ABOUT THE CHORUS
Mission Statement:
Hampshire Young People’s Chorus (YPC) provides a joyful and welcoming musical home for children in the Pioneer Valley.
YPC Core Values:
Artistic Excellence
Diversity and Inclusion
Kindness and Friendship
YPC Goals:
To cultivate the joy of making music
To build vocal and musicianship skills
To learn and perform a diverse musical repertoire
To provide broad access to YPC programs and foster a diverse community
To seek out collaborations with arts organizations in the Pioneer Valley and beyond
To delight and inspire audiences with frequent public performances
Hampshire Young People’s Chorus (YPC) is an award-winning youth choir for singers ages 8-18, offering children the opportunity to experience choral singing in a comfortable and encouraging atmosphere. Healthy vocal technique and fundamental music skills are taught through singing a wide range of music from many styles and traditions. The choir’s roster currently includes nearly 30 young people from 10 different towns, divided into two age divisions – Concert Choir and Chamber Singers.
The Young People’s Chorus has performed widely, including collaborations with Handel & Haydn Youth Choirs, UMass Opera Workshop, Panopera, Valley Winds, Young@Heart Chorus, The Sweetback Sisters, Natalie MacMaster, Illuminati Vocal Arts Ensemble, Amherst College and Smith College Orchestras, University Chorale, Pioneer Valley Symphony, Old Deerfield Productions and Amherst Ballet. Highlights of the 2019 season included Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and the world premiere of Geoffrey Hudson’s A Passion for the Planet.
Hampshire YPC has participated in numerous choral festivals and has hosted children’s choirs from Boston, Chicago, and the Czech Republic. The Chamber Singers took first place in the children’s choir division of WGBY’s Together In Song choral competition four years in a row. They have traveled to Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Chicago on choir exchanges and, most recently, participated in the Sing A Mile High Festival in Denver.