Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs Announces Spring Performance Schedule

Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs (GMYC) is proud to present two spring choral concerts entitled Rooted in Music, featuring more than 50 regional youth in grades 4-12. The singers will present music with a natural theme featuring songs about animals, the environment, and the power of children. Joined by local collaborator, the Caterpillar Lab, concert goers will have the opportunity to meet caterpillars and butterflies up close with trained naturalists before each performance.

Under the direction of Esther Rhoades, GMYC  Artistic Director, singers have had the unique opportunity to learn the fundamental skills of choral singing with a group of enthusiastic young musicians outside of school. Singers come from more than 15 different schools and share the same post-covid dream of inviting singing back into their lives. No one knew what this year would look like, and for these singers, it is a way to reconnect with a shared passion. Rehearsals have been a place where kids reviewed long forgotten musical ideas, learned new musical skills, and they are proud to share their accomplishments with you. Make an impact in the lives of young singers in our area and support the GMYC by attending one of our public weekend performances.

Rooted in Music will feature GMYC’s Peterborough-based choir for singers in grades 4+, Choristers, and the Keene-based sister choir, Elm City Singers. Accompanied by Carin Torp, these choirs will sing the music of Carolyn Jennings, Benjamin Britten, Edvard Grieg, Andrea Ramsey, and Moses Hogan. The Cecilia Ensemble, with pianist Margaret Dodson-Buhl, will present folk songs from Japan, Newfoundland, and the UAS, and music by Kim Baryluk, Ola Gjeilo, Z. Randall Stroope, and Charles Albert Tindley. GMYC’s SATB chamber choir will make their debut performance with music by James Taylor and Thomas Tallis. At the conclusion of the performance, all singers will join together to perform a newer choral piece, The Little Creek, by Matt Carlson. 
 
On Saturday, May 14, 2022, 2:30pm, at St. James Episcopal Church, 44 West St. Keene NH, GMYC singers will present their first public concert, Rooted in Music. On Sunday, May 15, 2022, Rooted in Music will again be performed in Peterborough, at Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church, 25 Main Street, Peterborough, NH for a 2:30pm performance. This performance will feature a special senior recognition ceremony and a special senior performance. Admission to the performances is $15/adult, $5/child, or $35/family. 
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This weekend will also feature a private, family and guests only, debut performance by Rise Up,  GMYC’s newest ensemble for children in grades K-3. With 19 singers, rehearsals have been filled with singing and music games and performance etiquette tricks and techniques. The Cecilia Ensemble will welcome our newest GMYC singers with some special singing, and at the conclusion of the Rise Up performance, the two choirs will perform together.