Arts & Culture
Giving Back: Mosaic Youth Chorus
Mosaic Youth Chorus empowers diverse youth in the Lehigh Valley to build community and empathy through expressive choral singing, exploring complex social issues and fostering personal growth and understanding.
In a world that is increasingly challenging for youth, Mosaic Youth Chorus (MYC) in the Lehigh Valley aims to provide young people with the skills to navigate these complexities. The choir’s mission is “to empower diverse youth of the Lehigh Valley to create community, build empathy, and effect positive social change through artistic and expressive choral singing.”
The choir performs music from diverse genres, styles, cultures, and historical periods, diving deeply into the context and examining complex social issues through the music. This study fosters a strong sense of community as members gain understanding and learn empathy. Concerts are thematically designed to communicate a strong message to audiences.
Dr. Joy Hirokawa, MYC’s Artistic and Executive Director, recognized the need for a safe space for youth to express themselves.
“Youth need to have an opportunity to speak out about the things that matter to them and learn about the world,” Joy remarked. “Music, especially choral singing, is a very powerful way to do that.”
Recently, MYC explored the stories of the immigrants who came to Eastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley to work in coal mines and steel mills. They toured Ellis Island, the Pocono coal region, and Catasauqua, singing music connected to the immigrant story and exploring their own identities.
As a nonprofit and tuition-based organization, MYC offers financial assistance to ensure every young person has the opportunity to sing.
For more information about Mosaic Youth Chorus and their upcoming performances, visit mosaicyouthchorus.org.
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