“As a child, Brooklyn Youth Chorus gave me an outlet for all my musical energy. As an adult, it’s taught me how to channel that musical energy into something much bigger than me, equal to the sum of its parts but greater than one voice alone.”
The Mary Anne & Dick Yancey Memorial Fund
The Mary Anne & Dick Yancey Memorial Fund honors the memory of Mary Anne and Dick Yancey by helping children from low-income families move towards the highest-levels of musicianship through one-on-one vocal instruction. A dedicated philanthropic couple who believed in the power of public service, their years at Plymouth Church, BRIC, Brooklyn Chamber Music Society, and - of course - Brooklyn Youth Chorus, helped build a functional framework for our founding values, so that every child is welcome at the Chorus, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
Mary Anne and Dick Yancey’s spirit of service still resonates throughout the Brooklyn community. With your help, their legacy at Brooklyn Youth Chorus can impact hundreds of young singers for years to come.
2025 Spring Gala
Immediately following the opening night of Port(al), a new choral theater work exploring the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and its stories of freedom, hope and despair, through the eyes and voices of our young people.
Your support keeps us singing.
You, our Brooklyn Youth Chorus community of donors, families, and patrons are critical to our future. In the wake of the pandemic, we are faced with enormous challenges. Changing priorities of funders and rising costs make it all the more difficult to meet the growing needs of our families. Your gift means more today than ever.
Special Campaigns
At Brooklyn Youth Chorus, we strive to offer music education with no barriers. That’s what makes the astonishing, inspired performances our singers share possible. Want to help? Check out these special campaigns that provide scholarship support, private lesson opportunities, and new music commissions that enhance and define the Brooklyn Youth Chorus experience.
College and Career Readiness
Building on the success of the two-year Van Lier Fellowship program piloted in 2019, BYC launched our expanded College & Career Readiness Initiative, which serves teens who lack dedicated college and career support from their schools and families. Twelve students received a combination of individual voice lessons, mentoring with BIPOC artists, masterclasses with professional vocal artists, college panels and information sessions, college counseling, SAT or ACT Prep, college audition recording support, and college application fee support. All students also receive need-based financial aid for their choral training at BYC and stipends for uniforms, rehearsal travel and tour support.
Institutional Funders
Brooklyn Youth Chorus is supported by a variety of organizations that believe in the power of the arts to change lives. From financial aid to developing new productions, our work is made possible by the generous support of these organizations.
Brooklyn Youth Chorus is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization governed by a volunteer board of trustees. Contributions are deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Tax ID #11-3129249.