If you're a guy who has a passion for singing, whether that's in the shower or in the car, then Chor Leoni wants to hear from you.
The Vancouver-based male vocal ensemble is currently recruiting for is fifth season of MYVoice - a 10-week choral program offered free of charge to boys ages 12 to 20, regardless of their musical experience. Of the three rehearsal locations, one will be at Burnaby Central Secondary School.
"We live in a culture that I think can sometimes make, especially young men singing, seem not the coolest of things to do. We just want to completely blow that idea out of the water," said Erick Lichte, Chor Leoni's artistic director for two years running.
The idea behind MYVoice, according to Lichte, is to get guys through the door and let them experience singing in a group setting. The commitment is Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. (you can count on donuts to be provided each week).
"There's something really special that happens when they get together. There's a fraternity and a brotherhood. They offer up all of their rambunctiousness and there's a real sense of sensitivity and vulnerability that they allow themselves to have in front of one another," he said.
This year's edition of MYVoice however, has a bit of twist to it. Rather than a finale concert in March to cap things off, the group will be part of a first-of-its-kind male choir festival, dubbed the VanMan Choral Summit, at University of British Columbia's Chan Centre for Performing Arts.
"There will be five or six other groups, like the UBC Men's Choir and the Vancouver Men's Choir," Lichte told the NOW. "It will be a really powerful thing for them to see that from the cradle to the grave, they can be singing."
The decision to host a festival was made in part to MYVoice's popularity, having been such a huge success since its inception. What started with 30-some men the first year, has now grown to over 100. The summit is expected to be 400 voices strong.
When asked if the MYVoice talent comes from any one city, Lichte responded by saying it's quite the opposite, with the boys representing a majority of the Lower Mainland.
"We actually put together a map of the different addresses of where the guys live and it's every single walk of life. We've had guys that are on the basketball team, we've had kids who are home-schooled. They're not white privileged kids, they're a good representation of today's Vancouver and surrounding area," he said.
Lichte also noted he's always pleasantly surprised by the diamonds in the rough.
"Some of these guys have never sung before, and my goodness, at last year's concert, they were singing so well, some singing pieces in Italian fully memorized. It's just amazing to see."
At the end of the day, Lichte hopes MYVoice continues to flourish in the years to come.
"I want the Vancouver area to be known throughout the world as the hot bed of male choral singing. Being in choirs and opening yourself up to different styles and cultures makes you a better human being."
Rehearsals start the first week of January 2015, with the VanMan Choral Summit set for March 7. For tickets or to register for MYVoice, visit chorleoni.org.
