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GLASS Youth Choirs sings for a cure at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre

By Ashley Whillans, Arts Editor

any people raise money, but few
groups or organizations are as
inspirational as the Gay, Lesbian

and Supportive Singing (GLASS) Youth
Choir.

On April 25", 2009, this local
choir is hosting the event “Sing for the
Cure,” which will bring together singers,
performers and industry professionals at the
Queen Elizabeth theatre to raise money and
awareness about breast cancer through song
and storytelling.

The GLASS Youth Choir is a local
youth choir that takes prides in providing
a safe and supportive artistic environment
for any and all youth between the ages of
15-21.

Originally created by choir
director Carole Sirianni in response to a
discriminatory pepper spraying incident, the
non-auditioning, non-identifying GLASS
Youth Choir has been performing both
locally and internationally for the last eight
years, promoting a message of love and
understanding while entertaining audiences
all over North America.

After speaking with Amanda Walters, a
veteran performer, Douglas College student
and board member of the GLASS Youth

Choir, it is evident that not only this group
inspiring, but also extremely motivated.
The GLASS Youth Choir decided to

organize and undertake “Sing for the Cure”
which will have its Canadian debut at the
Queen Elizabeth theatre, after exploring
how their group might be able to reach out
and further help the community.

“GLASS Youth Theatre started as a
place where youth could feel comfortable
and accepted. At

GLASS, we believe we are fulfilling
our vision; we are making youth feel safe
and comfortable, so we wanted to take it
next step further, [and] go out there and

 

support other causes,” said Walters.

The Canadian premier of “Sing for
the Cure,” a musical exploration about the
physical and emotional effects of breast
cancer on an individual and their families
and communities, is the culmination of over
a year’s worth of work and hundreds of
volunteers, organizations and talents.

In addition to the work of the GLASS
Youth Choir over 200 other choral singers
from across North America will be
performing at the event as well as solo
performances by Dee Daniels, Sean Hosein,
James Knapp and Janet Warren. Narrators
for the event will include Valerie Jerome

and Jon Washburn, and the mistress of
ceremonies for the event will be CTV’s
Renu Bakshi.

All funds raised at the premier will
go to the BC Cancer Foundation, the
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and
the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global
Promise Fund. And, as the GLASS Youth
theatre is donating all of the money to these
organizations, it hopes to sell out the Queen
Elizabeth Theatre in order to raise as much
money and as much awareness as possible
for this important cause.

“Tt is important for youth especially,”
said Walters. “If youth don’t have to go
through having breast cancer [because of
the funds raised] that would be amazing.”

Without money for research, breast
cancer treatment would not have come as
far as it has in recent years, but with breast
cancer still affecting women and men
around the world it is important for money
to continue to be raised for this debilitation
illness.

Tickets are available through
Ticketmaster and range from $30-100, with
all proceeds going to charity. It is possible
to donate money on the website www.
glassyouthchoir.ca, and tax receipts will be
issues for donations over $25.

 

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