2012 Spring Concert Round Up!

Intermezzo Division

Beginning the program with Sophia Miller, conducted the energetic voices singing from Songs of the Season.  How appropriate as the 2011-2012 Season has been filled with so many magical experiences.  They closed their set with Johnson Boys including Jacquie Bird’s amazing choreography.

Cantare Division

Francisco J. Nunez conducted Cantare on behalf of Elizabeth Nunez, who was home with their new little girl, Sabrina Kate.  They began their set with an exquisite performance of Richard Strauss’s An der Schonn Blauen Donau accompanied by the incomparable YPC pianist Jon Holden.

The also sang the last movement of A Child’s War by Derek Bermel who recently joined them In Sweden.  This April, Adolf Fredrick Music School, YPC performed a Swedish folk song.  Cantare surprised the audience by literally flying off stage to close the set after singing Come Fly with Me. Fantastic!

Prelude Division

The Prelude Division always cute and adorable is led by Assistant Conductor, Sophia Miller.  The adorable boys and girls sang a sophisticated arrangement of Mozart’s The Star.  Read some of the lyrics below:

Scintillate Scintillate globule orifice

Fain would I fathom thy nature’s specific

Loftily poised in either capacious

Strongly resembling a gem carbonaceous

Suppertime song had so much on the platter, it makes you want dessert!

Amani & Young Men Division                                      

Listening to the Young Men’s performance has a powerful impact on the entire audience.  The strong bass complements the percussion.  

This is Amani’s debut performance of the Noble Son and is conducted by YPC’s newest addition, Sheldon Ogbourne.  Ride the Chariot was comprised of both Young Men & Amani divisions conducted by Johnny Rabe, which featured solos by Stephen Douglas-Allen and in one of their final YPC performances graduating choristers Blaize Adam and Nathaniel Sabat. Boo hoo....

Concert Chorus

The Concert choristers reprised a performance of Aaron Siegel’s The Light Come Down with special guests Mantra Percussion, which YPC recently premiered in Brooklyn Heights.  Aaron Siegel explained his piece to the audience. The Light Come Down is such an inspirational piece with rhythmic beats and whimsical voices to carry you to another state of mind.

Chorale Division

I himmelen (In Heaven’s Hall) piece had choristers in sync all over the hall; it was magnificent.  The voices sound like trumpets and flutes sounding off for a joyous finale!  Incredible!

Francisco also introduced Eric Gamalinda a world-renowned poet, writer and playwright.  Mr. Gamalinda discusses his poem Forever is My Song that was the inspiration for the YPC song by the same title.

Congratulations to the Class of 2012!

Blaize Adam

Corey Black

Chloe Bodden

Kieran Coyne

Victoria Creary

Nia Drummond

Alexander Grant

Christopher Hall

Rosa Loveszy

Christina Lu

James Nash

Nathaniel Sabat

Dianne Vasquez

Andrew Vogel

Samuel White 

Joint is Jumpin’ is the final song that made everyone jump for more! 

A huge thanks to all of the YPC staff, 92^nd Street Staff, YPC Volunteers, and all choristers for another great season! 

1,000 VOICES Singing at the 2012 Satellite Schools Concert

Elizabeth Núñez, Director of Satellite Schools Program

Sophia Miller, Conductor

“It’s always amazing to see all of the YPC Satellite Schools concert children come together at this event each spring.  Although the children come from all over the city and have never met one another, they connect through a common love of singing and share in the celebration of the hard work they have all done throughout the year in their schools.  Bravo to each school!”

- Sophia Miller,  Conductor

Satellite Schools Concert!

Sheldon Ogbourne, Conductor

“The most moving thing to me about the concert was seeing the excitement and energy of all the choristers showing all the work they have done this year. For many of them it was their first time performing on a professional stage. After all of our time together, it made me so proud to see the joy in the beautiful music they made.”

 - Sheldon Ogbourne, Conductor

Johnny Rabe, Conductor

“The abundance of youthful energy and excited singing spirits was inspiring. I have never before seen Kaufmann Concert Hall so full of joy and enthusiasm and am proud of each and every participant. Congratulations to all of the choristers, parents, and schools, brilliant concert!”

 - Johnny Rabe, Conductor

Thank you Capital One Bank!  2011-2012 Satellite Schools Lead Corporate Sponsor!

