GET TO KNOW
Brooklyn Youth Chorus is a Grammy Award-winning ensemble and training program led by visionary Founder & Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker.
HIGHLIGHTS Founded in 1992, the Chorus is in its 28th season. Strong reputation as an arts producer, developing and premiering Training Programs serve over 700 students, several original grades 2-12, from all five boroughs of NYC. productions. Top students participate in performance The Chorus is an active commissioner of new ensembles and experience ongoing professional music, with over 120 original works premiered. performance opportunities. Financial aid is offered to over 30% of enrolled Among others, the ensembles have performed students. No student is turned away due to financial need. with the New York Philharmonic, Barbra Streisand, and David Byrne; recorded with The 100% of Chorus students go on to college upon National and Bon Iver; and were featured by graduating. Chanel, rag & bone, and Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
MUSIC EDUCATION VOCAL PERFORMANCE Our training programs serve students from all five Our ensembles have performed with the New York boroughs of NYC, representing 70 zip codes and Philharmonic, The National, David Byrne, Barbra 185 schools. We offer programs in multiple Brooklyn Streisand, Arcade Fire, Sir Elton John, Philip Glass, neighborhoods for greater accessibility. And to ensure among others. The Chorus has commissioned new works access to all students regardless of background or by composers such as Caroline Shaw, Toshi Reagon, economic circumstances, the Chorus provides broad Bryce Dessner, and Nico Muhly. Recordings of the financial support for both chorus and elective music Chorus have been featured in various media, including program tuition. Students are trained using the Cross- several tracks on The National’s album I Am Easy To Choral Training® method, a holistic and experiential Find; Bon Iver’s album i,i; a new work by Radiohead’s approach to teaching voice and musicianship in a group Thom Yorke for rag & bone, Chanel Paris’s campaign setting, designed by Founder & Artistic Director Dianne featuring Pharrell Williams, and Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Berkun Menaker. OTR II World Tour.
ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS Brooklyn Youth Chorus has a strong reputation as an arts producer, developing and premiering several original productions. These have included the Silent Voices series which was presented at The New Victory Theatre (2019), National Sawdust (2018), and BAM (2017); Black Mountain Songs at BAM (2014); and Tell the Way at St. Ann’s Warehouse (2011).
PRESS FEATURES The New York Times - Why Beyoncé Is a Fan of These Teenage Singers From Brooklyn NPR - In The Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Teens Speak Up By Singing Out MEDIA
VIDEOS Fox 5 with Ernie Anastos News 12 Brooklyn Profile With The National, (Click to play) (Click to play) at Beacon Theatre (Click to play)
Chanel Paris, with Pharrell Beyoncé and Jay-Z World Tour Silent Voices at National Sawdust (Click to play) (Click to play) (Click to play)
ALBUMS The Chorus has released two albums: Silent Voices (2018) and Black Mountain Songs (2017). Click to listen.
RECORDINGS A selection of recordings featuring Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Click to listen.
The National Bon Iver William Brittelle Bryce Dessner/Kronos Quartet Grizzly Bear “I Am Easy to Find” “i,i” “Spiritual America” “Aheym” “Veckatimest” GET TO KNOW
Brooklyn Youth Chorus is a Grammy Award-winning ensemble and training program led by visionary Founder & Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker.
HIGHLIGHTS Founded in 1992, the Chorus is in its 28th Among others, the ensembles have The Chorus is an active commissioner of season. performed with the New York Philharmonic, new music, with over 120 original works Barbra Streisand, and David Byrne; recorded premiered. Training Programs serve over 700 students, with The National and Bon Iver; and were grades 2-12, from all five boroughs of NYC. Financial aid is offered to over 30% of featured by Chanel, rag & bone, and enrolled students. No student is turned away Top students participate in performance Beyoncé and Jay-Z. due to financial need. ensembles and experience ongoing Strong reputation as an arts producer, professional performance opportunities. 100% of Chorus students go on to college developing and premiering several original upon graduating. productions.
MUSIC EDUCATION Our training programs serve students from all five boroughs of NYC, representing 70 zip codes and 185 schools. We offer programs in multiple Brooklyn neighborhoods for greater accessibility. And to ensure access to all students regardless of background or economic circumstances, the Chorus provides broad financial support for both chorus and elective music program tuition. Students are trained using theCross-Choral Training® method, a holistic and experiential approach to teaching voice and musicianship in a group setting, designed by Founder & Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker.
VOCAL PERFORMANCE Our ensembles have performed with the New York Philharmonic, The National, David Byrne, Barbra Streisand, Arcade Fire, Sir Elton John, Philip Glass, among others. The Chorus has commissioned new works by composers such as Caroline Shaw, Toshi Reagon, Bryce Dessner, and Nico Muhly. Recordings of the Chorus have been featured in various media, including several tracks on The National’s album I Am Easy To Find; Bon Iver’s album i,i; a new work by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke for rag & bone, Chanel Paris’s campaign featuring Pharrell Williams, and Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s OTR II World Tour.
ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS Brooklyn Youth Chorus has a strong reputation as an arts producer, developing and premiering several original productions. These have included the Silent Voices series which was presented at The New Victory Theatre (2019), National Sawdust (2018), and BAM (2017); Black Mountain Songs at BAM (2014); and Tell the Way at St. Ann’s Warehouse (2011).
PRESS FEATURES The New York Times - Why Beyoncé Is a Fan of These Teenage Singers From Brooklyn NPR - In The Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Teens Speak Up By Singing Out
VIDEOS Fox 5 with Ernie Anastos News 12 Brooklyn Profile With The National, Chanel Paris, with Pharrell Beyoncé and Jay-Z World Tour (Click to play) (Click to play) at Beacon Theatre (Click to play) (Click to play) (Click to play)
RECORDINGS A selection of recordings featuring Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Click to listen.
The National Bon Iver William Brittelle Bryce Dessner/ Grizzly Bear “I Am Easy to Find” “i,i” “Spiritual America” Kronos Quartet “Veckatimest” “Aheym”