Vivace Youth Chorus, led by Artistic Director Kristina Nakagawa, is celebrating 20 years of singing in Silicon Valley. On Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 3:00 pm, Vivace will present a special 20th Anniversary Concert at the McAfee Performing Arts Center in Saratoga. This celebratory performance will feature all the current singers in Vivace Youth Chorus. To commemorate the occasion, the singers of Vivace will debut a specially commissioned piece by renowned composer Andrea Ramsey and feature an alumni choir under the direction of Founding Artistic Director Peggy Spool. For more information, please contact Andrea White, Communications and Development Coordinator, at 408-885-1746 or info@vivaceyouthchorus.org.
Singing Safely, Fall 2021
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” - Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Next week, Vivace Youth Chorus will make its return to in-person rehearsals. As much as we would like to say that everything will be back to “normal,” there will certainly be some noticeable differences. We have not yet emerged from the pandemic; in fact, we are very much still in the middle of it, and will be until all ages are eligible for and receive vaccinations. However, we have learned so much in the last year and a half about who we are and what is possible for us.
We celebrated the retirement of our founding Artistic Director, Peggy Spool. We moved entirely online and our singers recorded themselves from their bedrooms, living rooms, and offices. We welcomed our new Artistic Director, Kristina Nakagawa, held three weeks of in-person rehearsals and performed an outdoor concert at Bramhall Park. We have perseverance, and above all, confidence in ourselves. We have a gift that is meant to be shared with others, and with our planned mitigation strategies, we believe we can do that safely.
Our safety plan includes the following:
All staff, students, and volunteers will wear well-fitting face masks at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
All windows and doors will remain open to ensure proper ventilation.
We will be running multiple air purifiers in each rehearsal room at all times.
Students will sing for no more than 50 minutes at a time while indoors. Rehearsals that last longer than 50 minutes will include a break outside before returning to sing for even better air circulation and filtration.
Any staff member, student, or volunteer who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or who believes they may have been exposed will be required to stay home, and is encouraged to quarantine and/or get tested in accordance with recommendations from the CDC and California Department of Public Health.
Everyone is strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are able. For more information visit https://vax.sccgov.org/
If you have any questions about this plan, please reach out to a member of our staff. Thank you for helping us to keep our community safe. We can’t wait to help our students find their voices once again so we can continue to spark the light of song for many years to come!
New Program Structure for Fall 2021
As we enthusiastically anticipate our upcoming fall registration and return to fully in-person singing, I am excited to share with you our new course and choir structure. The pandemic required a shift in all our programming and activities, and this necessity provided us the opportunity to reflect and to reevaluate our program as a whole. Through this reflection we began considering some new ways to operate, while remaining constant to our founding core values and honoring the great traditions that make Vivace such a wonderful, special place for our singers and their families. We believe this new format accomplishes this. The solid foundation of Vivace’s music curriculum is still the through line for all our ensembles, and we are incorporating new key components for further inclusion and growth amongst our singers.
We know that while tremendous efforts were made since March 2020, the entire field of education has suffered a setback in regards to benchmarks. We couldn't be more proud of the work our singers were able to accomplish since last year's shutdown, and we are optimistic that moving forward, our singers and families alike will find this new structure conducive to an exceptional creative atmosphere filled with robust learning opportunities and experiences. In early August, all new and returning Vivace students will participate in a placement assessment for Fall 2021. Because of the pandemic and our virtual program, we opted to forgo our traditional spring assessments this past May. This shift gives us the opportunity to gauge where all our students are musically, meet them where they are today, and find the best place within our new structure for them to flourish and grow.
We realize this is a pivot from how Vivace has operated. It is our sincere hope, however, that you will join us in our enthusiasm for this new structure and the newfound opportunities it affords our singers and our organization as a whole. We believe we are on the precipice of an exciting new chapter in the life of Vivace Youth Chorus, and we’re delighted to have you all join us on the journey!
In Harmony,
Kristina Nakagawa | Artistic Director
Welcome Letter from Artistic Director Kristina Nakagawa
Dear Vivace Community,
Welcome to the Spring semester for 2021! I am honored and incredibly excited to be stepping into the role of artistic director for Vivace Youth Chorus of San José. Peggy Spool has created an organization with Joshua Lanam, the staff, and board of directors, that is a San José treasure. My number one goal as I begin my journey as artistic director is to continue the success of Vivace so we may spark the light of song for many years to come.
As I have shared before, my first experience with Vivace was as a parent. My son, Russell, began with Rising Notes in 2017 and is now in the Intermediate choir. My husband, Ryan, and I have always said that no matter the status of Russell’s school music program, we know he will have a solid music education with Vivace. As artistic director, I believe it is my responsibility to provide the same level of excellence students and their families have come to expect from Vivace. Additionally, I am committed to growing our organization to further enable access to our programs for all families, regardless of their financial means.
