Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs

The Mission and The Why

Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs is the performance-based choral music education program for young singers in our community.

GMYC is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1997. Five unique choirs rehearse in both Peterborough and Keene and serve children and youth of all genders in grades K - 12 throughout the Monadnock Region. GMYC offers rigorous and exciting rehearsal and performance environments that foster musical expression, a deep appreciation of music, and meaningful, lifelong friendships. 

With the guidance of expert music educators and pianists, GMYC provides the opportunity for young singers to share the rewarding experience of making music together, improving music literacy and reading skills, learning singing and breathing techniques, musicianship, and fundamentals of concert performance. 

In addition to performing 10 stand-alone concerts and several collaborative performances each year, GMYC is committed to growing musicality through regional and international concert tours. Singers in 4-8th grade often participate in regional festivals and most recently traveled to Boston for a choral exchange.  GMYC's treble high school choir, the Cecilia Ensemble, travels internationally every other year having performed in 15 different European countries. All traveling singers act as ambassadors bringing music abroad, and experience cultural immersion. 

GMYC does not discriminate. We offer a bully-free zone, accepting any young singer through audition. Choir singing is rooted in both musical growth and commitment; singers learn to trust in themselves, other choir members, and in the director. Together, as a collective group, singers create something bigger than themselves within their exceptional performances. To find our more information about GMYC, join the mailing list, or to schedule an audition, please go to www.GrandMonadnockYouthChoirs.org.

 

Who We Are

Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs (GMYC) is the performance-based choral music program for young singers in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. Serving nearly 100 youth in grades 2 - 12 from 20 different towns in NH and VT, GMYC has 5 unique ensembles rehearsing both in Keene and Peterborough. GMYC offers comprehensive tuition assistance program making it financially accessible for all singers admitted by audition. Children are accepted by audition; most young children are accepted however as singers get older the choirs are more selective. Each ensemble meets for 1 - 2 hours once weekly from September through May and presents 4 stand alone concerts per year, 2 in December and 2 in May.

The choirs are performance-based, which means we rehearse music that is performed at concerts. Concerts are extraordinary with polished and engaging performances. However, the process of rehearsals is just as important as the product. By utilizing "growth mindset" through rehearsals and performance, singers learn music literacy, movement, singing pedagogy including breathing techniques and posture, team building skills, musical independence, performance etiquette, and so much more. Growth-mindset is a recently developed that theory replaces “can’t” with “not yet.” Through “yet-ing” in choral music, young singers unlock the potential to see challenges as growth opportunities. We embrace our imperfections, explore music and technique using a variety of approaches, and celebrate actions and not inherent traits.

GMYC does not discriminate, and believe that choral music is critical to growing peace in our communities. We hope that through singing we inspire children to sing throughout their lives and to appreciate music because we believe singing makes the world a better place.

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GMYC was the recipient of the James Grant Achievement Award in 2018, and one of the recipients of the Ewing Arts Award in the Performing Arts category in 2019. Artistic Director Esther Rhoades was honored as a Trendsetter in 2018.

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GMYC regularly collaborates with local choral groups, and performs in community events. We believe strongly in giving back to the community by lifting it through singing. GMYC has performed at the Kiwanis Tree Lighting Ceremony in Keene, the Children and the Arts Fair in Peterborough, the MLK Interfaith Breakfast in Keene, for Governor Maggie Hassen, for the Keene State College Chamber Singers, with the Chamber Singers of Keene to present The Children's March, the Keene Pops Choir, the Monadnock Chorus, to name a few. GMYC performed at the Keene Public Library opening ceremony, and several events in the summer of 2019!