Community Arts Support Grant

Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota is gaining increased stability as it gains a more solid footing administratively by hiring a part-time Executive Director and formalizing its board structure to include individuals experienced in many areas which will benefit the organization as it plans for the future. We anticipate a schedule of ongoing performances, with perhaps an increased number of performances and collaborations during upcoming seasons to increase our visibility and gain more audience recognition. The number of young singers auditioning for a spot in Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota continues to increase each year. A proposed venture is to eventually add more performing groups, with ideas ranging from a small touring group to travel to area high schools for recruitment purposes, a small chamber group, and an all-womenÆs choir to allow more young women to participate. The latter venture - a WomenÆs Choir - is beginning to take shape, as the Board prepares to perform a search, and eventually hire, a new WomenÆs Choir Director, with an anticipated start date of July, 2012. With the added stability as an organization as a whole, guided by an experienced board, it is clear that the WomenÆs Choir, as well as the other small groups, are all now viable possibilities. Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota expects to be able to continue its goal of commissioning a new work each season, thus adding a quality piece of repertoire to the choral world. Expansion of artistic and administrative staff will be continued in future seasons, with the hiring of interns to assist the Artistic Director and Executive Director. This provides additional training to college students anticipating careers in music education and arts management. We will benefit from the financial support of current Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota parents, alumni, the community, and our 100% giving Board of Directors.1. By providing quality choral instruction/direction from a seasoned choral director, we see the members create a quality sound. 2. Given the number of singers who audition each year, it is clear that we continue to receive the support of high school choral directors throughout the Central Minnesota region who advertise to their students the opportunity to audition for participation in Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota. 3. Youth Sing Out, a popular, annual performance that Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota hosts in the spring, includes the Cantabile GirlsÆ Choir and The St. JohnÆs BoysÆ Choir to perform, both separately and with Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota in a mass number. This gives these feeder" organizations (in terms of age) a chance to hear Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota up close. We have had a large number of former Cantabile and Saint JohnÆs BoysÆ Choir singers join Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota. 4. While our exposure to Youth Chorale of Central MinnesotaÆs singers is primarily during the course of time they are actively participating in the group, we know that we are helping to turn out an accomplished set of singers who have a love of music. Our hope is that they continue to use their skills in future performing opportunities. 5. The board reviews, tracks progress, and makes adjustments on the objectives and goals at its monthly board meetings and ensures that timelines are honored."