Cantus Youth Choirs was founded in 2010 by Erika McCauley. Since then, Cantus Youth Choirs has grown and evolved into Idaho’s largest community youth choral program. Cantus has served thousands of youth from Idaho’s Treasure Valley. Cantus singers have delighted tens of thousands of audience members through live performances, music videos, and recordings.
Enrollment Count
A cumulative total of enrollments since 2010.
Performances
How many times Cantus has hit the stage.
Audience Count
Guests who have attended a live performance.
Enrollment by year
How has Cantus Youth Choirs grown semester over semester since it’s inception in 2010? Note: 07.2 refers to Season 7, semester 2.
Semester Summaries
What has Cantus Youth Choirs done over the years? Note: 07.2 refers to Season 7, semester 2.
| Semester | Summary |
|---|---|
| 13.2 | Cantus Youth Choirs presents their season finale concert BRAVE at NNU. Featuring guest vocalists Carrie Scott and returning artist Luke Lords. |
| 13.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs presents their winter concert at NNU, THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS, featuring vocalists Elizabeth Pike Murdock and Rick Murdock and organist Patrick Franks. |
| 12.2 | Our first live concert in 3 semesters! The pandemic restrictions have been eased and Cantus is back in business! Cantus presents their season finale concert at NNU, THE HUMAN HEART featuring vocalist Allison Linton. |
| 12.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs cautiously returns from pandemic restrictions by renting out an entire movie theater to present their SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN theatrical premiere! After three months of rehearsals, recording, and filming, Cantus released three music videos and singles: MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS; SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN, featuring Patch Crowe; and O HOLY NIGHT, featuring Melissa Heath. These three music videos, in addition to favorite performances from the last 10 years were presented on the big screen at a red carpet event at the Eagle Luxe Reel Theatre in Eagle, Idaho. |
| 11.2 | With pandemic restrictions still in effect, Cantus rehearsed their pop ensembles in an unfinished retail space with masks and social distancing. VoiceOver finished filming RAIN and released a single and music video of RAIN and a music video and single of COURAGE TO CHANGE. Bella Visi released a single and music video of Laruen Daigle's RESCUE. Fortis released a single and music video of King & Country's BURN THE SHIPS. Contessa released a single and music video of RISE. |
| 11.1 | Due to the pandemic and shutdown protocols, Cantus Youth Choirs pivoted to accommodate. Cantus shut down their large ensembles and rehearsed 4 small ensembles outside, in the dark, with masks, with social distancing in place for September, October, and November. VoiceOver recorded audio and filmed half of their music video RAIN, Bella Visi released a single of SPEECHLESS from Aladdin, Contessa released their single LONGER, and Fortis released their single SUPERHEROES. |
| 10.2 | Due to the pandemic and shutdowns in mid March of 2019, Cantus cancelled their 10 year anniversary Season Finale Concert. For two years leading up to this season 10 finale concert, Cantus had been creating a virtual choir presentation featuring current and alumni members. This virtual choir music video was going to be presented at the Season 10 celebration concert. In lieu of a live concert, Cantus presented a YouTube premiere of HOPE WILL LEAD US ON, with submissions from over 300 current and alumni members. |
| 10.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs celebrates their 10 year anniversary with 10 YEARS OF CANTUS at their Winter Concert. Performing favorites from the last 10 years, Cantus brought back guest artist Melissa Heath. Also featured organist Laura Toland. |
| 09.2 | Cantus Youth Choirs presents their season finale, HOME: A TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN MUSIC, featuring Rachel Dickerson and fiddler Malinda DeBry and the Boise River Band. |
| 09.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs presented GLOW, their Winter Concert at NNU. This concert featured soprano Sharon Davis, organist David Young, and ASL interpreter Carlee Baldwin. |
| 08.2 | Cantus Youth Choirs toured to Oregon and presented YOU WILL BE FOUND, a concert benefitting Liberty House of Salem Oregon. Choirs from McNary High School (Joshua Rist), Sprague High School (David Brown), Whiteaker Middle School (Andrew Thomas) performed. Cantus Youth Choirs also presented the Season Finale Concert 75 YEARS OF GREAT MUSIC at NNU, featuring sister trio Amanda Crabb, Cassie Crabb Brimhall, Sara Marie Crabb Gardner. |
| 08.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs presents the Winter Concert at NNU, featuring soprano Jennifer Welch-Babidge and husband baritone Darrell Babidge. Also featuring organist Dallin Baldwin and ALS Interpreter Carlee Baldwin. |
