Q&A: “Why Do You Sing in the May Festival Family of Choruses?”

From “building confidence” to “looking for a challenge” and “community,” read how May Festival Chorus and May Festival Youth Chorus members answered the question, “Why do you sing in the May Festival family of choruses?”

May Festival Youth Chorus

Molly Harris: I sing in the May Festival Youth Chorus because it provides amazing singing opportunities and helps build confidence.

Meg Powers: Because I want to learn and improve and meet other people who enjoy performing.

Mason Jones: I joined because my grandmother was in the May Festival Chorus two years before I joined and I loved watching the big chorus sing on stage for the May Festival. When I learned about the Youth Chorus and that they sing on stage for the May Festival, I decided I wanted to sing up there with my grandma, and here I am.

Alijah Frost: The reason I sang for the May Festival was because I wanted to gain a greater skill set, and musical knowledge, so when I went to musically inclined events I would not be confused. But now I would say I sing in the May Festival for friendship, connection and a place where my voice would be heard, and no one would judge it.

Charlotte Vieson: I sing in the May Festival Youth Chorus because I love being able to share my passion for choral music with other people from the community. I enjoy being able to meet and sing with people from all across the greater Cincinnati area.

Sophia Clever: I sing in the May Festival Youth chorus because it gives me the opportunity to continue my choral singing in high school. It has been the best decision I have ever made!

Ella Jane Martin: I sing for my choir because it helps me learn different types of music than I would on my own, spread my voice, grow my musicianship and work with a team of voices.

Arianna Pence: I sing in the chorus because it gives me professional experience in performance and allows me to improve in my confidence. I have grown to be more confident in my voice and comfortable with sharing it with others.

Oliver Wagner: I sing in the May Festival family of choruses, because I can. May Festival is a very high-level choral organization, and I am lucky to be able to sing in it. The people are absolutely amazing in every way, and rehearsal is one of the few things that keeps me balanced from stress.

Alyssa Schwartz: I sing in the May Festival Youth Chorus because it helps to foster my dream of being a music Educator. I also make lots of friends and contribute to a community not found in any other art form.

Genevieve Stevenson: I joined the May Festival Youth Chorus because of the amazing people and performances I knew it had, but throughout the year my opinion of it has only improved! It’s hard to sum up everything I love about the May Festival in a few words, but I need to mention the extremely fun song choices, talented and funny people, the attention to detail in every song, how organized everything is, and the way musicianship is very actively encouraged (through the May Festival Voice Lesson Program and the in-rehearsal music theory class).

Thanh-Tam (Tammy) Dao: The Youth Chorus has a wonderful sense of community that still holds up to professional standards. We are one big group of hardworking singers that can always put our best foot forward, but we are also one big group of people that can goof off and have fun.

Tuula Hicks: I sing in the May Festival because it’s a place where I can enjoy singing while having supportive people around me. :)

Owen Meyers: I sing in the May Festival family of choruses to learn and apply the invaluable musical knowledge I’ve received from them. Each time I sing with the May Festival Youth Chorus I learn a new skill or technique; this rich community is what keeps me singing with our choral family.

May Festival Chorus

Meg Lawson: There’s nothing like singing excellent music with other incredible performers — the thrill of nailing a difficult section, the beauty of a delicate chord, the glory of a triumphant finale. May Festival is more than a choir; it is an experience and a community.

Robin Wiley: I am honored to sing with such a professional group of singers and directors. Singing on stage with the CSO is the greatest joy imaginable for a choral singer.

Kathy Dietrich: I enjoy singing great music, in a great hall, with a great orchestra and great fellow singers. It is a mentally challenging and extremely rewarding experience!        

Scott Lincoln: Once we learn our parts and how to sing them together to express the music, we are flying — just like a flock of birds riding the invisible wind!

Amy Perry: I sing to fulfill my musical being and to be a part of a long-standing Cincinnati tradition.

Ann Schwentker: From the Yale Glee Club to the Vienna Jeunesse Choir to the Penn Chorale, choral music has been my joy for decades, but I have never sung with a group so serious and talented until I joined MFC. It is incredible to be able to learn from and sing for Matthew Swanson, I am so very lucky.

Ronny Beck: For me, there’s nothing better than listening to beautiful, artistic and emotive choral harmonies … except for joining in the singing of the music with the May Festival Chorus. Every time we rehearse and/or perform together, I am immediately reminded of how fortunate I am to be a part of such a talented group of lovely people.

Mark Weaver: I enjoy singing with the May Festival Chorus as a way to be a part of people performing with excellence.

Troy Welker: As a new member of the May Festival Chorus, I was welcomed so warmly by staff and chorus members alike before I ever sang a note. And once my first rehearsal started and that first note was sung … I knew that this is where I belong. I continue to be awed by the positivity and support of the May Festival Chorus and the beauty of talented, diverse voices joining together to make music.

Christy Roediger: Singing with the MFC is a huge honor, challenges me musically and I love being part of the May Festival community. Executing music at such a high level is simply a blast!

Jennifer Blair: I sing to feel connected by an unbroken thread to the thousands of singers who have experienced the joy of performing the finest works of choral music on this storied stage.

David Dugan: I appreciate great choral music, and, when retirement allowed me to audition for the MFC in 2022, I tried out and was accepted! Great group of people of all ages and backgrounds with one common love.