Young People's Chorus of Erie

Choir Camp Day 3

2011-08-10T16:54:00.001-07:00

Day 3 is coming to a close. Choristers started the day with some energetic gospel music singing the theme to “The Jeffersons” which woke them up pretty fast! Who doesn’t love the energy of gospel music? Ending this morning’s rehearsal was some choreography to “Jump” from Glee. Energy must have been the theme to this morning’s rehearsal to get campers ready for an afternoon full of off campus performances.

After eating lunch, we headed to give a special cameo performance at the Erie Art Museum’s Mid Day Art Break. This performance set the tone for great performances to come. The audience really responded to the various TV theme songs and was eager to vote for us when they heard we were in the running for a $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant!

Next was a performance at Sarah Reed Retirement Center where we gave a performance for their residents. Following Sarah Reed was the Erie Zoo where we met many parents, Zoo patrons and a news crew. The concert went great and included a crowd-pleasing performance of the theme from “Sponge Bob Square Pants.” After the performance ended, campers got to explore the zoo with their chaperones. The weather was ideal and campers loved being able to see all the animals.

Tomorrow, campers will wake up early to give a live performance on WICU’s Morning Show at 6am. Be sure to tune in to the program to see the campers sing on live TV!

Choir Camp Day 2

2011-08-09T18:20:00.001-07:00

Day 2 of choir camp was so much fun. Campers were busy making new friends, learning new vocal technique, and memorizing tons of music and lyrics. Learning TV theme songs seems like an easy task, but when put into a one-week setting with over a dozen songs, it’s quite difficult and these choristers are accepting the challenge like true professionals!

As most of you know by now, YPC Erie is in the middle of an intense Pepsi Refresh Project campaign where we are competing for $25,000 to send us to the World Choir Games. Our choristers know what it would mean for us if we won this grant, so they are actively helping us get votes! We are taking 30 minutes per day and asking our older choristers with cell phones and facebook to vote for us and help bring in the votes from their friends. We are currently in 10^th place, and this is much due to the hard work of our choristers.

We ended our evening tonight with a brilliant performance at the Millcreek Mall. Over 100 people watched and listened to the performance by our campers. The campers have had this music for less than 36 hours and received a roaring applause that could be heard all across the mall.

Tomorrow, our campers are giving a cameo performance at the Erie Art Museum’s Mid Day Art Break at 1pm, followed by performances at Sarah Reed Retirement Center and the Erie Zoo. We hope to see you tomorrow, but if not, we hope you are able to come to our family carnival on Saturday from 10:30-noon outside of the Reed Union Building on the Penn State campus and then for our final camp performance (with lots of surprises) at 12 noon!

YPC Erie Parent Blogs about Pepsi Refresh

2011-08-07T08:12:00.001-07:00

The Pepsi Refresh challenge is a great way for Young People’s Chorus of Erie to earn money to help offset the costs of their trip to Cincinnati for the World Choir Games! By voting every day, every way, choristers, parents, siblings, friends, etc. can ensure that we’re one of the top 15 organizations at the end of the month! It’s simple and doesn’t cost a thing. The POWER VOTE codes, found on Pepsi products, are also a key to success. These codes provide from 5 to 100 extra votes!

As a YPC parent, I am doing my best to maximize my “voting power” and continue to remind my family, friends and colleagues to do the same. Many of the choristers rely on scholarships to assist with the costs of being a YPC member and may not have the means to fully pay for a weeklong trip. The Pepsi Refresh grant would ensure that the trip is affordable for everyone.

These young people have an amazing talent and the quality of their performances exceeds that of many college choirs! To showcase this ability to the world choir community is something they truly deserve and appreciate.

-Deb Turk

I'll be seeing you, in all the old familiar places...

2011-07-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I am so excited to see you all in a month. Can you believe it, a month!! This will be my 2nd YPC Erie Choir Camp and I am thrilled to be a part of it again. When I transferred up to Erie for school, I was very anxious about not being a part of something or not fitting in. Then, one day, Dr. Bishop asked me to be a rehearsal assistant for YPC and I found a family to be a part of. I cannot wait to see all your shining faces and to hear you do what you do best, sing! I get the best feeling in the world when I listen to you sing. Seeing all of you new and returning choir camp members come together and do what you love for a week is one of the greatest experiences I have had. I am sure all of you will feel the same. We are all one big family, joined together by music, and it's a wonderful thing. I feel like a momma hen when I'm there, because I am so proud of all of you for what you accomplish at camp. All the camp counselors have been talking about this week for a very long time and we are all looking forward to reuniting with you and meeting some of you for the first time!

I'll be seeing you,

Danielle

Reflections from Past Choir Camps...

2011-07-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

YPC Erie Choir Camp is not only a time to grow as a family, as a singer, and as an individual, it is a time to reflect on life. Choir Camp not only helped me to enhance qualities like leadership, communication and patience, it allowed me to create lifelong connections. I have never been to a more meaningful camp in my entire life. I always look forward to the week in August- to me it's more exciting that Christmas. I love being able to spend so much of each day singing, laughing, making new friends and strengthening my old friendships. Those that attend Choir Camp always inspire me to be a better person, to work harder and to love more deeply. Not only do you get to learn amazing music, you get to learn things about yourself and develop skills that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. Reflecting back on my past 2 years of Choir Camp I can see how much I have grown, and have watched the YPC Erie family grow- and I can't wait to see what this year brings. I'm counting down the days, and hope that you are too.

Below I'm including some of my favorite singing/choir quotes, and some of my favorite photos from Choir Camp!

With love and song,
Sarah Mobley

"Those who wish to sing always find a song."
"I don't sing because I'm happy; I'm happy because I sing." ~William James
"Life is a song. Love is the music."
"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories." ~George Eliot

Come On, Come All

2011-07-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

When I was in middle and high school, summer music camps were the highlight of my year. There is something exciting about one week straight of great music making with old and new friends. The friends that I made at these camps went on to become some of my best friends that I still talk to and see to this day. Spending a week with a group of people with similar interests and drive makes the experience even more worthwhile.

Consider the reasons you love music.

Do you love to sing because you can express yourself?
Because you enjoy the collaboration with other individuals?
Because of your drive for success and mastery?
Because of the people you sing with?

Well... if you answered yes to any of these then it is clear that camp is for you. You will get to experience all of these on an all new level. I hope to see you all there and share in making my first camp experience with YPC Erie a great one!

Mr. Rich Basler, YPC Erie Director of Community Engagement

Come and Knock on Our Door. . .

2011-07-01T05:38:00.000-07:00

Hey guys and gals, camp is exactly one month away and I cannot wait! (Hopefully all of your registrations are in by now…) The thing that excites me the most is seeing a bunch of you guys come in, some knowing each other and some not, but all leaving with a feeling of family- and what a family to be a part of! I like to think of myself as that one uncle you can tell anything to and he’ll totally understand where you’re coming from. But that’s just me- you have all of the other rock star counselors to be able to talk to day or night, be it for a laugh on Monday or a shoulder to cry on that last day. We are all very excited to get to spend a week with you all again, and meeting some of you for the first time. We all know the main reason why we are here, but just as important are the friendships and experiences we all make together over the course of several days. For better or best, we’re in this together and we will all inspire one another to try harder than we think possible, have more fun than we can imagine, and all the while gaining a good hard look at just what we are capable of when we put our collective minds together. As they say, two heads are better than one but as I say, 100 heads are even better than that.

See y’all soon!

Mike (aka Ducky)

The Week That Changed My Life

2011-06-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

My first experience with YPC Erie was the first annual summer camp in 2009. It is literally the week that changed my life. From the welcoming gestures and professionalism of the staff to the
love of singing that the choristers displayed, I knew that I had found my musical home. Seeing and hearing everyone making great music and having a blast while doing it was inspiring! I knew from that week what an incredible organization YPC Erie was becoming.

Fast forward to the second annual summer camp “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”… The excitement of being at the camp was evident not only in how quickly everyone learned and memorized all the songs, lyrics AND movements, but also through the dedication of the campers and staff to create a COMMUNITY of singers. The camp learned of Dr. Bishop’s vision for a group of people who respected and cared for each other regardless of their differences. As a professional youth choral organization that vision continues to be at the heart of who YPC Erie is.

Why should you come to the third annual YPC Erie choir camp? That’s easy. Because you will learn about music and singing, make new friends, perform, be inspired, be motivated and be challenged. Nonetheless, who doesn’t like singing TV show theme songs?! Let it be the week that
changes your life!

Mr. Patrick Rose, Accompanist for YPC Erie Young Men's Chorus

Tell Your Friends!

