Young Leaders Find Their Voice
The new Strathmore Youth Chorus Singing Ambassadors program empowers high schoolers to make an impact.
By Marilyn Millstone
When 16-year-old Strathmore Youth Chorus (SYC) member Sofia Veshi heard about a new leadership program, she jumped at the chance to apply. “I’ve been a chorister for almost a decade,” explains Sofia. “I wanted some way to give back and involve myself more, especially as graduation draws nearer.”
Launched in January, SYC Singing Ambassadors enables select SYC high school choristers to assist with younger ensembles, from leading vocal warm-ups to helping students navigate challenging sections of music.
“Ambassadors make the rehearsal process much more efficient and engaging. They can give individualized help to young choristers, so the director can stay focused on the holistic growth of the larger group,” says SYC Production Manager Rachel Borczuch, who created the program. “Our directors love having them in the room.”
The feeling is mutual. “I’ve gotten to know many Treble Chorus members on a personal level,” says Heidi Gohari, a sophomore with seven years in SYC. “After one rehearsal, the choristers were all talking to me at once. Whether it was about something they thought was funny during the rehearsal or something in their personal lives that bothered them, they found that sharing it with me was important.”
Sofia also finds these connections with younger choristers deeply satisfying. It’s especially meaningful watching her seven-year-old sister join the children’s choir. Becoming an ambassador, she explains, “feels as though my journey as a singer here at Strathmore has gone full circle.”
For Borczuch, seeing these young leaders develop confirms her belief that arts programs should amplify youth voices both on and off stage. She’s proud of the inaugural class of 10 ambassadors and hopes to expand the program.
“We’ve already invited ambassadors to a staff meeting, where they started proposing ideas for SYC programming,” says Borczuch. She’d love to see all youth programs at Strathmore offer similar opportunities for student leadership.
With this promising start, the possibilities for this arts education program seem limitless.
Strathmore extends its gratitude to the Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation for generously supporting Strathmore Youth Chorus.