Tacoma Youth Chorus

Raise Your Voice | Fuel Your Passion | Join in Song

Upcoming Teacher Workshop with Henry Leck and Judith Herrington

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We look forward to sharing with you this wonderful opportunity to work with Henry Leck and our own Judith Herrington at our third Choral Music Educators Workshop on Saturday, October 20.  If you’re a music teacher – voice, church choir, school – or music student — high school or college — you’re invited to join us for a great day of music and fun!

Henry Leck brings inspiring ideas and teaching strategies to this workshop; his work will focus on working with the boy’s voice.  The demonstration choir will include our Concert Choir guys (grades 4-5), Chamber Choir guys (grades 6-8), and our Men’s Choir (grades 8-12).

Judith Herrington will be sharing teaching strategies for introducing part-singing to young singers. Always our focus is creating positive and successful experiences for singers. She will include ideas for using physical gesture to introduce vocal concepts to young singers and which can be applied to experienced singers, as well as supporting classroom management.

Past workshops have been great successes, enjoyed by workshop attendees:

“This was a lovely experience!”  “Fantastic day, great workshop!”

“Very informative and engaging!”  “Even chocolate – you thought of everything!”

Bring a teaching colleague to share this workshop! You will receive music scores and lots of great ideas. A light continental breakfast and lunch is included in the price. College students and high school students interested in music education are invited to attend at a discounted price. We know you will find it a motivating and fun experience!  And we promise there will even be chocolate!

More information, including registration information, here.

 

Tacoma Youth Chorus Concludes a Wonderful Season with June 10 Celebration in Song!

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This week our choirs will have their final rehearsals of the year in preparation for our culminating performance of the season. Tacoma Youth Chorus presents Celebration in Song this Sunday, June 10 at the historic First Presbyterian Church in downtown Tacoma. In addition to sharing our artistry, we will be honoring our mentors and our graduating seniors. Don’t miss it!
 
Get your tickets now! Details below.
 
 
WHO: TYC Choristers (grades 2-3), Concert Choir (grades 4-5), Chamber Choir (grades 6-8) and Chorale (grades 9-12)
 
 
WHEN: Sunday June 10 @ 4:00pm
 
 
WHY: For the love of music!

 

See you Sunday!

Save the Date: Celebration in Song is June 10!

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Tacoma Youth Chorus presents Celebration in Song, our final performance of the year, on June 10 at the historic First Presbyterian Church in downtown Tacoma. This promises to be an uplifting afternoon of artistry and fun. 

Save the date and get your tickets now! Details below.
WHO: TYC Choristers (grades 2-3), Concert Choir (grades 4-5), Chamber Choir (grades 6-8), Women’s Choir (grades 9-12), Men’s Choir (grades 9-12) and Chorale (grades 9-12)
WHEN: Sunday June 10 @ 4:00pm
WHY: For the love of music!

Are you a kid who loves to sing? Do you know someone who would benefit from all TYC has to offer?

TYC is offering an Assessment Day on Saturday June 2! We will be holding one-on one assessments for fall 2018 enrollment in all our groups, grades K-12. No special preparation is necessary! Learn more about our assessment process here. 

To schedule your appointment, contact our office at 253-588-1391 or info@tacomayouthchorus.org. (If these dates don’t work for you, let us know and we will find another time.)

Get the scoop about our organization and offerings on our website.  Our directors are eager to welcome you – come be part of the music!

 

Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Paul Schultz

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This week on the blog we are honoring local conductor Dr. Paul Schultz, Artistic Director and Founder of the Northwest Repertory Singers, who will retire this spring after seventeen years leading this premier ensemble. Kyle Haugen, TYC’s former Men’s Choir conductor, will succeed him as Artistic Director of NWRS next season.
 
Dr. Schultz has had a distinguished career as a teacher and conductor spanning five decades. He taught in the public schools of Michigan and served on the faculties of Tacoma School of the Arts, Michigan State University, and the University of Puget Sound. He founded the Northwest Repertory Singers in 2001 – a group that has consistently received acclaim for high standards in repertoire, interpretation, and musicianship – and along with his wife, composer Donna Gartman Schultz, has led a rich artistic life and been major influence on the arts scene in the Pacific Northwest.
 
Dr. Schultz has been a longtime supporter, mentor and advocate for the Tacoma Youth Chorus.  He was even the first conductor to invite the Tacoma Youth Chorus to join his own choir in performance! Dr. Schultz reflects:
Judy Herrington and her staff have given the Tacoma community and the Pacific Northwest a model for choral music education. Their programming is always creative, their presentations are at a high, near-professional level, and they are rewarding educationally for both performer and audience member…The young people who sing with TYC are receiving a comprehensive education that will remain in their hearts and souls for the rest of their lives. TYC brings joy to the world through their music! 

