March 29th, 2026, St. John’s Arts & Culture Centre

Shine Your Light brings the internationally award-winning Shallaway Youth Choir and special guest Pearce Choir from Burin to the stage for an unforgettable celebration of music. In a time when our world needs hope, courage, and connection more than ever, this powerful concert reminds us of the extraordinary impact of young voices lifted together in song.

2:00 PM: Prima, Dolce, Vivo, Nobile Jr., Nobile (All), Jubilate, Camerata
7:00 PM: Jubilate, Pearce Choir (Burin), Lauda, Camerata, Lumina, Nobile Sr.

January 10th, Majestic Theatre, 7:30PM

An instantly engaging documentary featuring Shallaway’s youth ensemble Lauda, a sanctuary of song which welcomes every neurotype to its joyful harmony.

Sing the World Better chronicles ten weeks with Lauda – a pioneering youth ensemble within the internationally renowned Shallaway Youth Choir, one of only a handful of choirs in the world to embrace all neurotypes. As the choristers prepare for their end of season concert, they reveal the joyful harmony they’ve found together while navigating a world not always tuned to their rhythm.

The young choristers in Sing the World Better are the stars of this documentary along with their luminous conductor, Kellie Walsh. The story of Lauda, the trailblazing choral ensemble that welcomes every neurotype, unfurls like a song itself. Lauda was born out of Walsh’s experience leading the internationally renowned Shallaway Youth Choir. She witnessed talented kids successfully audition but unable to learn within the traditional, highly structured choral world. Determined to create a space where every voice could belong, she founded Lauda. Now, inside a church in downtown St. John’s, Lauda prepares for its season finale on the big stage, learning the silken, complex harmonies that give Sing the World Better its name.

The usual slogans diversity is a superpower and inclusion in action are alive in this documentary. The film’s joyful rhythms, both in the music and in the construction around its insightful conversations, illuminate every aspect of this choral experiment. “There’s only one rule at Lauda. Don’t be mean.” And that rule creates the backdrop of everything this choir gives to these young people – friends, community, acceptance, safety, and freedom. Oh, and of course, music — lots and lots of music!

The filmmakers take their cues from the choristers who stake a claim in the storytelling – engaging with each other, the Shallaway leaders, their beloved music therapist Leanne Kearsey, and occasionally the filmmakers, in a disarmingly honest way. They have weathered so much in their young lives they seem wise beyond their years – profound, funny, and super smart. And the countdown is on. Ten weeks to showtime.

At the end, young Tyler is right! “This documentary rocks!”

December 15th, St. John’s Farmer’s Market, 7:30PM

Join us as we celebrate inclusion with LAUDA’s first stand-alone concert, featuring special guests: Newfoundland & Labrador Deaf Choir and Stella’s Circle Inclusion Choir

December 7-8, 2025, Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Experience the magic of the season as Shallaway Youth Choir fills the Anglican Cathedral with song in three unforgettable performances.

Sunday, December 7 – 3:30 PM
featuring Prima, Dolce, and Camerata

Sunday, December 7 – 7:00 PM
featuring Nobile Jr, Vivo, Jubilate, and Camerata

Monday, December 8 – 7:00 PM
featuring Nobile Jr, Vivo, Jubilate, and Camerata

Let the voices of our choristers bring light, warmth, and joy to your holiday season.

November 11th, 2025, St. John’s Arts & Culture Centre
World Premiere
Written & Directed by Kyle McDavid
Original Music, Lyrics, and Arrangements by Kyle McDavid, Leslee Heys, Maureen Ennis & Perry Chafe

Join us for the debut of this powerful new choral-musical, honouring the remarkable acts of remembrance by young students in London.

2:00 PM Performance
Featuring Prima, Vivo, Lauda, Jubilate, Camerata.

7:00 PM Performance
Featuring Dolce, Nobile Jr,  Lauda, Jubilate, Camerata.

Be part of this extraordinary celebration of music, memory, and youth voices united in song.

Tickets available Sept. 23rd at artsandculturecentre.com

April 13, 2025 St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre
Walk, skip or fly through the door into a world of folklore and fairytales from here, there, and everywhere! This whimsical concert will explore global faerie lore, weaving stories from around the world into one magical musical journey.

2pm Show: Featuring Prima, Dolce, Nobile Jr, Vivo, Jubilate, Camerata, and Exsultate

7pm Show: Featuring  Nobile Sr, Lauda, Jubilate, Camerata, Camerata Trebles, and Exsultate

Tickets on sale Thursday, January 30th at noon via the ACC Box office.

December 15th, DF Cook Recital Hall Unlock the spirit of Christmas.  Celebrate the festive season with joy and wonder in an evening of magical holiday songs performed by the kindergarten and grade one choristers, Prima Choir.

Tickets on sale October 25, 2024.

December 9th and 10th, Basilica of St. John the Baptist
Allow the spirit and the warmth of the season in through the door at this annual favourite celebrating the unique sounds of our province’s traditions.

December 9:  Vivo, Nobile Jr, Nobile All, Nobile Sr, Jubilate, Camerata, Trebles

December 10: Dolce, Nobile Sr, Lauda, Jubilate, Camerata, Trebles, Exsultate

Tickets on sale October 18, 2024 via the ACC Box office.

