A note from Leslie Dripps, CSYC Executive & Artistic Director
When the going gets tough, (and if you run a non-profit, you know that it can) sometimes one stops everything and thinks “WHY AM I DOING THIS CAN’T SOMEBODY ELSE DO IT I WANT TO TAKE A NAP!” ..and then I take a breath.
In that breath I remember the reason I work for this particular organization, and not anyone else, is that we do a fabulous job in a way that sets us apart from other groups in our area. Dare I say that? Well, we’ve worked hard at these things, and we are proud of them!
“What,” they ask with baited breath, “sets you apart?” (Narrator: They did not ask that.)
Well, since I am not only a choir director, but also a choir mom, the stuff that sets City Singers apart is the stuff that I value the most when it comes to the activities my own children do. (All three are City Singers!)
Here are three elements which set City Singers Youth Choirs apart:
1. CSYC is the only Richmond area community youth choir led by faculty with degrees in voice and voice education. (I look forward to the day when we aren’t alone here). Our training and experience is in teaching the young voice and developing our singers through the lens of singing in ways that best serve the singers. This distinction is important—college degrees in instruments other than voice are not designed to prepare for teaching the youth voice. We highly value the science, research, and best practices in voice pedagogy, and maintain the most current knowledge in the field to apply in our choirs. We know vocal anatomy, and the anatomical and biological elements significant in the pubescent voice change. We highly value our positive reputations in the music education community, and CSYC is recommended by area choir teachers. Read faculty bios here: www.citysingerschoir.org/faculty
2. We respect our singers and their voices. Unfortunately, this sets us apart. Questionable (and by this I mean ‘abusive’) management practices are very common in the youth arts world, and are often excused as a mark of “quality”, which we find appalling on the most fundamental level. We never, ever yell, and never have, for more than 20 years. We prioritize singer health (mental, emotional, and physical) and design our rehearsals and performances to support this health. Singers are proud of the high quality we accomplish together, and that pride inspires more dedicated and diligent practicing and better music. Knowing how youth voices develop is crucial to this approach, and our vocal pedagogy and philosophy, superior in their own right, contribute to joyful and productive rehearsals.
3. City Singers is a stable organization. This may not sound exciting, but it totally is. We have a robust strategic plan, which guides our program and governance decisions, an annual transparent funding strategy, and have never in our history operated in the red or had a deficit. Our volunteer Board of Directors is made up of community members who value our mission: leaders in Richmond’s business sectors and music education sectors.
So, there you go. I could go on and on about the quality of our musicianship and repertoire, but these three matter to me as a mom. Our quality flows out of these. Won’t you join us?
Last Updated: December 5, 2022 by admin
To toot or not to toot? Stuff we’re proud of…
A note from Leslie Dripps, CSYC Executive & Artistic Director
When the going gets tough, (and if you run a non-profit, you know that it can) sometimes one stops everything and thinks “WHY AM I DOING THIS CAN’T SOMEBODY ELSE DO IT I WANT TO TAKE A NAP!” ..and then I take a breath.
In that breath I remember the reason I work for this particular organization, and not anyone else, is that we do a fabulous job in a way that sets us apart from other groups in our area. Dare I say that? Well, we’ve worked hard at these things, and we are proud of them!
“What,” they ask with baited breath, “sets you apart?” (Narrator: They did not ask that.)
Well, since I am not only a choir director, but also a choir mom, the stuff that sets City Singers apart is the stuff that I value the most when it comes to the activities my own children do. (All three are City Singers!)
Here are three elements which set City Singers Youth Choirs apart:
1. CSYC is the only Richmond area community youth choir led by faculty with degrees in voice and voice education. (I look forward to the day when we aren’t alone here). Our training and experience is in teaching the young voice and developing our singers through the lens of singing in ways that best serve the singers. This distinction is important—college degrees in instruments other than voice are not designed to prepare for teaching the youth voice. We highly value the science, research, and best practices in voice pedagogy, and maintain the most current knowledge in the field to apply in our choirs. We know vocal anatomy, and the anatomical and biological elements significant in the pubescent voice change. We highly value our positive reputations in the music education community, and CSYC is recommended by area choir teachers. Read faculty bios here: www.citysingerschoir.org/faculty
2. We respect our singers and their voices. Unfortunately, this sets us apart. Questionable (and by this I mean ‘abusive’) management practices are very common in the youth arts world, and are often excused as a mark of “quality”, which we find appalling on the most fundamental level. We never, ever yell, and never have, for more than 20 years. We prioritize singer health (mental, emotional, and physical) and design our rehearsals and performances to support this health. Singers are proud of the high quality we accomplish together, and that pride inspires more dedicated and diligent practicing and better music. Knowing how youth voices develop is crucial to this approach, and our vocal pedagogy and philosophy, superior in their own right, contribute to joyful and productive rehearsals.
3. City Singers is a stable organization. This may not sound exciting, but it totally is. We have a robust strategic plan, which guides our program and governance decisions, an annual transparent funding strategy, and have never in our history operated in the red or had a deficit. Our volunteer Board of Directors is made up of community members who value our mission: leaders in Richmond’s business sectors and music education sectors.
So, there you go. I could go on and on about the quality of our musicianship and repertoire, but these three matter to me as a mom. Our quality flows out of these. Won’t you join us?
Category: blog, Uncategorized