TWO YPCs ARE BETTER THAN ONE!

YPC Expands Nationally!
Introducing the Young People’s Chorus of Erie, PA.

In January of 2009, rehearsals will begin for YPC’s very first affiliate: the Young People’s Chorus of Erie, in residence at The Behrend College of Penn State Erie’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Jason Bishop, director of choral activities at the college, has taken on the role of Founder/Artistic Director for YPC Erie.

“As the YPC has demonstrated for 20 years in New York, bringing together children with diverse backgrounds is a powerful force that builds unity, community and long-lasting friendships,” said Dr. Bishop. “Until now, students in northwest Pennsylvania may have had great experiences singing in local school or church choirs, but, typically, that exposes them only to children with similar backgrounds.”

When the chorus kicks off rehearsals in January, they will have 100 choristers in three divisions: an elementary chorus for children 7 to 10; a middle school chorus for ages 10 to 14; and high school chorus for teens ages 14 to 18.

The Young People’s Chorus of Erie will also be a special guest at YPC’s 8th annual Honor Chorus Festival in New York on March 28. (Honor Chorus, a fun day of singing and friendship, is open to any interested young women ages 12-18 and young men ages 11-18. For more information, click here.)

“We hope the creation of Young People’s Chorus of Erie is just the first step in a long-held dream to expand the successes of the YPC model to children in other cities,” said Mr. Nunez, “to demonstrate the often untapped capabilities of children of all backgrounds.”

Indeed.

FILL THEIR STOCKINGS WITH YPC’s DEBUT HOLIDAY CD

CoolSide of Yuletide, YPC’s new CD of upbeat, urban carols, is now available for your holiday listening pleasure.

As mentioned in the title, CoolSide of Yuletide is well... cool. YPC Artistic Director and Founder Francisco Núñez and composer Jim Papoulis put a unique twist on holiday favorites like “Deck the Halls,” “Drummer Boy,” “Joy to the World,” and “Let It Snow.” The CD also includes original songs such as “How Many Christmasaes,” recorded by YPC, Rosanne Cash and choirs from around the globe and “Where Are My Angels,” featuring YPC and American Idol Finalist Phil Stacey.

The idea for the CD began when a television network asked YPC sing “upbeat and cool” carols on a holiday program. “Nothing I found was cool enough,” said Mr. Núñez, “so with Jim Papoulis we decided to create our own.”

“Our goal for Coolside of Yuletide was to shake the tree,” explains Jim Papoulis, “giving these carols a cool, young vibe that are enjoyable to singers and listeners alike.”

WHAT A GREAT GIFT IDEA!

Visit coolsideofyuletide.com to hear tracks, learn more or to purchase this fun and exciting CD.

You'll enjoy amazing holiday music and feel good knowing that you've supported the Young People’s Chorus of New York City™ and The Foundation for Small Voices, two non-profit organizations dedicated to creating music and mentoring opportunities for children. And that's the coolest part of all.

YPC JOINS JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER!

Young People’s Chorus of New York City™ has begun a new relationship with Jazz at Lincoln Center as its first chorus in residence at its home, Frederick P. Rose Hall, located at Broadway at 60th Street, New York City.

Gail Beltrone, Vice President of Frederick P. Rose Hall, home to Jazz at Lincoln Center says, “We are delighted and excited to welcome the Young People’s Chorus of New York City and Francisco Núñez to the Jazz at Lincoln Center family. We think they will be a tremendous asset to an already bustling facility.”

YPC continues in residence at the 92nd Street Y, where it has been for the past 11 years, and at WNYC, New York public radio, where it has been the resident chorus since 2003.

EXPERIENCE EVERY STOP ON THE F TRAIN – IN FIVE MINUTES!

In 2007, as part of our Transient Glory concert series, YPC premiered Michael Gordon’s “Every Stop on the F Train.” It returned in 2008 in a new format—a music and film collaboration by Michael Gordon and Bill Morrison. The Los Angeles Times called their work "dazzling." We have to agree.

