Vivace Youth Chorus
Vivace provides the opportunity to experience the power and poetry of song in an inclusive and nurturing environment that fosters community, confidence, and artistic growth, and creates awareness of our participants’ cultures and shared human experience.
Vivace Youth Chorus is an engaging, inclusive, high-quality music education program offering six levels of instruction to youth, ages 5-18 in the Silicon Valley. Rooted in the Kodály methodology, we teach first through singing, movement, and games, followed by music reading, writing, and theory. This pedagogical approach allows students to naturally progress from our introductory Preparatory choir to our advanced Teen Men’s, Women’s, and A Cappella Ensembles. Our program is located in Willow Glen, San Jose.
Kristina Nakagawa joined Vivace Youth Chorus as Artistic Director in December 2020. She is also the founding Artistic Director of Resounding Achord, an adult auditioned community choir in San José. Previously, Kristina directed the choirs at Saratoga High School and St. Francis Episcopal Church in Willow Glen, served as the Interim Director of Choral Activities at San José State University, and taught 7th-12th grade music at Pinewood School in Los Altos Hills. She has prepared choirs for the Fauré Requiem, Rutter’s Gloria, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem, Hayden’s Lord Nelson Mass, and the Bernstein Mass. Ms. Nakagawa holds a degree in Vocal Performance from UC Irvine, a master’s degree in Choral Conducting from San José State University, and training in the Kodály method from Holy Names University. As a soloist Kristina has performed cabaret shows throughout the bay area, and was featured with the San Francisco and Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Choruses.
HERE ARE SOME RECENT COMMENTS ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS:
“Vivace has been a force for good in the lives of our kids and the kids in the San Jose area.”
“Vivace is wonderful youth choir program with fantastic music directors who are serious in educating young people to enjoy music as an art for their lifetime.”
“Fondest memories of Vivace and so pleased it continues its marvelous contribution to the children of San Jose”
“So fortunate to have had Vivace in my son’s childhood. It sparked and nourished his love of music and set the best of examples. A wonderful opportunity for any child.”
“So happy to be a part of this amazing choir!”
