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)

Community Sing with Young People's Chorus of New York City

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

Lehman Stages at Lehman College

The Lovinger Theatre

250 Bedford Park Boulevard West | Bronx

718-960-8025

The YPC has been invited to perform as part of the Neighborhood Concert Series presented by the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall.

Learn and sing some of the chorus's favorite multicultural repertoire, including American gospel music and spirituals; songs from Japanese-American, Brazilian, and South-African cultures; and even a Broadway show tune with choreography! All ages are welcome and no experience necessary - just bring your family, friends, and of course, your voices!

This event is FREE and open to the public!

FOUR CONCERTS TO BENEFIT HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORTS

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CHORUS OF NEW YORK CITY
COLLABORATE WITH
CITY WINERY

Concerts to take place January 20, 21, 24, and 25

Rosanne Cash, Patti Smith, Joshua Bell, Lewis Black and Tambou Combo are among the many artists taking part

On Wednesday, January 20, at 8:30 p.m. the Young People’s Chorus of New York City will open the first of four concerts at the City Winery (155 Varick Street) to benefit the relief efforts in Haiti.

“What can I do?” is a question so many are asking as they witness the struggles of the Haitian people to recover from the devastating earthquake that continues to take the lives of so many men, women and children.

The members of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City asked themselves that same question. So when Félix Augustin, the Consul General of Haiti in New York City, contacted them to help organize a benefit event, YPC Artistic Director Francisco J. Núñez contacted the noted philanthropist Michael Dorf, who instantly offered the City Winery for two nights of benefit concerts—Wednesday, and Thursday, January 20 and 21.

The response from artists was so overwhelming that we added two additional dates—Sunday and Monday, January 24 and 25. Among those taking part are artists from across the musical spectrum, ranging from Patti Smith, Rosanne Cash, and Joshua Bell, to the Tambou Combo, today’s hottest Haitian band, as well as a line-up of many of New York’s best indie bands.


"The Young People's Chorus of New York City has been asked by the government of Haiti to help with the relief effort by putting together a concert to benefit the people of Haiti."

While we can't match the national effort we can in a small way help raise moneys by gathering together the best possible talent in our region and getting them to perform at no cost. Enclosed is the schedule of events that we will be putting together and we hope you will attend one of these events to show our solidarity with the Haitian people.

Please attend one of these events to help with this terrible catastrope for an impoverished and desperately nation."

Sincerely,
ARTHUR JERRY KREMER, Chair

Tickets are available at the door or online at
www.citywinery.com
For more information, call 212.608.0555

Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law and 100 percent of proceeds will be distributed equally to three organizations:

§ •Partners in Health (www.pih.org)
§ Doctors without Borders (www.Doctorswithoutborders.org
§ Jewish Renaissance Medical Center

Four Emergency Benefit Concerts for Haiti

City Winery, 155 Varick Street (Between Spring and Van Dam Streets)*

Wednesday, January 20 at 8:30 p.m. – Admission $75

Félix Augustin, Consul General of Haiti will greet everyone and thank them for their generosity. The following artists are among those who will perform: the Young People’s Chorus of New York City conducted by Francisco J. Núñz, Patti Smith, The Swell Season, John Wesley Harding,Carolina Chocolate Drops,Yo La Tengo, Joshua Bell, and Tiempo Libre

Thursday, January 21 at 9 p.m. – Admission - $50

Artists include Lewis Black, Vernon Reid and Corey Glover from Living Colour, Marshall Crenshaw, David Johansen, Rich Pagano and The Sugarcane, and Willie Nile.

Sunday, January 24 at 8 p.m.- $ 50

Artists include Rosanne Cash, Brian Stoke Mitchell, Tambou Combo, Madeleine Peyroux, and BETTY.

Monday, January 25 - $20

15 indie artists include Amber Rubarth, Ian Axel, Vienna Teng, Wes Hutchinson, Ari Hest, Will Knox, Joey Ryan, Rosi Golan, Nate Campany, Martin Rivas, Dov Rosenblatt, Alex Berger, Greg Holden and the Haiti Benefit House Band – Kevin Rice, Chris Kuffner, Adam Christgau, Tony Maceli, Melissa Tong, Ward Williams, and Marika Hughes.


*Directions

By Subway: 1 Train to Houston Street or Canal Street; C / E Trains to Spring Street

By Bus: M20 downtown or uptown, M6 uptown, M21 crosstown

Parking: Parking garage on Spring Street between Hudson and Varick, 1 block South of City Winery. Street parking on Vandam available after 7 p.m.

YPC at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Check out the photos from YPC Cantare Division's December performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

Geneva Chorister Feedback!

"Our concert in Geneva on Thursday, December 10 was truly an eye-opening experience for me. It seemed like our presence and mission really opened the minds and hearts of the audience members. When the audience came through the doors of Victoria Hall, they might have been expecting a choir of children, singing some classical songs, but they got much more out of it than that. Two women that I spoke to at the reception afterward really put out performance in perspective for me. They asked me so many questions about the chorus, like if we all went to the same school, or came from the same part of town - and the answer for both was no. The women also said they were amazed that children who had never had any musical experience can join the chorus, and learn to sing in other languages and dance in different styles from all over the world. What I learned in this week's trip is that YPC isn't just a chorus that sings well. Our diverse singers and repertoire combined with our relationship with each other onstage, and our relationship with the audience gives them a musical experience to remember. That response from the audience, combined with our synergy on stage that night, is what made this concert one of the best I've had with YPC so far." - Christopher, Chorister

Winter Concert Feedback

"Every year, YPC performs at the Y for their annual winter concert. Singing a fun variety of music, YPC puts on a show for friends and family that support the organization as they continue to grow as a choir in numbers, and in fame. Although YPC had the winter concert here in NYC, a selected group of singers had been selected for a week trip to Geneva, Switzerland. Despite the reduced number of singers, YPC showed the capability they had by still performing an inspirational and entertaining performance." - Isaac, Young Men

More Winter Concert Feedback

"This was my first YPC concert ever. It was wonderfully festive and wamr! The music was performed to perfection. I was awed by the professionalism of our conductors led by Francisco Nunez, with all our choristers' and audience members' eyes focused on each one as they led their particular chorus. I was dazzled by the beauty of our 300-plus young people as they sang. And I could feel the pride of YPC family members and friends as they watched and later because engaged in the performance. I was carried away by the whole experience. I look forward to more and more." - Anne Stern, Director of Development