[New York Post] Young People’s Chorus brings Christmas cheer to “Kelly and Ryan”
Monday’s Christmas Eve show on “Live With Kelly & Ryan” features a performance by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, under the direction of Francisco J. Nunez.
“We’re here in New York, we like to showcase New York-based talent,” says executive producer Michael Gelman. “It’s a big choral group and having it all be children is a bonus.”
The show, which also features singer Martina McBride and “Orville”star Seth MacFarlane, was pre-taped. The chorus sings into and out of commercial breaks and does a two-minute medley of “Jingle Bells,” “O Christmas Tree” and “Up on a Housetop.” “They learned about 7 or 8 songs acapella,” says Nunez, who founded the group 30 years ago and has won everything from MacArthur Fellowship to a 2015 New York Post Liberty Medal.
The YPC has 2,000 members that gather in 18 New York City public schools as well as at two community choruses that meet in uptown Manhattan. The children participating in the YPC program range in age from 8 to 18 years old. Only 32 performed in the “Live!” studio and they ranged from 14 to 18. “They were very, very excited TO come in and do extra rehearsals,” Nunez says.
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