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 young musicians take part in singing, music theory, musicianship, improvisation, dance, rhythms, and playing recorders, Orff instruments, and other instruments. Singers work on opera literature and musical theater literature as part of the program’s activities.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: One-week Summer Voice Camp (July 27–31, 2026) and a Fall 2026 semester running August 25–November 22, with separate weekly rehearsals for 3rd–7th graders and 8th–12th graders
• Price: CYC program fee is $25 per semester.
Cabrillo Youth Chorus has been educating, developing, and inspiring young singers and musicians in Santa Cruz County for over 25 years. The program is the Ensemble-in-Residence at the Cabrillo College Music Department and offers four choirs. Summer Voice Camp is a week-long camp where participants put together an original music performance in one week, and it is open to children 8–18 years of age with no experience needed, only a love of singing. Voice placements are scheduled for August 20 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm.
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, founded on the premise that if there are children, there is song. This mission is carried out through teaching that focuses on music literacy, tone development, ear-training, and working with professional musicians. Cabrillo Youth Chorus is highly regarded for its skill and sound, and 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. The chorus has toured throughout the West Coast, sung in Carnegie Hall, and toured Eastern Europe and Russia. Performance experiences have included 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. One testimonial from the Santa Cruz Sentinel described a rehearsal with composer Morten Lauridsen as “a wonderful opportunity for these young people to have the composer…attend their rehearsals and share his knowledge and love of music with them.”
The leadership team includes Musical Director/Director Dr. Carlin Truong; Founding Director Cheryl Andersen; contact person Dawn Hamane; Teacher’s Assistants Michael Locke-Paddon (Summer 2026 Composer), Olivia Siemer (Summer 2026 and 2026–27), Rile Hoagland (Summer 2026), Madeline Demers (Summer 2026), Sebastian Stock (Summer 2026), and Niall Andrews (2026–27); and Pianist and Accompanist Marina Kandieva-Thomas. The Board of Directors includes Elyse Coty, Marissa Johnson Csimma, Spirit Diener, Clare Markovitz, Clare Rieber, Rachel Roush, Renee Roberts (Costumes), Samantha Infeld, Ananya & Aswad, Sari Luoma, Jeannette Moretti (Past Treasurer and Costume Manager), Susan Willats (Past President), Frances Basich Whitney (Past Secretary), and Jackie Defendis. Cheryl Andersen retired after 35 years of service to Cabrillo College in June 2025.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: One-week Summer Voice Camp (July 27–31, 2026) and a Fall 2026 semester running August 25–November 22, with separate weekly rehearsals for 3rd–7th graders and 8th–12th graders
• Price: CYC program fee is $25 per semester.
Cabrillo Youth Chorus has been educating, developing, and inspiring young singers and musicians in Santa Cruz County for over 25 years. The program is the Ensemble-in-Residence at the Cabrillo College Music Department and offers four choirs. Summer Voice Camp is a week-long camp where participants put together an original music performance in one week, and it is open to children 8–18 years of age with no experience needed, only a love of singing. Voice placements are scheduled for August 20 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm.
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, founded on the premise that if there are children, there is song. This mission is carried out through teaching that focuses on music literacy, tone development, ear-training, and working with professional musicians. Cabrillo Youth Chorus is highly regarded for its skill and sound, and 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. The chorus has toured throughout the West Coast, sung in Carnegie Hall, and toured Eastern Europe and Russia. Performance experiences have included 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. One testimonial from the Santa Cruz Sentinel described a rehearsal with composer Morten Lauridsen as “a wonderful opportunity for these young people to have the composer…attend their rehearsals and share his knowledge and love of music with them.”
The leadership team includes Musical Director/Director Dr. Carlin Truong; Founding Director Cheryl Andersen; contact person Dawn Hamane; Teacher’s Assistants Michael Locke-Paddon (Summer 2026 Composer), Olivia Siemer (Summer 2026 and 2026–27), Rile Hoagland (Summer 2026), Madeline Demers (Summer 2026), Sebastian Stock (Summer 2026), and Niall Andrews (2026–27); and Pianist and Accompanist Marina Kandieva-Thomas. The Board of Directors includes Elyse Coty, Marissa Johnson Csimma, Spirit Diener, Clare Markovitz, Clare Rieber, Rachel Roush, Renee Roberts (Costumes), Samantha Infeld, Ananya & Aswad, Sari Luoma, Jeannette Moretti (Past Treasurer and Costume Manager), Susan Willats (Past President), Frances Basich Whitney (Past Secretary), and Jackie Defendis. Cheryl Andersen retired after 35 years of service to Cabrillo College in June 2025.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
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