Above: guest conductor Annedore Hacker-Jakobi leading the 2024 Young Singers Project in performance at Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach.
EDUCATION
YOUNG SINGERS PROJECT
Now entering its twenty-fifth 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 2025 YSP ensemble will be conducted by Virginia Chorale Artistic Director, Charles Woodward, and will take on a new and exciting opportunity for the students. This year, we are delighted to be able to offer our participants the opportunity to join the Virginia Chorale on their program entitled I Dream a World. The combined singers of the Virginia Chorale and our Young Singers Project will celebrate Black History Month side by side with music set to the words of Langston Hughes - “Poet Laureate of Harlem," commentator, and social activist. 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 2025 YSP ensemble will be conducted by Virginia Chorale Artistic Director, Charles Woodward, and will take on a new and exciting opportunity for the students. This year, we are delighted to be able to offer our participants the opportunity to join the Virginia Chorale on their program entitled I Dream a World. The combined singers of the Virginia Chorale and our Young Singers Project will celebrate Black History Month side by side with music set to the words of Langston Hughes - “Poet Laureate of Harlem," commentator, and social activist. 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 2025 Mentors
Christina Bartholomew
Sarah Evans
Kelli Bly
Nerissa Thompson
Randall Ball
Joseph Brown
Ajee Church
Carter Campbell
Sarah Schweit
Marshall Severin
YSP 2025 Students
**indicates returning YSP students
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SOPRANOS
Rahn-Yiah Brown Norview High School, Norfolk Nalaya Burns* Granby High School, Norfolk Maris Garvey Cox High School, Virginia Beach Melanie Parrish** Norview High School, Norfolk Amy Polanco-Yapor Western Branch High School Josiah Schumann Salem High School, Virginia Beach Chloe Swenson** Young Musicians of Virginia, Virginia Beach Asiya Williams Indian River High School, Chesapeake |
TENORS
Peyton Donahue** Norview High School, Norfolk Bryce Koziel Western Branch High School, Chesapeake Hope Little Nansemond River High School, Suffolk James Seymour** Indian River High School, Chesapeake Isaac Smith Young Musicians of Virginia, Virginia Beach Noah West Salem Arts Academy, Virginia Beach Valerie West Tallwood High School, Virginia Beach |
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ALTOS
Jasmine Davilmar Atlantic Shores High School, Virginia Beach Autumn Goden Kings Fork High School, Suffolk Samhita Kasarabada First Colonial High School, Virginia Beach Heather Lowekamp** Hampton Roads Academy, Newport News Trinity Rager Manor High School, Portsmouth Grace Reed Kempsville High School, Virginia Beach Hailey Reifsnider** Tallwood High School, Virginia Beach Caroline Sederes Norview High School, Norfolk Mars Smith** Granby High School, Norfolk Caden Spruill-Davis Western Branch High School, Chesapeake Ella Umlauf** Young Musicians of Virginia, Virginia Beach London Volpe Gloucester High School, Gloucester, VA |
BASS
Aaron Carlson Hampton Roads Academy, Newport News Daniel Clark Western Branch High School Noah Edwards Manor High School, Portsmouth Phoenix Ellis Western Branch High School, Chesapeake Peter Mackiewicz Great Bridge High School, Chesapeake Arun Ragsac** Deep Creek High School, Chesapeake Steven York Warwick High School, Newport News |
2025 Performances
I Dream a World
January 25, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Virginia Wesleyan University
Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center
Virginia Beach
January 26, 2025 | 4:00 PM
Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Norfolk
January 25, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Virginia Wesleyan University
Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center
Virginia Beach
January 26, 2025 | 4:00 PM
Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Norfolk
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)
