Young Naperville Singers' winter concerts to explore 'Frost and Fire'
On Sunday, Dec. 18, the Young Naperville Singers presents "Frost and Fire," its 39th series of winter concert celebrations, at the Neuqua Valley High School auditorium.
YNS will sing in three concerts, at 2, 4 and 6:30 p.m. at the school, 2360 95th St. in Naperville.
Tickets are $18, $12 for seniors, students or alumni. Tickets are available at the website, ynschoirs.org/concerts.
This organization has grown up from its origins into a 10-choir, 430-voice children's choir organization.
The Young Naperville Singers accept singers from first through 12th grades by audition. Its mission is to sing with excellence, to share music with the community and the world, and to lead the way to new musical vistas.
Founded in 1984 by conductor Helen Grubbs, the Young Naperville Singers continues to attract members from a wide range of communities in the western suburbs of Chicago. This remains a true strength of the Young Naperville Singers, as friendships develop among the singers even though they attend different schools, often in different towns.
Under the musical leadership of artistic director Angie Johnson, it has been growing in size and in artistry.
There are choirs for beginning and intermediate singers, as well as the advanced touring choirs, Canto Vivo, Bella Voce and Bella Cantare.
All of the choirs focus on excellence in singing and growth through leadership. The singers, in turn, learn to use music as outreach, to touch the hearts of all who hear them sing.
Parent JoLynn Mitchell says, "We love the leadership skills and positive energy our son has gained from being in YNS!"
Touring is a bedrock feature of the program.
In the summer of 2023, all three of the advanced choirs, Bella Voce, Bella Cantare and Canto Vivo, will travel to Germany, Switzerland and Italy for a concert tour with over 100 singers.
New York City was the destination for Bella Cantare and Bella Voce last year, as artistic director Angie Johnson led 85 singers through the extensive preparations for a fantastic performance with the National Youth Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall.
An outstanding highlight of the 2021-22 choral season was a gospel music clinic with self-styled "Girl Conductor" Maria Ellis.
The choirs performed the music they learned with Ellis with gospel instrumentalists from the Mays Music Centre of Excellence. The performance was part of "O Sing My Soul," the spring concert in North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall in April. Ellis will be back in February 2023 to conduct an honor choir.
On the horizon for the Young Naperville Singers are concert collaborations with Chicago a cappella and Loaves & Fishes to highlight hunger awareness, a concert collaboration with opera star and YNS alum Tamara Wilson, as well as a 40th anniversary commissioned work from famed choral composer Elaine Hagenberg.
For more information about the Young Naperville Singers, visit ynschoirs.org or contact the YNS office at (630) 369-9679.