(Click image to view the film.)
“Every Stop on the F Train”

Music (2007) by Michael Gordon
Text from the NYC subway stations
Film by Bill Morrison
Commissioned (2007) by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City

THE MAKING OF
"EVERY STOP ON THE F TRAIN"

Michael Gordon on creating the music:
“What’s more urban than the subway? When Francisco J. Núñez asked me to write a piece for Transient Glory, I immediately thought of all the stops that whiz by us as we sit on the train waiting to arrive at our destination. The A train has the longest route, but I think the F has the best sounding stops. I also like that the F starts in Jamaica, Queens, and ends in Coney Island, Brooklyn. I organized the piece in three sections corresponding to the boroughs the F Train travels through. Every Stop on the F Train starts with a single melody in Queens, splits into a 2-part canon (at the eighth note) when it arrives in Manhattan and then into a 4-part canon (at the quarter note) when it arrives in Brooklyn. New Yorkers will note that some of the stops actually have 2 names (42 Street/Times Square); in those cases, I chose only one.”

Bill Morrison on creating the film:
“When I was approached about making a film for the piece, I did not hesitate to accept. When I began filming, I realized there were several complications with shooting on the subway. Firstly, it was illegal. Secondly, there were other people on the subway who may or may not like being filmed. Thirdly, the subway did not provide a smooth ride. And fourthly, each and every inch of glass in the entire subway system is covered with scratches and scrawls. I found a tripod that clamped to the poles inside the car provided the stability a conventional tripod could not. I discovered that either New Yorkers didn’t mind being filmed, or they were just too darn polite to say so. And I learned to like all the scratches on the windows. I was not able to resolve the legality issue.

“So I tried clamping the camera between the subway cars, figuring at least my camera would be out of the way. In so doing, I found my protagonist: the spring connecting two cars, which moves with acceleration of the car ahead of it. As this flying coil navigated the city, I felt like each station pulled the next one through the frames of my film, just as the voices of the YPC pull Michael’s measures along. They were exhilarating rides from Queens to Brooklyn and back. A homeless guy once asked me if I was all right, and I assured him that everything was going great.

“I was eventually collared by an MTA cop (and not by the two seen on the 42nd Street platform in the film). I explained to him that it was the camera that had been riding between the cars, not me. And furthermore, that the camera had only filmed the platforms lining the subway, not the subway itself. He gave me a ticket for riding between the cars, but not for filming on the subway. I thanked him for not busting my chops too bad. To my surprise, he thanked me for not busting his chops too bad as well.”

YPC CANTARE DIVISION TRAVELS TO BRITISH COLUMBIA…

INTERNATIONAL CHORAL KATHAUMIXW
POWELL RIVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
JUNE 29-JULY 7, 2008

The YPC Cantare division arrived in Powell River, British Columbia on Tuesday July 1, after 3 days of travel and rehearsal in Vancouver. Thirty-seven choristers ages 10-14 had traveled to participate in their first international competition and festival: The International Choral Kathaumixw. For many of these children, it was their first time away from mom, first time on a plane, and first time in another country!

When we left they were most excited about the things most children were excited about: sleeping with their friends in a hotel room, swimming, watching movies on the bus. They quickly forgot about those things when we arrived at the festival. We were one of the youngest choirs at the festival, the least experienced, and proud to be representing the diversity of New York City. The choristers’ focus soon turned to two goals: 1. making friends with children from other choirs and 2. making their performances—both in competition and in concerts—the very best they could be.
Each of our community concerts were sold out. Our second concert was completed with a standing ovation and encore and as the children boarded the bus to return to their hotel room, the audience continued to applaud them in the parking lot. Cantare’s competition performances were equally as enticing, filled with difficult programming and diversity in song selections and the chorus came off the stage feeling elated about their accomplishments. Community members of Powell River complimented their musicality where ever they went. Other conductors commented on the extraordinary venture of bringing a choruses “intermediate” ensemble to such an event.
The first day, choristers learned a singing game from the Surrey Youth Chorus—a young women’s choir—called “Run, run, my baby.” Our choristers then proceeded to invite all the other choirs to play along. The game requires everyone to make a big circle (you can have as many or as few play as you like) and some members run in the middle of the circle and dance, choosing others to take their place. YPC quickly became friends with every choir from the South African Youth Chorus to the Kotori Children’s Choir from Japan to the Seattle Girls’ Chorus.

