CINCINNATI YOUTH CHOIR
Ensemble-in-Residence of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Preparatory and Community Engagement.
The Cincinnati Youth Choir is an educationally based choral ensemble program. Participants learn healthy vocal technique, sight-reading, music history and music theory while experiencing performance excellence using the philosophies and techniques of Carl Orff, Zoltan Kodaly, Jacques Dalcroze and Jerome Brunner.
The learning environment is creative, explorative and fun. The children form lasting relationships with children outside of their community and develop a lifelong appreciation of music.
CYC members have toured Italy, Japan, China, Scandinavia, England, Ireland, Wales, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Canada, and the United States.
Founded in 1993, as the Cincinnati Children’s Choir, the organization updated it’s name to the Cincinnati Youth Choir in 2018 to better represent the age range of our member base.
CYC has recently received wide acclaim by winning the following awards:
- 2018 Chorus America Education and Community Engagement Award
- 2016 Chorus America ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming
- 2015 American Prize in Choral Performance for Youth Choirs
- CityBeat’s Best of 2015 & 2017 Reader Picks for Best Local Vocal Arts Group
- Gold Medal Choir, Youth Choirs of Equal Voices, World Choir Games 2012
- Winner of the 2008 Scripps-Corbett Award, Artist Category
VISION
The Cincinnati Youth Choir envisions a thriving global community strengthened and transformed by musical artistry.
MISSION
It is the mission of the Cincinnati Youth Choir to offer all children and youth the opportunity to experience musical excellence in a creative environment.
Participants demonstrate musical understanding, artistry, achievement and confidence through passionate performances and collaborations with premier ensembles and children’s/youth choirs throughout the world. The Cincinnati Youth Choir (CYC) builds stronger communities by creating a comprehensive foundation that supports music educators and develops tomorrow’s leaders.
GOALS
It is the goal of the CYC program:
• To educate singers of any background.
• To offer every child an opportunity to experience musical excellence in a developmentally appropriate, sequential setting.
• To expose singers and their audiences to superb choral repertoire including sacred, secular and world music.
• To encourage, promote and perform new compositions for children’s choir.
• To demonstrate in performance the knowledge and skills gained.
• To strengthen self-confidence in all who participate.
• To offer a venue for young musicians to create, socialize, learn and perform with others from Greater Cincinnati and the world.
• To provide opportunities to sing with musicians from other cultures to gain understanding and respect for global diversity.
• To support music educators through clinics, seminars and networking opportunities.
Contact the Cincinnati Youth Choir:
Cincinnati Youth Choir
University of Cincinnati
College-Conservatory of Music
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0236
Phone: (513) 556-0338
Email: choir@cincinnatichoir.org
CORE VALUES
Education
The Cincinnati Youth Choir provides a learning environment that is creative and nurturing. Singers are informed and reflective building upon their knowledge and musical understanding as they become independent musicians.
Confidence
Participation in the program fosters joyful fulfillment, a sense of achievement, increased independence, confidence and leadership qualities in our choristers.
Community
The Cincinnati Youth Choir provides entertaining programming of artistic and cultural merit that promotes unity and understanding between people of varied backgrounds. CYC strives to support the Greater Cincinnati community by providing training and networking opportunities for music professionals, providing choral opportunities for singers in far reaching suburbs and collaborating with various cultural organizations.
Collaboration
The Cincinnati Youth Choir enjoys collaborating with area music educators, composers and arts organizations. Joint ventures enable a greater exposure of CYC to the community and provide our singers with invaluable learning opportunities.
Integrity
The Cincinnati Youth Choir operates with responsibility and accountability to those who support and collaborate with the program whether they are stakeholders, volunteers, donors or families. We honor these relationships and realize the importance of open and honest communication.
Inclusiveness
The Cincinnati Youth Choir provides a safe haven for young singers. Through the welcoming environment, each singer is valued and accepted. Need-based tuition assistance is made available throughout the year and outreach programs are developed to meet children and youth in their communities focusing on underserved. Singers explore diversity in membership and repertoire performed providing opportunities to build personal friendships with others outside of their community, transforming young lives.
