By Natalie Bieser
May 29, 2012
Performing at Below Zero Lounge
If you ever wondered what happened to the real life Gleeks post high school, then look no further than the Young Professionals Choral Collective of Cincinnati. Yeah, let’s go with YPCC for short. Ok, so there are no weekly moral-of- the story lessons from Mr. Schue; entertaining guest appearances from Ricky Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow and the like; or quippy one-liners from Coach Sue, but, as the saying goes… “Cincinnati, The City That Sings,” we’re making good on our promise.
In just a few weeks, thousands of the world’s best singers will travel from all across the world to Cincinnati for the 2012 World Choir Games, but the choir we want to address today is the YPCC. Started just five months ago by husband and wife duo KellyAnn Nelson and Christopher Eanes, this group is already making waves.
“Ideally, my husband and I hoped we’d discover 15-20 other ‘choral nerds’ who would be interested in creating quality music and presenting it to the community in unique ways. We hoped that the social nature of choral music would create connections between the singers, as well as deeper connections to this great city through the discovery of the great restaurants, bars & arts organizations in our amazing neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine,” Nelson said. Within 5 months YPCC now has 110 singers on their roster.
All rehearsals and concerts occur on Tuesday nights in unique venues in OTR at 6:30 p.m. Everything is scheduled by concert cycle (typically 6-8 weeks long). YPCC understands we all led busy lives, so you can sign up to sing in whatever concert cycle works for your schedule.
YPCC is also passionate about supporting local businesses. After rehearsals singers often head to a local OTR establishment for dinner and drinks. Oh and did I mention that this past season, the YPCC practiced at the historic Emery Theater, one of only three acoustically pure symphonic spaces in the country? Cool beans. Indeed.
This season the YPCC hosted two concerts to sell-out crowds. On Valentine’s Day more than 40 YPCC singers presented Sin & Tonic at Below Zero Lounge. Then, on May 22nd the YPCC in collaboration with 1215 Wine Bar & Coffee Lab presented In Vino Veritas at Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine. The evening included an enchanting collection of South African & Italian choral music performed by 60 YPs paired with three delicious wine tastings.
YPCC rehearsal (that could be you)
YPCC has even received attention within Cincinnati’s thriving arts community and has quickly been noticed by national organizations such as Chorus America & the American Choral Director’s Association.
“We’re proud to be at the helm of an organization that connects new audiences to the art of choral music as well as creating that art at a high level. Christopher and I are proud of the choral heritage of Cincinnati, and we are excited to help tell the story in a new way to our supportive community,” said Nelson.
From the In Vino Veritas performance; photo credit Nathan Sivitz
YPCC will be holding auditions on May 29th and selecting 24 singers to compete at the World Choir Games as part of the Mixed Chamber Choir Open Competition. They will perform four times throughout the games including a Free International Friendship concert on Thursday, July 12th at Below Zero. Mark your calendars!
Looking ahead to YPCC’s next season… well, it’s going to be even more fabulous: “In the Dark of Night” at Emery Theatre on October 30, December Holiday Caroling at Below Zero Lounge, a Mid-Winter Masquerade Ball at the Cincinnati Club on February 16, and much, much more!
So if you love to sing, you’re looking to meet new people and you want to know more about the great things happening in downtown Cincinnati & Over-the-Rhine, sign up to sing with YPCC!
For more information about YPCC, visit: www.choralcollective.com or visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/choralcollective
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