Young People's Chorus of NYC and La Sociedad Coral LatinoAmericana Set for Symphony Space, 10/12

This season the Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) celebrates the 25th anniversary of providing children of all cultural and economic backgrounds with a unique program of music education and choral performance, while maintaining a model of artistic excellence and humanity that enriches the community. Founded by its artistic director and MacArthur Fellow Francisco J. Núñez, YPC is among today's most celebrated and influential youth choirs. In residence at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, YPC was recently presented with America's highest honor for youth programs-a National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award-by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.

Washington-based Coral Cantigas, founded in1991 by Diana V. Sáez, a native of Puerto Rico, is internationally recognized for increasing awareness and appreciation of the many rich styles of Latino choral music through its multi-lingual and collaborative performances in Spanish, Portuguese, and a variety of languages and dialects, such as Nahuatl, Quechua in its goal to provide its audiences with a deeper understanding of Latino music and cultures.

VocalEssence, the renowned Twin Cities choral ensemble, described as "the envy of every choir in the business," is acclaimed for its superbly blended sound, striving always for perfection. Conducted by Philip Brunelle, a mainstay and the recipient of Chorus America's highest honor--the Michael Korn Founder's Award for Development of the Choral Art-Vocal Essence sings everything from Baroque to contemporary masterworks with originality and freshness. The choir is well known from its many recordings and as the house choir of Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" on public radio.

The prominent Latin American composer/pianist Rafael "Bullumba" Landestoy is considered a National Treasure in the Dominican Republic, the land of his birth. One of the most prolific composers of the bolero, his music has been performed and recorded by such notables as Celia Cruz, Toña la Negra, Alberto Beltrán, and Vicentico Valdés. In recent years Mr. Landestoy has focused on classical music, a passion he developed at the National Conservatory in Santo Domingo and includes pieces for guitar, art songs for soprano and piano, and more than two dozen piano works.

Friday, October 12, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
"Hispanic Heritage Month" Concert
Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space
(2537 Broadway at 95th Street)

Tickets, $10 and $5 for seniors, students, and children, are available at the Symphony Space box office or by calling 212-874-5400 from 1 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday. Or order online at www.symphonyspace.org at any time.