Detroit Youth Choir brings the holiday spirit to Emagine in Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK — To build excitement for the release of “The Color Purple,” the Detroit Youth Choir joined Royal Oak Emagine theater Dec. 17 to put on a holiday-themed performance in honor of the new movie that will open on Dec. 25.

Performing both songs from the movie and holiday classics for 30 minutes, the choir brought joy to the dozens who attended.

“It was very heartwarming, great for the season, and got me in the mood for Christmas,” Farmington Hills resident Maria Conliffe said after the show.

“The children were so talented. My favorite part was the number of singers, who were outstanding, and their enthusiasm for what they were doing,” she said.

The Detroit Youth Choir is a nonprofit program for children ages 8 to 18. Performing all around the world, the group has gained a lot of recognition.

The Detroit Youth Choir teaches kids from metro Detroit music education, dance and theatrical arts, and it gives kids the chance to perform around metro Detroit, nationally and internationally. 

Anthony White, artistic director for the DYC, said that performing in Royal Oak was a great way to connect with people. 

“The DYC represents Motown all day, every day,” White said. “We consider everyone family in this area.”

The kids have gone on to perform on stages as big as “America's Got Talent,” where the choir secured second place in 2019. Currently, the group is looking forward to its Disney+ docuseries, “Choir,” which will begin airing on Jan. 31. 

Viewers planning to watch the docuseries can expect to follow the kids and White in their daily lives as they prepare for a high-stakes performance. 

However, Disney+ is not the stopping point for this enthusiastic crew. A special group within the DYC called the “Primetime Choir” has been invited to Nairobi, Kenya, for a music festival. 

“We’re looking at between 35, 40 young people slated to travel,” White said. “The only thing is we need money to go, so if anybody out there would like to donate to the Africa trip, that would be awesome.”

The links for donations will be posted on the DYC website in the beginning of January. 

Auditions are also coming up on Jan. 6, and White encourages all young people to try out. He is looking for as many as he can get, preferably around 50 kids to join. 

For more information on the Detroit Youth Choir, donations and auditions, visit detroityouthchoir.org, facebook.com/detroityouthconcertchoir and follow the choir on Instagram @dycofficial and Twitter @DycOfficial.