NYC SHOUT-OUT

YPC HONOR CHORUS FESTIVAL 2009

Teens from three states are lovin' it:

"We’ve barely gotten started, but already everyone is having so much fun. We worked for an hour or so with Barbara Baker, who got everyone energized with 'Thou My Everlasting Portion' and 'De Colores.' Then we worked with Jason Bishop on 'Minoi Minoi', and finally 'Oye' with ALL the Honor Chorus participants.  We’ve heard so much about YPC Erie, so it’s great to finally see them!  Excited for the rest of the day!"

-Miranda, 17 (NYC)

"This is an event that we have been looking forward to for months now, but I don’t think any of us expected it to be as amazing as it has been. The people here are incredibly friendly, and the conductors are fantastic. It’s amazing that we have already learned four new songs and we have only been here for four hours. It’s an incredible experience to hear our chorus and the YPC of New York City (which we have been told about many times since we started rehearsing) sing together. I hope there are more opportunities like these to come for us!"

-Kristen, 14 (Erie, PA)

"I was so excited for New York City! I had never been here before, and it’s turning out to be a great time. Everyone is so nice, and the music we’re learning is just fantastic. I especially found that I really enjoy Jim Papoulis’s compositions; everything from ‘Give Us Hope’ to ‘Can You Hear’ to the one I just learned ‘Oye’. He’s really becoming an inspiration to me. I’m so excited to meet all of the other choristers and conductors. I hope the second half of the day is as good as the first!"

-Mariah, 14 (Erie, PA)

"I made a lot of new friends. I learned a song called ‘Oye’. And also I learned a lot about different schools by talking to people from other places. YPC is a great opportunity to show your musical talent."

-Shanea, 12 (NYC)

"I had a great day and made new friends. I am part of YPC’s Young Men’s Division. It was a year ago I came to YPC. YPC means new friends who are helpful and nice. If you want to check out YPC, visit ypc.org. Good bye I am going to go sing now."

-Tasean, 13  (NYC)

"I’m the director of YPC Erie and conductor of the Young Men’s Honor Chorus! Today’s honor chorus has been a blast so far. Rehearsals are going very well and all the choristers are learning very quickly, making new friends, and having a great time. Looking forward to an excellent concert tonight!"

-Dr. Jason Bishop (Erie, PA)

"Honor Chorus is a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. It’s really cool that YPC has expanded and formed another branch. It was so much fun to sing ‘Give Us Hope’ with the new extended family of YPC. I’m looking forward to working with Dr. Baker some more; she’s a lot of fun. I love YPC. I love Honor Chorus. I love to sing."

-Sydney, 16 (NYC)

"I really love Honor Chorus. It’s so fun. I never get to do stuff like this and it’s a really great experience. The t-shirts are so cute this year!!! I’m having a great time!"

-Emily, 15 (NYC)

"Although I have never been to New York City before, I was thrilled when I heard we were traveling here. I have never done anything like what we are doing today. It is so exciting to see how quickly a group of 300 singers can learn a piece. Also, it is so thrilling to meet the chorus that we are based off of. I hope we can meet up with them again some time soon! This is one of the most exciting parts of my singing career!"

-Brooke, 14 (Erie, PA)

"YPC has helped me realize doing what you love and having fun with it is all that matters. My advice to you all is to follow your dream and have fun with it!!!"

-Dashinique, 12 (Erie, PA)

Tell us YOUR stories...

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HONOR CHORUS FESTIVAL AT ypc.org/honorchorus

SING, HAVE FUN, MAKE NEW FRIENDS!

YPC’s 8th Annual Honor Chorus Festival is Saturday, March 28, 2009. Students ages 12-18 are invited to this one-day festival where they will learn and practice a variety of songs including pop, gospel and world music and perform them in a concert that night for their friends and family. The festival is not only a day of fun and excitement, but participants will also have the unique opportunity to learn from professional musicians, conductors, composers and dancers.

( Jose Costas, School Director of Ballet Hispanico)

• NYC's Ballet Hispanico School Ensemble will not only perform their own selections in the concert, but will be teaching festival-goers their original, innovative choreography!

• Jamie Bernstein, daughter of Leonard Bernstein, recently composed a song called "NYC Shout-out" just for the Honor Chorus Festival!
  
  
• The Young People’s Chorus of New York City™ will welcome members from their first affiliate, Young People’s Chorus of Erie (Pennsylvania)!
  
  
• Over 300 participants are coming from all over New York City and tri-state area!

Auditions are not required and previous music experience is not necessary to enjoy this fun-filled event. A $35 participation fee includes a t-shirt, meals and snacks. Scholarships are available.

For more information or to download a registration form, visit ypc.org/honorchorus

GET COOL STUFF, HELP OUT YPC

As part of YPC’s fundraising gala, A Celebration of Song, you can bid on a large selection of fabulous auction items from now through March 19, 2009.

Imagine yourself taking that vacation you so deserve, watching your favorite television show live, enjoying a night on the town or toting around a fabulous handbag sure to make all your friends jealous. So many exciting possibilities, and, you can feel good knowing you supported this award-winning, multicultural chorus. Who know doing something good could feel so great?

Click here to view YPC's online auction on charitybuzz.com!

FANTASTIC CONCERT FOR A GREAT CAUSE

Join us for a thrilling concert featuring The B-52s’ Kate Pierson and Sterling Campbell, NEA Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi, Broadway Singer/Actress Andrea McArdle, The New York Pops, 450 choristers from five YPC divisions and the Satellite Schools program, and a special surprise guest that we can’t mention. (You’ll have to show up to find out!)

Actor Lawrence Saint-Victor from the CBS daytime drama “Guiding Light” will host. (That’s Remy Boudreau to all you “Guiding Light” fans.)

This concert promises to entertain and delight audiences of all ages. (Check out the gala’s exciting repertoire!) Funds raised will support YPC’s work in bettering the lives of thousands of children of all economic, religious and ethnic backgrounds from ages 7 to 18.

Get your tickets today! Call the Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office at 212-712-5600 or go online.

For more information, visit ypc.org/gala

YPC ON TV!!

DATE CHANGE: YPC’s performance in “Raising the Roof”, a celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., will air in New York City on ABC on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m.

YPC, Boston Children's Chorus (BCC) and Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. joined together on January 19, 2009 for this vibrant program that aired live in markets around the country.

To watch in your area, click here for a list of air times and dates.

UNITED IN SONG

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City™ is heading to Boston to join the Boston Children's Chorus (BCC) and Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. in “Raising the Roof”, a nationally televised celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 19. Tune in for words and music honoring the life and work of Dr. King.

“Raising the Roof” will air live at 7 p.m. EST in major markets around the country, including Boston, Washington, D.C., Tampa-St. Petersburg, Phoenix, Cleveland, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Sacramento, Orlando-Daytona Beach, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.

In New York, the show will air on WABC on Sunday, January 25 at 1 p.m.

To more information, visit ypc.org.

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.