Saskatoon Children's Choir Celebrates 30 Years of Building Leaders Through Music
For Kate Hidlebaugh, a 17-year-old who has spent the past decade with the Saskatoon Children's Choir (SCC), the experience was never solely about singing. "When you walked in those doors, you felt loved, you felt safe," she reflects. "Everybody has a place here and doesn't feel like they have to try to fit in — they just belong." As the choir marks its 30th anniversary this year, stories like Hidlebaugh's resonate across generations, from children learning their first notes to alumni returning to celebrate the group that profoundly shaped them.
A Foundation of Artistic Excellence and Peace
Founded in 1996 by Phoebe Voigts, the organization began with a simple yet powerful vision. Encouraged by her musician mother, who helped fund the early days, Voigts aimed to create something she felt was missing in Saskatoon: a place where children could pursue artistic excellence while simultaneously growing as compassionate individuals. "There were two key focuses," Voigts explains. "One was on artistic excellence, and the other was in participating in activities that promote peace in a world that badly needs healing."
Over time, the choir evolved into an internationally recognized ensemble, performing and collaborating with groups from around the world. An early trip to an international choral festival proved transformative for Voigts. "There were choirs from all over the world," she recalls. "The language they shared was music." This experience helped shape the choir's global outlook, leading singers on tours across Canada and abroad. Recently, members of the concert choir earned top honours at a national competition in British Columbia, showcasing their dedication to vocal mastery.
Beyond the Stage: Community Impact and Personal Growth
The choir's influence extends far beyond musical performances. In one notable project, members helped sponsor a refugee family from Eritrea, raising funds and providing support during their first year in Canada. "We went to the airport to welcome them," Voigts remembers. "I thought, 'I bet you they don't know they're being sponsored by a bunch of kids.'" For Hidlebaugh, this sense of purpose is integral to what makes the choir unique. However, it is the nurturing environment within the rehearsal room that has left the most lasting impression on her.
"I got bullied a lot in elementary school, and so school was really hard," Hidlebaugh shares. "But when I came to choir, it was like, this is what school should feel like." Voigts emphasizes that this supportive atmosphere is intentional. "Children feel secure in a structured kind of environment. It frees them up to be artists." Artistic director Kerry Agnew, who has been involved with the choir since 2010 and now leads the organization, highlights that this balance—excellence alongside belonging—defines the SCC's identity.
"This has been an organization unlike many others… where excellence and personal growth, kindness, community, are at the center," Agnew states. "It's so much more than music education." While audiences witness polished performances, she notes that the deeper impact lies in the development of essential life skills. Hidlebaugh attests to learning qualities such as punctuality, commitment, and organization, which have helped mold her into a confident leader.
A Legacy of Belonging and Future Aspirations
Agnew observes that this sense of belonging is a consistent theme from families. "I don't know how many times I've heard choristers or parents say choir is a safe place," she remarks. "It's so nice to see my child fit in somewhere… here there are other people who are different, and in those differences, they find connection." Now in her final year, Hidlebaugh sees this transformative cycle continuing through younger singers, a tradition that has endured for three decades. "It's almost like a sisterhood," she describes. "There are people that came before me, and there are people that are going to come after me."
This continuity will be prominently displayed at the anniversary concert on April 18 at Elim Church, where over 100 alumni—including some original members—will return to perform alongside current choristers. For Agnew, stepping into leadership at this milestone moment carries both possibility and the responsibility of advancing the SCC's legacy into new generations. While the choir's focus on community, connection, and social awareness will remain steadfast, she envisions opportunities to expand and reach more singers.
This includes international travel and outreach initiatives. This summer, concert choir members will journey to Austria and Hungary, where they will compete in a choral festival in Vienna and perform fundraising concerts to support food banks in Budapest. "We're not trying to create musicians," Agnew asserts. "We're trying to mould humans into people who will go into the world and be leaders… and to always do that with kindness." She hopes more residents of Saskatoon will experience this impact firsthand, describing the SCC as "a gem" many have yet to discover.
Organizational Excellence and Lasting Impact
Behind the scenes, the choir's success is built on meticulous planning. Operations manager Gaileen Willick, who first joined as a parent in 1999, explains, "We're so incredibly organized on the back end that when they're rehearsing, they can just focus on the music." After more than two decades with the organization, she finds that watching choristers mature remains one of the most rewarding aspects of her role. "They come for singing," Willick notes. "But they leave with much more than that — community, skills, and confidence."
The SCC commemorates its milestone with "Woven Voices – Celebrating 30 Years of the SCC!" on April 18 at Elim Church. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. performance, with rush seating available. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.saskatoonchildrenschoir.org. Auditions for the upcoming season, open to children ages seven and older, will be held in the spring and early summer, inviting new voices to join this enduring community of harmony and growth.
