History

VoiceOver of Cantus Youth Choirs performed at the Cancer Research Fundraiser and Fashion Show for the St. Alphonsus Festival of Trees at Boise Centre at noon on Monday, December 2, 2024. The ballroom was filled to capacity with just over 1,000 guests. VoiceOver performed, Mary, Did You Know? and Up on the Housetop to an enthusiastic audience. VoiceOver was requested to perform at 5 additional events this season that we had to turn down.

Cantus Youth Choirs performed their Season 15 Winter Concert, SEE AMID THE WINTER SNOW at NNU's Brandt Center on Saturday, December 14 to a nearly sold out audience. Annie Roberts made her debut as an on-stage director, directing Virtuoso's performance of the French carol, Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?

Guest artist and mezzo-soprano Aubrey Adams-McMillan performed the Habanera from CARMEN (receiving a standing ovation), Silent Night, Angels We Have Heard On High (with Concordia and Virtuoso), and O Holy Night (with the combined choirs). Guest organist Eric McKirdy performed solos: Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella and Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming. McKirdy accompanied on Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing, Angels We Have Heard On High, and O Holy Night.

Cantus Youth Choirs presented DREAMS COME TRUE to a sold out audience for our Season 14 Finale spectacular! Cantus wowed audiences with 48 scenes of music from Disney films. Taylor Olson and JP Laing were our featured guest artists, and both reprised their roles as Pocahontas and Rapunzel and Flynn Rider and Sebastian the Crab from Disneyland in Anaheim! This concert featured nearly 320 young performers and instrumentalists, special effects, lighting, and our first ever LED light wall! A 35 foot LED wall was installed behind the performers and served up custom backdrops for each number.

Following the Season Finale spectacular, VoiceOver released a music video of BELIEVE, arranged by Keith McCauley and Annie Roberts, featuring Ella Hessing.

VoiceOver of Cantus Youth Choirs performed I AIN'T WORRIED, BELIEVE, and RATHER BE for the Idaho Chapter of the American Choral Director's Association's (IDACDA) Fall 2023 Conference at the Cathedral of The Rockies on October 7, 2023.

Cantus Youth Choirs was invited to sing with Jenny Oaks Baker on her JOY TO THE WORLD tour to the Morrison Center on November 28, 2023. Cantus invited members from the Treasure Valley to join them and mustered a choir of 160 singers. The choir sang 6 pieces: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH; O COME, O COME EMMANUEL; THE WEXFORD CAROL; DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR; CAROL OF THE BELLS; and FAR, FAR AWAY ON JUDEA'S PLAINS. Cantus performed with Jenny Oaks Baker, Family Four, Alex Sharpe (former Celtic Woman soprano), bagpipers, Irish dancers, and ballet dancers.

Cantus Youth Choirs also produced IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER, the Season 14 Winter Concert at NNU's Brandt Center on December 9, 2023, featuring guest artists Michelle Pedersen (soprano) and Patrick Franks (organ).

Cantus Youth Choirs presents their season finale concert BRAVE at Northwest Nazarene University's Brandt Center. This concert featured songs about determination, grit, and perseverance. Featuring guest vocalists Carrie Scott and returning artist Luke Lords.

Cantus Youth Choirs was invited to collaborate with Gentri, and sang backup on Ave Maria, Mary's Boy Child, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Silent Night at the GENTRI CHRISTMAS concert at The Egyptian Theatre in Boise. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cantus Youth Choirs presented GLOW, their Winter Concert at NNU. This concert featured soprano Sharon Davis, organist David Young, and ASL interpreter Carlee Baldwin.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cantus Youth Choirs presented their Winter Concert at NNU, featuring tenor David Carlson and organist David Young.

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.

Celebrating five years of Cantus Youth Choirs, Cantus presents the Winter Concert at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cantus outgrew the sanctuary at Cathedral of the Rockies and moved their Winter Concert to NNU, featuring Melissa Heath.

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.

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.