1395 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY, 10128
General
It is the mission of YPC to provide children of diverse abilities and backgrounds with a unique program of music appreciation and choral performance that seeks to fulfill each child’s musical potential, while creating a model of artistic excellence and harmony that enriches our community. Founded by Francisco J. Nunez in 1988 with a commitment to social justice and musical excellence, the YPC is resident chorus of the 92nd Street Y and WNYC Public Radio. Our chorus has 1,100 members who come from underserved neighborhoods throughout New York City’s five boroughs, representing a socio-economic and cultural cross-section of the city. Membership is subsidized for most members of the chorus. We provide scholarships to 60% of the 300 children in our Core After-School Program, including selected at-risk children in our Partner Schools Program, which offers a creative after-school activity in a safe, nurturing environment. We also provide full scholarships to all 800 children in our Satellite Program, which brings music education back into public schools. Our Bridges Program offers full scholarships to talented choristers graduating from the schools that house their Satellite choruses, ensuring that they continue having meaningful after-school activities even when their middle or high-schools can no longer afford to offer such opportunities. YPC aims to fill the void left by budget cuts in arts and music education, as well as provide programs that enhance the quality of life of underprivileged children outside of their schools and prepare them to succeed in college and other endeavors. YPC regularly performs at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and has commissioned works from some of the country’s foremost composers and produced 4 CDs. We have garnered 7 medals in international choral competitions and have been cited as “a national model for artistic excellence and diversity” by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.