YPC of NYC, Harvard Glee Club, and Baritone Lester Lynch to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. Through Song on January 18

New York (January 9, 2025) – the world-renowned Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC), will join forces with the esteemed Harvard Glee Club and acclaimed baritone Lester Lynch for an inspiring concert celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 4 pm at Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. The concert explores th emes of belonging and inclusion, bringing to life Dr. King’s dream of a world where all people live together in harmony. The concert is free and open to the public.

“Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. imagined a world of unity and shared humanity,” said Francisco J. Núñez, artistic director and founder of YPC. “At YPC, we strive every day to bring this vision to life, creating a space where children of all backgrounds can thrive, grow, and feel they belong.”

The program will feature a powerful repertoire performed by YPC, under the direction of Núñez, and conductors Maria C. Peña, Caitlin Henning, and Emma H. Sway, as well as pianist Taisiya Pushkar. The Harvard Glee Club, led by Andrew Clark, and baritone Lester Lynch will also perform. Together, they will present a range of selections that honor Dr. King’s enduring legacy.

Highlights of the program include YPC and Harvard Glee Club performing MLK by U2,arrangementbyBob Chilcott; YPC presenting spirituals such as He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, arrangement by Lester Lynch and Noam Faingold, with baritone Lester Lynch; YPC singing Naturaleza composed by Núñez and Song of Light by Chandrika Tandon, arrangement by Teese Gohl; solo performances by Lester Lynch, including The Negro Speaks of the Rivers by Margaret Bonds and Sweet Home, arrangement by V. Simonson; a rousing finale with Lift Every Voice and Sing, arrangement by Roland M. Carter, performed by all ensembles; and more.

The collaboration between YPC and the Harvard Glee Club underscores the value YPC places on providing unique educational and networking opportunities to its young choristers. Beyond musical training, YPC offers a robust College Bound program, providing academic services, SAT/ACT preparation, workshops, mentoring and other resources – all free of charge. As a result, 100% of YPC choristers go on to college.

“We are honored to join YPC and Lester Lynch in celebrating the life and legacy of Rev. Dr.

King,” said Andrew Clark, music director and conductor of the Harvard Glee Club. “Through

music, we aim to inspire understanding, connection, and optimism for a brighter future.”

“Rev. Dr. King’s legacy calls on us to build bridges and empower the next generation to carry his message forward,” Núñez added. “This concert is not only a celebration of his life and dream but also a way to inspire our young choristers to dream big, embrace everyone, and lead with compassion.”

For more information about the concert or YPC, please visit www.ypc.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Glodow Nead Communications, YPCPR@glodownead.com

About Young People’s Chorus of New York City

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) is a world-renowned multicultural youth chorus recognized for its virtuosity, showmanship, and innovative model of diversity. Founded by Francisco J. Núñez, a MacArthur Fellow and Musical America’s 2018 Educator of the Year, YPC’s mission is rooted in providing children from all cultural and economic backgrounds with exceptional music education and performance opportunities. YPC creates pathways for young people to succeed through the arts. The chorus has earned numerous honors, including a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, presented at the White House. Under the direction of Creative Director Elizabeth Núñez, YPC became the first North American choir to be named “Choir of the World” at the 2018 International Choral Kathaumixw. Since 2000, YPC has commissioned and premiered over 300 works by some of today’s most influential and esteemed composers. In 2023, YPC won five gold medals at the World Choir Games, including three world champion titles, and repeated this achievement in 2024, earning five additional gold medals across various categories. www.ypc.org.

About Harvard Glee Club

An ensemble of tenor and bass voices, the Harvard Glee Club is the oldest collegiate choir in the United States. Since its founding in 1858, it has sought to cultivate and sustain the art of tenor – bass — traditionally men’s — choral music through regular concerts at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre as well as performances around the world, including at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Disney Concert Hall in LA, and the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria, the Duomo di Firenze in Italy, and the American Cathedral in Paris, France. www.harvardgleeclub.org