20 Years of Singing and Building a Family for Young Singers

The staff at YSPB always says that once you become a young singer, you become part of their family. Choir conductor Erica Barnes is a great example. She was once the middle school student of YSPB founder Connie Drosakis, and for more than ten years the two have conducted choirs at Young Singers together.  

“Connie gave me the chance to explore my talents in middle school as my choir director and continues to support me as a mentor, colleague and friend today. She continues to leave legacies with every life she touches, and I’m blessed to be one of them. I truly enjoy working with my mentors and love the challenge of bringing out the best in our singers. YSPB is engaging young minds in different ways, fostering new passions, teaching life skills and creating an appreciation for the arts that will last a lifetime.” (Erica Barnes)

 

Young Singers’ notable music professionals not only nurture and educate children in choral singing and vocal technique, but also in skills that are valuable throughout their life. The organization inspires young people to embrace their potential and strive for being their best self, both on stage and off.

 

For some of the Young Singers graduates, being their best means staying close to the Young Singers family and being a part of the organization’s work and growth.

 

• Jordan Gonzalez, who started with the choir from day one in 2003, gave back to her Young Singers family sharing her talents during the Covid lockdown by teaching virtual vocal classes, leading online Instagram and Facebook concerts, and starting a virtual singing ensemble that sang for senior facilities and care homes. Once the choir was back in person Jordan led production of a senior video and was musical theater director of two YSPB summer camps. She also assisted in rehearsals and with production of the organization’s Kravis Center concerts.

 

• Norman Bain, a 2017 Young Singers graduate, has stayed active with the choir volunteering, interning, and now working on staff. He is a mentor to the Mens and Bel Canto choirs, serving by example and guiding young voices. Additionally, Norman can be found on stage during YSPB concerts, playing Djembe or other percussion.

 

• Lauren Clark, one of the first YSPB choir members, is now a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy. She attributes much of her success to the foundation she received at Young Singers, and gave back to her home community as one of YSPB’s vocal instructors, leading small group and private voice and music theory classes, and acting as a substitute conductor when needed.

 

• 7-year YSPB choir member Angelica Zapata graduated from the choir as a high school senior in 2018. Afterwards, she continued to volunteer and intern at the choir while she was in college. Angelica is now an elementary school music teacher in Palm Beach County.

 

Young Singers of the Palm Beaches community children’s choir began in 2003 to fill the need for music education in schools due to cuts in funding in the arts. Their founders – Shawn Berry, Connie Drosakis, and Michael Yannette - were music educators and choral conductors who envisioned a children's choral organization that would not be constrained by school boundaries, religious affiliations, racial bias, socio-economic barriers, or funding cuts to arts education. The choir was met with much enthusiasm and has continued to grow. Today, Young Singers has a regular enrollment of about 250 members in grades 2-12, and is continually auditioning new singers. Thanks to funding from Impact 100 Palm Beach County, Young Singers has expanded to the southern part of the county with a choir that rehearses at the Boynton Beach Cultural Arts Center.

 

May 20, 2023 Young Singers will be holding auditions at the Kravis Center, for new and interested singers of both their Kravis-based and South County Choirs. Children and teens are encouraged to review requirements and register for an audition time at www.yspb.org/audition.

 

For more information about Young Singers, visit www.yspb.org or call 561-651-4429. Young Singers of the Palm Beaches is sponsored in part by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Tourism and Development Council, Discover the Palm Beaches, The State of Florida: Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.