The Pennsylvania Youth Chorale is a community children's choir based in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania for boys and girls ages seven to fifteen. Artistic director Eileen Finley founded the choir in 1977. The choir is an educational and civic instructional arts program for children emphasizing musicianship training and vocal study for the cultural enrichment of its members and the community.
The Pennsylvania Youth Chorale has had the privilege of performing such major works as Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana", Randall Thompson's "Place of the Best", Humperdink's "Hansel and Gretel" Pergolesis "Stabat Mater", Bach's "St. Matthew Passion", and Britten's "St. Nicholas Cantata" and "Ceremony of Carols".
The choir can be heard on Albany Record label performing the world premiere of Robert Maggio's "Rachel and Her Children- Small Hands Relinquish All", with the Bucks County Choral Society, and can also be heard on demo recordings for Malecki Music Publishers and Santa Barbara Music Publishers.
The touring choir has performed in Carnegie Hall,New York; the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia; the Senate Rotunda, Washington DC; the Capitol Rotunda in Madison Wisconsin; Bass Hall, Forth Worth, Texas; at York Minister and Gloucester Cathedral, England; and Parliament House, Ottawa, Canada. They have performed in 25 States, 4 Canadian Provinces, in the British Isles, and Germany.
"The Pennsylvania Youth Chorale, under the artistic direction of Eileen Finley, has been consistently dedicated to inspiration and enlightenment through music. Performing in Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the Senate Rotunda in our nation's capitol, as well as many other noted venues, these young vocalists have maintained the highest standards of excellence in musical expression as they delighted audiences in 25 states, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. They have brought life to music and music to life, ensuring the sanctity of one of our most precious gifts in this world--the gift of music." Edward G. Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania from a tribute to the PYC in honor of its 30th anniversary (Spring 2007)