2011-06-28T14:55:00.000-07:00

Choir Camp is just around the corner and I hope you are as excited about it as I am! I’ve been hard at work finding music and making the schedule for the day campers. Let me tell you – this is one week you won’t want to miss! If you are participating in camp as a day camper, each day will represent a different TV channel. All the activities will represent the theme for the day, and we will be creating our very own television channel and composing original theme music for it! It is going to be an awesome week full of music making, new friends, and lots of fun! So make sure you get your registration form in by July 8 and tell your friends too! See you in August!

Ms. Caitlin Henning, YPC Erie Assistant Conductor & Director of Education

The Highlight of the Summer

2011-06-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe our third annual choir camp is almost here! I love the excitement around choir camp: meeting new people, performing new music, and seeing current YPC Erie choristers after a long month of July without any rehearsals. Choir camp planning is part of the fun and I love seeing how the schedule of daily events, performances, and music programming begin to take shape. Camp is a different experience from one year to the next, but is always memorable and is for many the highlight of the summer. Not only is camp an opportunity for the YPC Erie staff to share our knowledge with campers, but for campers to share knowledge with each other AND with staff. It always amazes me how easily non-members and current YPC Erie members come together for the week, bonding through singing music together as well as participating in different activities and experiences together. We learn so much from our campers every year and I look forward to another great YPC Erie choir camp!

Remember to get those registration forms in by July 8!

Dr. Sarah Kahl, YPC Erie Chief of Staff

Are We There Yet? Are We There Yet? Are We There Yet?

2011-06-27T14:20:00.001-07:00

After only two years of hosting our Choir Camp, I feel myself looking forward to it each year now like a kid waiting for Christmas. It's such a unique opportunity - to come together for an entire week, our permanent choristers together with visiting non-members, to share in the experience of making great music and building community. Every year, new campers seem to come with excitement but also a little anxiety, and every year they leave feeling as if their lives have been changed for the better. But one thing they may not realize is that they change us, too. The staff, those people who work tirelessly to make camp the best experience it can be, who spend weeks poring over every detail and planning meticulously for a fun, smooth and productive week, who are the ones expected to show up and impart their knowledge and experience to a hundred young singers who are eager to learn about music and polish their skills: yes, the staff learn from the choristers. We learn how to renew our passion for what we do, how to nurture our friendships, how to stay playful and enjoy life, and how to be an inspiration to others. I look forward to Choir Camp every year not only to inspire, but to be inspired; not only to teach, but to learn.

Last year's campers absolutely blew me away with what they were able to accomplish not just in a week, but in a day! Our theme was "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and we learned music from several different mountain regions around the world along with extensive choreography for our performances throughout the week. Although I had not planned to do the full program until the end of the week at our Gala fundraiser, our singers were not only performing the full program by day 3, but performing it from memory, and completely choreographed! Although some were nervous about the moves in particular, and others were simply exhausted because it was one of the hottest weeks of the summer, I was still so impressed with how much the campers clearly loved the music and were willing to rise above the obstacles in their pursuit of excellence. (By the way, on the subject of heat exhaustion, did I mention we will be staying in an air-conditioned dorm this summer?)

The week of August 8-13, we will host the 3rd Annual Summer Choir Camp on the beautiful campus of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Although embracing challenge is a part of the YPC Erie identity, we tend to choose a slightly lighthearted theme every year to give ourselves a break from the heavier repertoire we learn during the rest of the year. This year's theme will focus on music of television dating back from the 1970s to today. I am having so much fun selecting the music and planning the schedule of rehearsals, performances, and activities for the week Over the next few weeks, some of our staff members, as well as some of last year's returning counselors, will be sharing their thoughts on our blog about why they are looking forward to this year's YPC Erie Choir Camp. We hear choristers talking about camp all year long, and we thought it was important to let you know that WE get excited about it, too!

Remember that the registration deadline is July 8 and you can download the camp brochure at ypcerie.org/choircamp. Scholarships are available.

I can't wait to see you all in August! Are we there yet?!

Love,
Dr. B

Tour Reflections from Choristers and Staff

2011-06-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

This is the first performance tour that the Young People’s Chorus of Erie has been on and I am so happy I was here to be a part of it. Every performance continued to get better and better which represents the true growth of this organization. We have combined hard work with fun to make an even better sound. I have seen so many things across Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. that I might have not had the opportunity to see without YPC Erie. I have made a lifetime of friends and there is nothing that could compare to the experiences YPC has to offer.

-Emilie Toperzer, 14

On the trip back to Erie I had a chance to reflect on all of my experiences with YPC Erie. This was a bittersweet moment. On one hand, I was extremely sad that this was the last time that I would be a YPC Erie chorister. I’ve graduated and have to move on. I sang my last YPC Erie concert and spent the last night with some of my best friends. On the other hand I know that this isn’t goodbye. We found out that the three audition tapes that we recorded in May for the World Choir Games had been reviewed, and that Concert Chorus, Young Men’s Chorus, and Chorale were all accepted! I am able to come back next year and participate in the choir games. My YPC Erie life will never fade though. I love Dr. Bishop and the choir members way too much to just forget about it. As I reflect on how far this organization has come, I’m overwhelmed with emotion. I am so proud that I have helped it become what it is today. I have learned so much from this whole experience, such as how to be expressive, how be a mature adult and how to work with others in a professional manner. This choir has bonded as friends and as a family. We have learned important life lessons through hard work. Most importantly we have learned how to turn hard work into fun. I will never forget this organization, and how it has helped me grow and find my love for music.

Meredith Supinski, 18

On the bus ride home from tour, I sat reflecting on the amazing experience that I had just shared with the YPC staff and the other choristers. This tour has helped me to overcome an obstacle that in one way or another we have been struggling with since day one, expression. Without expression the music has no meaning; it is simply just notes and rhythms, but when you add expression through your body and face it turns the music into a story people can connect with. Connecting emotionally with the audience is not the only way that the choir has grown; we have also grown in terms of tone production, intonation and much more. Just because the tour is over does not mean that our hard stops. YPC Erie choristers will go into a theoretic “break” in July. I am sure, however, that Dr. B and the other staff never truly stops working for us. They help make these amazing opportunities possible.

We now will be working toward a new goal. We found out that all three choruses: Concert Chorus, Young Men’s Chorus, and Chorale, have been accepted to the 2012 World Choir Games. Everyone has their own ideas of what this chorus is and why we operate the way we do, but, when it comes down to it, it is really just about making beautiful music together. Whether we are on the steps of the Capitol, at Carnegie Hall, or on the stage at the World Choir Games, all that really matters is the music. This tour has helped me to realize that this is truly all that matters.

Hannah Becker, 16

This tour was amazing. We started out very strong and continued to improve at each performance. We really grew during this trip both musically and vocally. At State College we improved greatly because there were mirrors in the practice room. The mirrors helped us realize how unexpressive we were and we were able to fix that. That night we gave an amazing performance. The capitol was fun and the reverberations in the building were outstanding. One of our most emotional performances we had was at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. The way our songs sounded and the impact we had has amazing. Seeing sick children in the audience and knowing that our concert would be broadcasted to all the rooms in the hospital made most of us cry, including myself. Our tour is done and all our concerts were amazing. This experience was incredible. We touched so many hearts and left smiles on many people’s faces. The best part of tour was finding out that the Concert Chorus, Young Men’s Chorus, and Chorale made it to the World Choir Games. Hopefully that experience will be as great as this, if not greater.

Linnae Keys, 14

I had many mixed feelings about the ride home. I was so excited to see my friends and family again, but I didn’t want to part with my YPC Erie friends. I may not see some of them for a long time when YPC Erie starts up again in August. This tour was amazing overall. We’ve all bonded so well, and not many of us want to go home yet. In conclusion of this tour I believe we’ve all learned a valuable lesson. This chorus is not about winning competitions or being the best, it’s all about the music and how well all of us connect and care about each other. YPC Erie is one big family.

Kayla McGrath, 14

The YPC Erie staff have been so impressed with the way our choristers have represented the organization this week on tour as we crossed the state of PA and D.C.! We watched them grow both in musical maturity and as young people. The choristers reflected on each performance, which made every concert better and better. They carried themselves in a professional manner, and have truly grown as young artists. Audiences young and old were so impressed with the caliber of music making our choristers displayed. We could not have asked for a more successful tour, both in terms of the impact we have made throughout the state as well as the impact we have made on each other. We are so proud to be a part of something so monumental! Thank you to all choristers, staff, chaperones, and parents for supporting YPC Erie in this week-long endeavor!

Sarah Kahl, Chief of Staff

After only one week, I feel that I have been quickly adopted into what is the YPC Erie family! Everyone involved with organization has so much to be proud of! The choristers gave eight amazing performances this week and have grown immensely as musicians and young adults. All week, we have had discussions and reflections after each concert that helped the choristers continue along an incline each day! I heard so many wonderful comments from members in the audience at all concerts who commented on the incredible musicianship of all three ensembles. Thank you so much to everyone on this trip for an incredible experience, and for making me feel so welcome!

