STAFF & BOARD for 2022-2023


Conductor

Da Capo, Crescendo and Concerto levels: Yuliya Myers

Yuliya's headshot

Yuliya Myers completed her Bachelor of Music (Academic Choir Conducting) and additionally completed specialized course work such as vocal teaching, methods working with children and piano pedagogy at the University of Culture and Arts in Kiev, Ukraine. Yuliya began teaching in Edmonton, Alberta in 2000 and has worked with many choirs, ensembles and associations in the greater Edmonton area. Yuliya is an enthusiastic and dedicated educator continually pursuing excellence for her students, ensembles and choirs. She owned and managed her private music studio for nine years where she was a teacher of Piano, voice and music theory and conducting. Her children’s choirs have consistently won awards at music festivals winning best overall choir category for two years. She conducted St. Barbara’s Cathedral Choir for more than seven years. Yuliya is very passionate watching children grow in poise, confidence and musicianship through singing. She is a great believer in excellent musical training and discipline that choral singing brings to children.  Yuliya is very pleased to conduct Viva Youth Voices.

VIVA YOUTH CHOIRS SOCIETY OF VICTORIA

As a non-profit charitable organization, the Viva Youth Choirs Society of  Victoria (VYCS) oversees the operations of Viva Youth Voices, and provides tax credits for donations.  The Society’s Annual General Meeting is normally held in the fall.

Board of Directors for 2018-2019

– Dr. Finn Knutsen, Chair

– Mahfuj Enam, Vice-President

–  Diane Huska, Secretary

– Dola Dubé, Director

Honourary Members: Linda Angus, Kathryn Cowden, Bob Gill, Sue Gill
Honourary Solicitor: Paul Scambler.

OFFICE STAFF

General Manager: Diane McWilliams


Founding Artistic Director

Connie Foss More [B. Mus., M. Mus., Cert. Liszt Academy (Budapest)] founded the Greater Victoria Youth Choir in 1988, overseeing its transformation to VIVA Choirs a few years later as an independent non-profit organization under the umbrella of the Victoria Youth Choirs Society.

She was listed in the International Who’s Who of Business and Professional Women and has been one of five members worldwide on the Early Childhood Commission of the International Society for Music Education. Ms. More has been a music teacher and clinician since 1969, with students from pre-school age through adulthood in public schools, universities, and at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Her choirs have consistently earned high acclaim in concerts, festivals and competitions. Her final season with VIVA before her retirement was 2008/09.