To facilitate this growth, I would love your help. Our recruitment theme for the spring semester is, See How We Shine! In the coming weeks, we will be sending out a handful of emails and posting on social media about the amazing musical experience Vivace provides to children in Silicon Valley. I hope you will consider sharing these messages with your friends and neighbors who might not be familiar with Vivace, but might have an interest in joining us. I also encourage you to reflect on how Vivace has been a light in your family’s life for this past year, and then if you so choose, use those reflections when you share our communications. If you are interested in taking a further active role in recruitment, I would love to hear from you.
We have some unique opportunities during the pandemic. I have been working remotely with choirs and rehearsing via zoom since March, and I fully understand that choir doesn’t look or feel like it does when we are in person. There is nothing I want more than to have a group of singers together in one location and to hear them sing that first perfect chord. However, I think we can embrace the distance, so to speak, and use it as an opportunity to try some new things. We plan to continue utilizing some of the expanded technologies that were tested with the Teen Ensembles in the fall. We will hone in the process for all our choirs to make recording easier, for students and parents alike. Most importantly, we want to continue to make the weekly rehearsals fun and engaging for our students.
In regards to concerts and in-person singing, we intend to resume our activities as soon as we are able to safely do so. I am fully committed to the safety of our community and our friends and relatives. It is my hope that we will be able to hold an outdoor community event, in accordance with county guidelines, towards the end of the spring semester so everyone can gather and share music together. It won’t look or feel like a normal performance, but the joy will be in the gathering. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.
My door, albeit virtual for now, is always open to you. Please reach out at any time if there is anything you need or even if you just want to have a conversation so we can get to know each other better.
I wish you all the best for 2021, and I look forward to making music together!
In Harmony,
Kristina Nakagawa | Artistic Director
KRISTINA NAKAGAWA NAMED VIVACE'S NEXT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR!
We Did It TOGETHER!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
We achieved our goal of raising $20,000 during our #TogetherInSong campaign! 34 donors gave $11,125, which was matched by the Spools for a total of $22,250!
If you didn’t get to donate but still want to help us bring new and unique vocal music education programming during COVID-19 and beyond, then please donate today.
In the spirit of #TogetherInSong, here’s a video we created a few years ago. We thought it was time to bring it back for the end of our campaign. We hope you enjoy seeing all the familiar faces!
Just Hours Left in #TogetherInSong!
There’s still time to have your gift matched dollar-for-dollar!
We’re in the final stretch of our #TogetherInSong campaign, and we could really use your support to surpass our $20,000 campaign goal.
Together, we have raised $15,000!
There’s still time to double your gift. Thanks to the generous support of Peggy & Alan Spool, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Individual donations, gifts of stock, and corporate matches can ALL be matched (see below for more information).
Many thanks to all our friends and families who have participated in this campaign!
And for your viewing pleasure!
Composed for Vivace’s Chamber and Concert Choirs, Brian Holmes fantastical “The Song of Mr. Toad” is based on the character, Mr. Toad, from Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. Holmes weaves together various musical and literary themes throughout the work, including musical quotations and humor. (Listen for the British National Anthem, “God Save the Queen.”)
Read more about the composer in this interview published on Chorus America’s website.
Enjoy!
Double Your Gift!
#TogetherInSong Update: $10,000 Matching Gift!
Thanks to the tremendous generosity of Peggy and Alan Spool, the impact of your gift will be greater than ever through a dollar-for-dollar matching grant!
Their generosity extends to all donations given during #TogetherInSong (May 5-16). Please consider showing your support with a tax-deductible donation (see below for more info).
As soon as COVID-19 hit our community, Vivace’s staff started developing ways to connect in this new reality. We’ve been rolling out many new experiences for our singers—online rehearsals being one. We’ve also created Radio Hour and QuaranTeen Cabaret—both unique digital recitals where we’re creating space for singers to share and connect.
During #TogetherInSong, we're asking you to help us reach our goal with a gift of any amount. Every gift given through May 16 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Spools.
A Cappella Ensemble sings “Afrika”
by David Paich & Jeff Porcaro, arranged by Alex Morris
High Level Information about Tax Deductions for 2020 from Fidelity Charitable
Are you itemizing deductions?
The adjusted gross income (AGI) limit for cash contributions was increased for individual donors. For cash contributions made in 2020, you can now elect to deduct up to 100 percent of your AGI (increased from 60 percent).
Interested in corporate giving?
