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

kristina@vivaceyouthchorus.org

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@vivaceyouthchorus.org