| 07.2 | Cantus Youth Choirs toured to Los Angeles, performing at a Heritage Festival. Cantus presented the Season Finale at NNU, featuring guest artist Michelle Pedersen. Ms. Pedersen was a featured guest artist for Cantus, and then was hired by Cantus as a director. This concert was her final concert with Cantus as she is leaving to pursue a masters and doctorate degrees in Utah. |
| 07.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs presented their Winter Concert at NNU with featured mezzo soprano Michele Detwiler and her tenor husband Jason Detwiler, resident artists at Opera Idaho. |
| 06.2 | Cantus Youth Choirs toured to Salt Lake City, Utah and presented a benefit concert for the Pugh Family, a family that had recently adopted a child with special needs from China. This concert was held at the First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City and included performances from Consortium, Utah Valley University Women’s Chorus, Melissa Heath, Kacee Mickelsen, Mike Leavitt, and Shane Mickelsen. At the Cathedral of the Rockies Concert Series, VoiceOver was invited to perform a full 30 minute set of contemporary a cappella selections. Cantus Youth Choirs and Borah High School hosted Brigham Young University's all female contemporary a cappella ensemble Noteworthy. And Cantus presented its Season Finale at NNU, featuring guest soprano Kacee Cambron Mickelsen. |
| 06.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs presented their Winter Concert at NNU, featuring tenor David Carlson and organist David Young. |
| 05.2 | Cantus Youth Choirs sang backup for Jim Brickman at The Morrison Center. Cantus also commissioned Craig Courtney to compose "The Image of God," the theme song of their season finale concert, a tribute to people with special needs. A music video was recorded at Harvest Church in Meridian and released on YouTube. The Season Finale concert was presented at Harvest Church in Meridian in two parts: A Tribute to People with Special Needs, with the worldwide debut of "The Image of God;" with part two featuring one-hit numbers and featured guest vocalist Duane Reno and vocal percussionist Adam Heimbigner. |
| 05.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs presented the Winter Concert at NNU. |
| 04.2 | Cantus presented the Spring Concert at Borah High School with guest choirs from Borah High School (directed by Heather Ray, and the Chamber Singers from the College of Idaho (directed by Brent Wells). Cantus also presented Songs of Hope a benefit concert for Courtney Atack, a mother with a terminal disease, featuring Courtney Atack and choirs from McNary High School, Whiteaker Middle School and Straub Middle School at Salem Alliance Church in Salem, Oregon. The Finale Concert was presented at Bora High School and featured the Borah HIgh School Jazz Ensemble and guest artist, Allison Linton. |
| 04.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs presented the Winter Concert at Borah High School with featured artist Heather Ray and guest choirs Ars Nova and Tactus of Borah High School. |
| 03.2 | Cantus presented the Spring Concert at NNU featuring Luke Lords and the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale, directed by Jim Jirak. The Finale Concert was presented at NNU featuring guest artist Michelle Pedersen. |
| 03.1 | Cantus Youth Choirs co-presented Amy Whitcomb at The Cathedral of the Rockies Concert Series and then presented their Winter Concert at NNU, featuring Rex Kocherhans and Tad Harris. |
| 02.2 | Cantus presented a pre-tour Bon Voyage concert at The Cathedral of the Rockies and presented Songs of Hope, a benefit concert at South Salem High School in Oregon. Cantus hosted Male Ensemble Northwest again at Centennial Performance Arts Center. Cantus presented their Finale concert at NNU, featuring Amy Whitcomb and Jake Justice. |
| 02.1 | Cantus outgrew the sanctuary at Cathedral of the Rockies and moved their Winter Concert to NNU, featuring Melissa Heath. |
| 01.2 | Cantus hosted Male Ensemble Northwest at Centennial Performing Arts Center; Brigham Young University's all male contemporary a cappella ensemble Vocal Point at Meridian Middle School. Cantus presented their pre-tour Bon Voyage concert at The Cathedral of the Rockies, and did a Heritage Festival at Fullerton College in Anaheim. Cantus presented their Finale concert at The Cathedral of the Rockies, featuring Cassie Crabb, Keith McCauley, Taylor Olson, Michelle Pedersen, Kelsey Pratt, ,and Laina Walker. |
| 01.1 | Cantus launched its first semester with rehearsals and an "informance" at Compass Charter School. Its first Winter Concert was a sold out performance at The Cathedral of the Rockies, featuring Tiffany Calas and Michael Boney. Cantus hosted Brigham Young University's all female contemporary a cappella ensemble Noteworthy at Mountain View High School. |