Young People's Chorus of NYC and La Sociedad Coral LatinoAmericana Set for Symphony Space, 10/12

An exciting evening of the rhythms and sounds of a wide variety of Latin music from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Spain, the Dominican Republic, and more, will be presented by the Young People's Chorus of New York City conducted by its Dominican-American Artistic Director and Founder Francisco J. Núñez and La Sociedad Coral LatinoAmericana in a thrilling celebration of "Hispanic Heritage Month" at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th Street) on Friday, October 12, at 7 p.m.

The acclaimed Young People's Chorus of New York City and a consortium of La Sociedad Coral LatinoAmericana members from three Washington Heights church choirs-Cantico Nuevo, Santa Rosa de Lima, and Santa Elisabet-will be joined by Washington, D.C.-based Coral Cantigas conducted by its Artistic Director/Founder Diana Sáez, Philip Brunelle and a quartet of singers from the acclaimed VocalEssence choir from Minneapolis.

This concert, the second in YPC's Transmusica series, which encompasses cross-cultural and transformative music designed to build bridges to other cultures and communities, will honor Dominican composer Rafael "Bullumba" Landestoy. Mr. Landestoy will be present to hear a tutti performance of the world premiere of a choral arrangement by YPC conducting fellow Johnny Rabe of Mr. Landestoy's "La Tarde de la Tierra."

Tickets for this "Hispanic Heritage Month," October 12, celebration are $10 and $5 for seniors, students, and children. They are available at the Symphony Space box office or by calling 212-874-5400 from 1 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday. Or order anytime online at www.symphonyspace.org.

"Hispanic Heritage Month"Program Includes: 

The young men and women of YPC's Chorale will sing Vere Languores,Tres Cantos Nativos dos Indios Kraó, Chanflín, Guaycanal, and Bridge Over Troubled Water conducted by Francisco J. Núñez.

Coral Cantigas will perform Arroz con leche, Primavera Porteña, Juancito Trucupey, and Las Plenas conducted by Diana Sáez.

In an all-Mexican set, a quartet of singers from VocalEssence (soprano Mari Scott, alto Robin Helgen, tenor Michael Fairbairn, and bass Raymond Noble), under director Philip Brunelle, will sing Madrugada,Cantos de Primavera, Cara de Pingo, Clavelito, Cantate Domino, Potpourri, and Cantaré.

Members of YPC's Prelude and Intermezzo choruses will sing Tecolote and Sopa de Isabel.

And in a celebratory conclusion to this "Hispanic Heritage Month" presentation, all concert participants will gather onstage to sing the world premiere of Mr. Landestoy's La Tarde de la Tierra, as well as Jim Papoulis's Oyé, and with the audience joining in, the traditional closer to every YPC performance, the YPC anthem Give Us Hope.

This season the Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) celebrates the 25th anniversary of providing children of all cultural and economic backgrounds with a unique program of music education and choral performance, while maintaining a model of artistic excellence and humanity that enriches the community. Founded by its artistic director and MacArthur Fellow Francisco J. Núñez, YPC is among today's most celebrated and influential youth choirs. In residence at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, YPC was recently presented with America's highest honor for youth programs-a National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award-by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.

Washington-based Coral Cantigas, founded in1991 by Diana V. Sáez, a native of Puerto Rico, is internationally recognized for increasing awareness and appreciation of the many rich styles of Latino choral music through its multi-lingual and collaborative performances in Spanish, Portuguese, and a variety of languages and dialects, such as Nahuatl, Quechua in its goal to provide its audiences with a deeper understanding of Latino music and cultures.

VocalEssence, the renowned Twin Cities choral ensemble, described as "the envy of every choir in the business," is acclaimed for its superbly blended sound, striving always for perfection. Conducted by Philip Brunelle, a mainstay and the recipient of Chorus America's highest honor--the Michael Korn Founder's Award for Development of the Choral Art-Vocal Essence sings everything from Baroque to contemporary masterworks with originality and freshness. The choir is well known from its many recordings and as the house choir of Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" on public radio.

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