Staff
Board of Directors
Marc Katz, President ~ Michael Spresser, Vice President ~ Timothy Lana, Treasurer
Lauren Morris, Vice Treasurer ~ Rebekah Mabalot, Secretary
William Caldwell, Member ~ Connie Graham, Member ~ Cheryl Gruenberg, Member
Eric Oliver, Member ~ David Sherrard, Member ~ Geneva Woode, Member
John Martin, CCM Liaison ~ Cheryl McElroy, Parent Liaison
Advisory Board
Dr. Earl Rivers
Director of Choral Studies
University of Cincinnati
H. Jane Gavin
Member
Retired Music Educator
Henry Leck
Founding Director
Indianapolis Children’s Choir
Jack Lee
Ta Fong Children’s Choir
Taipei-Hsien, Taiwan, R. O. C.
Lori Lobsiger
Consultant
Isidore Rudnick
Cincinnati Public Schools, Fine Arts Curriculum Manager
Teacher Advisory Board
If your school district is not yet represented and you would like to serve on the board, please contact us.
TAB will offer 5 professional development and networking sessions during the year:
Music Teacher Monday – August 26, 2019
Fall PD Workshop- Sept. 14, 2019
Music Teacher Monday – Jan 6, 2020 – 4-6pm – Location TBD
Beer Choir – Saturday, June 6th – Location TBD – Co-sponsor May Festival
Summer PD Workshop- July 26 & 27, 2020 – Location UC’s College Conservatory of Music
Crescendo Project – Promoting Growth Together
Want a CYC staff specialist to come to your school? CLICK HERE for full details
Resources:
CYC’s Teacher Advisory Board (TAB) consists of a committee of educators representing many school districts from across the Tri-State. Through our work with TAB, we hope to better connect CYC with the Greater Cincinnati community of music educators.
The Cincinnati Youth Choir is pleased to welcome the following teachers onto the Teacher Advisory Board:
Music Teacher |
School |
District |
| Bethany Hamann | A J Lindeman Elementary | Erlanger-Elsmere |
| Neil Stewart | Academy of World Languages | CPS |
| Katie Settleberry | Ayer Elementary School | Forest Hills |
| Karen Allen | Batavia Elementary School | Batavia |
| Tari McKee | Bridgeport Elementary | Hamilton City |
| Chelsey Sweatman | Bridgetown Middle School | Oak Hills |
| Alan Greeb | C O Harrison Elementary School | Oak Hills |
| Andrea Leffler | Camp Ernst Middle School | Boone County |
| Leslie Hicks | Central Academy | Middletown Monroe City |
| Della Enns | Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy | Private School |
| Carolyn Dillon | Columbia Intermediate | Kings Local |
| Bethany Hamann | Crossroads Elementary School | Campbell County |
| Jeanine Jason | Dater Montessori School | CPS |
| Chelsea Lamping | Delhi Junior High School | Oak Hills |
| Allison Croskey | Elda Elementary | Ross Local |
| Dee Dee Hamlin | Forest Hills – Retired | |
| Lawrence E. Coleman Sr. | Frederick Douglass School | CPS |
| Rachel Henry | Highland Elementary | Hamilton City |
| Alice Bohn | Indian Hill Elementary School | Indian Hill |
| Carolyn Quinn | James N. Gamble Montessori High School | CPS |
| Bethany Hamann | John W Miles Elementary School | Erlanger-Elsmere |
| Kay Tyler | Lynchburg-Clay Elementary School | Lynchburg-Clay |
| Annie Hobson | Mariemont City Schools | Mariemont |
| Catherine Clippinger | Mason Intermediate | Mason |
| Julie Geiger | Mercer Elementary School | Forest Hills |
| John Jung | Midway School | CPS |
| Andrea Baker | Mt Airy School | CPS |
| Elena Ivanova | Mt. Washington | CPS |
| Faith Diehl | Nagel Middle School | Forest Hills |
| Wesley Barnfield | North Avondale Montessori School | CPS |
| Elena V. Wahl | Oyler | CPS |
| Sabra Thomas | Parker Woods Montessori | CPS |
| Elena Stevenson | Pleasant Hill Academy | CPS |
| Amy Liming | Pleasant Ridge Montessori School | CPS |