Caitlin Henning, Assistant Conductor and Director of Education

There is no better way to get to know a group of people than by taking a week long tour with them. While we were all a close family prior to our performance tour, after a week of traveling on a bus, staying in hotels, and performing at a different venue each day, we have all become an even closer-knit family. Watching our choristers valiantly put on performance after performance despite being travel weary and putting every ounce of themselves into each performance and rehearsal was a touching experience to witness. Each participant, staff, choristers and chaperone alike worked together to make sure that each stop was special not only for our choristers but for the audiences that came out to listen. As we are travelled back to Erie it was easy to see that not a single person on the bus was the same person that boarded it a week ago. Each person has grown and reached a new level in their life.

Tiffany Gilger, Production Manager

Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital / Washington, DC

2011-06-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

On the steps of the US Capitol

Calvary Baptist Church

Thursday morning, the choristers arrived at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital at 9am. The performance here was the most emotionally charged performance the choristers experienced. Despite the brevity of the performance (only about thirty minutes,) each and every piece reached a new level of self-expression, emotion, and connection with the audience. Sitting in the audience were two sick children with their families among a crowd of doctors and staff. Also in attendance was Dr. Harold Paz, Senior Vice President for Health Affairs for Penn State University, Dean of the College of Medicine, and CEO of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Health System. Seeing these children in the audience grabbed the hearts of our choristers. Following the performance a music therapist talked to the choristers and thanked them for what they would be providing to all the sick children of the hospital, many with cancer, rare diseases, and disabilities who frequented the facility. The performance was recorded and will be broadcasted on every TV in the hospital frequently. Knowing the impact their singing will have, some choristers, staff and even audience shed a few tears. YPC Erie will hopefully brighten the days of some of these children through the heartfelt music they delivered.

Yesterday evening, we gave an excellent performance at the Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, DC. The sanctuary was gorgeous and the acoustics were ideal. All choruses performed wonderfully, but the Young Men’s Chorus gave one of their top performances to date!

The choruses both participated in master classes with other conductors yesterday before the performance. The Young Men’s Chorus was honored to have Frank Albinder of the Washington Men’s Camerata offer different perspectives on their program. The young men absorbed every word and acted and performed like seasoned professionals. The Concert Chorus worked with Dr. Cheryl Branham, music director of Calvary Baptist Church, and long time friend of Dr. Bishop. The chorus worked on skill building and site reading and even dove right into parts of Mendelssohn’s Elijah!

Today, the choristers visited the Botanical Garden and toured the National Capitol. Following our tour, we got to perform outside Congressman Mike Kelly’s office! Staff members of Representative Dan Benishek (Michigan) and Representiave Austin Scott (Georgia) also came out to hear the performance. Tonight, the choristers will be visiting national monuments and sites of Washington, DC with their chaperones, an evening all are looking forward to!

Tomorrow, we leave for Philadelphia!

State College / Performance for legislators in Harrisburg

2011-06-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of members of Erie's legislative delegation and YPC Erie!

Yesterday, YPC Erie performed at Penn State’s University Park campus in State College. We arrived a little after noon for a rehearsal in the choir room in Music Building I. For the first time, we experienced mirrored walls in a rehearsal. Since our departure, Dr. Bishop has been working with the choristers on self-expression and ways to connect with the audience. Facial expressions come naturally to some, but to others it has been a challenge. The mirrored walls offered a “first glance” (yes, pun intended) into the chorister’s own expressions. They were able to adjust and experiment with different emotions to see what worked, what looked over-the-top, and what didn’t work so well. This unexpected perk to our rehearsal room yesterday was a pleasant surprise that made us well prepared for another solid performance in State College.

At the rehearsal we had two special guests make an appearance. Tony Leach, the 2009-10 “Penn State Laureate” and conductor of Penn State’s Essence of Joy ensemble, was our first visitor. Our second special guest was one of Penn State’s senior executives, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Dr. Blannie Bowen. Dr. Bowen gave some words of encouragement to our choristers and congratulated them on a great rehearsal. I think YPC Erie made a couple new fans and supporters of our efforts. At the concert, the audience included Penn State music faculty members, administrators and even Dr. Guy Jansen, founder of the New Zealand National Youth Choir!

This morning’s performance was rare and exciting. We arrived at our state capitol around 9:30am and had a quick rehearsal where we were welcomed by Representative John Hornaman (he had a committee meeting and couldn’t attend our performance.) Following the rehearsal we got a guided tour of the capitol. The beauty, magnificence and history of the state capitol captivated the choristers’ attention and they remained in awe throughout the entire tour.

Following the tour YPC Erie gave a performance few will forget. The concert was at the Main Rotunda of the Capitol. We were greeted by our two State Senators, Jane Earll and Mary Jo White, and three of our State Representatives, Patrick Harkins, Florindo Fabrizio, and Curt Sonney. In addition to our delegation being present, we performed for a lively audience of other legislators, press and capitol staff. The choristers masterfully demonstrated the value of the arts and arts education to a crowd of decision makers for the state of Pennsylvania: mission accomplished!

As you may recall, U.S. House Representative Mike Kelly charged the choristers to act as ambassadors of the Erie region and it is safe to say our chorus is accomplishing just that. Bring on day 4!

Staff Blog- Caitlin Henning

2011-06-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

Greetings on Day 2 of the YPC Erie Tour Across the Commonwealth! Yesterday was my first official day as the new Assistant Conductor and Director of Education for YPC Erie and I don’t think I could have had a better first day on the job anywhere else! I am so impressed with the commitment to excellence that these young people demonstrate! Our first concert in Pittsburgh was a great success! The choristers brought so much energy, enthusiasm, and musicianship to the stage. At the reception after the concert, the audience members expressed how much they enjoyed the performance and many commented on how the choirs made them feel emotionally connected to the music. I’m having so much fun getting to know everyone and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week has in store. We have arrived at State College for what I’m sure will be another exciting and impressive performance!

Caitlin Henning

*This is a picture of YPC Erie's two newest staff members departing Erie yesterday: Caitlin Henning and Rich Basler

Busride thoughts... Day 1

2011-06-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

I am soooo excited to be on tour. It is my first tour and I am very nervous. I can’t wait to see new places meet new people. I am so grateful to be here and to get to know more about everyone in YPC. I hope this is the first of many concerts for me. This is a dream come true.

Jenna Van Houwe

* * *

What a day already! I’m sitting with Meredith Supinski!! She is amazing!! We have been listening to music on her IPod (Hairspray!!) I absolutely love this tour!! We are now going to practice Riki-Tiki-Tavi on the bus!

*Time to practice*

Practice on the bus went better than I expected! I just saw the KDKA radio antenna!! I just did a report on there! Sweet! This trip just keeps getting better!!

It is now 12:06- WE ARE IN PITTSBURGH!!! Oh my gosh!! We are here! We just passed the Roberto Clemente Bridge!!! We are now in downtown Pittsburgh. I’ll post later!!

Jacob Miaczynski

Cantare to "Pop up" all over Erie

2011-06-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

On June 4th, Cantare will be popping up giving short impromptu performances all over Erie. How hard could it be to play hide and seek with 60 choristers in a city of a few hundred thousand? Fear not, here is a clue to one of their locations!

Last on the list is a place off of Peach

The shopping and food compete with the beach

A large space indoors

With all types of stores

A stunning performance is not out of reach

This clue tells you where they will be at their last performance at 5:30pm. Do you want some more clues? Check out our website, Facebook and our newsletter for more and see if you can find us on June 4th!

Corrina's Tour of Schools Reflections...

2011-03-11T13:37:00.000-08:00

Chorale performing at Iroquois Junior/Senior High School

Our first Tour of Schools combined with Cantare went great! This was my third Tour of Schools and I think that combining it with Cantare was an awesome idea. The audience participated a lot, especially at Iroquois High School. The day was filled with new experiences that I believe will help us thrive in the future. I’m very excited to perform with Cantare at another Tour of Schools. - Corrina Barnett

Chris gives his thoughts on the day...

2011-03-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

The Young Men performing at Wayne Middle School

Today YPC was very fun! It was my first Tour of Schools, so I thought it was very interesting. It was fun and tiring, but I enjoyed every second of it. I enjoyed our last stop was the best. I could hear more of all of us. Everyone had great facial expressions, and moved around a lot. I could tell that everyone including the crowds enjoyed the performances throughout the day! - Chris Dyleski, Young Men's

Tamara's Thoughts...

2011-03-11T13:31:00.001-08:00

Cantare performing at JoAnna Connell

Today was the best day of my life since I joined YPC!

Today we went to perform at three different schools! The first one was JoAnna Connell an elementary school, the second was a middle school called Wayne, the third school was Iroquois High School. It was a lot of fun because we got to perform and sing with Concert Chorus and the Young Men. Since I joined this group I have made a lot of friends. I will never forget this day!! - Tamara Carrier, Cantare

Three Concerts in One Day?!?! Not a problem for YPC Erie!

