Photo credit: Stephanie Berger

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) has announced its lineup of concerts for the spring and summer seasons.

The chorus starts off strong with the world premiere performance of Jonathan Dove and Alasdair Middleton’s “Search for Spring.” The large-scale work includes over 800 singers conducted by Simon Halsey who will also lead a team of six NYC-based conductors, including YPC’s Founder and Artistic Director, Francisco J. Núñez. This event is free and open to all. It is held in the Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center starting at 3 pm.

Performance Date: May 13, 2023

Later that day YPC will perform at NYC’s Japan Parade. The parade will culminate in Central Park from 68th – 81st Street for a celebration of Japanese culture.

Performance Date: May 13, 2023

“togetheragain” is a multimedia project including music, poetry, voice, photography, film, sculpture, and more. It touches on themes related to anxiety, depression, social media, the pandemic, isolation, pressure, fear, hope, resilience, and community. The YPC choristers and 600 singers who recorded themselves during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown will perform works by composers Paquito D’Rivera, Aneesa Folds, David Lang, and Paola Prestini. The installation debuts at 147 West 29th Street.

Performance Date: May 15, 2023

Along with the SoHarmoniums Women’s Choir, YPC will present a concert version of “Women Inspiring Tomorrow.” The program features five generations of women (including YPC alum) performing various works by women. This concert will take place at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater.

Performance Date: May 20, 2023

This year’s installment of the YPC’s Annual Spring Concert is titled “No Stopping Us Now!” The event will showcase nearly 600 YPC artists as they perform everything from popular Broadway numbers to classical choral pieces at The United Palace.

Performance Date: May 25, 2023

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City will give the world premiere of “unEarth” by Julia Wolfe. Her new work “digs deep into the stories and science of our planet — looking at forced migrations, adaptations, species land loss, and changing seas … singing our fears and hoping for a way forward,” said the composer. Jaap van Zweden will conduct the choir and the special performance by the New York Philharmonic’s Concertmaster Frank Huang in the Wu Tsai Theater.

Performance Dates: June 1, 2, & 3, 2023

YPC’s School Choruses program will celebrate all they have learned this school year with a special concert in Damrosch Park. Creative Director Elizabeth Núñez will lead the nearly 1,500 New York public school children in a concert featuring classical, folk, pop, and jazz music.

Performance Date: June 15, 2023

Beginning their international tour YPC will travel to compete in the World Choir Games in Korea. The games organized by the German organization INTERKULTUR are held every two years to bring together people and nations through singing in a peaceful competition setting.

Performance Dates: July 3 – 13, 2023

While abroad the Young People’s Chorus of New York City will tour Japan. Núñez will lead the choirs in performances and workshops throughout the country and in concert at Tokyo College of Music.

Performance Dates: July 14 – 18, 2023 (tour) | July 17, 2023 (Tokyo College of Music)

The final event of the season is the organization’s Lab & Studio program at the Music Academy in Santa Barbara, California. The program is a one-week musical residency for choral conductors and singers in grades 6-12. Conductors and teachers will work with Núñez and other YPC artistic faculty. Composer/performer and 2019 Miss America, Nia Imani Franklin will work with choristers. Community performances will take place throughout the week. Núñez will lead the final performance.

Performance Dates: July 18 – 24, 2023