RHP Youth Choir Makes History at the 2026 Unison Festival
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
This spring, the Rainbow Harmony Project Youth Choir travelled to Vancouver for the 2026 Unison Choruses Festival — and made history as the first queer youth choir ever to perform at Unison.
For many of our singers, this was their first national festival and their first time stepping into a space filled with hundreds of 2SLGBTQIA+ singers from across the country. From the moment they arrived, the Youth Choir was met with warmth, excitement, and genuine celebration. Choirs from coast to coast welcomed them with open arms, eager to cheer on a group of young singers whose presence represented something new, and long overdue in the Canadian choral community.
One singer reflected on the significance of the moment:
“As one of the only queer youth choirs in Canada, I think this is really important. The amount of adults who just kept coming up to us and saying how much they wished they had this when they were younger was really special… Whether we do this big of a festival again, or a smaller one, it’s important to show that we’re here. I love participating with other choirs too!”
Throughout the weekend, the Youth Choir attended workshops, connected with other choruses, and experienced what it means to be part of a national queer choral network. They sang, laughed, learned, and came home with an even stronger sense of connection to one another.
Another singer summed up the experience simply and powerfully:
“Unison was probably the best few days of my life. That is not an exaggeration. Thank you to everyone who made that possible.”
Their performance was more than a musical moment — it was a statement of visibility, courage, and joy. For queer youth to stand on a national stage and be celebrated not just for their voices, but for who they are, is something that resonated deeply with audiences and fellow choruses alike.
This milestone marks a new chapter for queer youth choral music in Manitoba and across Canada. The RHP Youth Choir showed what is possible when young people are given space to thrive, to be themselves, and to share their voices proudly.
We are incredibly proud of every singer who stepped onto that stage and helped make history.
Rainbow Harmony Project extends its gratitude to Canada Council for the Arts, Sing Canada Harmony, and Unison Choruses Canada for providing funding support for the RHP Youth Choir’s participation in the Unison Festival.
Support the RHP Youth Choir
The Youth Choir is entirely donor‑supported, and experiences like Unison — experiences that build confidence, connection, and community — are only possible because people believe in them.
If you’d like to help us keep this program accessible for all young singers, you can make a gift to the RHP Youth Choir:
Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue offering a safe, joyful, identity‑affirming space for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to sing, grow, and be celebrated.