The National Children’s Chorus (NCC), one of the world’s leading treble
choruses, with 700 students in 18 ensembles based in Los Angeles, New York
and Washington, D.C., helps budding musicians learn and grow in an
extraordinary musical environment and gives them the opportunity to perform
in professional music halls all around the world – one of the few youth
arts organizations to do so.
Led by conductor and Artistic Director Luke McEndarfer, the children have
performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the
Kennedy Center, Royce Hall, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl
Orchestra, Joffrey Ballet, Los Angeles Opera Company, Los Angeles Master
Chorale, Kronos String Quartet, New York City Master Chorale and the
American Youth Symphony, among many other well-known venues. They have also
performed internationally in the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and St.
John’s Smith Square in London, England; the Great Wall of China in Beijing
and the Ancient City Wall in Xian, China; St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice,
St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican and St. Cecilia’s Music Conservatory in
Rome, Italy.
In addition, the group has been featured on a myriad of movie and
television soundtracks and has performed numerous times as the musical act
on Jay Leno’s former Tonight Show. Some of the children are regularly
contracted as solo artists for professional engagements both in the studio
and on stage, including leading roles on Broadway and in opera.
The NCC leads singers from age 5 through college with an extensive,
comprehensive curriculum that includes conducting, composition, music
theory, sight-singing in the Kodály Method and individual voice
training. Children meet weekly and work with some of the finest instructors
in the nation to develop their vocal skills – tone quality, breath support
and musical expression are cultivated within each singer. Through intensive
choral training and high-profile performance experiences, students also
learn discipline and leadership skills while developing their passion for
music.
An interview with Luke McEndarfer gives us more insight into the NCC:
How should children who love to sing prepare for an audition?
Junior Division applicants need not prepare anything. Each will be asked to
sing a set of scales and to match rhythm to determine the ability to access
head tone, match pitch and understand rhythmic patterns. Senior Division
students will be asked to do the same thing, however, they are also
required to prepare a solo piece that best demonstrates the strengths of
their vocal achievement thus far. We look for excellent intonation, overall
musicality and dramatic expression of the text.
How are children placed in an ensemble?
Children are placed in various ensembles based on a combination of factors
at the audition, including age, skill level, maturity and the ability to
focus. The goal is to begin their training at the place most appropriate
for them, and where they will thrive most effectively. Students are
promoted by their directors when they are ready to advance to the next
level.
What is your best piece of advice for children and young people who
possess a love for the arts?
It’s to be patient, focused, open to learning and growing, unafraid to make
mistakes and resilient and persistent in achieving what they want. We teach
and imbue these attributes at every single rehearsal, as they are central
to our educational and success-based methodologies.
What sparked your love for singing?
Music has always been a key source of joy in my life, and what I love most
about it is that it speaks directly to the human soul, and touches every
human being with its magic, regardless of race, culture or social
differences. Through its universal ability to connect and bring people
together, I believe it has the power to make a difference in the world, and
the NCC is a tremendous example of the greatness music can bring to
society. On our Instagram page, images show our 2016 performance in Xian,
China, where we sang together with Chinese children in a private
performance for the Chinese government with two Secretaries of State in
attendance. The music, entitled “Chinese Bridge,” was all in Mandarin,
composed by one of our students (who now attends Stanford as a composition
major). The message was how coming together as a world community is more
powerful than countries fighting with each other and undermining each
other’s interests. Seeing the children perform this music together –
children from two different worlds singing the same message – was one of
the most powerful moments of my life, as well as for many of our staff.
How does the NCC build confidence in kids?
Building confidence, and more than that, building people is what we do. The
NCC’s music is simply a bi-product of all that. More than teaching notes
and rhythms, we uphold a standard of excellence and teach the values of
pursuing greatness in life, no matter what you’re doing inside or outside
of the music world. Many parents and students through the years have shared
extraordinary stories where their involvement in the chorus has helped them
overcome major adversities in their lives, and inspired them to do great
things in this world (you may see some of their interviews on our YouTube
video entitled “Ready for Concert, Ready for Life.” Our graduates are the
greatest evidence of that. The secret is in teaching children that it is no
failure to be on any given step of the journey. In fact, every great person
has had to be at every single step along his or her journey at some point
in time, so we learn to value and honor each moment of achievement along
the way. Accepting one’s place on the journey and focusing only on taking
the next step forward is a key ingredient to long-term success, which is
what we groom our students for both in music and in life.
To learn more about the NCC and its upcoming events, or to schedule an
audition, visit nationalchildrenschorus.com.
