Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus
Frank Bianchi, Director
Lisa Manning, Assistant Director
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus was founded in 1991 to raise awareness of choral music-making in the schools of northeastern Ohio and to encourage more students to continue their choral activities through college and into adulthood. The 120 members of the Youth Chorus are in grades 9 to 12 and represent some 40 schools and communities. Like their colleagues in the Youth Orchestra, they are chosen through competitive auditions.
The Youth Chorus presents an average of five concerts each season and collaborates with such other musical ensembles as The Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and Cleveland State University and Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music choral ensembles. In addition to performances at Severance Hall, their activities include concerts and community engagement programs in the greater Cleveland area. The Youth Chorus participates in workshops and masterclasses with highly regarded choral directors and clinicians. The ensemble has performed at the Ohio Choral Directors Association Convention, the 2010 Ohio Music Education Association in Cincinnati, Ohio, and on subscription concerts at the Cathedral of St. John in Cleveland. Many members receive the opportunity to sing side-by-side with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus during holiday concerts and at the annual Blossom Festival.
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus has been led by Gareth Morell (1991-98), Betsy Burleigh (1998-2006), and Frank Bianchi (from 2006). Under Bianchi's direction, the ensemble has been widely praised as one of the top high-school-aged choral performing ensembles in the state of Ohio.
Initial funding for the Youth Chorus was provided by the W.O. Frohring Foundation, the Edward and Ruth Wilkof Foundation, and the Sears Family Foundation. Ongoing support is provided by the Edward and Ruth Wilkof Foundation.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus 2011-2012 Concert Schedule
Sunday, December 4, 2011 @ 4:15 p.m.
University CircleFest
University Circle United Methodist Church
1919 E. 107th Street
Cleveland, OH 44106
This concert is free and open to the public.
Saturday, December 10, 2011 @ 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Baldwin-Wallace College Holiday Concerts
Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music, Gamble Auditorium
96 Front Steet
Berea, OH 44107
This is a ticketed event, purchased through the BW Music Conservatory.
Monday, January 16, 2012 (Time TBD)
MLK Community Open House
Severance Hall
This concert is free and open to the public.
Sunday, March 11, 2012 @ 7:30 p.m.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus/ Youth Orchestra Concert
Severance Hall
This is a ticketed event.
Youth Chorus Eligibility and Auditions
All students in grades 9-12 are eligible to audition for the Youth Chorus, as are 8th grade boys with changed voices. Some Youth Chorus alumni may also be invited by the director to participate in Youth Chorus activities as section leaders. Participation requires a nominal tuition fee, plus the cost of concert attire, however scholarships are available to those in need. Youth Chorus rehearsals are held on Sunday afternoons from mid-September through early March.
Auditions for the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus are held each spring. For audition dates and requirements, please call the Chorus office at 216-231-7374, send an email to chorus@clevelandorchestra.com, or click here for the most current audition information.
Lisa Manning has over twenty years of music teaching experience and is currently the choral director at Midview Local Schools. She is a mentor for the “Music! Words! Opera!” program supported by Opera Cleveland and has facilitated the creating and producing of many operas with middle school choirs. She received her bachelor of music education from Bowling Green State University and her master of music education degree from Ohio University. She is also a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus.
