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ClevelanD Orchestra Youth CHORUS
Honor Choir 2025
The 2025 COYC Honor Choir Concert will take place on Sunday, April 6 at 7:30 PM at Severance Music Center. The performance will be free and open to the public, though tickets will be required.
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The 2025 Honor Choir is composed of the top choral students from all over northeast Ohio. To participate, a student must be nominated by their school choir director based on their excellent skills as a developing musician.
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Participating students will take part in an all day clinic with guest conductor Jason Max Ferdinand on Saturday, April 5th at at the University Circle United Methodist Church and a dress rehearsal at Severance Music Center the afternoon of concert day.
Choir Directors
Nominations & registration for the 2025 Youth Honor Choir are now open! Email Taylor Logan at tlogan@clevelandorchestra.com to be added to the distribution list.
Meet the clinician
Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand
Jason Max Ferdinand, Professor – Conductor – Composer – Speaker, is the founding artistic director of The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers: An Ensemble of Exceptional Talents, and is director of choral activities, and professor at the University of Maryland. He is a published author and composer with GIA Publications, featuring the book, Teaching with Heart: Tools for Addressing Societal Challenges Through Music, and The Jason Max Ferdinand Choral Series (Walton Music). He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and lecturer domestically and internationally at schools, universities, churches, and choral festivals and conferences.
Repertoire
All music will be provided by the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus Office. Choristers will receive their music in February and will be expected to work on the repertoire with their school choir director throughout the spring. Students will also be invited to join the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus for regular Sunday rehearsals in March, where they will work on the pieces alongside members of COYC.
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The Concert
The 2025 Honor Choir will perform on the main stage at historic Severance Music Center, home of The Cleveland Orchestra and considered by many to be one of the world's most beautiful concert halls. The concert will take place on Sunday, April 6th at 7:30 PM and will include performances by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus (Daniel Singer, director) and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Honor Choir, led by guest conductor Dr. Ferdinand. While tickets are required, this performance is free and open to the public.
Timeline (2025)
January 24 - Nominations due by 5:00 PM
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January 31 - Results communicated to teachers and students
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February 12 - Students registrations due​
Spring Semester - Students prepare music with assistance from their choir director, we will also provide plenty of study materials!
February 23 - March 30 - Students invited to work on repertoire at Sunday rehearsals with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus. School choir directors who are unable to work independently with their students to learn the material are encouraged to send their students to learn the repertoire alongside COYC members.
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Saturday April 5 - Required day-long clinic (1:00 PM - 8:00 PM) with guest conductor, Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand, at University Circle United Methodist Church.
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Sunday April 6 - Afternoon dress rehearsal (2:00 PM to 6:00 PM) and 7:30 PM concert at Severance Hall
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Previous Guest Clinicians
2015 Judy Hanson
2017 Tefsa Wondemagegnehu
2018 Jeffery Redding
2019 Cheryl Frazes Hill
2020 Jason Max Ferdinand
(Cancelled due to COVID)
2023 Marie Bucoy-Calavan
2024 Marques L. A. Garrett
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