VOCAL MUSIC EDUCATION

The Professional Performing Arts High School works in partnership with the National Chorale to provide comprehensive vocal music instruction to PPAS Vocal students. These students live across New York City and enter the program through a competitive audition process. Throughout the school year, students perform in both solo and ensemble settings, developing strong musicianship, vocal technique, and performance skills under the guidance of Chorale Artist Teachers.

In addition to performances at the school, the PPAS Choir has appeared at major New York City venues, including David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, The National Arts Club, The Signature Theater, and the Manhattan Theater Club. The Choir has performed, by invitation, for the NYC Department of Education’s Schools Chancellor; at the United Nations and the New York Stock Exchange, in collaboration with UNICEF for the #Imagine project and the #childrenfirst campaign; at the National Chorale’s Invitational New York City High School Choral Festivals at Hunter College/CUNY; at the Dedication Ceremony of the Space Shuttle Enterprise at the Intrepid Air and Space Museum; and at the opening ceremony of The Vessel at Hudson Yards.

Students have also performed at the 101st award dinner honoring the Federal Judiciary and, most recently, at the Arthur Miller Foundation Awards Ceremony honoring Alicia Keys, a PPAS Vocal graduate.

Now in its seventeenth year, the PPAS/National Chorale Vocal Program offers one of New York City’s most established pathways for young singers. Students completing the program are well-prepared to continue their professional training as vocal music majors at leading colleges, conservatories, and pre-professional programs.

Click Here to see the PPAS Choir’s 2025 Spring Concert at Church of the Blessed Sacrament, featuring Mozart’s Coronation Mass.

National Chorale High School Choral Festivals at Hunter College/CUNY with over 800 high school singers participating. Vagarshak Ohanyan, Distinguished Conductor.

National Chorale Middle School and Elementary Choral Festivals  at the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan with over 1,000 young student singers participating.

 

MUSIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES

National Chorale's Vocal Music Education Initiatives often involve multiple schools with culturally underserved children. Participation in these programs helps to integrate students into the school community, encourages regular school attendance, and improves their academic skills. National Chorale aims to expand the number of programs in schools to include and bring the joys of singing and music to as many young people as possible through the following projects:

  • Year-long Artist-in-Residence Programs allow Chorale artists to work with students weekly throughout the school year in elementary, intermediate, and high schools.

  • High school after-school choruses give young people a unique opportunity to cultivate their musical and performing abilities in a nurturing and artistic setting.

  • Concert tours bring the magic of music to schools across all 5 Boroughs, with captivating performances and engaging workshops alongside the talented choirs in each school.

Every year, these Chorale programs provide over 5,000 New York City children with the chance to engage in a diverse array of exciting vocal music activities.

For 58 years, Handel's Messiah Sing-In at David Geffen Hall has been New York's most popular Holiday Season annual music event, featuring hundreds of student singers.

Free student tickets to Chorale concerts at David Geffen Hall allows more than 1,200 students to attend Chorale performances at  Lincoln Center each Season.

 

National Chorale Education Programs Staff

Vagarshak Ohanyan

Principal Conductor for National Chorale Educational Programs

  • Vagarshak Ohanyan, Conductor, Baritone, Educator, and Voice Teacher, was born in the former Soviet Union. In 2007, he performed in New York in a concert production of Leoncavalloʼs Pagliacci, singing Silvio. At the New York City Opera, he debuted as Sid in Pucciniʼs La Fanciulla Del West. In March, he performed with the Bachanalia Orchestra at St.Peterʼs Church. Last summer, he recorded a CD with Carlos Luis Garcia of Pucciniʼs opera IlTabarro.

    With the Armenian Philharmonic he sang Sharpless in Madame Butterfly. As a guest soloist, he appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Botstein, in a concert production of Rachmaninoffʼs Francesca Da Rimini in January 2002 at Avery Fisher Hall.

    In March 2002, he performed songs by Rachmaninoff at Carnegie Hall. He sang a baritone solo in Durufleʼs Requiem with the Plymouth choir and orchestra at Plymouth Church. In 1997-98, he performed at the Tchaikovsky Rediscoveries Festival at Bard College and at the Trinity Church. He also performed at Carnegie Hall with the Russian Chamber Chorus and was invited to participate Virtosi Moskow Conductor Vladimir Spivakov Moscow Cantata at Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood with the Russian American Youth Orchestra and Chorus of New York. In 2007 he became an ensemble member and vocal coach for Hampton Synagogue. One of his distinguished students is New York and Hampton Synagogue cantor Netanel Hershtik.

    Other highlights include solo recitals with the Boston Chamber Orchestra and the Rhode Island Chorale. He was a soloist in Faureʼs and Mozartʼs Requiems with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Russia) in 1994-95. Mr. Ohanyan continues to perform internationally at many prestigious festivals and opera houses. As a member of the Artist in Residence Program of National Chorale he teaches advanced voice and is a principal conductor of the elite choir at Professional Performing Arts School New York City.

    Mr. Ohanyan holds a Doctorate of Arts Ed. and a MA in Vocal Performance from the Armenian State Conservatory and a certificate from the Julliard School. In 1996, he became a union member of the American Guild of Musical Artists. Vagharshak is a CO founder of the 2009 Youth Talent (AYT) Music Competition at Carnegie Hall. A month ago, Mr. Ohanyan was awarded with a medal from the government of Armenia, their highest award for education and dedication to the arts - a diploma for a Professor Honoris Causa Degree from the Yerevan Haybusak University (International Academy of Education.)