(Credit: Young People’s Chorus)

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) won five gold medals at the 13th World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand.

The ensemble won gold medals for “Champions of the World Gold Medal – Pop with Choreography; “Spiritual;” “Gospel;” “Youth Choirs;” and “Children’s Choirs.”

“The hard work, artistry, and dedication of our amazing choristers paid off at the World Choir Games in Auckland this year,” said YPC Founder and Artistic Director, Francisco J. Núñez, per an official press release. “I am so incredibly proud of them and how they continue to give 100 percent—whether they are performing on a local stage or a world stage. They continue to teach me and the world that the arts are a powerful vehicle for human connection, no matter who or where we are on this planet. I congratulate our young artists on 5 amazing performances and their World Champions title!”

Among the pieces performed in the “Pop with Choreography” competition were “Can’t Buy Me Love/Love on Top” (John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash and Shea Taylor; arr. Matt Podd, Bálint Varga and Elizabeth Núñez), and “Power of Love/Do you Love Me?” (Huey Lewis, Chris Hayes, Johnny Colla, and Berry Gordy, Jr.; arr. Francisco J. Núñez, additional arr. Bálint Varga).

In the “Spiritual” category, the ensemble performed such works as “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” (Traditional spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan), “Ezekiel Saw De Wheel” (Traditional spiritual, arr. William L. Dawson), “Motherless Child” (Traditional spiritual, arr. Craig Hella Johnson), and “Sit Down Servant” (Traditional spiritual, arr. Stacey V. Gibbs).

Pieces performed in the “Gospel” category included “For Every Mountain” (Kurt Carr, arr. Matt Podd), “He Reigns” (Kirk Franklin, arr. Dan Galbraith), and “Joyful, Joyful” (Ludwig von Beethoven, arr. Mervyn Warren, adapted by Roger Emerson).

“Iuppiter” (Michael Ostrzyga), “Naturaleza” (Francisco J. Núñez), “Ranpono” (Sydney Guillaume), and “The Sun Never Says” (Dan Forrest) were the pieces performed in the “Youth Choirs” pieces.

Finally, the “Children’s Choirs” pieces included “My Soul’s Been Anchored to the Lord” (Moses Hogan, adapted by Rollo Dillworth), “Perception” (Elizabeth Núñez); “Picaflor Esmeralda” (Gabriela Lena Frank), and “Tjak” (Stephen Hatfield).