• By Mabel Pais

The New Jersey Youth Chorus (NJYC), a program of Wharton Arts, will present ‘Lyyra in Concert: An Extraordinary Musical Collaboration’ on April 25 at 8:00 p.m. at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown located at 57 East Park Place.

NJYC’s Coriste, directed by Trish Joyce, and Sola Voce, directed by Joanna Scarangello, will share the stage with the exceptional Lyyra — the only professional six-voice women’s a cappella group in the United States! Created by The VOCES8 Foundation, Lyyra brings a breathtaking range and richness to their performances of classical, jazz, pop, and folk music from diverse traditions. With soaring vocals and exhilarating harmonies, this remarkable ensemble will captivate you as they collaborate with the youth chorus’ acclaimed choristers. Lyyra will perform selections from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, including works by Hildegard von Bingen, Leonora d’Este, and William Byrd, to contemporary favorites including Warren and Gordon’s At Last, Paul Simon’s ‘Bridge over Troubled Water,’ and Irving Berlin’s ‘Blue Skies.’

NJYC Founder and Director Trish Joyce said, “Last Spring, the New Jersey Youth Chorus’ Coriste and Sola Voce ensembles had the incredible opportunity of having Lyyra join us for an educational workshop. Now, NJYC is absolutely thrilled to host Lyyra and share this extraordinary collaboration with our choristers and the broader community. Lyyra’s artistry and musicianship exemplify the very best of women’s choral singing, serving as both an inspiration and an aspiration for our young singers. This collaboration is not only a rare opportunity for our choristers to learn from and sing alongside such accomplished musicians, but it is also a gift to our community—a chance to experience the richness and power of high-caliber choral music firsthand. Music has the ability to connect, uplift, and inspire, and we are so excited to bring this meaningful experience to both our singers and our audience.”

LYYRA

Lyyra is the new all-women vocal ensemble from The VOCES8 Foundation and is based in the USA. Lyyra records exclusively for Warner Classics. Creating world-class musical experiences to inspire audiences, Lyyra seeks to redefine the genre of upper voice music in the choral landscape, highlighting the astonishing capabilities within the full spectrum of women’s singing. The sound of this bright, young group combines velvety richness alongside star-like brilliance. With a broad texture and exhilarating range of sound, the group’s talented members specialize in classical, jazz, pop, and folk music from diverse traditions and backgrounds.

Lyyra is passionate about music education and is part of The VOCES8 Foundation’s mission to actively promote “Music Education For All.” Engaging in a broad range of work collaborating with schools, universities, and community organizations, The VOCES8 Foundation reaches up to 40,000 people each year.

Reflective of music, harmony and the night sky, Lyyra takes its name from the constellation that represents Orpheus’ famed lyre. Lyyra is Anna Crumley, MaryRuth Miller, Elizabeth Tait, Aryssa Leigh Burrs, Ingrid Johnson, and Cecille Elliott. Lyyra’s Creative Director is Erik Jacobson. Find out more at lyyramusic.com

NEW JERSEY YOUTH CHORUS (NJYC)

Learn more at whartonarts.org/programs/new-jersey-youth-chorus.

TICKETS

Tickets are available for purchase at NJYC.org.

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Education, Business, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, Spirituality, and Cuisine)

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NJYS PRESENTS SEASON’S FINAL CONCERT WITH CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNER

• By Mabel Pais

The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) will present ‘Enchanting Musical Storytelling’ on Sunday, April 27 at 8:00 p.m. at the Nicholas Music Center at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Concert-goers are invited to join the NJYS Youth Symphony under the baton of Helen H. Cha-Pyo for a captivating performance featuring Gabriela Lena Frank’s ‘Three Latin American Dances’ and Rimsky-Korsakov’s mesmerizing ‘Scheherazade.’ The final signature concert of the season will also showcase the exceptional talents of the 2025 NJYS Concerto Competition winner, cellist Rowan Mendel, in Tchaikovsky’s ‘Variations on a Rococo Theme.’

“This concert marks the culmination of a dynamic season that has brought together outstanding young musicians from across the state to perform masterworks of the orchestral repertoire in a supportive and inclusive environment,” said Helen H. Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. “From the vibrant rhythms and cultural richness of Gabriela Lena Frank’s ‘Three Latin American Dances,’ to the expressive brilliance of our concerto competition winner Rowan Mendel, and the sweeping, timeless storytelling of Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Scheherazade,’ this performance is a celebration of musical excellence, disciplined dedication, and the shared joy of making music together. It’s also a bittersweet moment as we honor the remarkable journey of our graduating seniors and the bright futures that await them.”

Rowan Mendel

Rowan Mendel of Sparta has been playing cello for nine years and studies with Jonathan Spitz of the NJ Symphony and Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He has also studied with Elad Kabilio at the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) and spent two summers in the MSM program. Recent summer programs have included the Castleman Quartet Program and the Cello Classics course in Tuscany, Italy, studying with Raphael Wallfisch. During the summer of 2024 he studied at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute. In addition to the Sparta High School Honors Philharmonic, he has performed as Principal Cellist with the New Jersey Youth Symphony for the last three years and the Sussex County Youth Orchestra for the last seven years. In 2023 and 2024, Rowan performed in the North Jersey Group 1 Regional Orchestra as well as the NJ All-State Orchestra. He has traveled with the New Jersey Ambassadors of Music and performed in Sussex, England; Caen, France; and the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, France. Rowan is the recipient of the 2022 New Sussex Symphony Legacy Fund Scholarship Award and has been inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society. When not playing cello, Rowan enjoys soccer and is a National Chess Champion. He plans to continue his music studies in college.

TICKETS

Tickets to the performance are available at NJYS.org. Discounted tickets are available for students and seniors with ID.

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Education, Business, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, Spirituality, and Cuisine)