Now in its 12th year, the Renanim Youth Singers is proud of its many accomplishments. Having won many First Class performance awards at the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival, the choir has also earned a coveted world wide recording contract with Koltor Publishing, recording t’filot (prayers), songs and blessings for the school system.
The Renanim Youth Singers is the pluralistic, Jewish community youth choir of excellence in the Greater Toronto Area which resonates equally with observant and secular choristers. As a source of pride for the community the choir enables students to develop skills and passion for choral music, enhancing a positive sense of Jewish identity, community involvement and a love of their rich Judaic heritage.
As the primary vehicle in the GTA for Jewish choristers, The Renanim Youth Singers is the centre for learning Judaic music. It serves as the agent for talented teens who want to develop their craft and guides those who choose to study music beyond these years.
Achieving Musical Excellence
In addition to its regular performances, the Renanim Youth Singers has been recognized for its high level of musical achievement. Under the musical direction of Susan Michaels, the choir is also proud of the following milestones in its 11 year history.- A multi-year music recording contract with Koltor Publishing for use in Jewish day school and congregational school curricula worldwide
- The 2008 winner of The Transcontinental Music Publishing Contest with a recording of Ben Steinberg's Adon Olam
- The inclusion of the choir's poignant performance of Adoshem Roi in a documentary film about Holocaust survivor, Eva Olssen
Our Mandate
The Renanim Youth Singers- Develop a love of music as choristers learn proper vocalization, musical style and expression, music vernacular, music literacy and ear training.
- Give choristers the opportunity to explore and develop their voices in a non-threatening, musical environment.
- Introduce students to all types of repertoire: religious and secular Jewish music, as well as Popular, Classical, Broadway, Jazz and Rhythm and Blues.
- Give each student the opportunity to perform in public within the security of a choir, potentially stepping up as section leader and soloist.
Judaism, Community & Israel
The Renanim Youth Singers- Unite the pluralistic Jewish community through the universality of song.
- Provide choristers a positive medium for their own personal expression, as the choir blends into one, unified Jewish voice.
- Nurture Jewish continuity by giving students the opportunity to socialize with other musically minded choristers.
- Nurture equality among all choristers by subsidizing those unable to afford tuition.
- Develop and enhance the love of Eretz Yisrael and Zionism through the emotional engagement of the music, by performing in galas organized by Zionistic organizations and by traveling to Israel.
- Give students the opportunity to become involved in the Jewish community and to learn of the essence of community service to Jews everywhere.
- Develop leadership, first in a musical forum and then by using the choir as a stepping stone to community.
- Work towards Tikkun Olam by giving choristers the opportunity to become musical ambassadors for the Jewish community, as they reach out and build bridges with other communities in Toronto and elsewhere.
Charitable Registration # - 80632 0099 RR0001
Susan Michaels, Musical Director
Musical Director, Susan Michaels, has a MUS. BAC and BAC of ED from The University of Toronto. An award winning music educator, formerly of The Scarborough and North York Boards of Education, she is a brass specialist, with an A.R.C.T. on the euphonium and trombone. As past Director of Scarborough's elite, all city high school band, The Scarborough Wind Ensemble, Mrs. Michaels toured with the group throughout Canada and the U.S. performing in places including Toronto's Roy Thompson Hall, Massey Hall and Washington's Kennedy Center and the Pentagon. A trained vocalist from the studio of Robert Loewen, Mrs. Michaels was a member of The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for seventeen years and performed with The Toronto Symphony countless times at Roy Thompson Hall and Massey Hall in Toronto, The National Arts Centre in Ottawa and Carnegie Hall in New York. An accomplished pianist and arranger, she often arranges music for the choir. The Renanim Youth Singers allows Mrs. Michaels to unite her passions for music, teaching youth and community.
Mark Andrews, Accompanist
Mark Andrews is from Gibsons, BC. He began studying the piano at the age of 2 with Jesse Morrison, best known as the first teacher of prominent Canadian pianists James and Jon Kimura Parker. Upon her retirement, he studied with Edward Parker of Burnaby, BC, under whose tutelage he completed several advanced diplomas, including the ARCT Performer's, ARCT Teacher's, LLCM, and FLCM. At the same time, he studied violin and viola under Roxelyn Ethridge and Erno Kabok, and achieved his ARCT Performer's in violin. He was also a regular electee to the Provincial Finals on both piano and violin, and won multiple best-in-province and best-in-country awards from the Royal Conservatory of Music on both piano and viola. In 2001, he entered the University of Toronto to study Piano Performance, studying with James Anagnoson for two years before transferring to the studio of Dr. James Parker. Upon completing his B.Mus, he entered the M.Mus program immediately, and is currently completing his final year of study. Mark looks forward to pursuing further education in the field of Music Technology, a subject of lifelong interest.