Side-by-Side Education Program

 

Since 2002, The Chorale’s Side-by-Side program has partnered with choral programs at New York high schools to provide the opportunity for students to rehearse and perform “side-by-side” experienced adult chorus members of The Chorale. Students are encouraged, coached and assisted at weekly rehearsals by mentors, Chorale members of the same voice part, to help prepare them for our performances at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and other esteemed venues in New York.

Side-by-Side enriches the curriculum of participating choral programs, giving students the invaluable experience of performing with professional musicians and world-class soloists for discerning audiences in New York and across the globe.

Students receive additional musical and language training in their schools with vocal coaches selected by The Chorale, as well as pre-rehearsal coaching sessions with Maestro James Bagwell. For the last two seasons, The Chorale has offered Side-by-Side students the opportunity to participate in masterclasses in their respective high schools, and beginning with this season, The Chorale is excited to present masterclasses outside of the schools, further expanding the program. If you would like to attend these masterclasses, be sure to sign up for our mailing list and also check the upcoming events on our event calendar.

A number of current students and graduates of the Side-by-Side program have joined The Chorale for our summer performances at the Verbier Festival in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011, as well as for our 2008 concerts with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. In Israel, students shared an afternoon of music and conversation with the Meytav Vocal Ensemble, an Israeli youth choir of professional caliber, which added a powerful cultural dimension to The Chorale's concert experiences there.

In July 2012, we are excited to offer more students the exclusive opportunity to travel and perform with us again in Israel, with the Israel Philharmonic under the direction of Maestros Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Muti, and in our debut appearance at the Salzburg Festival with the Israel Philharmonic and Maestro Mehta.