Ensembles and Programming

Master Singers - (MS)

Consisting of singers ranging in age from 11-18 (typically grades 6-12), the Master Singers is a choral ensemble led by our artistic director, Stevie J. Hirner. The goal of the ensemble is to build upon the musicianship of our singers, whether having participated in our Young Musicians Program or not. This is accomplished through weekly rehearsals in which students learn a wide range of choral music in preparation for performances in addition to the inclusion of our Music Mastery Program outlined below.

The Master Singers are committed to learning diverse choral repertoire that ranges from historical to contemporary, and represents a variety of cultures from across the globe. The ensemble performs in two concerts annually in addition to several run-out events, such as our past performances with the Long Beach Chorale, the Camerata Singers of Long Beach, the Long Beach Symphony, Jelly of the Month Club, and more!

Young Musicians Program - (YMP)

The Young Musicians Program is intended for children the age of 11 or below (typically grades 2-5), and serves two functions. Using a variety of instruments and instruction, we will instill a lifelong appreciation of music. We will also train them to be able to perform the more difficult repertoire used by the main ensemble. By the time they graduate, students will be able to:

• Keep a consistent beat on a small handful of instruments.

• Recognize and identify several different genres of music.

• Understand solfege and the basics of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

• Read and write musical notation.

• Perform a handful of pieces by working in a group.

LBYC Ensemble Grade and Age Policies

Students are assigned to the requisite ensembles based on both age and grade level. In the case of exemplary musicianship, exceptions may be made, but these are the general guidelines: