Continuing the 23-year accomplishments of the Young People's Chorus of New York CityTM to bring together children of all backgrounds to fulfill the life potential of every child through the study and performance of music, YPC Artistic Director Francisco J. Núñez and José Santana, ambassador to the president of the Dominican Republic, are uniting in a historic undertaking. They are collaborating on a non-governmental effort to create a national choral program for children-rich and poor-inspired by the success of the Young People's Chorus of New York City as part of a national Dominican program called Uno a Uno (One by One) to build a community embracing diverse economic populations.
Earlier this year, the El Capotillo chorus was formed of children from one of the most impoverished and dangerous areas in the country. El Capotillo is the first of five Dominican children's choruses to be established over the next two years-three from poorer communities of the country and two from more privileged areas. Each chorus will have its own name but all will be part of the Coro de Jovenes de Santo Domingo (the Young People's Chorus of Santo Domingo).
Francisco J. Núñez, who recently returned from Santo Domingo, where he had the opportunity to work with the El Capotillo chorus, said, "I know from working with children from all over New York City for more than two decades that this idea works. The children of El Capotillo, although very poor, are like any other child. You can see the hope in their eyes and their determination to make the best of this opportunity."
José Santana said that after hearing the stories about the thousands of children whose lives have been changed by their years in YPC, he was inspired to establish this program in the Dominican Republic. "We are hoping to alter the misconceptions and distrust of generations of our people through this national choral program. Francisco has shown it can be done. Learning, working, and leaning on each other to accomplish a common goal create deep bonds among the children and the kind of trust that eventually ripples out to the entire community. We realize this won't happen overnight, but we are eager to begin the process."
Several related activities and programs have already been scheduled both in the Dominican Republic and in New York, including a
Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute presentation on October 15.
