Above: Virginia Chorale conductor Charles Woodward leading the 2025 Young Singers Project in performance at The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Norfolk.
EDUCATION
YOUNG SINGERS PROJECT
Now entering its twenty-sixth year, the Young Singers Project is the Virginia Chorale's flagship educational outreach program. The YSP is a unique opportunity for select high school students from across the region to be mentored by the professional singers of the Chorale in an intensive rehearsal and performance process. YSP alumni have gone on to study at the finest conservatories in the United States and are active musicians (both professional and amateur) across Virginia and beyond.
The Young Singers Project showcases some of the best high school singers in southeastern Virginia. Students are selected in a highly competitive audition process each fall; once selected they sing alongside and are mentored by professional singers from the Chorale. Our 2026 YSP ensemble will be conducted by Ajee Church. In addition to singing regularly with the Virginia Chorale, Mr. Church is currently the choral director at Norfolk’s Granby High School. His work as a soloist, accompanist, and music director has brought him to stages from Hampton Roads to Carnegie Hall and abroad. YSP participants will perform works that express and transport their audience through the journey of Light, Hope, and Endurance through the Human Spirit. Students will explore this theme through rich harmonies and evocative texts, tracing a path from darkness into light across cultures and eras with music from Moses Hogan, Frank Ticheli, Daniel Gawthrop, and more. This program will celebrate the resilience, unity, and hope that define the human experience. Along with repertoire preparation, rehearsal sessions will focus on healthy vocal technique, musicianship, and choral artistry.
In 2017, The Virginia Chorale was proud to join WHRO Community TV in a special partnership: the 2017 Young Singers Project was filmed by WHRO - from auditions to performance - and produced as a documentary, Young Singers Project: A Life in 140 Characters, which has been broadcast locally, streamed online, and made available to National Public Television for national broadcast. Click HERE to view the documentary.
The Young Singers Project showcases some of the best high school singers in southeastern Virginia. Students are selected in a highly competitive audition process each fall; once selected they sing alongside and are mentored by professional singers from the Chorale. Our 2026 YSP ensemble will be conducted by Ajee Church. In addition to singing regularly with the Virginia Chorale, Mr. Church is currently the choral director at Norfolk’s Granby High School. His work as a soloist, accompanist, and music director has brought him to stages from Hampton Roads to Carnegie Hall and abroad. YSP participants will perform works that express and transport their audience through the journey of Light, Hope, and Endurance through the Human Spirit. Students will explore this theme through rich harmonies and evocative texts, tracing a path from darkness into light across cultures and eras with music from Moses Hogan, Frank Ticheli, Daniel Gawthrop, and more. This program will celebrate the resilience, unity, and hope that define the human experience. Along with repertoire preparation, rehearsal sessions will focus on healthy vocal technique, musicianship, and choral artistry.
In 2017, The Virginia Chorale was proud to join WHRO Community TV in a special partnership: the 2017 Young Singers Project was filmed by WHRO - from auditions to performance - and produced as a documentary, Young Singers Project: A Life in 140 Characters, which has been broadcast locally, streamed online, and made available to National Public Television for national broadcast. Click HERE to view the documentary.
YSP 2026 Mentors
Christina Bartholomew
Kelli Bly
Steven Martinez
Marshall Severin
YSP 2026 Students - TBD
2026 Performance
Final Concert
Sunday, January 25, 2025 | 4:00 PM
Virginia Wesleyan University
Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center
Virginia Beach
Sunday, January 25, 2025 | 4:00 PM
Virginia Wesleyan University
Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center
Virginia Beach
The Young Singers’ Project has been a great experience for me and I love everything about it! The music we sing and the people in general are just amazing. YSP was always fun for me to go out to the practices and have all of our hard work pay off when we perform. It’s helped me get a better grasp on longer practices and how they can affect the music because there’s simply more time to work together on pieces. It’s a free, interactive experience where you’re allowed to ask questions, learn and get help if need be. Everyone is so nice and there’s never been any moment where I felt I was singled out or put in a weird position. I love everyone there and I’m elated I get to go and experience it again.
Evan Branch, YSP 2022 and 2023
Evan is currently a sophomore at Virginia State University where he’s pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in music education. He’s receiving a full scholarship and is in the Honor’s college.
Evan Branch, YSP 2022 and 2023
Evan is currently a sophomore at Virginia State University where he’s pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in music education. He’s receiving a full scholarship and is in the Honor’s college.
As a homeschool student, YSP was the perfect program for me to be challenged and learn beautiful music side by side other very talented musicians. Everyone involved was incredibly supportive, helpful, and extremely easy and fun to work with. I would recommend YSP to any high schooler wanting to grow in their musicianship as a singer and performer.
Ava Stevenson, YSP 2020
Ava is currently pursuing her Bachelors in vocal performance at Old Dominion University.
Ava Stevenson, YSP 2020
Ava is currently pursuing her Bachelors in vocal performance at Old Dominion University.
YSP was my first experience in a professional choir. Being able to work alongside the members of the Virginia Chorale and be mentored by them was an invaluable experience. This experience ultimately helped me get into college. I started taking private voice lessons with a Chorale member to prep for auditions, and ended up going to the college the YSP guest conductor was from. The professional relationships that I built during YSP have continued to contribute to my musical career, as I am now a member of the Virginia Chorale myself (which has been an aspiration of mine since participating in YSP.
Serena Stump YSP 2017
Serena received her BMA in Applied Music with a concentration in Choral/Vocal Music from Virginia Wesleyan University, summa cum laude (2021) and MAEd from VWU (2022)
Serena Stump YSP 2017
Serena received her BMA in Applied Music with a concentration in Choral/Vocal Music from Virginia Wesleyan University, summa cum laude (2021) and MAEd from VWU (2022)
