Causes:
Arts & Culture,
Education,
Primary & Elementary Schools,
Singing & Choral Groups
Mission:
Through professional-level choral education and performance, Pittsburgh Youth Chorus provides opportunities for a diverse group of children to realize their innate artistic potential and share experiences that enrich their lives while benefiting their families and communities.
PYC defines its mission succinctly as "Whole Child ... Whole Community" and strives to achieve this goal in four ways:
Empowering Children. PYC will offer children 7 to 16+ years a safe, nurturing and stimulating musical learning experience in which they can explore, grow and find comfort in themselves artistically, intellectually and socially. We will nurture values and behaviors proven to build strong, confident and well-adjusted young adults; able to work effectively with others and succeed in a dynamic, diverse world.
Enabling Teachers.PYC will serve as an active, contributing partner to teachers and schools across the region by advancing professional achievement in choral education and performance and promoting arts awareness and appreciation in our communities. Working in collaboration with area educators and partners, PYC will offer continuing education programs and workshops to teachers, home studies programs, and musical instructors.
Embracing Diversity. PYC will serve the breadth of our community without regard to race, ethnicity, or social status. Our students will be selected based on their musical talent and personal character and we will work diligently with community partners to overcome the economic, logistical and other obstacles that might prevent otherwise worthy children from accessing and reaping the benefits of PYC''s programs.
Enriching Community. PYC will strive to bring the joys and beauty of quality children''s choral performance to a broad cross-section of our region''s citizens. PYC will select our repertoires with sensitivity to the region''s rich cultural heritage and community values, seek performance opportunities in a variety of venues and neighborhoods, and serve as proud ambassadors of our region''s artistic stature and educational systems.
Target demographics: develop the talentes of young singers
Direct beneficiaries per year: more than 150 young singers discover their musical voice!
Geographic areas served: The greater PIttsburgh region and Grove City
Programs:
Current Programs and Activities.
Choral Education. Embodied by Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, PYC is school-year long curriculum open to all children 7 to 16+ years of age residing throughout southwestern Pennsylvania (and adjoining counties in Ohio and West Virginia).
The Chorus consists of three choirs - Troubadour, Talisman and Bel Canto - offering a progression of increasingly demanding repertoires and vocal styles.
Young singers are invited to join Pittsburgh Youth Chorus based on competitive auditions held in the spring, late summer, and winter. Choristers are instructed in vocal production, ear training, sight reading, construction and theory, rhythm and movement, and advanced repertoire. The children perform choral selections encompassing classical, folk, traditional and popular. Over the years, PYC's choristers have mastered challenging selections and arrangements, sung from memory and in over 25 languages.
The program encompasses approximately 40 weekly rehearsals plus typically 8 or more live performances. Attendance is mandatory at all rehearsals, and depending on the choir level, most performances.
The PYC program is tuition-based and a needs-based Tuition Assistance Program as well as flexible payment options to allow children from all circumstances to participate.