Special guest choreographer at 2012 Satellite Schools Concert, Jacquie Bird

Jacquie Bird has enjoyed a long and fulfilling career as a triple-threat performer on Broadway, film, and television and is currently a master-teacher/choreographer, as well as a singer and writer.  Over the past five years, she has choreographed numerous performances for the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, including directing and choreographing more than 300 choristers and guest artists in YPC’s annual Jazz at Lincoln Center galas.Visit her page! www.jacquiebird.com

Emma Brondolo, Satellite Schools Conductor of PS 69

"I absolutely love working with the students from the YPC satellite program. Teaching choirs in different schools with children from all different cultures is an incredible experience that you can only get in New York." - Emma Brondolo, Conductor 

(Back row)Ms. Michelle Graham (l.c.), Program Office from the Bay and Paul Foundations 
and Ms. Monia Mahmood (r.c.), Travelers Insurance, 
 a corporate sponsor of the Satellite Schools Concert with select choristers from PS 69!

 

How do you say goodbye in Swedish?

I think I can speak for all of us: this tour has been one of the best weeks of our lives! We've made so many new friends from the Adolf Frederiks school and the choruses from different countries, we have enjoyed singing in incredible venues, and we've been able to experience the beautiful city of Stockholm every time we've stepped outside. The students have been so friendly and have been so eager to help us and show us around their school and city! We've shared our cultures and customs, foods and we've formed friendships.

I'm so sad to leave Sweden but I know these memories are going to be with us forever. We've learned so much about the benefits of hard work and determination. That has been amazing, but to me, what has been most incredible is how we've grown so close with each other in YPC, and how we've truly become a family this week.

-Bethany, age 14

Honorary YPC Choristers

Say Cheese!!! Photos from Sweden!

Host Teachers in Sweden

Last Night's Performance

Last night was our final performance alone as YPC. It's unbelievable to think that this tour is coming to an end, but looking back, I think that we have done a great job of representing and sharing YPC and the USA in Sweden. All of our energy really came through in our concert last night, and on the stage I could truly feel the musicianship and artistry coming from each chorister. That connection really made it a memorable performance for me.

Participating in "Let the Future Sing" has allowed me to meet other children ages 11-18 from Estonia, Hungary, Armenia, Canada, China, and of course, Sweden. It is so interesting to spend time with the other choirs and learn about how other children in the world live. Despite the language barriers and cultural differences, we have all connected in so many ways with these children from all over the world.

I will never forget everything I have learned on this trip - about music, about what it takes to put on a truly incredible performance, about Sweden, about myself, and about the world. I am so proud of all we have done here!

- Miki, age 14

In The Old City

Technical Rehearsal Remarks...

We are preparing to go into dress rehearsal for our Saturday evening concert!

Francisco asked the choristers - "Why are you here, in Stockholm?"

The first three answers were:

"To sing."

 

"To inspire."

"To be inspired by others."

High Notes From Sweden!

Today we got to spend a lot of time with the children who go to the Adolf Fredriks School.  We got to work with the fourth graders in small groups and talk to them about New York and the USA, and they shared with us about Stockholm.  After we learned about each other's cultures, we played a fun game of charades and exchanged small gifts with one another.  There are so many children in this school, and between spending time with them in their classrooms and staying with their families, we have felt so fortunate to be able to be completely immersed in the experience of what it's like to live in Sweden.  Everyone is so nice!

-Ashley, 14

YPC Choristers | Adolf Fredriks Let The Future Sing International Choral Festival

 We're about to go into our second concert!  We performed two pieces this morning as part of the morning assembly, and tonight is the Cavalcade Concert - all six invited choirs are performing.  The choirs are from Armenia, Canada, China, Estonia, Hungary - and the United States of America (us!)  I'm especially excited to perform "Run Children Run" and our step dance tonight - and then we have to prepare for more concerts that we're performing tomorrow and the day after.  So far, the tour has been really fun and amazing.  Our homestay families are making us feel so welcome, and Stockholm is a beautiful city.  It has been so cool to meet not just the children from Sweden, but the choristers from all over the world who have come together for this festival.

-Maud, 14

I came on this trip as one of the few Concert Choristers joining Cantare, and I already feel really lucky to be part of it for so many reasons - both musical and social.  One of my favorite parts has been that we have learned a lot of different countries' folk songs that we might not otherwise be exposed to, by hearing choirs from those countries sing them - and even teach them to us.  The people I've met here - both the Swedish people and the people from the other choirs from around the world - are some of the nicest people I have ever met.  The other visiting choirs are so unbelievably talented - each singer has a remarkable voice and they come together to create these stunning sounds.  It's simply inspiring.  I have been particularly fascinated by meeting and hearing the choir from China, especially after singing a song in Chinese by Bright Sheng at the Transient Glory Symposium just this past February.  I know that my new friends from around the world that I'm meeting here are going to be people I learn from and stay friends with for a very long time.

-Victoria, age 16