Gala reflections from a graduating senior

"I'm still getting over the gala. That is, the amount of energy we put into the show, how much fun I had, and the hours and hours of sleep I missed preparing for it. YPC galas are never easy feats. I try to think about performing in front of 1,000 audience members and how so many hours of rehearsal on the weekend is really, genuinely worth it.

Everything really came together backstage and onstage at the Gala - we made every entrance and exit. More importantly, we sounded great! Bridge Over Troubled Water was my favorite. Pretty much anything with soul is my favorite thing to sing. The concert hall looked unbelievable with the house lights turned off and hundreds of tiny lights flickering in the dark during Imagine.

And Crosstown M42 was so much fun. I love watching Robert Kapilow speak. He has so much energy and passion. I'm so lucky to be able to work with talented composers and perform pieces by people like Mr. Kapilow; it makes me really proud to be a member of YPC. His speech about the chorus was especially generous; I feel like I'm a part of something important and great.

It didn't occur to me that this was my last Gala in YPC ever; I was too in-the-moment. However, I'm jealous of the Prelude and Intermezzo choristers who get to do ten more of them. YPC may have taken up the majority of my extracurricular life for the past decade (yes, it's been a decade since I joined), but it's shows like the Gala that remind me that YPC has given me some of the most incredible experiences and opportunities I will ever have."

- Jared, Young Men's Chorus

More words from the choristers about Monday night's gala!

"I loved rehearsing with the New York Pops! It's my third time singing with that orchestra. When we were preparing for the Gala, we kept going over Sing, Sing, Sing. I love that song and I could have sung it all day. We all finally got it together and it was perfect at the Gala." - Scarlet, Prelude Chorus

"The Gala is always one of my favorite concerts! It's one concert where you can see our entire choir as a whole instead of as individual divisions, and hear how voices from ages eight to 18 can mix in perfect harmony. My favorite song was probably Imagine, because of its story of how the world and all people should live in harmony and peace without anything in the way, and that, I think, is what YPC is all about!" - Nicholas, Young Men's Chorus

"It was a fun night. We got to sing on the stage and our parents got to watch us and clap for us. The performance was wonderful! I enjoyed singing all the songs. I worked very hard. I was very proud and happy to be with my Prelude friends." - Maxine, Prelude Chorus

Choristers speak out about the gala - fun performing with each other and with guest artists!

"It was fun working with Sean (Bradford) and the New York Voices! Kim (Nazarian, from the New York Voices), told us to just have a good time on stage and we did! It was fun to rehearse all of the songs and it just felt like we were important people because there was so much applause. I love YPC!" - Charlotte, Prelude Chorus

“Monday’s concert was amazing. The enthusiasm from each division was remarkable, and I wish I had been in the audience to hear some of the reactions and to watch the chorus. The most impressive were the youngest choristers – they look up to the older divisions, they saw how we enjoyed ourselves and they imitated it and had a wonderful time!” - Troy, Young Men's Chorus

Supporters, Guest Artists and Choristers Come Together at Gala Concert and Benefit

On Monday, March 15 all divisions of the YPC joined special guest artists The New York Pops, Sean Bradford, Maurice Hines, Robert Kapilow, New York Voices and Dafnis Prieto for an evening of song and celebration at It's Up To You, New York, YPC Shaping Lives Through Music, A Gala Concert and Dinner benefiting the programs of YPC. Sean Bradford, YPC and The New York Pops started the evening with John Legend's If You're Out There and concert guests enjoyed a compilation of music celebrating New York that included classics like Uptown Girl, On Broadway, Boy from New York City and The 59th Street Bridge. YPC Choristers were joined by Satellite Schools PS 75, PS/IS 178Q and PS 1. The Prelude Division joined New York Voices for a swinging version of Sing, Sing, Sing and the musical event showcased the extraordinary talents of all the choristers and guest artists with music like Trio Absolute featuring Dafnis Prieto and Si O Si Quartet and Crosstown M42 with choristers alongside Composer Rob Kapilow. Maurice Hines and the Manzari Brothers tapped out a lively rendition of It Don't Mean A Thing. The evening ended with a magical moment when all divisions joined together to sing John Lennon's Imagine. Mr. Holcomb Noble and Toyota were honored at the dinner which followed the concert. Funds raised at the event help support the programs that serve more than 1100 children who participate annually.

YPC performed with Kronos Quartet...read an exciting review

On Thursday, March 11, members of YPC joined Kronos Quartet, under the direction of Francisco Nunez, to perform a world premiere of Another Secret eQuation, a YPC-Kronos co-commission. YPC enjoys a continued relationship with Kronos and with Terry Riley after performing Riley's In C at Carnegie Hall last year! Check out the review from Time Out New York!

Click to check out the review!

Gala Guest Artist, Sean Bradford, Rehearses with YPC!

The gala is just days away...and a whole weekend of rehearsal is ahead! Kicking off the weekend, we had a Friday night tutti rehearsal with all divisions of the YPC, and welcomed special guest artist Sean Bradford to our rehearsal!

Sean told us all about his upbringing and education, and about the outreach he does for children around the world through theatre and music. The children were so enthralled with his story and with his incredible voice! He will join us in opening the show with John Legend's "If You're Out There" and return to the program singing with YPC on "We Will Lift You Up," written recently by Francisco Nunez and Jim Papoulis in response to the disasters in Haiti.

Sean is one of many exciting guest artists in Monday nights' line-up...including Maurice Hines, New York Voices, Dafnis Prieto, and others! See you there!!

YPC Parents in the YPC Office for Gala Phone-a-thon!

Such a busy evening in the YPC office! Parents of YPC children in all divisions are volunteering their time to join the staff in the office, making phone call after phone call to remind other YPC parents to purchase their gala tickets.

Walking from one end of the office to the other, you can see and hear parents on the phone at every free desk. All of the conversations begin the same way... "Hello, I am calling on behalf of YPC..." Eventually, though, they mold into personal chats about the importance of the gala, the magnificent show the choristers are sure to give, or a parent of an older chorister telling a parent of a younger chorister how much their son has grown during his 7-or-so years with YPC, telling that parent how much the young children have to look forward to, and how they will cherish those early YPC memories as they continue to grow.


AND - tickets are being sold and donations are being made! Key ingredients to a successful benefit concert, with ongoing support that will energize the efforts of YPC and ensure that our doors stay open to all children.

The message from one parent to another? Spread the word and get involved! Purchase a ticket to the concert, to the dinner, to both! Purchase a raffle ticket to win a vespa or donate to support YPC - no donation is too small. Parents are connecting with one another, talking up the gala, and comparing stories on their child's experiences with YPC.


Here are some things some of our parent volunteers had to say...

"In addition to helping YPC, I'm really re-connecting with some of the parents I've known for years!" - Merrill (daughter, Liana, Concert Chorus)

"It's great, the phone-a-thon. Everyone is welcoming, everyone is willing to chat. There's a warmth about YPC that they feel. It's good!" - Peggy (son, Luke, Cantare)


"It always helps to do some telemarketing. It's not like this is AT&T calling...it's about their child! Even leaving a message is great." - Tracey (son, Ross, Prelude)

"When Elizabeth contacted me, my son said, 'Do whatever she asks you to do!' William just loves YPC." - Dawn (son, William, Cantare)

"It's great that calls come from parents and from a parent's perspective. It's easy to relate - it works better." - Florence (son, James, Young Men)