Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus was founded in 1991 to raise interest in choral music within the schools of northeastern Ohio, and to encourage more students to continue their choral activities through college and into adulthood. The Youth Chorus comprises of approximately 80 members in grades 9 through 12 and represents almost 40 schools and communities. Like their colleagues in the Youth Orchestra, they are selected by audition.
On average, the Youth Chorus presents five concerts each season and collaborates with other musical ensembles such as The Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. In addition to performances at Severance Music Center, their activities include concerts and community engagement programs throughout the greater Cleveland area, as well as workshops and masterclass opportunities with highly regarded choral directors and clinicians.
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus has been led by Gareth Morell (1991-98), Betsy Burleigh (1998-2006), Frank Bianchi (2006-12), Lisa Wong (2012-17), and Daniel Singer (2017-present). The ensemble has been widely praised as one of the top high-school-aged choral performing ensembles in the state of Ohio.
ABOUT OUR STAFF
Daniel Singer
Director, Youth Chorus
Daniel Singer joined the choral conducting staff of the Cleveland Orchestra in 2012 as assistant director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus. He was promoted to Assistant Director of Choruses and Director of the Youth Chorus with the start of the 2018-19 season. In addition to his responsibilities in Cleveland, Mr. Singer is the Robert Page Music Director for The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, known as the “chorus of choice” for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Singer has taught high school and college and most recently served on the music faculty of The College of Wooster where he taught courses in music education, conducting, and music theory. From 2011-2022, Mr. Singer was the Director of Music at University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio, where he conducted orchestra and chorus, and prior to that he taught high school choral music in Northern Illinois and participated in music engagement in the Chicago Public Schools.
Mr. Singer has performed professionally with Quire Cleveland, Apollo’s Fire (Cleveland), and The Lakeside Singers (Chicago) and he has sung as baritone soloist with ensembles throughout Northeast Ohio, including the Wooster Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Choral Arts Cleveland, and the Suburban Symphony of Cleveland. Mr. Singer holds degrees in music education and conducting from Northwestern University and Michigan State University.
Devon Steve
Assistant Director, Youth Chorus
Devon Steve has served as the Assistant Director of The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus since 2022. He is an alumnus of The Youth Chorus, singing from 2011 to 2013. He is currently a baritone in The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus.
In 2022, Mr. Steve joined the faculty at University School (Hunting Valley, OH) as Director of Music, where he conducts choir and orchestra, and chairs the Music Department. He also serves in several co-curricular faculty roles. Mr. Steve is a regular guest conductor and clinician, and has prepared ensembles for major venues in Ohio, Iowa, Florida, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Prior to moving to Cleveland, Mr. Steve was the Assistant Director of Vocal Music & Theater Arts at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa. While in Iowa, he also led the Des Moines Diversity Chorus as Artistic Director, and was a baritone, board member, and guest conductor for the Des Moines Choral Society.
Mr. Steve received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN) and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Simpson College (Indianola, IA).
Taylor Mills Logan
Manager, Youth Chorus
Taylor Mills Logan joined The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus Department in the Spring of 2023. Mrs. Logan graduated from The University of Akron with a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting (2023) serving as the Graduate Assistant Conductor of both the Concert Choir and Chamber Choir, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (2021). Taylor has performed all around the world including performances at National ACDA, with The Cleveland Orchestra, Voces8, Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, and the Ohio Light Opera. Mrs. Logan is currently the Chancel Choir Director at Faith United Church in North Canton, Ohio. Outside of her love from music, Taylor loves reading alongside her cat, baking and cooking, and spending time outside with her husband and dog.