Cabrillo Youth Chorus
Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Dr, VAPA 5000 - Music Building Room 5137, Aptos, CA 95003
About
Cabrillo Youth Chorus is a comprehensive vocal music program where singers participate in choirs, singing, music literacy, and touring. Singers take part in activities such as learning music theory and musicianship, practicing improvisation, dance and rhythms, playing recorders, Orff instruments, and other instruments, and singing opera and musical theater literature. The program also offers a Summer Voice Camp and a One Week Musical Day Camp that focus on putting together an original music performance.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Spring 2026 semester runs January 26–May 23, with rehearsals for DOLCE & VIVACE on Tuesdays 4:00–5:30pm and ALLEGRIA & CON BRIO on Wednesdays 4:00–5:30pm; voice placements are held January 21 from 4:00–5:30pm; the One Week Musical Day Camp meets Monday–Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm, and Summer Voice Camp is a week-long camp
• Price: CYC program fee is $25 per semester.
Cabrillo Youth Chorus has been educating, developing, and inspiring young singers and young musicians in Santa Cruz County for over 25 years and is an Ensemble-in-Residence at the Cabrillo College Music Department. The program includes four choirs that combine singing and music literacy in an inclusive environment, with a team of Cabrillo Teaching Assistants who work with singers individually and in small groups to learn their music and music theory. Voice Camp is open to children 8–18 years of age, and no experience is needed, only a love of singing.
The mission of Cabrillo Youth Chorus is to educate, develop, and inspire musically talented children of all races, religions, genders, abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, and ethnicities to attain the highest possible level of choral artistry. This mission is carried out through teaching that focuses on music literacy, tone development, ear-training, and working with professional musicians, using repertoire that includes established classical works, art songs, songs from the American heritage, and arrangements of folk songs from around the world in many languages. Composers such as Ēriks Ešenvalds have written works specifically for this ensemble.
Cabrillo Youth Chorus has shared the stage with the Santa Cruz Symphony, Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Cantiamo!, Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, Cabrillo Music Festival, and the South Valley Symphony. Singers have toured throughout the West Coast, sung in Carnegie Hall, and toured Eastern Europe and Russia. Performance experiences include regional children’s choir festivals, concerts with the Santa Cruz Symphony, world premiere concerts, concerts with award-winning composers, concerts with Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, concerts with Cabrillo Symphonic Choir and Cantiamo!, ACDA Honor Choirs, Fall and Spring concerts, and a Summer Voice Camp concert, including The Orchestra Moves Spring 2024 with Master of Ceremonies Omari Tau and Conductor Daniel Stewart with the Santa Cruz Symphony.
The leadership team includes Dr. Carlin Truong as Musical Director and Director, Founding Director Cheryl Andersen, Teacher Assistant and Composer Michael Locke-Paddon, Pianist and Accompanist Marina Kandieva-Thomas, Teacher’s Assistant Joshua Porter, and Teacher’s Assistant Cristian Rincon. Staff credentials include extensive teaching, conducting, and performance experience in schools, universities, community choirs, churches, and professional ensembles, as well as degrees and diplomas in music composition, music performance, chamber music, accompaniment, and music education. Cabrillo Youth Chorus is highly regarded for its skill and beautiful sound, and has been described in the Santa Cruz Sentinel as offering “a wonderful opportunity for these young people to have the composer, (Morten Lauridsen) attend their rehearsals and share his knowledge and love of music with them.”
Last updated April 1, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Spring 2026 semester runs January 26–May 23, with rehearsals for DOLCE & VIVACE on Tuesdays 4:00–5:30pm and ALLEGRIA & CON BRIO on Wednesdays 4:00–5:30pm; voice placements are held January 21 from 4:00–5:30pm; the One Week Musical Day Camp meets Monday–Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm, and Summer Voice Camp is a week-long camp
• Price: CYC program fee is $25 per semester.
Cabrillo Youth Chorus has been educating, developing, and inspiring young singers and young musicians in Santa Cruz County for over 25 years and is an Ensemble-in-Residence at the Cabrillo College Music Department. The program includes four choirs that combine singing and music literacy in an inclusive environment, with a team of Cabrillo Teaching Assistants who work with singers individually and in small groups to learn their music and music theory. Voice Camp is open to children 8–18 years of age, and no experience is needed, only a love of singing.
The mission of Cabrillo Youth Chorus is to educate, develop, and inspire musically talented children of all races, religions, genders, abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, and ethnicities to attain the highest possible level of choral artistry. This mission is carried out through teaching that focuses on music literacy, tone development, ear-training, and working with professional musicians, using repertoire that includes established classical works, art songs, songs from the American heritage, and arrangements of folk songs from around the world in many languages. Composers such as Ēriks Ešenvalds have written works specifically for this ensemble.
Cabrillo Youth Chorus has shared the stage with the Santa Cruz Symphony, Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Cantiamo!, Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, Cabrillo Music Festival, and the South Valley Symphony. Singers have toured throughout the West Coast, sung in Carnegie Hall, and toured Eastern Europe and Russia. Performance experiences include regional children’s choir festivals, concerts with the Santa Cruz Symphony, world premiere concerts, concerts with award-winning composers, concerts with Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, concerts with Cabrillo Symphonic Choir and Cantiamo!, ACDA Honor Choirs, Fall and Spring concerts, and a Summer Voice Camp concert, including The Orchestra Moves Spring 2024 with Master of Ceremonies Omari Tau and Conductor Daniel Stewart with the Santa Cruz Symphony.
The leadership team includes Dr. Carlin Truong as Musical Director and Director, Founding Director Cheryl Andersen, Teacher Assistant and Composer Michael Locke-Paddon, Pianist and Accompanist Marina Kandieva-Thomas, Teacher’s Assistant Joshua Porter, and Teacher’s Assistant Cristian Rincon. Staff credentials include extensive teaching, conducting, and performance experience in schools, universities, community choirs, churches, and professional ensembles, as well as degrees and diplomas in music composition, music performance, chamber music, accompaniment, and music education. Cabrillo Youth Chorus is highly regarded for its skill and beautiful sound, and has been described in the Santa Cruz Sentinel as offering “a wonderful opportunity for these young people to have the composer, (Morten Lauridsen) attend their rehearsals and share his knowledge and love of music with them.”
Last updated April 1, 2026.
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