Life in the I.C.

Guest Writer: William Cabaniss

Every year on our week long trip to Ithaca, NY we experience something different. Last year, we were delayed quite a bit after a tree fell on the road because of flooding. We were stuck on the bus for almost three hours in the same place with only a few Oreos and the movie "Aquamarine"!

This year's trip was fun, relaxing, and thankfully the bus rides were short. After leaving the 92nd Street Y, we made good time and got there before sunset. We either went with our home-stays from the Ithaca Children's Choir, or to 'The House.' Through the next week were rehearsals, master classes, a couple of breaks, more rehearsals, and lots of swimming.

At the end of the week, we gave two concerts. The first one was with the YPC and ICC performing separately. We did an amazing job, and I think we did the best performances of "Walk in Jerusalem," and "When I Sing", ever. The next night was the tutti performance. It featured all of the CME participants conducting various pieces we rehearsed during the week, with Elizabeth conducting "We Will", and Francisco - the guest conductor for the week - directing us through "Desde Lo Hondo" and "Si Tu Suenas".

After that concert, we boarded the bus and headed off to Hershey Park! When we got there we had our 'end of tour memories circle' as Elizabeth likes to call it. After, I had mixed feelings about moving up to Concert Chorus, because the Intermezzo Chorus is such a great group, and has developed so much since I got there. The next day we had so much fun at Hershey Park! Overall, the trip was a blast and was unforgettable.

Graduation: An Underclassman’s Perspective

On July 5th, the Concert Chorus and Young Men’s division began their summer trip together with a concert at St Vincent’s Church for music teachers and educators. We sang a selection of our Transient Glory music and other songs that we had learned for the occasion. The Young Men joined the Concert Chorus for our traditional choreographed spirituals and also for "Cantique" by Jean Racine. The concert was for the American Guild of Organists and we were able to perform several songs with organ, some written by our own conductor, Francisco.

As usual, we left an hour late the next morning for our trip to the Catskills (held up by none other than our own conductor, Francisco). We stopped at Bear Creek Landing, where we were temporarily delayed by uncooperative weather, before we played paintball and minigolf. Bruised, wet, and tired, we arrived at the hotel. There, we had dinner, swam, and dressed up in our PJ’s for the traditional Senior Skit and Senior Circle.

The Senior Skit is a created by all of the Freshmen (that is, everyone who is not a graduating Senior). Usually modeled after a chorus rehearsal, the skit lovingly embraces the seniors by mocking and dramatizing their idiosyncrasies. It is created as a way to remind us all of why we love the seniors and will miss their unique personalities and characteristics. The freshmen try to act as much like the seniors as possible. They even sneak into their hotel rooms and take their clothing to wear in the skit. In addition to creating the skit, the freshmen write a song to commemorate the seniors. It is usually a take-off of a well-known tune or a one sung in chorus.

After the entertaining atmosphere of the skit, the entire chorus sits in a circle and we turn off all the lights in the room. Francisco shares with us the story of how the chorus began and why it is so incredibly important to continue what we do. We next hold graduation for the seniors, in which we welcome each senior, one by one, into the middle. Other choristers had an opportunity to speak to the person in the center before each senior gave parting words of advice to the chorus as they tried to explain what YPC had meant to them.

- Written by the YPC "Freshmen"

Dear YPC...

This was my first summer tour with the Concert Chorus and I'm thrilled to say it will not be my last. I came into the chorus judging people from things I have heard. The entire year I treated people according to rumors. I realized that was the most ridiculous thing anyone could ever think.

Tonight I recognized how each and everyone of the seniors and choristers are exceptional in their own way. All this time I excluded them from what I considered my circle and I am now ashamed of it. Tonight I recognized everyone's true colors were revealed, or at least this was the first time I accepted it.

I advise all choristers to interact with people they usually would not. My advice is to not wait for the last minute, like I did, to meet new people because they can be gone the next day. I love the YPC Seniors '07 and wish them the best in life. Now I can officially say I knew you guys. You are all amazing. You will be missed. I love you.

Nikaury Roman, Ooncert Chorus (Soprano 2)

YPC at River to River Festival

The River to River Festival takes place each summer from June through September, in a variety of public venues that canvas all of Downtown New York - from Chambers Street down to the southern tip of Manhattan and across the island from river to river. The Young People’s Chorus of New York City will open up the River to River Summer Stars series at the Michael Schimmel Center at Pace University on July 9th at 7:30 PM

Composer Bruce Adolphe’s “Singing this Piece” has been a crowd favorite not only at the Transient Glory VI concert, but also at the YPC’s 10th Annual Spring Celebration concert. Bruce Adolphe visited the YPC Concert Chorus prior to Transient Glory VI to discuss his work. The footage can be viewed on the YPC website.

