Young Naperville Singers
As Young Naperville Singers celebrates 33 years of soaring in song, the choir continues its dedication to promoting the highest level of artistic excellence in choral music through extraordinary educational and performance experiences that enrich the lives of young people. Founded in 1984 by the late Helen Grubbs, Young Naperville Singers has grown to become a premier community-based children’s choral music education program in Chicago’s western suburbs and the Fox River Valley. Mrs. Grubbs’ vision that a choir that would remove the constraints of school boundaries, religious affiliations, cultural or racial barriers, and socioeconomic status continues to grow and thrive under the leadership of Artistic Director Angie Johnson. Over three decades later, more than 360 singers participate in YNS.
Young Naperville Singers consists of eight ability based choirs with members ranging in age from six to eighteen. Several years ago YNS launched a Boys Choir for boys with unchanged voices, which was followed by a Young Men’s Chorus, an ensemble for boys with changed or changing voices. Both of those groups are currently the only boys choirs in the western suburbs.
It is the belief of the staff, parents and Board of Directors of YNS that through singing the heart is touched, the mind is stimulated and the spirit is set free. That vision has enabled the choristers to experiences a wide variety of musical opportunities: participating in numerous festivals; performing for the American Choral Director’s Association Convention; performance tours, both domestic and oversees; collaborations with professional musical guest artists and premiering commissioned works by renowned composers such as Rollo Dilworth and Bob Chilcott, to name but a few.
During weekly rehearsals the choirs receive group music instruction through the study of a variety of musical genres in preparations for two formal that are presented each year, a Holiday Concert in December and a Spring Concert in May. Additionally, the choirs perform in the community as guest artists with other arts groups as well as in the community as a way of giving back. In October 2016, YNS hosted its 15th annual Boys Power Sing, a workshop that brings together community boys as well as YNS boys for a morning of singing and drumming. In February 2017, the choir hosted Diva Night – Sing and Share, a similar workshop for community and YNS girls where they explored the joy of singing. This summer, the choir will host its second annual “YNS Sings Summer Music Camp” for boys and girls in grades 1-4, June 12-16.
Membership in Young Naperville Singers is by audition, without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or disability.