| Maria Kitsinis | Pleasant Ridge Montessori School | CPS |
| Tara Hill | Private lessons | |
| Keri McGuire | Rees E. Price Academy | CPS |
| Anna Calhoun | Roll Hill School | CPS |
| Ruth Mappes | Ross Middle School | Ross Local |
| Laura Max | Saylor Park School | CPS |
| Robin Wilson | Seven Hills Lotspeich School | Private |
| Dr. Deborah L. Jackson | Sharonville Elementary School | Princeton City |
| Lisa Newell | Sherwood Elementary School | Forest Hills |
| Ligaya McGee | Springdale Elementary | Princeton City |
| Mr. Pat Powers | St Andrew Middle School | Independent Catholic |
| Jenny Bates | St Catherine of Siena School | Cincinnati Archdiocese |
| Pat Powers | St Elizabeth Seton Elementary School | Independent Catholic |
| Mr. Bethune | St Gabriel School | Cincinnati Archdiocese |
| Christina Reardon | St Martin of Tours School | Cincinnati Archdiocese |
| Charlotte Loflin | St Ursula Villa School | Independent Catholic |
| Stacey Moyer | Summit Elementary School | Finneytown |
| Ken Holdt | Sycamore High School | Sycamore |
| Kelly Case | Talawanda Middle School | Talawanda |
| Delaney Roberts/ Sarah Markey | Union Elementary | Lakota |
| MaryLee Venemeyer | Mason Intermediate | Mason |
| Jay Bailey | Westwood Elementary | CPS |
| Heidi Johnson | Whitaker Elementary School | Finneytown |
| Katie Hayward/ Jason McKee | William Mason High School | Mason |
Alumni
We want to get back in touch with as many alumni as possible! Please take a moment to fill out this form and let us know what you’re up to. You can also tell us what kinds of alumni events you’re interested in and if you’d like to volunteer.
Alumni Updates
See what your fellow CCC alumni are up to!
Want to share or update your story? Click HERE.
2017 Updates:
Caitlyn Lana (1999-2011)
Caitlyn moved back to Ohio after teaching for two years in Texas! She will be teaching 6th grade orchestra and assisting at with middle school and high school orchestra in Mason City Schools. “I am so excited to be back in Cincinnati and working with CCC again on the Alumni tour.”
Lauren Morris (1996-2000)
Lauren is now a financial Planner, and a managing member of Retirement Plan Advisors, Ltd. She is a proud dog mom, and she finally learned how to poach eggs!
Jennifer Hadley (2011-2014)
Jennifer is currently applying to medical schools!
Tara Traxler (2004 – 2010)
Tara will be getting married on October 7th of this year! She just finished her Masters in Music at the University of Oklahoma, and is hunting for a teaching job at a local college or university.
Jillian Phillips (2001 – 2004)
Jillian will be graduating with her Master’s in English Literature in May 2018.
Rebekah Mabalot (1995 – 2000)
Rebekah got married in 2013. Since leaving CCC she has sung in many other choirs including MUSE, St John’s Choir, Voices of the Commonwealth, and is now a member of Young Professionals’ Choral Collective (YPCC)
Ted Rosenberry (1998-2002)
Ted has launched his own blog and podcast website, tedtalksports.com, a dream that he has had for quite some time. He and his wife, Eileen Parry, have recently bought our first home in Lebanon, Ohio where we live with their dog, Scrappy Doo.
Kaylaya Crutcher (1998-2002)
Kaylaya got married in 2013, and had a daughter, Shyanne, in 2014, and a son, Gideon, in 2016. 
Past Tours
The Cincinnati Youth Choir has performed to international audiences with tours of Japan, Italy, China, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, England, Wales, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, England, Canada, and the United States.
Sights & Sounds
2019 In Review