The St. James-Assiniboia Children's Choir is a choral group comprised of approximately 60 Grade 4 and 5 students representing many elementary schools in the division. The choir, which has been in existence since the late 1980's, was formed to give young students an opportunity to further develop their choral skills and provide enriched performance opportunities.
The year begins with an intense one-day rehearsal camp at Camp Assiniboia, where the group focuses on repertoire and team building. Weekly practices take place from September to May in preparation for various performances throughout the school year. These performances include ChoralFest, the Divisional Candlelight service, and various celebration events throughout the school division. Another popular highlight is the annual School Tour Day in April, where choristers promote the choir by performing for their peers at various schools. The choir has also performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and by invitation at the Winnipeg Music Festival Choral Excellence and at ChoralFest Gala concerts.
Awards and Honours. The choir has been a consistent gold winner through their participation in the annual Winnipeg Music Festival. In 2019, the choir was awarded the Lord Tweedsmuir Memorial Trophy. At the Provincial Arts & Music Festival, they were selected as an alternate to represent Manitoba at the Nationals in Class 107-Margaret Wharton, Community Choir, 12 years and under.
SJASD Junior Concert Choir
The St. James-Assiniboia Divisional Junior Concert Choir is comprised of 70 singers in Grades 6, 7 and 8. The choral season begins in September with a two-day intensive choir camp. Choristers attend weekly rehearsals, perform at various events and festivals
throughout the school year, and end the season with a final concert in May. Singers in this group have enjoyed rehearsing and performing a wide variety of music. In addition to their passion for choral singing, this group of highly motivated and self-disciplined singers also have fun together. Membership in this choir gives singers the opportunity to develop their potential for musical excellence, and meet and work with other talented musicians in the school division.
The SJASD Junior Concert Choir has developed a reputation of being one of Manitoba's premier youth choirs. They have performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, CBC Radio, the Government of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Singers and with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir. This choir travels each year to perform in and experience new and exciting places, and have travelled to Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton and Toronto.
Awards and Honours. The choir has been a consistent gold winner through their participation in the annual Winnipeg Music Festival. After their performance at the SJASD Spring Concert of 2023, Joanne Mercier, the Executive Director of the Winnipeg Music Festival, presented this choir with the John B. Somerset Shield for most outstanding performance by a Youth Community Choir, 16 years and under.
SJASD Senior Concert Choir
The SJASD Senior Concert Choir is composed of singers from Grades 9 to 12 and has established itself as one of Manitoba's leading youth choirs. Membership provides students with the opportunity to refine their musical abilities while collaborating with other talented musicians within the school division. The choir's repertoire is diverse and challenging, encompassing a variety of musical genres. In addition to regular rehearsals, the program includes a two-day camp where choristers prepare new material for the upcoming season. With approximately 60 members, the choir's season runs from September to May. Each year, the choir travels to perform in new and exciting locations, having previously toured cities such as Boston, New York, Toronto, Edmonton, and Minneapolis. The choir is passionate about performing a wide range of music and conveying the emotional depth of each song.
Awards and Honours. In late March, members of the SJASD Senior Concert Choir sang at the Winnipeg Music Festival and were chosen to perform at the Gala Concert. The choir was awarded:
- The Walter Klymkiw Trophy and Bursary Award
- The Lieutenant Governor's Award
- The Saults and Pollard Limited Shield
- The Caledonian Singers Peter Buchan Memorial Bursary
- The Winnipeg Mennonite Children's Choir Alumni Golden Era Bursary
In April of 2025, the choir traveled to Boston to participate in a Heritage festival. The choir was awarded a gold medal standing, the Adjudicator's Trophy for receiving a mark 95 per cent or higher (they earned a combined total of 98.7 per cent from the three adjudicators), and the Top Choir Award for the most outstanding choir of the festival.
Divisional Choir Camps
Every year, each Divisional Choir takes part in a comprehensive, immersive choral camp to promote skill development and team building. Here are the dates for the choir camps for the 2025–26 school year:
- Senior: October 1 to 3, 2025, Camp Cedarwood
- Junior: October 2 to 3, 2025, Camp Assiniboia
- Children's: October 8 to 9, 2025, Camp Assiniboia
Related Choral By-Laws
Download the outline of our By-Laws for all SJASD choirs.
