YAV is an internationally renowned organization, having represented Australia on nine tours to Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, America, China, Hong Kong, and Japan. In 2016, YAV toured Europe, participating in youth music festivals in Salzburg, Bratislava, and Verona. It was in Bratislava that they won three gold medals and Christie Anderson was awarded the festival’s Best Conductor prize. In 2012, they won all three gold medals for youth choirs at the Golden Gate Choir Festival in San Francisco.

In 2015, the choir began hosting the WATU Youth Choir Festival for young singers aged 12 to 19, and in 2018, it became a cultural organization designated by UNESCO as a City of Music. The creation of WATU is the result of YAV’s wonderful experience participating in national and international festivals and understanding the importance of new friendships and the exchange of ideas. During the three festivals held so far, YAV has commissioned composers Stephen Leek, Carl Crossin OAM, Lisa Young, and Paul Jarman to write new works for combined youth choirs. In Australia, they have performed at the Gondwana World Choral Festival in Gadigal Country/Sydney and the Festival of Voices in Nipaluna/Hobart.

YAV has a composer-in-residence program, which allows for close collaboration with composers through workshops and performances. Choristers have benefited from the wisdom, knowledge, and generosity of spirit that come with learning from and working with new composers. They are proud to be part of this legacy of Australian youth choir repertoire, contributing to the broader musical language of Australian composition. They have commissioned over 20 works to date.

YAV has performed with classical orchestras, for film scores, theater, opera, musical theater, and cinema, as well as in iconic rock and roll works. They have collaborated with the Adelaide International Festival of Arts, the Adelaide Fringe, the OzAsia Festival, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Slingsby youth theater company, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the State Opera of South Australia, the Australian Ballet, and the Rolling Stones. They recorded the international release of the work commissioned by YAV and the ASO, “What Do You Do With An Idea?” composed by Paul Rissmann, which is available to schools and educational institutions worldwide.

After missing their international tour in April 2020, the young choristers are thrilled to be back on the road to present their music to the world!

Direction: Christie Anderson

Australia

Adelaide