Over the years, Dr. Schultz has led workshops for TYC and shared many collaborative performances with us. His artistic leadership has helped us become who we are as an organization.

Northwest Repertory Singers

Dr. Schultz’s final performance as Artistic Director of NWRS is Saturday June 9. He notes, 

Our June 9 concert ‘Celebrate! Treasured Memories and New Visions’ will feature a performance of two works with orchestra and will welcome back NWRS alumni for an evening of fun, reflection and enjoyment.  Members of Symphony Tacoma join us for performances of John Corigliano’s Fern Hill and Morten Lauridsen’s Lux aeterna. We are expecting a large group of NWRS alumni back to close the concert with some of my ‘signature pieces’ from over the years.  It will likely be a finale loaded with emotion.
Learn more about NWRS here and get your tickets now for ‘Celebrate!’ 

Thank you, Dr. Schultz, for your incredible impact on our music community and for your ongoing generosity toward the Tacoma Youth Chorus!

Join the Tacoma Youth Chorus: Assessment Days Coming Up!

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We are excited to announce two upcoming Assessment Days on Saturday May 19 and Saturday June 2! We will be holding one-on-one assessments for fall 2018 enrollment in all our groups, grades K-12.
No special preparation is necessary! Learn more about our assessment process here.
To schedule your appointment, contact our office at 253-588-1391 or info@tacomayouthchorus.org. (If these dates don’t work for you, let us know and we will find another time.)
Get the scoop about our organization and offerings on our website.  Our directors are eager to welcome you – come be part of the music!

Movin’ On Up!: Fifth Graders Prepare for the Move to Chamber Choir

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This week, fifth graders from the Tacoma Youth Chorus Concert Choir will join Chamber Choir (grades 6-8) for a ‘Pizza Practice’ in anticipation of their move to the next choir level next fall. Singers gather on a Friday evening for music, games, and a tasty pizza dinner. We have tons of fun together and get pumped for the coming year. Congratulations 2017-2018 fifth graders!

Now’s the Perfect Time to Check Out the Tacoma Youth Chorus!

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Do you know a kid who loves music? Are you thinking about what activities to participate in next school year? Now’s the perfect time to visit a rehearsal and see what Tacoma Youth Chorus has to offer.

There are opportunities for new members in all our choirs (grades K-12) for 2018-2019! Visitors are always welcome to observe or participate in a rehearsal, and to schedule an assessment with one of our directors. Contact our office at 253-588-1391 or email us at info@tacomayouthchorus.org to arrange a visit and/or assessment.

Learn more about all our choirs and find out how to get the ball rolling here!

Soprano Renee Fleming, the Kennedy Center and the National Institutes of Health ask: What Goes On Inside the Brain of a World Class Singer?

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A new partnership was launched in 2017 between the Kennedy Center, National Institutes of Health, and world-renowned soprano Renee Fleming. It aims to explore the links between music, health and wellness. Check out this amazing video detailing a study in which Fleming herself was studied during music-making!

Says Fleming, “A tremendous wealth of knowledge exists between the nation’s largest performing arts center and our largest health research institute. I hoped we could share and amplify the exciting work being done where science and music intersect, by bringing these two great institutions together for this initiative. There are ramifications here for a host of health topics: childhood development, autism, pain management, Alzheimer’s, PTSD—the list goes on and on, because music’s impact on the brain can be so powerful.”

Tacoma Youth Chorus Offers Free Exploratory Music Class for Fall 2018 Kindergartners & First Graders

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Are you the parent of a child who loves music? Bring them to play at a fun-filled morning of singing, instruments and movement. Tacoma Youth Chorus is offering a free ‘Parent and Me’ class for kids entering Kindergarten or First Grade next fall. This is also a great way to check out our Music Makers program for grades K-1!

Be a Music Makers Explorer!

Saturday April 21, 9:00- 10:15am

Charles Wright Academy Lower School Music Room (directions here)

Symphony Tacoma Mini Maestros Program: this week!

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This week we’re highlighting an awesome program offered by our friends at Symphony Tacoma. Do you know a kid who loves to bang on drums, tables, pots and pans…or any of the above?

On April 15, check out Mini Maestros: Percussion on Parade!  The Symphony Tacoma Percussion Quartet will showcase the family of percussion instruments and will teach kids about body percussion, steady beat, tempo, and more. This looks like fun!

Contact Information

Main Office: (253) 588-1391 info@tacomayouthchorus.org