It’s an inevitable fact of life for every young man. Your voice is going to change.
While it’s hard to cope with the new normal of “cracked” vocal cords that are trying to adapt to their new size, other hormonal changes can also be overwhelming and embarrassing, including trying to cope with a major growth spurt and a now prominent Adam’s apple.
But when you’re a male member of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC), where do you go when you are no longer a boy soprano (trebles) or a boy alto (meanes)?
To provide a venue for male choristers to continue singing through their vocal transition, the LACC established the Young Men’s Ensemble (YME) in 2009. The ensemble offers a supportive environment for healthy vocal development and musical growth. The choir focuses on developing vocal skills, music literacy, and repertoire through a wide variety of choral music.
How do ducks know when they’ve reached puberty? Their voice quacks.
“We’ve been at it for 15 years now,” says Dr. Steven Kronauer, Director of YME. “It’s a joy to work with these young men and help them through the voice change, work towards their future with confidence, and provide life-changing experiences.”
Dr. Kronauer holds a doctorate from UCLA in operatic and choral conducting. He is also a voice teacher whose notable students include Grammy/Oscar award-winning Billie Eilish, FINNEAS, Cheryl Bentyne of Manhattan Transfer, and many opera, oratorio and Broadway singers. He is currently on the faculty of CSU Long Beach at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, where he teaches voice and German diction. He is also the founding conductor of the mixed-voice ensemble Artes Vocales, which rehearses at First Baptist Church in Pasadena, specializing in choral repertoire and vocal technique.
“What’s really wonderful,” says Dr. Kronauer, “is that these young men learn that in life there’s always change, and it’s never more obvious than when your voice changes. They see the guys who have been through the ensemble, how they’re singing well, and they’re standing there with confidence.”
Tuition and scholarships
“There is an audition process and tuition fees, but we don’t turn away qualified applicants due to a lack of funding,” Dr. Kronauer says. “We want as many young men as possible to sing, learn about the beauty of the Bel Canto technique, and explore various repertoires that teach them languages, history, and expression, as well as drama, movement, and, in some cases, dance.”
Their standard pieces are “O sole mio” and “Funiculì, Funiculà,” classical Italian art songs. This year, they are learning Widmung by Schumann, an opportunity to express themselves in German. They also perform in French, Polish, and Czech, all designed to allow YME graduates to use these works in auditions or supplemental applications.
“Not everybody wants to be a professional singer or actor, you know,” remarks Dr. Kronauer, “but most of them end up singing the rest of their lives in some form or another. We have students who have gone on to sing opera, become opera conductors, soloists, or members of choral ensembles.
“We now have 38 members,” he continues, “but in our first year, we had only 16 students. It was a cutting-edge ensemble. There were only three in the world at the time that were dealing with the changing voice, and now these ensembles have popped up all over America.”
Surviving the challenges – COVID-19 and Eaton Fire
During the pandemic, YME developed an innovative approach to conducting choir online.
“We’d break into rooms,” says Dr. Kronauer, “and then they’d sing something a cappella for us. We’d give them feedback, and then they’d switch rooms. At first, it was very difficult, but I brought in guests, a speech therapist, and conductors from various other programs to teach them art songs, opening up their abilities while they were stuck at home. It’s actually not a bad thing to have students sing without piano accompaniment sometimes, because they have to stand on their own and learn to maintain pitch and all the details of phrasing because you’re missing that direct feedback with a piano playing underneath you. We kept things going and maintained their spirits as high as possible. It was an incredibly hard period for people, but music is soul-cleansing and soul-pleasing.”
The pandemic also let Dr. Kronauer realize the benefits of Zoom teaching. Now, in his private studio, he has students all over the world.
“Not everything during the pandemic was terrible,” he says.” Now I have this whole new practice.”
After the Eaton Fire, LACC raised money and provided resources to families who’d lost their homes, including scheduling family night gatherings and engaging psychologists to help them through it. Two YME choir members and other alumni have lost their homes.
“The choir has meant a great deal to the students who have been through the trauma of losing their homes,” says Dr. Kronauer. “Being together, singing, and expressing themselves is really an incredible resource for healing. You have to keep singing, sharing, and being a community together.”
Education and Travel benefits
Both the LACC and the YME choirs travel, providing students with opportunities to meet other choirs and learn about different cultures.
“When you sing to people, they want to meet you. These children have such wonderful energy, are bright and eclectic, and end up being rock stars in their own right. We went to Australia and sang for another group of changing male voices in Sydney. It was wonderful for these guys to sing for each other and realize that they were all working through the same voice changes. We also went to Cuba and sang with the Cuban Children’s Chorus and to Central Europe, where we had an unbelievable experience, taking the YME to Auschwitz and Birkenau.”
As with all nonprofits, funding is very difficult, especially for these life-changing tours. YME is always seeking new talented young men who wish to develop their voice technique and confidence during this transitional period. Participants age out at age 18, so the focus is on junior high and high school young men.
William Chang, YME chorister
“I have been on a few tours with LACC and YME,” says William Chang, an 18-year-old choir member of nine years. “We went to Spain in the summer of 2023, and that was an eye-opening experience. And I’ve toured up and down the California coast. However, the pandemic interrupted many of our plans.”
“Joining LACC has been one of the best decisions I’ve made,” remarks Chang. “Singing and music have been a constant in my life. It’s always something that I can rely on whenever I’m feeling down. Music serves as therapy and a passion that tethers me to life. YME has really helped me become a better musician, collaborator, and person in general.”
“Individualism,” Chang continues, “is very important, but when we sing together in a chorus, it’s about collaboration with our colleagues. Scientific studies have shown that when a choir sings together in unison, our heartbeats are in sync.”
Studies do suggest that the heartbeats of choir members tend to synchronize when they sing together, likely due to coordinated breathing patterns and the shared musical structure. They must coordinate their breathing to match the musical phrasing and rhythm, which in turn influences their heart rates. Research indicates that HRV, the variation in time between heartbeats, synchronizes between choir members, especially when singing in unison or with a structured musical piece. Additionally, a study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that singers’ heart rates tended to synchronize, speeding up and slowing down in tandem with the music’s rhythm. This synchronization may contribute to a sense of togetherness and calm, similar to the effects of yoga or meditation.
Chang continues, “When I was seven years old, I began playing classical piano. But since high school, my musical mind has been pretty chaotic. It bounces from sentimental show tunes to Billy Joel. I’ll be attending Northwestern University in the fall, where I plan to pursue music as a minor alongside a major in biology. My primary interests are in the sciences and STEM fields, but I will still be pursuing music in higher education. Northwestern has a great science program, but it also boasts a stellar music program.”
“I definitely feel like a mentor to the younger students,” states Chang.” I feel a responsibility to be a role model, bringing good work ethics to our rehearsals and our performing opportunities, and exhibiting professionalism. I also try to foster connections with our newer choristers.”
“LACC and YME have changed my life,” says Chang. “I’m a better person and a better musician, and I’m really deeply grateful for that.”
DEETS
- LOS ANGELES CHILDREN’S CHORUS
585 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101 - 626-793-4231