During our travel home, the choristers wrote about what they had seen and learned. Here are some of their responses:

• This tour has enhanced my pride in YPC because “I can see that we were the most diverse chorus there and we still did really well despite what people expect from us.”

• This tour “made me realize how much I love to sing. I have more emotion when I [perform]”
• “I learned how to be more social.”
• “I learned to get more into the music when I am singing and not just to memorize the lyrics, but to know what they actually mean.”
• “My favorite moment was the middle of “Beauty in a Moment” when there was this AMAZING connection between the audience, Elizabeth, and us. It was so beautiful and one of the most MAGICAL moments I have ever experienced with YPC.”

• “We worked so hard, and finally we pulled it together and did our best. That makes me so proud of Cantare! Also, there was such team spirit throughout the trip because everyone was so invested in doing our best—we all were very proud to be a part of YPC.”
• “The greatest experience was that we were so strong and passionate about our singing that winning didn’t matter to us. We learned that practice makes BETTER! YPC is my second family.”
• “This week I learned to breathe deeply, trust myself, and that no matter what you see on the outside, everyone can be a friend.”
• “I learned that even though people can be so diverse you can still be so happy together and have fun times. We spent so much effort in rehearsals and it paid off, we did our very best. This trip was truly AMAZING!!”
• “I tried very hard to remember everything we worked on. At the end of “Miracles” it was so together and very powerful..”

• “I gave all of what I got. I worked really hard, made many new friends from a lot of other choirs and had FUN!”
• “My greatest musical experience was seeing other choirs and how they perform and the amount of focus they have. I am very proud that we got the right pitches. This is not only a choir, but a big family.”
• “This trip made me more independent, responsible, and a little more outspoken. Seeing everyone support everyone else and being together as a family made me feel better about being a part of YPC.”
• Seeing all the choirs from around the world taught me “that no matter what culture or language you practice or know, singing is something we all love. I am motivated to work harder.”
• I am proud of YPC because “its true we are all in this together, and together we can achieve anything.”
• “I learned that even though we do not speak the same languages, we all come together through song.”
• “This trip changed my life. It was my first time on a plane and a boat!”
• “This tour taught me that I don’t have to be afraid to sing in front of people. Because I used to have that fear.”
• “The greatest experience

 was finishing the competition and feeling amazing and feeling the hard work paid off. Hard work always pays off.”

From the Top News Release

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CHORUS OF NEW YORK CITY (YPC)
SPOTLIGHTED ON PBS’S FROM THE TOP AT CARNEGIE HALL IN JULY *

In New York, the Young People’s Chorus Episode Will be Seen on Thirteen/WNET, Channel 13 on Sunday, July 27, at 11:30 a.m.

You can also download see a web-version featured video today by visiting http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/fromthetop/pages/

You can download a lesson about the YPC by visiting http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/fromthetop/for-teachers/season-2/207/all_things_change.php

The multicultural Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC), among today’s finest youth choruses, will be featured on PBS’s Emmy-nominated From the Top at Carnegie Hall on public television stations throughout the country in July. The program airs in New York City on Thirteen/WNET, Channel 13, on Sunday, July 27, at 11:30 a.m.*

Hosted by pianist Christopher O’Riley, the From the Top at Carnegie Hall series showcases America’s most extraordinary young musicians from 8 to 18, capturing the excitement of a Carnegie Hall performance both onstage and off. It gives a behind-the scenes look at a typical rehearsal conducted by YPC Artistic Director and Founder Francisco J. Núñez and a glimpse into how Mr. Nunez’s vision of combining diversity and musical excellence forever changes the lives of its members. The segment concludes with the chorus singing Luis Kalaff’s Guayacanal and Panta Rhei, a work commissioned by the chorus from Jim Papoulis, a composer who combines contemporary sounds with musical traditions from around the world.
From the Top at Carnegie Hall is a co-production of WGBH, From the Top, and Don Mischer Productions in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

*For stations and times, please to go to the From the Top Web site at www.pbs.org/wgbh/fromthetop/pages/ or e-mail tvcomments@fromthetop.org -

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Also in July

Three YPC Divisions Compete in International Choral Competitions in Europe and Canada

July is an eventful month for the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. In addition to the national telecast of From the Top at Carnegie Hall, three of the chorus’s five divisions are competing in international choral competitions and performances in Europe and Canada.

