Kids Choir in North York for Ages 10–14: Meet YRYO Junior Choir Conductor Nóra Guncz
Updated: Oct 27
Looking for a kids choir in North York or York Region? The York Region Youth Choir is the new choral program of York Region Youth Orchestra (YRYO), a registered charity. Our Junior Choir is for singers ages 10 to 14 and rehearses every Thursday evening in North York with professional conductor Nóra Guncz. Registration for the 2026–2027 season is open now.
Many parents tell us the same thing: their child loves to sing, but a school choir meets rarely, and private voice lessons can feel lonely. A good youth choir sits in between. It gives young singers real training, a weekly routine, and the joy of making music with other kids their age.
Meet the Conductor: Nóra Guncz
The heart of any children's choir is the person in front of it. Nóra Guncz is a music educator, choral conductor and singer with more than a decade of teaching experience, from toddlers to adults.
Bachelor's degree in Orchestra and Choral Conducting (2012) and Master's degree in Music Education (2015) from the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, one of the world's great music schools.
From 2015 to 2023, professional director of the "Kodály Point" music program at the Liszt Institute, Hungarian Cultural Center in Beijing.
From 2023 to 2025, founding music educator of the Kodály Music Centre in Toronto.
Currently Music Director at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Parish in Toronto, and Choral Director of the YRYO Choir.
Member of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and a frequent presenter of Kodály-based masterclasses and workshops in Hungary, China and Canada.
What Is the Kodály Approach, and Why Does It Help Young Singers?
Nóra's teaching is rooted in the Kodály method, a Hungarian approach to music education built on the idea that the voice is everyone's first instrument. Children learn to hear music before they read it. They sing, match pitch, feel the beat, and copy melodies by ear. Reading and theory grow naturally from there.
For a 10 to 14 year old, this means more than learning songs for a concert. It builds a musical ear that helps with any instrument they play now or later, and it builds the confidence to sing in front of others.
Junior Choir at a Glance: Ages 10–14 in North York
Who: Junior Choir, ages 10 to 14.
When: Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Season runs October 2026 to June 2027.
Where: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, 432 Sheppard Ave E, North York, ON M2N 3B7. Easy to reach from Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Markham, Vaughan and Toronto.
Performances: two major concerts each season, plus community outreach performances.
Season fee: $999 + tax (October 2026 to June 2027). It covers the conductor and pianist, all sheet music and learning materials, weekly rehearsal venue rental, and full concert production costs. Joining mid-season? Email info@yryo.ca for fee details.
How Choir Auditions Work
Auditions are friendly and short. They are held year-round by appointment, on Thursdays at 6:00 PM before rehearsal, at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. The audition fee is $50 + HST. Your child will be asked to:
Sing one prepared song of their choice, in any genre.
Try a few pitch-matching exercises (ear training).
Respond to a basic rhythm and beat test.
Sing some scales so we can find their vocal range.
Listen to a short melody and sing it back.
No previous choir experience is required. We are listening for curiosity and a willingness to learn, not perfection. To request a time, fill out the Youth Choir Audition Form.
Part of a Bigger Youth Music Community in York Region
The choir is part of York Region Youth Orchestra, a registered charity that is home to about 60 student musicians. Our youth orchestra rehearses on Mondays at Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church, 10066 Yonge St, Richmond Hill. This December, YRYO musicians will play The Nutcracker live with Victoria Ballet Company at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, on December 12 at 6 PM and December 13 at 2 PM.
Singers in our choir grow up around live music, real concerts and young musicians who take their craft seriously. That is the kind of environment where a love of music lasts.
Ready to Join the York Region Youth Choir?
Registration for the 2026–2027 season is open. Book a Junior Choir audition, learn more on the Youth Choir program page, or reach us at info@yryo.ca or (647) 949-1471. If you would like to help more young people make music, you can support YRYO here.
York Region Youth Orchestra | Registered Charity BN 77146 8428 RR0001
Comments