The AGI limit for cash contributions was also increased for corporate donors. Corporations can now deduct up to 25 percent of taxable income (increased from 10 percent).
Not itemizing?
The CARES Act allows for an additional, “above-the-line” deduction for charitable gifts made in cash of up to $300 ($600 for a married couple). If you are not itemizing on your 2020 taxes, you can claim this new deduction.
Wondering about your Giving Accounts?
Both of these new incentives apply only to cash contributions to public charities and do not apply to contributions to supporting organizations or public charities that sponsor donor-advised funds. However, there have been no changes to existing deductions for contributions made into a donor-advised fund.
It's Like Riding a Bike!
Intermediate Choir sings “On Your Bike”
by Bob Chilcott (2016 recording)
Intermediate Choir is singing this energetic piece again this year.
Director Jay Jordana, who happens to be an avid cyclist, said, “Each part of the canon is happening a beat apart from the other, which almost simulates the two bike pedals going up and down. The accompaniment also sounds like the rhythm of the wheels turning.”
Listen closely. Can you hear it?
COVID-19 hasn’t stopped us from teaching and making music. Programs like Intermediate Choir directed by Jay Jordana are meeting every week online and sharing their music in Vivace’s Radio Hour. Please consider supporting our programs by donating today.
Appeal from Artistic Director Peggy Spool
Past #TogetherInSong Blog Posts & Videos
Alumni Spotlight: Rachel Steinke sings “Les Roses d’Ispahan” by Gabriel Fauré
The first of hopefully many Alumni Spotlights is brought to us by Rachel Steinke. Rachel sang in Vivace’s Teen Women’s Ensemble for 2.5 years until her graduation. The opportunities she had at Vivace has propelled her to pursue a vocal performance degree at California State University Long Beach.
RACHEL STEINKE, Mezzo-Soprano, has a rival love affair with Opera and Choral music. A native of San Jose, Rachel spent 2.5 years in Vivace, which launched her to participate in 3 regional and 2 all-state honor choirs. For three consecutive summers, Rachel sang in Vivace’s Opera Workshop—as Chip from Chip and His Dog, as Fido the Dog from Brundibar, and as the Kernel from Rootabaga Country.
Rachel is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at California State University Long Beach. While at CSULB, she has pursued her love for choral music by singing at ACDA conventions in San Jose and Salt Lake City and by working with notable composers such as Eric Whitacre, Jocelyn Hagen, Timothy Takach, and Jake Runestad. Fulfilling her love of opera, she performed in BCCM’s 2019 Opera Scenes programs and is slated to sing Public Opinion in Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld. She hopes to become a professional mezzo-soprano, singing in both operas and professional choirs.
About this recording, Rachel writes, “This is a quarantine performance of “Les Roses d’Ispahan,” a lovely art song by composer Gabriel Fauré. I guess it pays off to have a harpist in the house. Thanks so much Crystal Steinke for making beautiful music with me in this dark time!”
Harpist Crystal Steinke, Rachel’s mother, has performed with Vivace on several occasions. Most recently, she accompanied the Teen Women’s Ensemble in their full performance of Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols in 2019.
The text of Fauré’s “Les Roses d’Ispahan” is translated from French to English on YouTube in the video’s description.
Must Watch Video!
#TogetherInSong Weekend Round-Up
Week 1 was full of great videos from our archives. One each day in fact! If you missed a day, check out our Together In Song page for a summary of all our posts.
Looking ahead to this week, you’ll be treated many more recordings of past performances, plus video messages from artistic director and founder Peggy Spool and Vivace alumni, all in support of our goal to raise $40,000 to support high-quality choral music education. As of today, we’ve raised $2,825, and we need your help.
Please lend your support by making a gift, a pledge, and/or asking your social networks to give. Every dollar matters!
Creating Connection
“Enriching lives through the power of creative expression”
A few years ago, Vivace participated in a national, multi-year social change initiative called Creating Connection. Still ongoing, CC’s mission is to make creative expression a recognized, valued, and expected part of everyday life.
As a part of our acceptance into the local cohort (sponsored by the City of San Jose), Vivace was awarded a grant to purchase GoPro recording equipment and engage singers in the creation of behind-the-scenes videos. Since then, we have filmed more hours than we want to count and created several videos. The first video here is from our 2017 Eastern Canada Tour and the second is from our 2017 Concert/Chamber Choirs Hidden Villa Retreat.
The thing that makes these videos special is that the footage was filmed by singers who were unleashing their creating expression. Enjoy!
Teacher Appreciation Week, QuaranTeen Cabaret, plus a new video!
TGIF, friends!
