YPC at CME 2014: Part 4

YPC singers participate in an African dance and drumming workshop at CME 2014.

I had a great time on the Ithaca trip! It was awesome getting to see the different ways there are to conduct and how it really affects the sound of a chorus. I also had a great time outside of rehearsal--my home stay was very nice and I loved the people I stayed with. This was my first year with YPC and it has been a fantastic experience. I have made life-long friends in such a short period of time. The trip to Ithaca also was a great time to meet new people, I made a lot of new friends and became closer with the ones I already had. I really feel like I'm part of a second family and I'm so happy I joined the chorus this year!

Annie (14 years old), Cantare Chorister

YPC at CME 2014: Part 3

CME Director Dr. Janet Galván leads the combined choirs in warm up exercises while workshop participants observe.

"This is my second year going on the trip to Ithaca, and both years have been great experiences. It's a wonderful trip because I always meet new people, both from Ithaca and YPC. It is always interesting to see teachers improving their conducting skills in the workshop and to view things from their perspective. Of course, it is also fun having a combined chorus with ICC, the Lee’s Summit Youth Chorale, and YPC!"

Johnathan (14 years old), Cantare Chorister

YPC at CME 2014: Part 2

"For the past three nights, six of us from Cantare have had the wonderful opportunity to experience a whole different way of life in Ithaca. CME has been a great week of singing, laughing, and making new friends. Before we left NYC, each chorister was matched up with a homestay to live with during the trip. The six of us were lucky enough to be put in a bed and breakfast that an Ithaca family graciously offered for us and an Ithaca College chaperone to stay in.

The bed and breakfast is located in an all-natural, solar powered community called Ecovillage. We swam in a pond, went into a sun heated hot tub, and picked freshly grown berries from the Ecovillage community garden. The best part of it is that we get to be surrounded by nature and see the lovely views of Ithaca's sunsets and stars, which we never get to experience in New York City. During the day, singing with the Ithaca Children's Choir and staying in this beautiful area with our best friends have made this trip truly unforgettable!"

Celia (15 years old), Michelle (14 years old), Asila (14 years old), Maggie (15 years old), Julia (14 years old), and Sarea (14 years old), Cantare Choristers

YPC at CME 2014: Part 1

From June 29 through July 3, 2014, members of YPC went upstate to Ithaca to participate in the Choral Music Experience (CME) program at Ithaca College. YPC has been fortunate to be a part of this special event for several years. Alongside the Ithaca Children's Choir and the Lee's Summit Youth Chorale, and with the leadership of CME Director Dr. Janet Galván, YPC singers served as the demonstration choir for numerous workshop activities while learning valuable musical lessons, meeting new friends, and enjoying beautiful Ithaca in the summertime. To further enhance the experience, local families graciously offered to welcome YPC singers to their homes for the duration of the trip.

 

YPC singers with Dr. Janet Galván.

Over the coming days, choristers will reflect on their experiences at CME here on the YPC Blog. Below, Elvira and Alyssa from Cantare share some of their favorite memories from the trip:

"In the CME program, we began learning many different pieces of music with the Ithaca Children’s Choir and rehearsed with Dr. Galván every day of the workshop. The music was an array of different repertoire, ranging from classic Latin to a song about a bee and a fly. We also did African drumming sessions that involved a lot of dancing, singing and playing percussion instruments. Another very fun activity was when we went swimming at the pool in beautiful 90° F weather.

Overall the trip was a ton of fun. The day before our concert all of the CME participants went to Buttermilk Falls State Park for a picnic. Buttermilk is very beautiful, and has a waterfall and a natural pool where we got to walk, play, and sing with all of the participants of the workshop."

 

--Elvira (14 years old) and Alyssa (16 years old), Cantare Choristers