Join the YPC for this free concert and enjoy the masterful compositions and singing of Transient Glory VI.

Spring Celebration '07

Guest Writer:
Jeffrey Peralta
Young Men Chorus

This past Saturday was YPC's Annual Spring Concert. I felt that the concert was filled with joy, entertainment and or course tears, but tears of joy as we saw the seniors move on to accomplish greater things. There were also tears of sadness as we see one of our conductors move on to pursue her Masters degree at Yale University, which we are extremely happy for (even though it means her leaving us). I know I will greatly miss her.

The overall performance was great. I thought the Junior Chorus was adorable, like always. Intermezzo was great, and cute, especially the piece "When I Sing". They looked charming while they were doing the charleston. As a member of the Young Men chorus, I thought we were amazing. The pieces that caught the audience's attention were "Ramkali" which is an Indian Raga with very interesting rhythmical patterns, "Homeland" which is a song of beauty and nationalism, and of course, "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat". It was my personal favorite because I am a Broadway and Showtunes freak.

The Concert Chorus delighted the audience with their performance of "Every Stop on the F Train" which was then followed by "A-Train" and "Heaven Bound Train" making it a night of...trains. Following every division's performance was the tutti. It was fantastic being a part of one of the four divisions coming together on stage and singing beautifully.

The chorus has greatly influenced me and hopefully other choristers as well that are unfortunate and don't have music programs in their schools. Most choristers and I feel that best friends are made in this chorus because we all have the love of music in common, leading to friends that last a lifetime. Along with experiences that you will never forget.

Bang on a Can!

The YPC is quickly becoming New York City’s “go to” choir, despite the ages of our choristers. This past Sunday’s performance at the “Bang on a Can” Festival is yet another example. The YPC Concert Chorus sang “Three Heavens and Hells” by the magical composer Meredith Monk, who was also present at the performance. It was wonderful to have Meredith with us where she helped to bring the piece alive for the audience. The new arrangement of this work was premiered by the YPC at the 92^nd Street Y, Kaufmann Concert Hall, on April 21^st at our Transient Glory VI concert. “Three Heavens and Hells” was also previewed by the YPC’s Radio Chorus on WNYC New York Public Radio’s Soundcheck with Jon Schaefer. The entire Transient Glory concert was broadcasted for WNYC’s American Music Festival 2007 on Tuesday May 29^th.

The Bang on a Can festival is dedicated to commissioning, performing, creating, presenting and recording contemporary music. With an ear for the new, the unknown and the unconventional, Bang on a Can strives to expose exciting and innovative music as broadly and accessibly as possible to new audiences worldwide. 26 hours of continual music was performed during the 2 day event. For about ten seconds the crowd was on their feet to give the Concert Chorus a standing ovation. That is definitely our interpretation of performance Heaven.

The YPC would like to thank composer and Bang on a Can founder Michael Gordon for giving us the opportunity to be part of such a groundbreaking musical movement.

If you want to hear the YPC sing “Three Heavens and Hells” by Meredith Monk why don’t you join us this Saturday at our 10^th annual Spring Celebration at the 92^nd Street Y Kaufmann Audition at 8PM or on one of our many concerts throughout the city until July 9^th – please check out the ypc.org webpage for our calendar.

By the way, if you performed, or was one of the audience members standing at the World Financial Center, leave a comment with your interpretation of the event.

2006 - 2007 Top Ten

Conductors Francisco and Elizabeth planning next year's Top Ten.


In honor of our 10th Annual Spring Celebration we are listing the YPC's Top Ten collaborations of the past year. Check out the list and tell us who is your favorite and why, or even suggest next year's Top Ten candidates.

YPC and Shakira? Why not!

1. My Chemical Romance
2. T.I.
3. Rufus Wainright
4. James Brown
5. Stephen Petronio Dance Company
6. Rosanne Cash
7. New York Pops
8. Ann Hampton Callaway
9. American Ballet Theatre
10. Bruce Springstein

YPC's annual Spring Concert is on Saturday June 9th, at the 92nd Street Y.
For more information visit http://www.ypc.org/concerts/spring.html.