Students from Satellite Schools Program of Young People’s Chorus of New York City Perform at Symphony Space May 18, 2015

On Monday, May 18, Elizabeth Núñez, the director of the Satellite Schools Program of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, welcomed children from seven of YPC’s 12 public schools to Symphony Space for the program’s eagerly anticipated, year-end Satellite Schools concert.

YPC’s Satellite Schools Program was established in 2003 to extend YPC's unique music education program and its mission of inclusiveness to more of the city’s children beyond its core after-school program.  Today, the program reaches more than 1,000 children.

H.S. 531 Repertory Company High School for the Theatre Arts (Midtown Manhattan)

P.S./I.S. 178Q The Holliswood School (Jamaica Estates, Queens)

Led by each of their conductors - Emma Brondolo, Caitlin Henning, Sheldon Ogbourne, Maria Peña, and Nathan Reiff - the children from each school sang a program of two to three songs. This was the first time many of them sang on a professional stage, and they were bursting with enthusiasm to be performing for an audience of their peers.

P.S. 75 The Emily Dickinson School (Upper West Side, Manhattan)

Maria Peña conducting P.S. 198 The Isador and Ida Straus School (Upper East Side, Manhattan)

P.S. 69 Journey Prep (Clason Point, Bronx)

H.S. 409 Coalition School for Social Change (East Harlem, Manhattan)

Elizabeth Núñez (center) with YPC conductors (l-r) Maria Peña, Emma Brondolo, Nathan Reiff, and Sheldon Ogbourne lead the choristers in song

P.S. 64 the Joseph  Addabo School (Ozone Park, Queens

Most exciting of all, before their final tutti song, the children received glow sticks to wave and glow necklaces to wear while being conducted by Francisco J. Núñez, artistic director and founder of YPC.

Francisco J. Núñez conducts the audience overflowing with singing children

All photos by Stephanie Berger