The Young People's Chorus of New York City to Offer Free Satellite Schools Concert, 5/24

The Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC), under artistic director and founder Francisco J. Núñez, presents its annual, free Satellite Schools concert "Give Us Hope," at the 92nd Street Y on Thursday morning, May 24, at 11 a.m.

This year's performance will be even more exciting with international performer/choreographer Jacquelyn Bird on hand to teach the children some high-spirited dance moves. This annual concert at the 92nd Street Y, where the Satellite Schools choristers have the opportunity to sing-and this time dance- together, is the high point of each year's schedule for these children.

Boys and girls from seven of YPC's satellite programs in nine New York City public schools will be featured. Hailing from schools in Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, they will take the stage to sing their hearts out for an enthusiastic audience filled with their peers and the public. The children will be led by their YPC instructors: Associate Conductor and Director of the Satellite program Elizabeth Núñez, Assistant Conductor Sophia Miller, Conducting Fellows Johnny Rabe and Sheldon Ogbourne, and Emma Brondolo who conducts P.S. 69 and also is the director of the Young People's Chorus at Thurnauer, the YPC affiliate in Tenafly, NJ.

The Satellite Schools concert is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

The choristers will be arriving at the 92nd Street Y from P.S. 64 The Joseph Addabbo School and P.S./I.S .178Q Holliswood School in Queens; P.S. 69 The New Vision School in the Bronx; and four schools from diverse areas of Manhattan--P.S. 75 Emily Dickinson School, P.S. 130 Fernando DeSoto School, P.S.198 Isador & Ida Straus School, and KIPP S.T.A.R. College Prep Charter School.

YPC's Satellite Schools program was created by Francisco J. Núñez in 2003 when, due to limited rehearsal space, YPC was unable to admit additional children into its core after-school program. The decision was made to provide its National Standards-based music education program to individual public schools, expanding YPC's mission of providing children of all backgrounds with a unique program of music education and high-level choral performance. The program provides each school with a YPC-trained music educator/choral conductor skilled in the organization's performance-based curriculum and a professional pianist/accompanist. The conductors meet once or twice a week with the children, who are taught to read and write music, learn interpretative disciplines and healthy vocal skills, and sing in unison and in two- and three-part harmonies.