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.
CYC DEIA Statement
Cincinnati Youth Choir commits to demonstrating choral excellence by intentionally promoting diversity and inclusivity in membership and repertoire, celebrating the benefits of musical participation for youth of the community at large, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability or socioeconomic status, remembering that diversity does not always present itself visibly.
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
IN MEMORIAM:
SANDRA KAY THORNTON
JULY 15, 1981 – MAY 13, 2023
Sandy served as a graduate assistant for two years before moving to Texas and Louisiana, respectively for a year each, and then returning to Cincinnati in 2008 with her husband, Ken. At that time, she joined the CYC conducting team and has been by my side, an integral part of the program for the past 15 years.
Sandy’s impact on our singers and program is immeasurable. I am thankful for the friendship-turned-family, for being at each other’s sides through difficult times, and for the bright light she is to all of us who loved her.
Sandy Thornton conducting at CYC’s “Home for the Holidays” concert, December 2022
Board of Directors
Marc Katz, President
Timothy Lana, Vice President ~ Lauren Morris, Treasurer ~ David Sherrard, Secretary
William Caldwell, Member ~ Eric Oliver, Member ~ Geneva Woode, Member
Anne Cushing-Reid, CCM Liaison ~ Steven Sunderman, May Festival Liaison
Advisory Board
Dr. Earl Rivers
Director of Choral Studies
University of Cincinnati
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 many professional development and networking sessions during the year:
TBD for 2020-2021 season.
PLEASE CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR CONFIRMED DATES/TIMES
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Donna Doran | Summit Country Day School | Independent Catholic |
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