< Home

In the News

Shawn Berry, Beth Clark and Hank Gonzalez at the 2010 MUSE Awards

2010-2011 Palm Beach County Cultural Council Muse Award Winners

Cultural Leader of the Year:
Beth Clark

Cultural Arts Program of the Year:
2010 “Thank You for the Music” Concert

Young Singers featured in PBG Lifestyle Magazine

Read the article

Young Singer's Winter Concert "United in Song" a Sell Out!
YSPB thrilled two sold out crowds with their annual Winter Concert. The variety and quality of music was appreciated by everyone.

The concert began with a solo of the title song, and then went right into Amani, with African drumming done by 20 Cantate members.

The Men's Choir's "Brown Eyed Girl" honored Conductor Connie Drosakis, who recently won the American Choral Director's Association highest award.

"This concert celebrates not only the holidays, but brings all of us unity in song," Artistic Director Shawn Berry stated. "I love seeing the joy on our singer's faces while they are performing."

"Our choirs this year are outstanding," Executive Director Beth Clark said. "We have a very high retention rate, and as our singers grow with us, our performances just become more and more entertaining."

-top-

Young Singers of the Palm Beaches Performs for the Pacific International Children's Choir Festival
From June 22 through June 29, 2009, 33 members of Young Singers participated in an international choral festival in Eugene, Oregon.

"The Pacific International Children's Choir Festival, held on the campus of the University of Oregon, is one of the most prestigious choral festivals in the United States. To be selected, choirs must submit programs and recordings from their previous three seasons", Executive Director Beth Clark stated.

The choir performed four times, once at a sharing concert, where not only YSPB performed, but the other 7 invited choirs as well. The mass choir opened the Oregon Bach Festival on June 26th as well as performing the PICCFEST concert at the Hult Center on June 28th.

Dr. Sandra Snow, a renowned clinician from the University of Michigan, was the conductor for the week. "Working with Dr. Snow was the best professional development I have ever participated in", Artistic Director Shawn Berry stated. "It was terrific to see the other choirs and the styles they bring to choral music. Every choir that participated was outstanding. It was an honor to be performing with such well known and esteemed directors."

The other choirs that attended were the Indianapolis Children's Choir, San Francisco Boys Chorus , Crystal Children's Choir, Cincinnati Children's Choir, Florida Girls Choir, Columbia Choir, and Nebraska Children's Chorus.

-top-

Kravis Performance Wows Audience!
Young Singers of the Palm Beaches Spring Concert "Thank You For The Music" was an astounding example of what a community choir can be. Almost 1600 patrons were enthralled at the dynamic, wonderful show at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts , directed by D. Shawn Berry.

"This production really showed the community that we stay true to our mission of providing outstanding vocal music education as well as performance disciplines and techniques", President Hank Gonzalez stated. "It's exciting to show that we can do that and really entertain as well".

Young Singers choirs performed songs from Sting, Abba, as well as a wonderful rendition of "American Anthem".

"Being at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts really puts us on the map as an outstanding arts organization in Palm Beach County", Artistic Director Berry stated.
"We collaborated with two other youth arts organizations, The Palm Beach Academy of Music and Street Beat. They added a new dimension to our show."

"We feel it was our best production to date", Gonzalez said. "We are all excited to see what next year brings".

-top-

Treble Choir performs at Walt Disney World
28 members of the Treble choir performed at Downtown Disney on May 24, 2009. The choristers also attended a Disney workshop learning voice over techniques, sound effects and auditioning skills. It was a fun and productive afternoon.

-top-

Young Singers Tours the Great Northwest
On June 22nd 33 singers will leave for Oregon to be part of the Pacific International Children's Chorus Festival. "It is an honor to be selected to be in PICCFEST", Beth Clark stated. "Our singers will be with other outstanding choirs from all over the country. They will meet other children with similar interests, as well learn about the great Northwest. It is an exciting time for them."

-top-

Standing Room Only for Annual Talent Show
Young Singers Annual Talent Show was an outstanding success! Almost 300 patrons packed in to the Kravis Center Persson Hall on March 7th to hear and see an amazing group of performers sing, dance and act.

"Every year these wonderful children raise the bar. It is an honor to be part of these families lives", Artistic Director Shawn Berry stated.

Talent Show performers audition to participate. This year there were so many acts that were accepted, the group was split in two, and half will be performing at the Harriet Himmel Music For the Mind series on April 21st.

Performers for the 2009 Talent Show were: Tyler Blankstein, Cara Young, Rebekah Johnson, Madison Mills, Chelsea Mattson, Anna Jane Krusell, Michelle Balko, Mary Layman, Natalie Titus, Erin Buchele, Samantha Piccirilli, Cameron Anzola-Ferreira, Jasmine Edwards, Matt Bischoff, Trevor Maloney, Samantha Scott, Ali Zaidspiner & Rachel Ruston, Andrea Forrester, Nicole Kelley, Alexandra Monte, Jessica Taylor, Rebecca Buckley, Dominic Raffa, Gabrielle Cowan, Lanardo Davis, Alyssa Berger, Emily Hammel, Renee Poskitt, Cory Galwikowski , Lillian Lessor,, Christina Arco, Victoria Hurley, and Sara McAlice. .

-top-

Young Singers of the Palm Beaches performs at opening of the Community Health Center in West Palm Beach
Young Singers was honored to sing at the grand opening of the Community Health Center. Many dignitaries and patrons of Foundcare, the Community Health Center's parent organization, were moved by the beautiful program which include "Let Our Light Shine", "The Awakening", and "Health is on the Way", sung by Lauren Clark.

-top-

Connie Drosakis Presented Award by American Choral Director's Association
Connie Drosakis, Young Singers of the Palm Beaches Founder and Conductor, was recently presented with the Hugoboom award by the American Choral Director's Association. This top award is given for outstanding vocal and choral instruction, as well as continued service to the organization.

-top-

Young Singers to Perform at Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Young Singers spring concert will be held May 9, 2009 at the Kravis Center. "This is very exciting for our singers, parents, patrons and organization", Managing Director, Beth Clark stated. "We have come a long way in our short history, thanks to our gifted and outstanding staff and singers."

Programming is being finalized at this time, so keep posted for more updates.

-top-

Young Singers Concert "Let Our Light Shine" a Sell Out!
Young Singers presented our Winter Concert "Let Our Light Shine" on December 7th at the Borland Center for the Performing Arts.

"For the first time in our history, we sold out both shows", Managing Director Beth Clark stated. "It was not your typical choral concert at all, but a show with costumes, lighting effects and amazing orchestration. Our productions are fun and entertaining while maintaining a very high level of choral music performance"

D. Shawn Berry, our Artistic Director, premiered his new composition, "Let Our Light Shine" which was sung by Concert and Bel Canto choirs. Sydney O'Gorman was the soloist. "It's a song of hope during these difficult times", Mr. Berry said. "Sydney's beautiful clear voice ringing out in a sea of the deep elegant tones of our older students gave my song the resonance I was looking for."

Other highlights included "Santa Baby" performed by Bel Canto Choir and "Peace on Earth…and Lots of Little Crickets" sung by Treble Choir.

The Men's Choir, as usual, wowed the audience with their rendition of "13 Days of Christmas", and Cantate filled the theater with the beauty of Z. Randall Stroop's 'Magnificat', and Joseph Martin's 'The Awakening'.

-top-