July 16, 2012 (Highwood, IL): Midwest Young Artists (MYA), the leading youth music conservatory and ensemble training program in the Midwest announces the addition of two new choral faculty in conjunction with its expansion into Grayslake. Anastasia Black and Joyce Haqq are the two immensely qualified educators tasked with heading MYA’s critically acclaimed Voices Rising middle school aged choir. This choral ensemble has performed at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, local news stations, The United Nations Headquarters and other notable venues across America.

In addition to naming Anastasia Black the new Director of Voices Rising (VR), MYA has appointed Joyce Haqq as the head of the newly formed Grayslake location for Voices Rising. Anastasia impressed MYA staff and faculty with her musicality, happy and friendly teaching style and both interest in the position and creative ideas on where she would like to see VR go in the future.  Just a few things in her background one might find interesting include the following: She sings in the Chicago Symphony Chorus so knows VR from the annual Welcome Yule Concerts at Symphony Center. She also conducts the church choir at St. James the Less in Northbrook.  In that position she founded the Children’s Music Education Program and created instructional curriculum for grades K-8, led weekly children’s choir rehearsals and incorporated children into the weekly worship as much as possible. MYA welcomes Anastasia to the family.

Grayslake Voices Rising director Joyce Haqq was the Choral Director of 8 years at Stevenson High School until recently.  She is a perfect fit for this challenging role, having formerly directed community theater and junior college productions in the area, and served as Director of choirs at the College of Lake County. This new ensemble rehearses on the same day and time as its Highwood-based counterpart, as well as combines to perform concerts. MYA is additionally adding more voice teachers to its cadre of private music lesson teachers that hold studios and lessons at the MYA Center in Highwood.

Auditions for Voices Rising will be held MYA is pleased to announce that they are able to offer a special introductory tuition discount for the 2012-2013 season on account of the increase in attendance through the new second location and new program leadership!  Tuition for this coming academic year will be only $550, a huge $340 decrease from the former $890!  Please note that this is a one year, only, tuition reduction.  As has always been the case, for students and families who need additional assistance to participate, financial aid is available by completing the form and sending in supporting materials (http://www.mya.org/pdfs/financial_aid.pdf ).

About Midwest Young Artists:

Midwest Young Artists (www.mya.org) serves 1000 students and encompasses over 60 chamber music groups, 8 orchestras, a Jazz program, music theory courses, early childhood education and choral programs to name a few. Conveniently located within walking distance from the Metra, the Midwest Young Artists Center in Highwood offers custom designed rehearsal space and state of the art touches like a professional recording studio. MYA graduates are routinely accepted into the most prestigious conservatories and universities in the world.

For more information, please visit http://www.mya.org or call (847) 926-9898.

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