By Tom Rohrer
Through the power of music and performance, teenagers and youth alike have the opportunity to come together as a group and learn to express themselves in a positive way.
Thanks to the Olympia Youth Chorus, which was founded in 1995 by Cindy Dinsmore, Thurston County boys and girls have such an opportunity.
On Saturday, March 23, the OYC will continue its nearly two decades old tradition of entertaining the community through vocal performance with the “A Choral Tapestry”, which will be held at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts beginning at 7 p.m.
The event will feature performances from the Dolce (K-2nd), Bel Canto (3rd-5th) , Coro Voce (ages 11-18), and Forza (middle school and high school males) ensembles, along with a showing from the Cantabile Choir, which is an advanced treble female choir directed by Dinsmore.
This March concert, with a theme of ‘my life as a singer’, will focus on a group of related styles of music, and, like past performances, provides the OYC performers with a chance to expand their talent and musical skill set.
“For this particular concert, we wanted the children to explore a genre with a theme, more gospel, folk music, just several different styles that our children can be exposed to for the first time,” Dinsmore said. “I think giving our singers an opportunity to explore different genres is great and helps shape them.”
The concert will also feature a guest appearance from the Olympia Chapter of the Sweet Adelines, a worldwide female barbershop style group, who will provide a quartet to perform with the OYC.
“Barbershop singing is the foundation of this all,” DInsmore said. “We’ve had great groups and guests in the past, and I think this will add to the entertainment of the evening.”
Since OYC’s formation, there has been a steady increase of youth participation, along with exposure to the Olympia area community.
“We have this wonderful community support that has developed significantly in the last three years,” Dinsmore said. “We’re really on the cusp of showing people this sound and nurturing nature, and they are stepping forward to support more through donations.”
“I think we in Olympia often don’t realize what a mecca of talent we have,” Dinsmore said. “Our schools are packed with fabulous teachers, especially in music and visual art. We hope what we do supports our schools as well and give the kids a skill set.”
A new addition to the OYC is the formation of the Forza all male choir, who is under the direction of Dan Colgan. The late March concert will be their second together, and their first since a holiday concert in December.
“We have five guys. We sing a three part harmony and that’s not easy for a group that size,” said Colgan, who is also the Director of Music at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and the Assistant Director of Olympia Choral Society. “(They’re) very solid singers….and they’ve impressed me.”
Colgan has already made an impression on the OYC staff of conductors and his students.
“Dan is just a treasure – a very talented young man and a beautiful singer,” Dinsmore said. “Just delightful with the (singers) , and the respect they give him and the playful way he demands excellence…it’s been great to see.”
“This isn’t the oldest group of guys and the fact that they’re doing it as well as they are, I am so impressed,” Colgan said. “I look forward to every rehersal, they want to do it twice a week. I’m very proud.”
The members of the Forza choir, and all other individuals in the OYC, will see the benefits of being in the choir for the rest of their lives.
“I think that participating in something like this, it builds their confidence. There is a sense of teamwork that develops amongst the group,” Dinsmore said. “It teaches them far more than how to sing.”
By obtaining talented and dedicated conductors, along with the youth performers, Dinsmore has helped the OYC garner an international reputation.
“I do have to say having surrounded myself with some very fine conductors, accompanist and meeting other musicians has been so important, and that has led to the international community noticing the OYC,” said Dinsmore, who spoke to ThurstonTalk.com while at a national choral convention in Texas. “The (Cantabile) has been to England, New York and created those relationships. This is a group that’s great and has grown into an exceptional organization.”
For more information on the Olympia Youth Chorus, click here. For tickets to the March 23 concert in Olympia, visit www.olytix.org.
The Forza choir of the OYC will be performing at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on Sunday, April 21, at 11 a.m.