This month Mr. Núñez takes the Concert Chorus and Young Men’s Division to the World Choir Olympics in Graz, Austria, where the two divisions will defend the gold medals they won in the 2004 Choir Olympics in Bremen, Germany. Following the Olympics, they will travel to Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague where the two YPC divisions will sing in the 2008 Rhapsody Music Festival.

In North America, YPC Associate Conductor Elizabeth Núñez and the Cantare Division of the YPC, are heading Powell River, British Columbia for the International Kathaumixw Festival and Competition, hoping to repeat the YPC’s gold medal-winning performances of 2002.


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About the Young People’s Chorus

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City was founded by Francisco J. Núñez in 1988 with a commitment to combining cross-cultural understanding among children of different ethnic, economic, and social backgrounds with musical excellence.

Since then, the chorus, comprising young people from every corner of New York City, as well as Long Island, New Jersey, and Westchester, has distinguished itself as one of today’s finest and most influential youth choruses, winning cheers for its performances on three continents. They have sung everywhere from Carnegie Hall and the White House to Smetana Hall in Prague and St. Martin in the Fields in London, and represented the United States at the 2005 World Symposium on Choral Music in Kyoto. The chorus returns to Japan in summer 2009 for a four-week, 19-city tour and was recently honored to sing for Pope Benedict XVI on his first papal visit to the U.S. Each year, YPC serves more than 1100 children from 7 to 18 from the New York City area through its core after-school program encompassing five divisions and its satellite program in eight of the city’s public schools.

In addition, YPC has impacted the world of choral music itself by commissioning and premiering more than 50 pieces of music for children’s chorus from a Who’s Who of today’s most respected composers as part of the YPC’s Transient Glory concert series. All of this music is subsequently published so that other choruses worldwide can share in the performance of these compositions. Nineteen of these works are included on two acclaimed Transient Glory CDs.

The chorus has been recognized with numerous honors, including a 2005 Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and Chorus America’s 2006 Education Outreach Award. They have also been cited as a leader in demonstrating a strong commitment to urban at-risk youth by the New York State Assembly and the Mayor of New York City and as a “national model of artistic excellence and diversity” by the Presidential Committee on the Arts and Humanities. For more information, visit http://www.ypc.org/.

Audiophile Audition Review

Our Latest Review by Audiophile Audition:

April 9, 2008

A Children's Chorus, but don't touch that dial!

Transient Glory II

WEIR: Little tree; I carry your heart with me; now is a ship;

MACHOVER: I Dreamt a Dream

BURGON: Shirtless Stephen (and the Children’s Crusade)

VIGELAND: Miracles

SHENG: The Boatmen’s Song

LEES: The Nervous Family

PAPOULIS: Panta Rhei

JAMES: NYC Playground

NYMAN: A Child’s View of Color

ARGENTO: Orpheus

DEL TREDICI: Four Heartfelt Anthems

John Holden, piano/ Perspectives Ensemble/ Extension Ensemble/

Young People’s Chorus of New York City

Francisco J. Nunez, conductor

Vital Records VR2017 (www.ypc.org), 77:36

Don’t let the fact that this is a young person’s chorus turn you off to this remarkable recital. As you can see in the heading, the composer list is quite formidable, and this album contains some incredible music that is rendered with love and highly competent execution. Judith Weir’s Little Tree trilogy contains some breathtakingly beautiful music, while some other pieces, like Kevin James’s NYC Playground are far grittier and realistic in their depictions of contemporary life through the eyes and ears of children. Benjamin Lees taps into the child (and adult) psyche by talking us through the Nervous Family, where the sounds and syllables of the texts are mimicked to outlandish effect in the music as well.