2011-03-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

Jacob talks about the idea of "family" in YPC

Meredith fills the audience in on her favorite YPC experiences

Choristers are all smiles on Tour of Schools day!!!

YPC's Tour of Schools was a tremendous success!!! The concerts throughout the day were very well-received, and all of the audience members were thrilled to participate in a chorus of the Young Men's rendition of "Sweet Caroline". The Concert Chorus wowed the audiences with "Ain't No Grave Can Hold Me Down", and Cantare sang "Uma Familia" and related our YPC idea that we are all one big family through their song. We are so proud of all of our choristers!

If you were an audience member today, don't forget to "like" us on Facebook and RSVP to our "Choir Camp Raffle" event to enter to win a free trip to Choir Camp! The winner will be drawn on May 31st.

YPC Embarks on "Spring" tour of schools!

2011-03-11T05:35:00.001-08:00

Cantare warmups in full swing!!

Chorale getting pumped for the day!!

YPC has an exciting day ahead, adventuring to JoAnna Connell, Iroquois High School and Wayne Middle School this afternoon, we are excited and ready to show everyone what we've got!

Emily's Thoughts

2011-01-29T10:52:00.001-08:00

"During retreat we played a game when we got 13 words and had to make a song. A lot of songs were copied but we had a lot of fun. Personally mine was the best!"

-Emily Bahm

Kayla's Thoughts

2011-01-29T10:43:00.000-08:00

"This was my first YPC retreat and, if I do say so myself, it has been the 2^nd most fun YPC function I have ever attended, other than camp. All of my friends from YPC have allowed me to realize it’s okay to be who I really am. When I am at school, I usually just do whatever is necessary to fit in. Spending time and bonding with the other YPC choristers was a great experience for me because it allowed me to get to know the new members, and it allowed me to further bond with my old friends. I don’t plan to ever leave YPC (until I’m 18), and I can’t wait for the next YPC retreat (or camp!)"

-Kayla McGrath

Devin's Thoughts

2011-01-29T10:34:00.001-08:00

"As a veteran of YPC, I was very excited to be having yet another retreat because it provides a great opportunity to have the new choristers open up and get to know the members of YPC as well as letting us get to know them. Unfortunately I will probably have only one more retreat in my YPC life due to my graduation in 2012, so I enjoy the opportunity to come and be with friends who seem like family to me. I feel it helps us increase and strengthen our relationships. This retreat has been great for bonding and has allowed the old as well as the new choristers to be involved in games that allow everyone’s personality and ideas to be represented. I feel that this was a very fun and productive activity and time well spent. YPC will continue to grow more and more as the years progress if we do things like this more often. Last, but not least, I really do appreciate Dr. Bishop, and his faculty/staff, for picking a stupendous place for us to have this retreat. It has been a fun and informative retreat spending it here at the Watson & Curtze Mansion!"
-Devin Hinchman

Kristin's Thoughts

2011-01-29T10:30:00.000-08:00

"I really liked that this retreat was at the Watson-Curtze mansion. It’s not only nice to get to bond with the other choristers, but it’s also nice to hear about the history of the mansion and of Erie. We played all these games to get to work better as a group and to get to know each other better. It’s been a lot of fun and everyone is getting along so well. The mansion is beautiful, and nobody is afraid of it… now that it’s light outside. I hope the location for the next retreat can compare!"

-Kristin Skarupski

Jacob's Thoughts

2011-01-29T10:24:00.000-08:00

"This retreat has been the best! We told ghost stories and ate really good food cooked by the amazing Tiffany Gilger. We did a tour of the mansion in the light, not the dark. We saw the first private elevator in Erie, Pa. We also saw some secret passage ways. We woke up this morning to awesome food, had rehearsal and went to see the planetarium show.
-Jacob Miaczynski

YPC Erie hard at work already this morning...

2011-01-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

After breakfast, YPC Erie gets to work practicing in the ballroom of the Watson-Curtze Mansion.

YPC Erie...."Ask Jason"

2011-01-28T18:00:00.000-08:00

The kids had a blast putting Dr. Bishop on the spot with some very interesting questions...up next: Ice Cream & Ghost Stories!

YPC Erie working together at the retreat...

2011-01-28T16:07:00.000-08:00

The Night at the Museum Begins!

2011-01-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

The Night at the Museum begins...stay tuned for more pictures and video from the YPC Erie retreat at the Watson-Curtze Mansion tonight!

Winterlight: A Holiday Concert with YPC Erie

2010-12-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

Let's set the scene: picture 75 choristers in small groups laughing and talking together as they decorate for the holidays with carols playing softly in the background. Now picture the older singers slowly turning toward the audience and singing a stirring rendition of "Christmas Time is Here" as the younger singers continue to wrap gifts and hang ornaments. This is how "Winterlight: A Holiday Concert with YPC" began.

Our holiday concert was held on Tuesday, December 21st to a sold out St. Patrick Church in Erie, PA. The night was filled with beautiful music and smiling faces. After the opening song, Cantare took the stage for their set, and their heavenly voices filled the church during John Rutter's "Angels' Carol". They ended their set with an upbeat African Christmas Greeting, "Kuwa Na Krismasi Njema", accompanied by the Pfeiffer-Burleigh World Drummers. The Young Men's Chorus had the audience enthralled from the very first notes of their opening song, Michael McGlynn's "Gaudete". Following intermission, the lights were turned off and the Concert Chorus took our breath away and wowed the audience with a candlelit version of McGlynn's "Jerusalem". After the Young Men joined the Concert Chorus, Chorale performed Will Schmid's "Oh Watch the Stars" with the World Drummers, and then continued their set, ending it with stirring performances of "How Many Christmases" by Jim Papoulis and "Betelehemu", arranged by Barrington Brooks. Cantare came back out to perform the concert's title song, "Winterlight" by Amy F. Bernon with the lights dimmed in front of the nativity scene. Just before the closing number, YPC led the audience in a carol sing-along, although once Santa was on the scene, Cantare members had a very hard time finishing the last carol because their faces were filled with awe as they watched him sneak up on Dr. Bishop! The final song of the night was "Believe" from The Polar Express, and as our emcee Kim Young said, the lyrics were a perfect way to end the night, and a great message for Erie.

Did you miss the holiday concert? After reading the descriptions above or hearing about the concert from your friends, are you wishing you had been there? Were you in attendance, but wishing you could revisit some of your favorite songs? Well, we have very exciting news for you! The concert will be rebroadcast on WQLN and www.wqln.org at 7:00 a.m. on December 25th, and again at 3:00 p.m. on December 26th. So, tell your family and friends to tune in and get in the holiday spirit on Christmas morning. What could possibly be better than sitting back with coffee and cocoa, spending time with your loved ones, and listening to beautiful music from Erie's own Young People's Chorus on Christmas morning?

Happy Holidays from all of us at YPC Erie!

YPC Erie's 2010 Fall Term is Coming to a Close: Past and Upcoming Events

2010-12-12T14:18:00.000-08:00

YPC Erie's Concert Chorus, getting ready for a performance during the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra's Holiday Pops Concert

Always time for a goofy shot to get a few laughs before the concert!

Cantare performing at the Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union's Holiday Party

YPC Erie was presented with a very generous donation from the EGEFCU

YPC Erie has certainly had an exciting couple of months! The time seems to be flying by, and before you know it, we will be starting our Spring Term and welcoming new choristers as a result of our upcoming January auditions. Enough about January, let's focus on a review of our November and recent December events, and our upcoming Holiday Concert.

YPC was featured at the annual Africa 6000 Gala on November 6th, where they performed and helped to raise money to fund clean drinking water for communities in Africa. The choristers were very enthusiastic and eager to help such a great cause.

YPC Erie's 3rd Annual Honor Chorus Festival was held November 13th, and was a huge success! Singers from all across the area came together for a day of music-making and friendship-building. The day began with choristers arriving at 8:00 and picking up their music binder and t-shirt, and rehearsals began shortly after that. Rehearsals were intense for all involved, as most of the music performed in the evening concert was learned entirely in one day. Choristers had the opportunity to participate in bonding activities organized by the Penn State Behrend Choirs, and chat with current members about YPC and how to join. The day concluded with a concert held in McGarvey Commons, and featured performances by all YPC Choirs, Penn State Behrend Choir and Chamber Singers, and the Honor Chorus Participants. Fun was had by all, and we hope to see many of our participants back to audition for permanent membership in January!!!

Since we had so much fun at the Honor Chorus Festival, all of the participants were invited to come back the following weekend to sing the National Anthem for an Erie Bayhawks Game! The singers did a great job, and then had fun staying to watch the game.

