Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

What a fantastic celebration of Robyn Lana’s 30-plus years as founding artistic director of @cincinnati_youth_choir. With a program titled Roots and Wings, the choir’s six ensembles explored a diverse sampling of the more than 80 works Lana as commissioned during her tenure.
Standout highlights included dynamic performances by CYC’s flagship ensemble, Bel Canto and its alumni group Voci Di Amici of works by Andrea Ramsey, Joan Szymko and Dominick DiOrio. Individually and combined, all the ensembles possessed uniquely distinctive timbres, particularly the Piccolo Coro, Vivace and the changed voice choir Voci, with a repertoire which wonderfully suits their singers’ musicianship skills.
Known as much for being a teaching organization as well as a performance organization, CYC has nurtured an untold number of artists over its long history, and it was fantastic to see that continue in a new generation of leaders and conductors, including Caitlyn McGlynn, Rachel Feldman (this year’s Richard Wesp Assistant Director of Bel Canto), Kelsey DeMange, Keri McGuire and current Artist-in-Residence Anthony Trecek-King, longtime director of the Boston Children’s Chorus. Praise also goes to the collaborative pianists who participated with elegant, spectacular accompaniment, Heather Wilson, Haenarie Lee and former collaborative pianist Jan Carrothers as well as CCM student instrumentalists Laura Jett, Rachel Bakhit, Katie Spjut, Abby Sherrard and James Horton.
Eagerly looking forward to what awaits this amazing organization as they embark on this new chapter.