Singing for the Planet: Edmonton young Voices Confront Climate Change
April 23, 2026
A recent CBC News feature highlights how members of Edmonton Young Voices are channeling their concerns about climate change into music.
In the article, young singers speak candidly about the emotional weight they carry. One chorister describes feeling “overwhelmed” by the constant stream of environmental news, while others reflect on a shared sense of uncertainty about the future. These experiences, often described as eco-anxiety, are becoming increasingly common among youth.
The article also points to a research study, which suggests that singing in a choir can offer a constructive outlet for processing climate grief. By coming together in a shared creative space, participants are able to express complex emotions that are often difficult to articulate on their own. Hannah Bayne, a PhD student at the University of Alberta, explains that eco-anxiety and climate grief are well-documented issues. “It's these feelings of stress and worry around the future,” said Bayne, 25. “And the feelings of loss and of sadness for the things that we see changing in our environment.”
The Edmonton Young Voices’ artistic director, Lyndsey Olsen, emphasizes the unique impact of music. “I do think music can touch people in a way that maybe a news story or just a conversation may not."
Guided by this belief, she created the 100-minute program Pale Blue Dot, a performance that explores our relationship with the natural world, moving from moments of joy and wonder to deeper reflection and responsibility, and featuring an original work by Sheila Wright.
She also shared that one of the “coolest parallels” between climate change and choral singing is how, week after week, choir members experience their individual voices blending into something larger than themselves.
This spirit of shared voice continues in their upcoming collaboration with JUNO awardee Pro Coro Canada, where music becomes a powerful response to the climate crisis. Read the full CBC article here.
Watch the Edmonton Young Voices perform with Edmonton’s professional choir, Pro Coro Canada, on May 31, Ice: Voices for a Frozen World, in a moving concert exploring climate change and our shared future.