At the end of November, YPC welcomed a new staff member: Kimberly Morewood, our new Director of Community Engagement. We are very excited to have her with us, and are looking forward to working with her!

After a short break from rehearsals for Thanksgiving, rehearsals began again to gear up for our holiday season. The choirs of YPC Erie had dual performances last weekend that were very well-received by the community. Cantare performed for the Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union's Holiday Party, which included performances of our own music, as well as a sing-along with some very enthusiastic audience members! At the conclusion of the performance, YPC Erie was presented with a very generous donation from EGEFCU, and the choristers all received an individual gift. While Cantare was performing at the Ambassador, Concert Chorus was busy performing at the Warner Theatre for the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra's Holiday Pops Concert. YPC received rave reviews from audience members, and had a great time performing in such a magnificent venue!

Our Fall Term will be drawing to a close with our upcoming holiday concert titled "Winterlight: A Holiday Concert with YPC". The concert will be held on Tuesday, December 21st at Saint Patrick Church in Erie. The concert will feature all of the YPC choristers, as well as a special performance by the Pfeiffer-Burleigh World Drummers. To purchase your tickets for the 2nd annual event, please visit our website at www.ypcerie.org, or call (814)-898-6789.

After our break for the holidays, YPC Erie will be holding auditions for new members from January 3rd-7th. If you or someone you know is interested, please call (814)-898-6789 to schedule an audition!

YPC Erie's Fall 2010 Tour of Schools!

2010-10-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

Photo op before the big day starts...Erie, are you ready for this???

Audience Participation time at Roosevelt!

Performing at Perry Elementary

Dr. Bishop addresses the audience at Perry Elementary

Relaxing after a long day!

The YPC Erie Fall 2010 Tour of Schools with the Cantare ensemble was a great success!

Throughout the day, our Cantare training chorus visited three different schools in the Erie area: Roosevelt, Perry, and Pfeiffer-Burleigh. The choristers began arriving at Penn State at 7:00 a.m., and had a busy schedule until the day ended at 4:30 p.m. After all of the choristers had arrived and were dressed in their concert attire, it was time to begin warming up and discussing our schedule for the rest of the day. By 8:30 we were off to our first school: Roosevelt, where we sang for the 7th and 8th graders. The performance was very well-received, and we even had the middle school students up and moving as we taught them a fun warm-up song!

Following the Roosevelt stop, we made our way to Perry Elementary where we sang for grades K-5, and the students loved all of our songs. We also had the students participate in a warm-up, and no one - not even the teachers - was left out of it!

After Perry, the singers were transported back to campus (via a very loud bus filled with Cantare's version of Miley Cyrus songs), where we had lunch and more rehearsal time. It was important for the singers to discuss each performance throughout the day to continually improve on each song so that every time we performed, we were evolving and learning from our experiences.

Our final stop of the day was at Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary, where we sang for a gymnasium full of students. This time we were able to teach them two of our favorite warm-ups, and it was great to see all of the excited faces as everyone, adults included, joined in the fun!

During each visit, Dr. Bishop and Mrs. Beichner spoke about YPC's upcoming Honor Chorus Festival (by the way, the registration deadline is approaching, check out our website to register!), how students could join the chorus if they liked what they had seen that day, and we even had some of our choristers come up to the mic to give their own testimonials! All in all, Cantare did a great job representing the organization, and we are all very proud of them!

After the singing was over, we returned to campus for snack time, coloring, and a "nature walk". Dr. Bishop received some coloring pages of a crazy-looking conductor (hmm...was this a hint???), and some choristers began calling Mrs. Beichner their "music mom" during the nature walk. (She really would like to know why it couldn't be "music big sister", but I suppose it doesn't have quite the same ring to it...)

It was a great day, and would not have been possible without the help and support of so many people. Thank you to all of the YPC staff, the volunteers, the choristers, the teachers and administrators of the participating schools, and all of the students who made such great audiences! We are already looking forward to our Spring 2011 Tour of Schools!

YPC & Diversity

2010-09-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

By Meredith Supinski

Something just clicks when I hear the words "diverse" and "different." It instantly makes me want to participate. I like being different, even though I don't fully understand why. I've learned in classes at school and in life, that when everything is the same, it just does not work to its full ability, and usually ends up falling apart. That's why YPC is so important, because anyone can start an organization, but the real goal is making it an organization that is constantly challenged by the diverse people involved in it. I feel that Erie is a very diverse city with many cultures represented, but to be diverse is sometimes thought to be a bad thing. YPC nourishes the idea of diversity, and lets it grow into something that gives young people opportunities that they would not have without it.

Something I Can't Do Without

2010-09-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

By Dallas Baker

The commitment of YPC is important to me because YPC is something that is very important to me, and I honestly do not know what I would do without it. Also the commitment is helping me with other commitments that I have now, and other commitments I will have in the future. Every time there is a concert or rehearsal with YPC I always get more advanced with my singing and learn from it. I also feel as if I am committed because being with the group boosts my self- esteem and it is something I enjoy doing, not something I have to do.

Why I Made the Commitment

2010-09-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

By Kayla McGrath

I made a commitment to YPC because I have loved the organization ever since I heard about it. It is a big part of my life, and I'm very proud of it. I love all the friends I've made and I love how YPC is like a family. Even when I turn 18, and no longer can be in YPC, I plan to do as much as I can to support members of YPC in the future.

YPC In the Community

2010-09-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

By Alexgiomuel Gonzalez

I am very excited and proud to be accepted to YPC. I also think YPC is very important to the community, because it not only keeps young people off the streets, but it gives them an opportunity to fulfill their musical goals and set high expectations for themselves.

"In Love with YPC"

2010-09-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

By Jacob Miaczynski

I am in LOVE with the Young People's Chorus of Erie because of what it has done for me, and the people that have helped me through this year and a half! At my school I am not the most wanted one there, but with YPC it is a whole different story! I love coming because everything is very special to me. I have made so many friendships, and learned new languages in different songs. We sing this one memorable song called "Oye." In this song everybody is smiling, laughing, and having the time of our lives! I have had so many experiences at Choir Camp, and they are all GOOD ones. I have made so many friendships in the past 2 years! I have stayed connected with some of them for a year until I saw them again. That is how strong the LOVE of FAMILY is in YPC. We all have different backgrounds and in some awesome way, we all love each other so much and we are building LIFELONG relationships. I know the Young People's Chorus of Erie will go on forever, and even when I graduate all around I will go to every concert that YPC has. The 3 words that will be used in YPC the most that will live on forever are LOVE, FAMILY, MUSIC. I love YPC so much, I am CRAZY for it! YPC will live in my heart forever!

Auditions are Coming! Auditions are Coming!

2010-08-27T23:13:00.001-07:00

The YPC Erie Fall Term will be starting soon, so if you are interested in becoming a member, please contact the YPC Erie Office at 814-898-6789 to schedule your audition!

Auditions will be held weekdays from August 30th-September 10th. Please call to set up a specific time and location.

Feel free to visit our website at: www.ypcerie.org for more information about the program!

2010-08-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

The Residential Campers perform for Erie Homes for Children and Adults

Residential Camper performance for EHCA

"The Guys"

The Day Campers practice their choreography for "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain"...can I get a "Yee-Haw"???

Residential Campers practicing their moves for "Jai Ho"

The dancing shoes were on at the Residential Camp Dance on Thursday night!

The counselors who worked tirelessly to make camp a great experience!

Taking time out for the camera at the dance!

Break it down!!!

Everyone do the "Cupid Shuffle"!

Choir Camp 2010 has come to an end...

2010-08-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

I think everyone would agree that this has been an exhausting week, but that all of our hard work paid off big time yesterday! After packing everything up in the dorms, the residential and day campers came together in McGarvey Commons to spend a little time getting ready to say goodbye. We ran a stop-start dress rehearsal to practice moving to and from each song, as the format of the program was slightly different from how the Gala was run.

In no time at all, parents began arriving and it was time to start the program. It was so nice for the campers to have the opportunity to perform for their parents and friends in the final camp performance. Showing everyone what we have been working so hard for all week was a wonderful thing. At the conclusion of the program, I saw more than one teary-eyed parent as the audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation. It must have been very powerful watching their children on stage and seeing how much can be accomplished when a very dedicated group of singers and staff come together to provide a performance of such high quality after only one week!

After the performance was over, the campers said goodbye to each other and eagerly met their parents (some perhaps less eagerly...many campers simply did not want the week to be over so soon!). Nearly 100 campers with their parents and baggage cleared out surprisingly fast, and in very little time, staff members were standing in the lobby thinking "Did this really happen? It's all over, just like that?"

Once again, we would like to say how proud we are of all of the hard work the campers did this week. All of the performances were extremely well-received, and that is in large part due to the dedication and excitement demonstrated by them this week. We would also like to express our thanks to the staff members and volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure that the campers had a top-notch experience throughout the week. A very special thanks to the counselors who were literally on-call 24/7 during the week. The campers bonded with their counselors in a very unique way, and I am sure they will not be forgotten!