Did you know that this week was teacher appreciation week? We at Vivace are so grateful for all of our amazing teachers! They prepare rehearsal and lesson materials week after week, plan for upcoming seasons during summer and holiday breaks, and take time to help their students whenever needed. They are an extraordinary team of unique individuals who add to the vibrancy that is Vivace.
And so to this year’s teachers—Albee, Barbara, Grace, Jay, Kate, and Peggy—we thank you! You. Are. Amazing!
QUARANTEEN CABARET
On May 5, our Teen Ensembles held their first QuaranTeen Cabaret. You might be wondering, “What’s that?” It’s an informal social hour meets performance opportunity where singers can present music, dance, a soliloquy, or just about any other skill. After the performances, our teens get to spend the remainder of the time socializing, which normally is a part of our weekly in-person rehearsals.
COVID-19 has changed not only our rehearsals but also how we all socialize. This new program is one way that we’re creating connections during shelter-in-place.
Like many nonprofits and schools, COVID-19 has hit Vivace hard. We’ve transitioned most of our programs online, but there are some that we’ve had to cancel—3 concerts and summer camp, for example.
Please consider helping us by making a donation during our #TogetherInSong campaign. Your gift will not only ensure that we can offer programs like QuaranTeen Cabaret, but also that we can expand our scholarship programs this summer and next fall.
Vivace Youth Chorus of San Jose's Preparatory Choir sings “Tecolote,” a Mexican Lullaby arranged by Victoria Ebel-Sabo. Masumi Maei, conductor; Laura Green, accompanist. Recorded at Westminster Presbyterian Church, San José, California, on January 13, 2019.
Happy Anniversary, Teen Men’s Ensemble!
It’s #ThrowbackThursday at Vivace, but instead of posting a video from many years ago, we’re offering you a video from our Teen Ensembles' Winter Concert this past January. Why this video? Because this year is the 10th anniversary of our Teen Men’s Ensemble! In choir years that wasn’t that long ago, and we’ve come a long way since then. Many of these singers came up through the chorus program, working with Peggy Spool and Jay Jordana before moving to Teen Men’s Ensemble with conductor Albert Mabeza. This recording exemplifies Vivace’s programs, not to mention that it’s fun to hear and watch.
If you like what you hear and you haven’t already, please make a donation.
Enjoy!
Together In Song & Giving Tuesday Now Updates
Thank you for helping get our #TogetherInSong celebration off to a great start! Together, we’ve raised $2,600 on #GivingTuesdayNow! If you missed Giving Tuesday, that’s okay. You can still help us reach our $40,000 goal before May 16.
#TogetherInSong is a fundraising campaign, but more importantly it’s an engagement campaign. Shelter-in-place is challenging, and we believe that choral music can bring us together despite our social isolation.
Visit our website each day for videos from our archives and stories from our community. Follow us @vivaceyouthchorus on Facebook and Instagram for notifications every time we post a new video. We will also send a few summary emails between now and May 16.
The Vivace Youth Chorus Chamber & Concert Choirs sing "Bedu Pako Baramasa," a folk song from the Kumaon region of northern India, arranged by Meghan Quinlan. Peggy Spool, conductor; Abhishek Kulkarni, tabla; parent Cliff Winnig, sitar; Shrivalli Addepally, Margaret Gardella, and Medha Sarkar, soloists. Performed at Westminster Presbyterian Church, San José, California, on January 13, 2019.
#TogetherInSong Day 1 Video
Thanks for checking in on the first day of our #TogetherInSong campaign! Here’s a recording of our Intermediate Choir singing “Ziggy” by Bay Area composer Ruth Huber at our 15th Anniversary Concert in 2018. Composed for Vivace as part of our Poetry and Song Project, this song draws its lyrics from a poem by chorister Brigitta Schlosser. Conducted by Jay Jordana. Accompanied by Laura Green.
About #GivingTuesdayNow
#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020—in addition to the regularly scheduled Dec 1, 2020 #GivingTuesday—as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. #GivingTuesdayNow is designed to drive an influx of grassroots generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world. It’s a day when we can all come together and give back in all ways, no matter who or where we are. It’s an opportunity for people around the world to stand together in unity and to use their individual power of generosity to remain connected and heal.
About #TogetherInSong
Vivace’s mission centers on the power and poetry of song. Choral music connects us. It helps us understand and make sense of current events, like COVID-19 and social distancing. Although nothing can fully take the place of the in-person concerts and celebrations that Vivace had planned, there's a fundamental truth that gives us hope - that together we can do extraordinary things. In that spirit, join us as we celebrate #TogetherInSong from May 5 through May 16. Each day we will post music videos of past performances and share stories from our community. Check back here and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for new posts.