KW Glee is BACK!

November 8, 2021

KW Glee Youth Pop Choir Returns To The Stage

Auditions open to Youth Ages 12 to 20 until November 30

Monday, November 8, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The region’s best young voices will finally soar on stage again in 2022 after two years away from singing and performing together. Auditions are now open for the winter term. Aspiring young singers ages 12 to 20 are invited to submit a video audition anytime before November 30 for consideration. The award-winning pop choir will resume in-person rehearsals on January 15 with performances scheduled for May 19 to 21 at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts in Kitchener.

Renowned as one of Canada’s best youth performance groups, KW Glee has gained national recognition since its inception in 2010. The group has won multiple awards including the Grand Champion title, Best Vocals, Best Choreography, Best Show Design, and Best New Choir at Show Choir Canada. In addition to their bi-annual term concerts, the popular group has also had the opportunity to perform at a variety of shows including concerts with the KW Symphony, a special guest performance at the Waterloo Region Arts Awards, and as the headlining act for the City of Kitchener’s New Year’s Eve event, among other notable events.

Known for their powerful voices, incredible harmonies, and full-throttle choreography, KW Glee is different from other youth choirs. The group combines the best voices from schools across Waterloo Region and beyond; participants meet fellow music-lovers from all over the area and make new friends who also love to sing, dance, and perform popular music. Students work together for 12 to 14 weeks rehearsing on Monday nights and Saturdays culminating in a two-hour concert packed with everything from throwback medleys from the 60s, 70s, and 80s to contemporary Top 40 hits made famous by Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, and many other major artists.

The group has proven to be an amazing training ground for up-and-coming artists. Notable alumni include Canadian pop singers Delaney Jane, Quinton Barnes, JSJ, Tanya Rivero, and Keenan Smits; indie/folk artists Cole Allen, CJ Cooper, and Elliot Anton of the popular band Safe As Houses; and country singer Katy Topham, as well as many professional actors, musical theatre artists, and musicians including AJ Bridel, Joel Cumber, Jessi Elgood, Ethan Kast, Erik Larson, Laura Larson, Dan Mousseau, Sarah Nairne, Ben Skipper, Samuel Soga, Kez Vicario-Robinson, Emily Weir, and many others.

In addition to their musical successes, KW Glee is also known as a leadership group. The organization has helped foster community consciousness in its members, actively working on inclusion and anti-bullying efforts, and raising money for several local causes including the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Waterloo Region, the KOOL FM Poster Boy Campaign, ToastyToes Waterloo Region Fund, the Farwell For Hire Cystic Fibrosis campaign, and other important charitable efforts.

KW Glee was in the middle of rehearsing for its spring show in March of 2020 when concerns over COVID-19 brought the group’s plans to a halt. Rehearsals were continually postponed with the hope of resuming in time to perform that May, but eventually, everything was cancelled as government-mandated closures and restrictions remained in place for an extended period of time. The participants remained resilient aiming for a return in the fall of 2020. When that return was also delayed, significant mental health concerns began arising among some kids.

“Our group is a safe space for kids who may not have found a community elsewhere. The energy and connection they get from being together, singing, dancing, and performing the music they love is an essential part of their identity and sense of belonging,” says Artistic Director Amanda Kind. “Many kids have been struggling because they feel so isolated from the people and activities that they love. We’ve done our best to offer some online classes and performance opportunities, but nothing can replace being in person and rehearsing and performing together. As expected, the performing arts are one of the last in-person activities to return, and we are so grateful that that moment is finally here. Our kids need this.”

Since the disruption to their regular in-person operations, KW Glee has offered online classes in vocal performance, music theory, music production, dance, and songwriting to keep kids engaged and working on their skills. The group has also worked together to create some special video performances. Their version of “O Canada” released on July 1, 2020 has been viewed almost 100,000 times on YouTube; it’s been released to major music streaming services and is regularly played at schools around the region and beyond. During this time, they also released a number of cover videos including “Walk Me Home” by P!nk, “Somebody You Loved “ by Lewis Capaldi, “The Joke” by Brandi Carlisle, “SING” by The Pentatonix, and “I’m A Believer” by The Monkees. Most notably, the group has released two original songs over the last 24 months including a special Christmas tune called “Stay Home For The Holidays,” and a song written for the City of Kitchener’s Mayoral Address last March called “We Got This.”

KW Glee was founded in 2010 by Artistic Director Amanda Kind and Music Director and Producer Steve Lehmann. Original music has always been a huge part of KW Glee, and the group has worked with many professional songwriters including multiple Juno and CCMA-nominated artists Jamie Warren and Giselle Sanderson, as well as CMA Ontario Producer of the Year Jason Barry, singer-songwriter JP Sunga, Mark Pelli from the hit Canadian group Magic!, Stephen Sparrow from the British group Morning Parade, and others. KW Glee’s music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, and other streaming platforms.

Video auditions for term 22 are open from now through November 30. More details about KW Glee including rehearsal details, audition guidelines, and more are available at www.kwglee.com/auditions-term-22/.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Steve Lehmann, ProducerPhone: (519) 505-4947 | kwgleemusic@gmail.com