Although the camp experience has come to an end, the YPC experience is just getting ready to roll for another year! In just a few short weeks we will resume our regular weekly rehearsal schedule, and we would love to see our campers who are not currently members of YPC become permanent members. Please look for information in the mail on what to do if you are interested in enrolling for the fall term. All new and returning choristers will complete an assessment in the first few weeks of the fall term. We are very excited for all of the upcoming events this year!

If you have been following our blog during the week, but did not attend camp, you can also have the opportunity to audition for enrollment and join us in the fall. Please see our website for more information on Fall Term Auditions: www.ypcerie.org. You can also call our office at 814-898-6789 for more info. We are also on Facebook, so look for us there as well!

If you attended camp this year and would like to share your thoughts and reflections about the experience, please feel free to comment on the blog or send your reflections to: melissa@ypcerie.org.

We would love to get your pictures from the week posted on Facebook and the blog, so feel free to email your best shots to: tiffany@ypcerie.org.

Although the blog posts may not be quite as frequent as they were during camp week, please continue to check the blog, as we will be continuing to post throughout the year to keep everyone updated on all of the exciting things we have going on during the next year!

YPC Erie 2nd Annual Gala a Success!

2010-08-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

The final full day of choir camp was a huge success! Everyone including our day campers had a later start time this morning so that everyone would be fresh and ready for the Gala performance tonight. The day began with an all-camp warm-up session and pep talk to get everyone geared up for the rest of the day. Campers had a short practice session to clean up a few items in their songs and then went to lunch. Campers were beginning to feel emotional about leaving camp tomorrow:

"I do not want to leave tomorrow! This week has been awesome and I just can’t wait until next year. I’ve made even more friends this year and I have special ones that I don’t want to say goodbye to. The dance last night was amazing. My best friends for life were all dancing with me and we played all our favorite songs. All the girls dressed up and I had the best time." - Jacob M.

"Choir camp ROCKS!" - Sophia S.

After lunch, the campers were off to the Ambassador to have a dress rehearsal for the Gala performance. The campers thought the facilities were especially beautiful and loved performing in the chandelier-filled ball room. After the dress rehearsal, the campers ate pizza and watched a movie to relax, and then the Gala was off and rolling!

All involved in planning the Gala worked very hard to put on a spectacular event, and they did a phenomenal job. All of the mountain-themed decorations were beautiful, and the campers were staring at the displays every time we walked past them to get into the room. The event opened with a bang when the residential campers performed "Jai Ho", and the energy level established early on in the event only continued to grow throughout the night. The day campers had the crowd laughing while they sang "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain", and then the program closed with our theme song for the week, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". The audience was immediately on their feet at the end of the song. All of the campers put on a top-notch performance, and the YPC staff are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication of all involved!

After the Gala performance was over and the day campers were signed out, the residential campers came back to campus to have a campfire cookout and sharing session. The campers had everyone in stitches as they revealed some of their antics that they had been keeping under wraps this week, and many of the campers commented on how much they loved their counselors and how hard the counselors and staff worked to make camp such an amazing experience. It was great to see everyone having such a great time unwinding after an eventful day.

Our camp week is coming to a close with only a half day left. The concert for family and friends promises to be very enjoyable, and will be a great way to close our camp for the year. It will be a very emotional departure for many, if not all, of our campers. The concert is free and open to the public and will begin at 12:30p.m. in McGarvey Commons on the campus of Penn State Behrend. We hope to see you there!!!

The dancing shoes were on tonight!

2010-08-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Just as predicted, YPC had a very productive afternoon and evening. After swimming and recreation time, campers came back together for a short session to practice in McGarvey Commons, the space we will be holding our family and friends concert in on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 (free and open to the public - hint, hint). The day campers performed their entire set for the residential campers, and had the pleasure of a great reaction to all of the surprises in their rendition of "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain". After performing for the other campers, the day campers were able to watch the residential campers perform "Jai Ho". They love seeing and hearing the song so much that they are completely silent for the entire length of the song. If that doesn't speak volumes about what is in store for you at the concerts this weekend, I don't know what does!

After a very nice dinner together in McGarvey, the campers had a dress rehearsal with the Stephen Trohoske Jazz Trio, who will also be playing at the Gala. The campers were very energetic and excited during the rehearsal, especially with the added bonus of a captive audience in the form of a WICU 12 cameraman!

While the residential campers continued their rehearsal, the day campers were able to spend some quality time together making posters for the Gala and helping to create centerpieces that would be used to decorate for the residential camp dance later in the evening.

After signing out the day campers, YPC staff members had approximately fifteen minutes to transform McGarvey into a decorated dance space, and thanks to some very ambitious volunteers, we were able to have the room converted into a YPC color-themed room, complete with dimmed lights, playlists created by our devoted counselors, and decorations made by the day campers! As the campers waited impatiently in the lobby, the doors were pushed open to reveal the dance space, and a crowd of exhilarated campers rushed in and immediately began to dance. The excitement level in the room was awesome, and campers only stopped dancing to grab a quick drink and snack to refuel for more fun on the dance floor. Having been together for four days now, no one was shy on the dance floor, not even the counselors and YPC staff members...I believe there may even be some photos of Dr. Bishop breakin' it down, much to the delight of all present.

Whether it is while the day campers are soaking in the adrenaline rush when they hear the cheering and applause of their older counterparts after performing for them, or while the residential campers are walking out the door after the fun and camaraderie experienced at the dance, the ear-to-ear smiles on their faces express far more than any blog entry can!

2010-08-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

Day Four of Choir Camp week began with the arrival of some very well-rested and VERY energetic day campers (I guess they did go home and rest up after an earlier release time last night!). As the day campers went to start their morning rehearsal session, the residential campers were finishing breakfast and heading to a group sharing session. Campers had the opportunity to give voice to any problems or concerns they were feeling, and afterward the energy in the room at lunch was noticeably changed for the better. We are looking forward to a very productive evening.

“Day four is really fun. We have a dance tonight and everyone is really excited!” – Angel B.

“Rockin’ out, wasn’t feeling well, but I’m pushing through and having a blast!!!!” – Kamyah B.

After the first afternoon rehearsal, the day campers went off to the pool (only asking when we were going swimming about 27 times in the hour right before) and the residential campers headed back to the dorm to have some group bonding time. Some were outside enjoying the beautiful sunshine, and others were inside the lobby area either having a dance party in the corner or using their creativity to create crafts for the Gala on Friday.

After recreation and downtime this afternoon, we will be having our first Gala dress rehearsal, and it will be a treat to see all of the progress the campers have been making this week. It will also be the first opportunity the campers will have to see ALL of the songs that each group has been working on. It is hard to believe that the week is already coming to a close, but all of the hard work is paying off in a big way!

2010-08-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

After last night’s performance, the campers had earned a bit of a leisurely morning. The residential campers slept in this morning, and the day campers arrived and had a “getting-to-know-you-better” session. (We learned a lot of very interesting middle names, much to their dismay, and heard many great stories about siblings and crazy pets!) The campers had a busy day ahead, so morning rehearsals began, and they were intense and very productive.

Some meal time comments:

"If you asked me two days ago if I wanted to come to choir camp I would’ve said no, because two days ago I thought that I wouldn’t know anyone and I’d be missing my best friend, and that I wouldn’t get along with anyone. That all changed when I walked in to Smith Chapel on Monday and I saw someone from my school. Don’t get me wrong, I do miss my best friend a lot, but not as much as I thought. Plus, I’m having a great time. Now if you would ask me today if I wanted to come to choir camp, I would say yes without even thinking. I would encourage everyone ages 7-17 to come to YPC choir camp!" - Ashley L.

"Choir camp is the best. I love it. It is so fun to do all of it. The meals are great(thanks, Bruno's!).The pool is awesome. The hikes might be long, but they are fun. Choir camp, you get a 10!" - Amanda C.

The day campers went for an off-campus performance at The Regency this afternoon, and were very excited. Some may think that giving a concert after only two and a half days is a crazy idea, but it is just your typical day at YPC! The day campers had worked very hard on all of their music and dancing, and gave a great performance, even presenting all of the songs from memory! We were very proud of them as each camper ages 7-10 stepped forward and introduced themselves, told the audience where they were from, and some made comments about all of the fun they have been having over the past few days. We were very warmly welcomed by the residents, and the campers had a great first performance experience! Things will just keep getting better and better for this weekend!

After returning from The Regency, the day campers rejoined the residential campers to practice the songs they sing together, and then everyone went down to the picnic grove for a relaxing dinner and great desserts. The day campers left after dinner (hopefully to get a good night’s rest!) and the residential campers got ready for their performance of the day. The residential campers gave a wonderful performance for an audience from Erie Homes for Children and Adults. The audience loved the upbeat songs, and the choreography was looking superb!

