YPC: A Six Word Memoir

Several members of the Young People's Chorus of New York City staff recently attempted to write a story about YPC in six words—a six-word memoir.  The first six-word memoir was written by Ernest Hemingway when he was challenged to write a novel in so many words.  He wrote:  “For sale.  Baby shoes.  Never worn.”  Here are the memoirs the staff composed - and we'd love to hear yours, too!

Many voices. One vision. Potential realized.

 

Children’s joy can change the world.

YPC songs from souls and angels.

Every walk, place, face, all singing.

Yes, I believe I can fly.

One by one, sing a song.

Shaping young lives through new music.

YPC celebrates and develops children’s choruses.

Kids discovering the world through YPC.

From corner to stage, new life.

City kids singing together. Lives changed.

YPC in a Coca Cola commercial, now showing on YouTube!

Hear and see YPC in the newly released Coca Cola commercial on YouTube by clicking here!

In August 2010, the season got started a little earlier than usual for YPC as the youngest choristers in Prelude and Intermezzo rehearsed, recorded, and filmed a brand new feel-good TV commercial for Coca Cola!  From rehearsal, to the recording studio, to the actual day of filming, over 50 children gave up a couple days of their summer vacation to be part of a very exciting project. 

Sets, Snow, and a Backstage Glimpse...

YPC recently performed on Good Morning America's Holiday Special, which aired on December 13, 2010.  Entering the ABC studio was like walking onto the set of a movie: there were cameras and crew members everywhere!  It was as if each of the three sets in the room was its own little universe. Watching the anchors tape various segments, we saw the hottest new items being sold for Christmas (my favorite was probably the live guitar t-shirt),  learned how to eat healthily for the holidays, and took a tour of the craziest Christmas tree designs.

As we prepared to tape our segment, we noticed a mesh contraption filled with what looked like white confetti.  Given its position directly above our heads, we quickly figured out what it was... a snow machine!  It was fun to have it snow in the studio, even though it messed up the hair we worked so hard on.  It felt like the official beginning of winter, as the plastic snowflakes covered our heads and stuck to our eyelashes.

When we finished our taping session, what did we do?  We sang our way back to our dressing room!  You can catch a glimpse of our trip backstage on the above video.  We present to you our first video upload on the YPC blog!  Enjoy!

Click HERE to see our segment on Good Morning America.

Apple concert postscript

So: What, you ask, was YPC doing singing at the Apple Store? Well, aside from the fact that many of us are Apple fans, this is yet another way that YPC is exploring new venues for youth choral music and new media to outreach to more audiences. Francisco has been seriously looking into taking the chorus outside of traditional concert halls and into unconventional venues, where people not normally accustomed to listening to choral music would discover a new art form to enrich their lives. YPC also continues to be a leader in exploring new media for youth choruses. We were the first to make our music available on iTunes and as podcasts, and possibly the only youth chorus to date to commission music specifically written for radio, new media, and the internet. YPC's goal: use new media to reach out to more people, in New York City and around the world. Oh yes, and to share the joy.

Betelehemu ends the show...

We've just sung the rousing Betelehemu, and now we're singing Share the Joy (our new single now available on iTunes, yea!!). Elizabeth Nunez is conducting, while Sophia and Amy are watching little Sebastian, who seemed impatient to get his turn to sing earlier...

Hey was that yelping from behind the house? Looks like people are getting into the spirit...

F is asking what is NY's best carol? Answer: City sidewalks, busy sidewalks....and finally, some people are singing along! YPC has touched these tough NYC hearts after all.

Happy season of joy, everyone! This has been EG again, live blogging from the Apple Store.

we are lights...

We are singing We Are Lights now, and I got to stop bugging people to write for this blog. What a beautiful, beautiful song. Pardon the silence, I must listen as well....

from a YPC parent

I knew it! Tsotsolosa always gets wild applause!

F is saying our ages are 12-18, from all parts of the city and a lot of schools.

Okay, time again for Jingle Bells. Amy Kotsonis has just walked in, right on time, to conduct this one. Hey, I just saw board member Suzan Kremer!

-- We are listening to a wonderful concert!! Our grandson Christopher is part of it! -- Ingrid, YPC parent