These are just a few of the highlights on a disc that has nothing but highlights. The recorded sound is very clear and concise; perhaps just a little stuffy - would have benefited from some more ambiance, even though the recording was made at the 92nd Y in New York City. This ensemble has been around since 1988 and is one of the finest of its kind anywhere in the world, also the resident choir of the “Y” and of WNYC, New York’s top public radio station. Conductor Francisco J. Nunez has done an amazing job with the 61-member ensemble, and this disc is so far one of my top picks of the year. I cannot tell you how surprised I am by that. -- Steven Ritter

Personal Reviews needed: TGII CD

The newest edition  of the YPC CD family has been launched: Transient Glory II is available, being sold on cdbaby.com and receiving its first reviews from major magazines!

Here is the caption of the press release that was sent out:

YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHORUS OF NEW YORK CITY RELEASES

TRANSIENT GLORY II

A RECORDING OF 11 WORLD PREMIERES - ON JANUARY 8, 2008

WORKS BY DOMINICK ARGENTO, GEOFFREY BURGON, DAVID DEL TREDICI, 

TOD MACHOVER, BRIGHT SHENG, JUDITH WEIR, 

AND OTHERS ARE INCLUDED ON THIS VITAL RECORDS CD.

You can also download individual songs from itunes.com or purchase the whole CD from amazon.com and ypc.org. But, I rather you purchase it from cdbaby.com

I am happy to report that YPC will receive glowing reviews for the new TGII CD from "Fanfare" magazine, "BBC" magazine and many others.  How do I know that the reviews are glowing?  The magazine editors emailed me an advance copy and the reviews are great!  I will post a link to the review once they are officially published.

But, we need personal reviews too. I am hoping that you would visit www.cdbaby.com, sign in and write up a review.  It's free, fun and will help our CD sales. Or, better yet, you can purchase the CD and support the YPC.

When you visit cdbaby.com, you can hear a 2-minute clip of most of the commissioned pieces.  Or, you can visit itunes.com and hear 30-second clips.  Either way, tell us what you think.

You can also write about our first CD TRANSIENT GLORY which started this whole adventure in the classical music world.  The first CD received so many raving reviews, it was incredible. You can visit our website, ypc.org/transientglory and read them all. 

Again, I do hope you purchase the CD and write a review and tell your friends to do the same.

Thank you,

Francisco J. Nunez

Meet ONE of the Transient Glory composers

The Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) will perform

at their 7th Transient Glory Concert on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. You thought last year’s Transient Glory program was pushing the envelope? Wait until this year! Douglas J. Cuomo’s new work Fortune is based on an ancient Taoist tale that will have the chorus members accompanying themselves on homemade percussion instruments. Plus, the concert will feature the works of 6 amazing composers including:

1. Joan Tower (Who just won several Grammy's)
2. Douglas J. Coumo (who wrote the theme music for "Sex in the City"),
3. Ko Matsushita, who is travelling in from Japan,
4. Bora Yoon (an incredible young composer who will use cool cell phone techniques)
5. And a new Music/Film collaboration with Michael Gordon (Bang on a Can Co-Founder)with Film maker Bill Morrison.
6. Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (who wrote - Ragtime, Once on This Island and more...)
   
   Here is an update on ONE of our composers:
   Douglas J. Cuomo
   
   

Have you visited Doug Cuomo's website? You can hear excerpts from some of his impressive pieces such as SEX & THE CITY the TV show and new movie and many other film and TV shows. I just found out he also arranged, produced and conducted strings for numerous pop music artists including:

BRITNEY SPEARS
OOPS I DID IT AGAIN (Jive Records).
#1 pop albumand

N'SYNC
N'SYNC (RCA)
#1 pop album and #1 single

Interestingly he has written only few choral works - including: KYRIE (from And On Earth, Peace: A Chanticleer Mass) http://www.chanticleer.org/about.cfm

and now of course, a new choral work for The Young People's Chorus (www.ypc.org) entitled FORTUNE. This will be his first work for children's chorus.

To figure out what to do, Doug visited one of our YPC December rehearsals and even brought his children to our Family Concert at Carnegie Hall. He thoroughly enjoyed listening to the YPC and was excited and choose an amazing text for his new piece.

Tickets are on sale now at the Columbia University Miller Theater

box office: call 212-854-7799.
Student/parent tickets are $10Adult tickets are $25

Join us on http://www.facebook.com/ groups: Transient Glory VI

or visit www.ypc.org/transientglory