The OZY Youth Choir Honouring Defence Service, Inc. (OYC) is a non-profit organisation and one of the leading regional online choirs in Australia. Nationally-recognised for commemoration and youth leadership through the arts, they bring music and history together to inspire and develop young leaders with a focus on commemoration, education and welfare. They bring civilians, First Nations, veterans and current serving defence families in regional, remote and rural areas together locally and online through the arts. The OYC is a national (and now international!) choir giving everyone a place to belong (regardless of where they are posted) and a place to shine.
The young people of the choir come from all over Australia and perform both online and in person in their local Choir Mobs with many becoming professional musicians, performers and music teachers in their own right. When not in lockdown, they practice online and travel to perform for local, national and international events. They are a seriously fun choir with a heart, bringing the spirit of the Aussie bush to the stage whenever they perform.
Celebrating 10 Years 2014-2024, The Choir’s theme for 2024 is “Emerging Voices”. Working closely with First Nations people and our partner, Making Peas/ce Founder, Hazel Davies, we are seeking to walk both the Peace Poppy and Desert Pea (Aboriginal flower of Remembrance) together to commemorate those who have both died for our country and on our country. In this 10th Anniversary year, we continue to focus on ways to bring young people together to respectfully tell our stories, accept our stories and write a new story together.