Oswego Resident Heading to Singapore to Conduct Choral Clinic

Oswego's Angie Johnson, Artistic Director for the Young Naperville Singers (YNS) and Young Fox Valley Singers (YFVS), will be heading to Singapore to conduct a five-day children’s choral clinic from March 12-16.  Johnson was the only clinician chosen from the United States to work with choirs from select Singapore schools.  

As part of the Singapore Youth Festival held by the Ministry of Education of Singapore, nationwide competitions are held among all performing art groups, including choir.  

“To help prepare our local choirs for this central judging, we decided to look for a clinician that was skilled in the expertise of educating and motivating children of primary level in choral singing,” says Quee Ming Seah, Director of Events for SourceWerkz, the event management company coordinating the festival. “We are confident that the children will benefit greatly from Mrs. Johnson's vast experience and knowledge in working with young choristers, and that the workshops will help bring their choral singing to a new level and motivate them to perform at their best during the festival!”

Johnson has been with Young Naperville Singers for 13 years, and is in her fifth year as Artistic Director for the youth choral organization founded in Naperville in 1984.  As Artistic Director, she oversees the music education, artistic programming and visionary leadership.  Under her tenure, YNS has grown to over 320 singers (ages 6–18) in eight choirs, including the Young Fox Valley Singers, and an artistic staff of nine directors and accompanists.  Prior to working at YNS, Johnson was the music teacher at Gregory Middle School, in Naperville, IL, for seven years, and received the honor of “Most Influential Educator” by the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation.

“It is an outstanding opportunity to experience different cultures, share my passion of choral music and learn from them as well,” says Johnson, who will work with 15 separate choirs in Singapore.  “YNS will be performing multicultural world music – themed concert next spring, so this will be a wonderful first-hand encounter to hear some new pieces.  The opportunity to experience the Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and other cultures represented in Singapore will be priceless.  I expect to learn from their directors as well, and of course, the best part is that I will be meeting colleagues and establishing international connections for YNS!”

Young Naperville Singers seeks to foster children’s’ love of choral music in a wholesome, nurturing atmosphere.  Young Naperville Singers is partially supported by a grant from the City of Naperville a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Speical thanks to Veronica McLaughlin for providing this article.