“All a leaf knows about building a tree is to turn towards the light.”
Borrowed from James A. Pearson’s micro-poem, this philosophy anchors the upcoming feature concert by Ilumini, the Hamilton Children’s Choir premier ensemble. Under the direction of Melanie Tellez, the 40-voice choir will guide audiences through a global musical journey on Saturday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Augustine’s Parish (58 Sydenham St., Dundas).

The concert, titled “How To Build A Tree,” challenges both the performers and the audience to pause.
“I think ‘How To Build a Tree’ is ultimately a call to presence,” said Tellez. “Young people — really, all of us — spend so much time trying to construct a future that we forget everything meaningful begins in the present moment. The music in this program reflects that idea in many different ways.”

To capture this sense of immediacy, Ilumini’s program traces the lines of human tradition, grief, awe and resilience. The sprawling 22-piece program offers a rich tapestry of global sounds, with choristers weaving together stories and songs delivered across 15 languages and 13 cultural traditions, spanning Turtle Island, Europe, and Asia.

Audiences will experience a wide-ranging repertoire. The program features “Kahkiyaw Oskâyak” by Woodland Cree composer Sherryl Sewepagaham, alongside Malaysian-Canadian Tracy Wong’s “Wau Bulan,” and the third and fourth movements of Sarah Quartel’s “Snow Angel,” with cellist Phillip Darley. Standard choral literature is represented by Gabriel Fauré’s “Cantique de Jean Racine,” accompanied by organist Brent Fifield.

To elevate the storytelling, Tellez and Ilumini have partnered with Oakville choreographer Joanne Chow to introduce physical movement to three specific pieces: “Itken Pois (I Weep Away),” by Finland’s Anna-Mari Kähärä, “Tximeletak (Butterflies),” by Basque musician Eva Ugalde, and Lithuanian-Canadian Jonas (John) Govedas’s take on “Pasėjau dobilą (I Planted Clover).”
“In ‘Itken Pois,’ we’ve incorporated martial arts-inspired movement to embody emotional tension and release,” said Tellez. 
This program serves as a stepping-stone on Ilumini’s road to the 2026 World Symposium on Choral Music in Macau this August, where it holds the distinct honour of being the lone North American choir.

“The concert gives us an opportunity to present much of the repertoire we’ll eventually bring internationally, while continuing to deepen the storytelling, musical nuance, and ensemble connection behind the program,” said Tellez.