West End Children’s Choir

No. The choir is a community initiative sponsored by St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, but it is not a religious group and primarily sings secular music.

Musical Friends is for children age 3 through Grade 1. Singing Songbirds is for children in Grade 2 and older. Age ranges are a guide, and parents and directors may work together to determine the most suitable placement for an individual child.

We select new repertoire for the choir each term, with a focus on music written for young and developing voices. Our repertoire spans a wide range of genres, from traditional choral music and folk songs to show tunes and beloved children’s favourites.

For Musical Friends, a parent or guardian remains at rehearsal to support their child as needed.

Parents and guardians of children in Singing Songbirds are encouraged to remain in the designated parent seating area and may be asked to support their child if needed.

No. The West End Children’s Choir does not provide school pick-up or transportation. Parents and guardians are responsible for bringing children to rehearsal, checking them in, and collecting them afterward. Some families may choose to connect with one another to coordinate transportation or support with drop-off and pick-up.

Registration is $20 per child, per term. There are three terms each year. The fee helps offset choir expenses such as music, folders and supplies. If cost is a barrier, families are encouraged to contact music@standrewswesley.com.

Regular attendance is encouraged because choir is a group activity and rehearsals build on one another. However, the choir is intended to be flexible and low-barrier. Children are always welcome back after an absence. If a child misses many rehearsals, they may not be ready to participate in the next concert, but they are still welcome at rehearsals.

No. Performance opportunities are not mandatory, although the directors hope participating children will be able to sing in the term-end concerts.

The 2026–27 season includes three term-end concerts as well as optional performance opportunities.

We want every child to be able to participate with the supports they need to feel comfortable, included and successful in choir. If your child would benefit from accommodations or additional support, we warmly encourage you to speak with the directors so that we can work together on an appropriate plan. The directors may not always know in advance what support a child needs or what approaches work best for them, so sharing relevant information with us can help us support your child’s participation as thoughtfully and effectively as possible.

No. Families are welcome to participate in one, two, or all three terms. We ask families to indicate which terms they currently anticipate joining to help us plan, but we understand that schedules and circumstances can change over the course of the year.

Email is the primary communication channel. Families can generally expect a weekly rehearsal reminder, as well as information about performances, special events and schedule changes.

If a rehearsal must be cancelled at the last minute because of illness, weather or another unexpected circumstance, families are notified by email only, so parents should check their email before leaving for rehearsal.