The Youth Singers of Calgary annual concert at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium is just around the corner, and the theme of this year’s show is inviting audiences into the big dreams of young performers.

That is to say, a million dreams.

SPARK: One Life, A Million Dreams, is being held this May 6 at 7 p.m., representing a culmination of nearly a year’s work for many of the performers that range from students in Grade 3 up to young adults.

“It’s a jam-packed stage of singing and dance, with a beautiful storyline,” said Youth Singers of Calgary (YSC) CEO Megan Emmett.

“The storyline is about how one idea, one dream, when one spark can change so many things for other people and grow into something big and beautiful.”

Emmett said that there would be a wide variety of songs performed, from concert classics to modern pop—including a youth doing an a capella take on a Harry Styles song that audiences should really forward to.

She said that they were encouraging alumni who haven’t connected recently with YSC to get in touch.

“It’s really going to be a giant celebration of the power of music and creativity to create a community,” Emmett said.

Tickets for SPARK: One Life, A Million Dreams are available through the YSC website at www.youthsingers.org/performances.

An opportunity to perform on one of Canada’s premiere stages

Planning for the annual performance began in July of last year, and singers began practicing in September.

“In addition to that, is countless hours of volunteer time from families, working on wardrobe sets, props, supporting the kids in other ways to make sure they’re ready for this show so it’s truly an incredible production,” said Emmett.

“It just takes a whole community to get ready for the stage.”

She said that the Jubilee Auditorium is a real part of the culture here in Calgary, and in Canada, and that it’s a gift to children and youth to let them say they’ve performed there.

“When they ever go to see a show with the Jubilee they know, they have empathy a bit more with the performers,” Emmett said.

“You know, we’re building the art audiences of the future here with really a new kind of literacy of what it means to be a performer and what it means to appreciate what goes on in these big productions.”