Kudos to all campers on a job well done! We are looking forward to more great performances over the next few days!

Bonding in the dorms

Dance Break!

Day camper crafts. Wouldn't you love to see one of these critters hanging on your fridge???

Having a great time during rehearsal

2010-08-11T06:10:00.001-07:00

At long last, here are a few photos of our choristers having a great time at YPC Choir Camp! More to follow . . .

The young men of YPC Choir Camp practice their slick moves.

Waiting to depart for Jerry Uht Park to sing the National Anthem for the Erie SeaWolves Game.

Lots of friendships forming this week!

One of our multi-talented campers practicing flute in between singing rehearsals.

Our dedicated choristers practice their moves and music even in their break time!

Campers working hard in rehearsal to prepare for this week's performances!

...and the home of the brave...

2010-08-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

This afternoon’s rehearsals were filled with energy as the campers had their first opportunity to perform for each other. It is amazing to see how supportive all the campers are of each other. They are constantly taking every opportunity to help each other with tricky choreography steps and foreign language text.

What an exciting night! The campers had a fantastic time at the ballgame tonight, and their rendition of the national anthem was very well received. Crowd members were complimenting the campers left and right as they exited the field, and it was great for them to have so much positive feedback. They had their fill of “Buck Night” concessions, and because this was kids’ week, there were many other “freebies” handed out as well for the campers to enjoy.

Stay tuned tomorrow for some great action shots from rehearsals and the game!

2010-08-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

A night of well-earned rest seems to have paid off in a big way for our campers! The day campers came back this morning all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with both their Spanish lyrics AND dancing in tip-top shape (yesterday these were their two biggest fears), and word is that the residential campers were also in top choreographic form this morning. Parents and friends, you are in for a real treat at the end of the week!

Today's lunch crowd had plenty to say about Choir Camp 2010:

"This week for camp has been great. We had great activities. There was swimming, and tonight we get to sing The National Anthem at the Seawolves game. Hopefully everything will continue to go well through this week!" - David C.

"It has only been two days and I my decision to join YPC [after camp ends] has been greatly influenced. I actually enjoy working hard with other people that want this as bad as I do. In fact, I can tell I am working hard because of how tired I am at the end of the day. I am really excited to learn what they have to offer here and am very thankful I was given this opportunity!" - Katlyn K.

"This is how I know I love YPC : when 3 hours of practice feels like 20 minutes. I have missed YPC all through July, and am so so so happy to be back, doing what I love, again." - Meredith S.

Now we are gearing up for our performance of the National Anthem at the Erie Seawolves Game tonight and all of the campers are getting more exited with each passing moment!

2010-08-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

Whew! Today was an exhausting day, but in the words of a day camper at our closing sharing session "it was so worth it"!

You might think that after swimming and crafting downtime the choristers would be a bit on the tired side, but that was not at all the case at this afternoon's rehearsals. The energy levels were very high as both the residential and day campers worked on songs representing the Sierra Madre mountain range for our mountain-themed gala and family concerts. The campers had a great time working with our choreographer to learn their salsa moves for the performance.

At dinnertime, the campers had more good reports to give:

"Today I had a great day. I started to see a lot more in some people here. It is a lot of fun, and so far everyone has been nice. I love YPC!" - Anastasia G.

"YPC is awesome! I made so many new friends already, and the songs are WAY cool. I can't believe I am here. I mean, I've been waiting to be here all year. Trust me, the experience is unbelievably awesome." - Sukayna A.

"Everything in camping is perfect. My roommate is so nice. All the girls and I are in dorms, and even the food is great!" - Brianna M.

After dinner, the campers had to put their dancing shoes back on for an intense choreography and music review session. We ended the day with a share session, and now the day campers are home getting some well-deserved rest, and the residential campers are off watching the video of YPC's recent Carnegie Hall debut. A perfect way to end an exciting and exhausting day!

Choir Camp 2010 is off and running!

2010-08-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

YPC's Choir Camp 2010 is once again off to a very successful start! Students started arriving this morning with bags of all shapes and sizes (I think some of them attempted to bring their entire bedroom, but that is a story for another day...).

The day began with an all-camp meeting and our very first rehearsal of our gala theme song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". The campers are very excited for all of the mountain-themed music we have lined up for the week. We broke into smaller groups to rehearse other numbers before coming back together for lunch, and some of the campers took a few minutes to jot down a few thoughts on the day so far. Here's what they had to say:

"First day of camp, fantastic. I’ve already made some great friends and I can’t wait for the days to come! This is going to be a long week but it’s going to be amazing!" - Kayla M.

"Hey I am having a great time singing and even just talking and having a good time." - Andrew T.

The campers are off to arts and crafts and swimming, and are looking forward to more rehearsal time and learning all the new choreography later today!

YPC Prepares for Choir Camp & "Ain't No Mountain High Enough!"

2010-07-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

Our Summer Gala, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough!" will take place on Friday, August 13 at the Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center, located at 7792 Peach Street in Erie. The Gala is YPC's largest fundraiser of the year, generating income to support tuition scholarships, purchase uniforms, support performance and travel costs, and many other expenses YPC incurs throughout the year to maintain a high-quality choral program. This year, nearly 100 singers who are joining us for our 2nd Annual Choir Camp in residence at Penn State Behrend will spend the week preparing to perform for our guests at the Gala. The event will feature a feast of international foods from various mountain regions - the Himalayas, the Alps, the Appalachians, and the Sierra Madre - with great choral music that corresponds to each region performed throughout the evening. Additional music will provided throughout the evening by the Steve Trohoske Jazz Trio. We will have silent & live auction items donated by a wide variety of businesses from around the community and region, as well as raffle items, and an after party that will feature a karaoke bidding contest!

Tickets to the Gala & After Party are available by contacting the YPC office at (814) 898-6789.

Our 2nd Annual Choir Camp will take place August 9-14 on the campus of Penn State Behrend. This year, we have 96 campers who will be participating in this climactic event of the year - a 50% increase over last year's enrollment! We have some very exciting events planned for the week, but our main focus will be on preparing for a sensational Gala performance Friday night. We will close the camp with a family concert at 12:30PM on Saturday, August 14 that will be free & open to the public. The family concert will take place in Bruno's Cafe, in the Reed Union Building at Penn State Behrend.

Parents, friends, and family should check this blog throughout the week for updates from our campers, and photos of our camp activities!

You can also read more about YPC events on our website at ypcerie.org, and on Facebook!

"A Season of Peace"

2009-12-09T14:12:00.001-08:00

As the temperatures drop and the snow falls, YPC is gearing up for this years holiday concert, "A Season of Peace". The concert is to take place at Saint Patrick's Church located at 130 East 4th Street in Erie on Tuesday, December 22nd and will start at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for this exciting concert are now available, but selling fast so don't hesitate to purchase your tickets. Ticket order forms are available on our website at http://www.ypcerie.org/. Your ticket order form and payment can be mailed to us at:

The Young People's Chorus of Erie
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
16 Erie Hall
4651 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563

or you can fax your order form to 814-898-6785. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 814-898-6789. Please make checks payable to The Young People's Chorus of Erie. Tickets ordered before December 15th will be mailed. Ticket orders received after December 15th will be held at the door. Tickets are $20 for section A seating, $15 for section B seating, $10 for section C seating, and $5 for children (7-12).

Remember tickets are selling fast, so don't hesitate, buy your tickets today and join us for a peaceful evening of beautiful music.

Tiffany M. Gilger (Kun)
YPC Production Manager & Marketing Assistant

YPC Is More Than Just Singing

2009-11-24T09:01:00.000-08:00

Ultimately what makes YPC such an amazing organization is the kids that make up our membership. These hardworking kids put their all into their singing and forge strong friendships together. Our members not only receive musical training, but they also learn how to work together with others despite their many differences.

One of our high school choristers, Meredith Supinski, recently wrote the following about YPC:

"I love YPC because it is such an eclectic group of kids. We are all different in our own ways, and we are brought together and made to work together. In a way it gives us an advantage because we are learning to be open to different things, and in this changing world it will benefit us greatly."

Tiffany M. Gilger (Kun), Production Manager & Marketing Assistant
The Young People's Chorus of Erie

Honor Chorus Festival 2009

2009-11-10T10:38:00.000-08:00

Wow! Talk about an exciting event! This past Saturday's YPC Honor Chorus Festival was a HUGE success. Over 200 choristers from all around the Erie area (even as far away as Wellsboro, PA) joined together on the campus of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College for an exciting day of singing and friendship. Choristers from a wide variety of backgrounds joined together as one voice in celebration of the music. This fun filled day of music culminated in a sold out concert that evening where the participants sang for nearly 500 audience members. All in all the day was a huge success with YPC reaching out to over 800 people including the members, staff, and volunteers present to help make the day happen.

