to share our stage to help children share their voices, build confidence and develop camaraderie with choir mates,” says Sweeney. “In the Ontario locations, the children have performed for over 35,000 audience members, with artists such as Serena Ryder, Royal Wood, Neko Case and Dan Mangan. We hope to do the same at TCU Place.”
Executive Director of Tomorrow’s Voices, Todd Green, started Tomorrow’s Voices so that kids could be heard. The children not only embrace music and the arts, but learn respect, compassion, teamwork, and responsibility while building relationships that last a lifetime. “The expansion to Saskatoon, and the ability to work with TCU Place, allows us to give more children a voice, and exposes them to the joys and challenges that come with making music together,” says Green. “We believe all kids should have a voice and should be heard, and we cannot wait to join the community in Saskatoon.”
Sweeney has recruited local music directors and will be working with Big Brothers Big Sisters to get the word out to potential choir members for a planned September 2021 live start. Kathy Hauser, Director of Service Delivery for Big Brothers Big Sisters is excited to have this offering for their clients. “Giving them a safe place to connect with others and grow their confidence is key,” says Hauser. Together, they will also welcome other sponsors who wish to get involved to help enhance the experience for the children involved. This is a strong local collaboration.
About TCU Place
Located in downtown Saskatoon, Sask., TCU Place is a leading conference facility in Western Canada. With over 104,000 square feet of convention space, this facility is one of the most versatile properties in Saskatoon. The Convention Centre houses 21 different rooms with configurations that allow unlimited combinations, as well as Sid Buckwold Theatre – a 2,074 soft seat theatre that has hosted international and national performers, speakers, and theatrical productions. TCU Place is operated by the Centennial Auditorium and Convention Centre Corporation, an independent, not-for-profit organization with oversight from a volunteer Board of Directors. For more information, visit https://tcuplace.com/.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Saskatoon has been providing life changing mentoring experiences to ignite power and potential of young people since 1972. Many children and youth in Canada struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives. These circumstances have nothing to do with the value of who they are or who they can become, but because of these situations, children and youth risk not having the opportunity to live up to their full potential. With the support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced or even avoided, and youth can reach their full potential.
About Tomorrow’s Voices
Tomorrow’s Voices is the passion project of a dedicated group who are committed to supporting local youth through music. The after-school children’s programs have brought together trained and talented musicians with a variety of backgrounds to engage youth in the power of music. It is a barrier-free charitable choir that began running after-school programming for kids in 2017. The program is free to join for kids between 7 and 18 and does not require an audition or previous experience singing in a choir. We operate choir chapters in Niagara, Hamilton, and Toronto and our kids have performed for over 35,000 audience members. For more information, visit https://tomorrowsvoices.ca/.
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