Nassau Lower Voices – The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York

ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE

The Nassau Lower Voices, led by Music Director James Ludwig, had its inaugural season in 2019-2020. The ensemble is open to changing lower voices in grades 7-12. A major goal of this ensemble is to help singers develop literacy, musicianship, and technique throughout their voice change. This choir performs repertoire from myriad styles, chosen specifically to fit the developing voices in the ensemble.


ABOUT THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

Headshot for James Ludwig, Music Director of the Nassau Men's Choir (MYO)James Ludwig grew up singing as a chorister at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City on Long Island, where he learned to read music, sing Renaissance polyphony, tie a tie, and play ultimate frisbee. He currently teaches choral music in the Herricks School District on Long Island, where he works with both middle and high school singers, whose energy and sense of humor are truly a source of constant inspiration. Having been a singer himself throughout middle and high school, James believes choral music is especially valuable for young people. Like sports, it teaches teamwork, discipline, and practice; and like visual arts it exposes teens to creative expression that is not accessible through video games and smartphones. James is a singer and board member in the eVoco Voice Collective (www.evoco.vc). He has served as guest conductor for district and county festivals and has presented workshops about ensemble classroom management and strategies for teaching middle school music at both all-state and regional conferences for NYSSMA, NYSCAME, and ACDA. His choral compositions are available through GIA, Hinshaw, and a self-published catalog. His works have been performed in the United States and Great Britain, including by eVoco, the FSU Choral Union, and the Phoenix Chorale under the direction of Charles Bruffy. He holds degrees from Queens College and Berklee College of Music. James is thrilled to conduct the MYO Nassau Lower Voices (formerly Nassau Men’s Choir) and help MYO’s tenor and bass voices continue singing as their voices develop.


ABOUT THE PIANIST

Pianist Sarang Kim performs as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative artist. She grew up in Daegu, South Korea and began to play the piano at the age of five. She attended Manhattan School of Music for pre-college courses while studying at Francis Lewis High School. She participated in many competitions and received numerous awards in South Korea and the United States. Some of the awards include receiving 1st place in the Seoul Music News Concours, 1st place in the JoongAng Music News Concours, and the Honorable Mention Recipient award in the Rondo FORMA Competition. She also performed in various recitals, solo recitals, and chamber music concerts in different concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, LeFrak Concert Hall, and Colden Auditorium at Queens College. As a collaborative artist, Sarang has been a part of many competitions, recitals, and auditions. She worked as the collaborative pianist with the Treble Choir and the Queens College Choral Society (QCCS) at Queens College. Mrs. Kim performed Carmina Burana as Secondo Piano with QCCS. Mrs. Kim graduated with Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance in Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. She now accompanies at Center Street Elementary School and Herricks Middle School with various grades in different Choruses. She’s currently playing with MYO’s Nassau Lower Voices.



PAST SEASON REPERTOIRE

Repertoire performed by the Nassau Lower Voices in the 2022-2023 season included:

  • Ad Astra (To the Stars…)– Jacob Narverud
  • Bound for the Promised Land – Early American Hymn, arr. Emily Crocker
  • Brightest and Best – Southern Harmony 1835, arr. Shawn Kirchner
  • Draw the Circle Wide – Mark A. Miller
  • Duct Tape (Materia Potens et Adhaesiva) – Mark Burrows
  • Holding the Light – B.E. Boykin
  • Lead With Love – Melanie DeMore
  • She Walks In Beauty – Laura Farnell
  • Shine Like Stars – Pinkzebra
  • The Seal Lullaby – Eric Whitacre, arr. Emily Crocker
  • The Sky Over Shannon – Amy F. Bernon
  • Vado Ben Spesso Cangiando Loco – Giovanni Battista Bononcini, arr. Brandon Williams
  • Walk in Jerusalem – African American Spiritual, arr. Rollo A. Dilworth
  • Wide Open Spaces – Sarah Quartel