Despite the hectic weekend, YPC is far from slowing down. Rather we are gaining momentum with each and every day. Still to come this month we have a chorister hosted recruitment party on Saturday, November 14th for choristers ages 13-18. The members of the YPC Elementary and Intermediate Choruses are preparing to sing at Springhill Senior Living Center tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11th. Then after a short Thanksgiving break YPC will charge full speed into the busy month of December. In December, the Elementary and Intermediate members of YPC will be performing for the Eriez Magnetics Christmas Party at the Ambassador on December 5th, while their older counterparts, the YPC Chorale, will be performing with the Erie Philharmonic on December 12th. Our December events will culminate in a holiday concert entitled "A Season of Peace" on December 22nd at St. Patrick's Church.

Also remember that YPC will be holding their first round of auditions for the spring term November 30-December 3rd. For more information on our auditions, or any of our other upcoming events, please visit our website http://www.ypcerie.org/, call our office at (814) 898-6789, or email us at info@ypcerie.org.

Tiffany M. Gilger (Kun)
YPC Production Manager and Marketing Assistant

Next Round of Auditions!

2009-03-10T09:36:00.001-07:00

The Young People's Chorus of Erie will hold its next round of auditions May 4-7, 4:30-6:30pm at the following locations:

Monday, May 4 at Penn State Behrend’s Smith Chapel
Tuesday, May 5 at First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 250 W. 7th Street
Wednesday, May 6 at Penn State Behrend’s Smith Chapel
Thursday, May 7 at the Cathedral of St. Paul Episcopal, 134 W. 7th Street

The audition process is simple. Each prospective chorister will be asked to sing a song of his/her choice (without accompaniment) and some basic musical patterns as played on a keyboard. The primary requirements for joining YPC are the ability to match pitch, a genuine love for singing, and a commitment to hard work!

For more information, or to sign up for an audition time, contact the YPC Erie office (814) 898-6789, e-mail info@ypcerie.org, or visit our website at www.ypcerie.org.

YPC Erie Debuts!

2009-03-10T09:22:00.001-07:00

All three of the YPC Erie ensembles debuted this past weekend at the Warner Theater in Erie.

The YPC Erie High School Chorus sang the youth chorus part in the Erie Philharmonic's performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, with the Erie Philharmonic Chorus & Orchestra. The very first public appearance of any YPC Erie ensemble featured our high school students on stage with the orchestra in front of a sold-out crowd in Erie's historic Warner Theater. I was so very proud of our choristers not only for the high quality of their musical performance, but also for the impressive and professional way they carried themselves. The audience's excitement was palpable as they witnessed YPC Erie in action for the very first time!

The YPC Erie Elementary and Middle School Choruses made their debut at the Warner Theater the very next day, as the featured performers in "Students Play the Warner," an opening-act performance series sponsored by the Erie Civic Music Association. Under the direction of conductors Sharon Downey and Michael Dean, the Elementary and Middle School choruses sang an impressive set of 3 well-prepared and memorized pieces each for a huge audience. Actually, since we were the opening act, I had expected there to be very few people in the audience - but we had a huge crowd there just to see YPC Erie more than an hour before the Erie Civic Music concert began! Our younger YPC groups took charge and did an amazing job. YPC Erie is grateful to Erie Civic Music Association for featuring us in this way, and for their gift of financial support in exchange for our performance.

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend for YPC Erie! Coming next: YPC Erie travels to NYC for the YPC NYC Honor Chorus Festival!

For more information on auditions & enrollment in YPC Erie, contact our office (814) 898-6789, e-mail ypcerie@psu.edu, or visit our website at www.ypcerie.org.

YPC Erie Travels to NYC!

2009-02-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

Choristers in the YPC Erie Middle School & High School choruses will travel to New York City on Friday, March 27 to participate in YPC New York's 8th Annual New York City Honor Chorus Festival on Saturday, March 28.

YPC Erie is the very first affiliate of the Young People's Chorus of New York City. Only three short months into our first season, our choristers will have the amazing opportunity to travel together to NYC and meet members of the organization that inspired the work we're doing here in Erie. Over 50 YPC Erie choristers will spend all day on Saturday March 28 in rehearsals with YPC New York's choristers, getting to know them, sharing stories, and hearing all about their experiences in YPC. Our choristers will not only enjoy a rich and fulfilling musical experience, but will also return with such a valuable perspective on what it means to be a part of YPC. In addition, they are sure to make many new and long-lasting friendships with their travel companions from Erie, and with the choristers from New York City whom they are likely to see again. I'm thrilled to be offering this opportunity for our very first YPC Erie choristers!

For more information on the Young People's Chorus of New York City Honor Chorus, visit ypc.org/honorchorus.

For more information on the Young People's Chorus of Erie, call (814) 898-6789, e-mail ypcerie@psu.edu, or visit ypcerie.org.

YPC Erie Choruses Prepare for Local Debut

2009-02-08T09:30:00.001-08:00

All three of our choruses will make their local debut during the first weekend of March:

The YPC Erie High School chorus will sing the youth chorus part in the Erie Philharmonic's performance of Carmina Burana on Saturday, March 7 at 8pm in Erie's Warner Theater. Visit eriephil.org or call (814) 455-1375 for more information.
The YPC Erie Elementary & Middle School choruses will open for the Erie Civic Music Association concert on Sunday, March 8 at 2:15pm in Erie's Warner Theater. Visit eriecivicmusic.com or call (814) 864-5681 for more information.

For more information on the Young People's Chorus of Erie, call (814) 898-6789, e-mail ypcerie@psu.edu, or visit ypcerie.org.

YPC Erie Rehearsals Begin!

2009-02-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

After months of preparation, marketing, fundraising, and hundreds of auditions, the Young People's Chorus of Erie officially began rehearsals on January 12, 2009 with over 100 young choristers enrolled in three ensembles: high school, middle school, and elementary. Our choirs are incredibly diverse, representing a true cross-section of young people from a wide variety of backgrounds throughout the city and county of Erie, and the broader region of northwestern Pennsylvania. We have some students who walk around the corner to their rehearsal site, while others travel from as far away as Fairview, Edinboro, and Saegertown.

Our first major recruitment event in November 2008, the Northwest Songfest, generated a lot of buzz and excitement as we prepared for rehearsal launch just two months later. While teachers participated in workshops and group discussions, over 120 students participated in a day of rehearsals and other activities with guest conductors culminating in an evening concert with over 500 people in attendance. Here are some of the pictures from that event:

Our elementary chorus, for ages 7-10, rehearses on Thursdays 4:30-6:30pm at the Cathedral of St. Paul with conductor Sharon Downey. These beginning young singers are getting to know each other, and they have already accomplished amazing things in a very short amount of time. As I visit these rehearsals, I have particularly enjoyed observing the ethnic diversity represented by the children in the room. At one point Sharon asked her choristers how many of them could speak a language other than English, and the responses were astounding: Spanish, Portuguese, Albanian, & Polish, just to name a few. The rehearsal room looks like a model United Nations!

Our middle school chorus, for ages 10-14, rehearses on Tuesdays 4:30-6:30pm at St. John's Lutheran Church with conductor Michael Dean. One of the most impressive things about this chorus is the wide range of experiences represented - the potential for friendships and mentorships among these widely different choristers is truly exciting. At the conclusion of rehearsals, there always seem to be large clusters of students grouped together who really enjoy each other's friendship and don't want to leave - and it's especially exciting to see unlikely friendships developing as well, among different ages, races, and backgrounds. The middle school choristers are really enjoying Michael's repertoire selections, even deciding to name their chorus after a Portuguese phrase in one of their pieces. (We'll reveal chorus names soon - stay tuned!)

Our high school chorus, for ages 14-18, rehearses both Mondays & Wednesdays 4:30-6:30pm in the Smith Chapel at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College. These more advanced young singers, who rehearse twice per week, are absolutely craving challenge and respond enthusiastically to everything I give them! We're working on a wide variety of music, from American gospel spirituals to Dravidian music to traditional songs of Zambia. As the high school choristers get to know each other in the process, we are really enjoying the diversity of our group and the energy it brings to our rehearsals. At our last rehearsal, I asked the singers a question: "What does YPC mean to you?" The answers were impressive: "opportunity," "possibility," "a fresh start," "something brand new," "diversity," "possibility" and the list goes on. It was clear that our high school choristers understand that they are a part of history in the making; they see what a pivotal moment this is for them and for our region. They embrace their similarities as well as their differences, and they recognize the potential of this new opportunity and the message it sends to our community. I'm so proud of them for choosing to be the very first members of YPC Erie!

For more information about the Young People's Chorus of Erie, call (814) 898-6789, e-mail ypcerie@psu.edu, or visit ypcerie.org.