Young People's Chorus at Washington Heights to Present First Concert Tonight

The Young People's Chorus of New York City at Washington Heights (YPCWH), established just this past November, will give its very first concert tonight, February 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Washington Heights Academy (P.S. 366) located at 202 Sherman Avenue in Manhattan.

YPCWH, comprising 60 boys and girls from 7 to 11 from schools primarily from the Washington Heights area*, was created by the Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC), under its Artistic Director/Founder Francisco J. Núñez, to expand its award-winning music education program to even more of the city's schoolchildren.

In this free February 21 concert, the YPCWH choristers led by their conductor Johnny Rabe, a YPC Conducting Fellow, will sing and dance a program of music in English, Spanish, and other languages in unison and two-part harmony. The program will include Sesere Eeye, Antiphonal Alleluia, Be With Me, Tecolote, When you Wish Upon a Star, as well as Give us Hope, the longtime YPC anthem that concludes every YPC concert.

"I am so proud of these amazingly talented and enthusiastic children who are so excited to learn and, even more, to perform," commented Johnny Rabe.

"What has been particularly satisfying to me," said Francisco J. Núñez, "is how these children from so many different schools have embraced and supported each other, which has enhanced the skills of every single child in this program. YPC is incredibly grateful to Washington Heights Academy Principal Renzo Martinez, parent coordinator Esdras Santana, and music teacher Xiomara Nino. Without them, none of this could have been possible."

The Young People's Chorus of Washington Heights (YPCWH) is helping to expand the YPC mission of bringing together diverse groups of children to sing at the highest artistic level and is the first of several community choruses YPC will be creating around the city.

The Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) is currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of its founding in 1988 by Francisco J. Núñez, a MacArthur "Genius" Fellow. YPC reaches more than 1,200 young people annually through its core after-school program; its in-school satellite program in 10 New York City public schools; national affiliates in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Tenafly, New Jersey; and now YPCWH. Founded on a mission of diversity and artistic excellence, YPC has become among today's most celebrated and influential youth choruses. Among its many awards is the nation's highest honor for youth programs, a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award presented to YPC by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.

The first concert will play tonight, February 21, 6:30 p.m. at Washington Heights Academy, 202 Sherman Avenue, featuring Young People's Chorus of New York City at Washington Heights (YPCWH), Johnny Rabe, Conductor.

Program

Sesere Eeye
Antiphonal Alleluia
Be With Me
Tecolote
When you Wish Upon a Star
Give us Hope

Admission: Free concert - no tickets or reservations required.

*Schools represented in YPCWH
PS 366, Washington Heights Academy
Amistad Dual Language School (M311)
St. Rose of Lima School
St. Joseph Catholic Academy, Queens
P.S. 166 The Richard Rogers School of the Arts & Technology
The New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math School (NEST+m)
P.S. 232 Walter Ward School, Queens
P.S. 98 Shorac Kappock
P.S. 31 Samuel F Dupont, Brooklyn
P.S. 314 Muscota New School
P.S. 175 Henry H Garnet
P.S. 8 Luis Belliard
City and Country School
P.S. 173 - M173
P.S. 290 Manhattan New School
St. Joseph's School- Yorkville
Inwood Academy for Leadership
St. Gabriel Elementary School
The Speyer Legacy School
P.S. 87 William T. Sherman