November 11th, 2 pm and 7 pm, Basilica of St. John the Baptist

A moving tribute to resilience, honouring those who have shaped our province’s history. The afternoon performance is a ceremony open to the public,  featuring elements of the evening’s full concert. This concert is generously supported by Year of the Arts funding.

November 11, 2024 at 2:00 pm: A one-hour ceremony of Remembrance featuring Prima, Nobile, Jubilate, Camerata, Camerata Trebles, and Exsultate. Free community performance supported by YOTA

November 11, 2024 at 7:00 pm: Featuring Dolce, Vivo, Nobile, Lauda, Jubilate, Camerata, Camerata Trebles, and Exsultate

Tickets for the 2 pm show are available through various community partner organizations and the link below.

Tickets for 7 pm are available via the ACC box office.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/where-once-they-stood-songs-of-hope-and-remembrance-tickets-1042721366677

Join us for an enchanting evening of music at the Cultural Museum of Kyoto on July 30. This special concert, featuring the internationally acclaimed Shallaway Youth Choir, will be a captivating display of choral excellence.

Tickets are free and this performance is open to the public.

On July 31, join Shallaway Youth Choir for a poignant and inspiring performance at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, sponsored by the City of Hiroshima. This free, public concert is a tribute to peace and reconciliation, featuring heartfelt music that honors the history and resilience of Hiroshima. Be part of this moving event as we sing for a brighter future.

Shallaway Youth Choir invites you to a free public performance at the Embassy of Canada on August 2 at noon. Experience the voices of our talented young singers as they bring their vibrant and diverse repertoire to this prestigious venue. Join us for a musical journey that celebrates cultural exchange and the spirit of community.

Tickets are free and this performance is open to the public. Please contact the Canadian Embassy for more information.

HarbourVOICES Concert 15: Ullugiagâtsuk, World Youth Choir, Shallaway Youth Choir

Tickets available at the ACC Box Office

HarbourVOICES Concert 7: Inuksuk Drum Dancers, Ullugiagâtsuk, Shallaway Youth Choir

Tickets Available at the ACC Box Office

We embarked on a powerful musical adventure that celebrated vibrant music and dance traditions from Newfoundland and Labrador and around the world. 2024 was declared the Year of the Arts here at home, providing a perfect opportunity to create connections and partnerships grounded in the beauty of local and international traditions. Together, we celebrated the unity of our global community through the universal language of music and dance.

Participants immersed themselves in the enchanting history and legend of Saint Nicholas, the beloved figure of the holiday season. Through music and captivating performances, they were taken on a magical journey back in time, exploring the origins and tales associated with this iconic symbol of generosity and joy.

Our fall concert showcased a delightful medley of music, spanning various genres that were guaranteed to bring joy and laughter to all. From toe-tapping tunes to heartwarming melodies, this concert was designed to create an experience that left your family beaming with delight.

Shallaway was proud to host the ground-breaking and Juno-nominated collaboration and tour of two of Turtle Island’s celebrated professional artists – musica intima (vocal ensemble, Vancouver) and Andrew Balfour (Composer, Winnipeg). Nagamo (sing in Ojibway) also included the powerful work Legacy and Song of the River written by internationally acclaimed singer and composer Deantha Edmunds, arranged by Leslee Heys, with collective singing and tradition sharing of Ullugiagâtsuk choir of Nunatsiavut Labrador, Shallaway Youth Choir, and the Atlantic String Quartet.

Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, renowned Canadian Gospel music specialist, was guest conductor for this special event. With his expertise and passion for music, Dr. Blyden-Taylor brought out the best in our young singers and provided a deeper understanding of the gospel music tradition. We were joined by the Newfoundland Black Heritage Choir as a special guest artist, and they brought a powerful energy to the stage with their voices and dynamic performances.

“There Will Be Drama!  A Shallaway Musical Theatre Revue” featured special guest alumnus Ryan McDonald. Audiences were transported to some of their favorite musicals including The Sound of Music, Newsies, Dear Evan Hansen, Sunday in the Park with George, Sidewalk Dandelion, Mamma Mia, Footloose, Matilda, Les Misérables, The Lion King, Peter Pan, Junie B. Jones, and The Jungle Book.

Sidewalk Dandelion was an original musical, starring Shallaway’s neurodiverse ensemble, Lauda. Written and composed by Kyle McDavid, the show provided a snapshot into the lives of sisters, Emily and Sophie, as they tend to the fantastical characters that populate a garden in their backyard: a vaudevillian four-leaf clover, a not-so-sunny sunflower, a hungry aphid, and even a rainy boy band called “Storm”! A story about overcoming obstacles with kindness, and how we take care of each other.

For the holiday season Shallaway Youth Choir marked their 30th anniversary with Dylan Thomas’ beloved classic “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.” Welcoming back Shallaway Alumnus Tom Power – host of CBC Radio’s q – as guest reader. Dylan Thomas’s words need to be heard as well as read, and the audience was mesmerized – just as they were 70 years ago – by his unconventional rhythms. A timeless masterpiece that paradoxically is about the transience of time.