The Yuba Sutter Youth Choir performs at a previous event. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Yuba Sutter Youth Choir is back and ready to perform live in public for the first time since the pandemic on May 24 in Marysville. 

Twenty students, from ages 7 to 14, have been busy for months learning popular songs from the groovy and fun era of the 1970s.

The Yuba Sutter Youth Choir, one of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture’s most popular Arts in Education programs, was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The newly-formed choir has learned songs from the 1970s by artists including Elton John, the Jackson 5, ABBA, the Village People, Bill Withers and John Denver.

Once again, the Youth Choir is being directed by Gay Galvin. Galvin has sung and played piano since she was 6 years old. A founder and former director of the Yuba Sutter Big Band, Galvin has worked in big bands, musicals, jazz trios and classical ensembles.  With a master’s degree in music, Galvin has taught choir at all age levels and teaches piano in her Marysville studio.

 Gay Galvin leads one ensemble of the Yuba Sutter Youth Choir. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

“The students have all worked very hard these past 10 weeks,” Galvin said.  “They are very excited to share these wonderful songs with their families, friends and the general public.”

The set list includes “Crocodile Rock,” “Dancing Queen,” “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart,” “Honky Cat,” “I’ll Be There,” “I Will Survive,” “Lean on Me,” “Rubber Duckie,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Three Little Birds” and “YMCA.” There will also be a song performed as a round and a hand game song.

“There was a lot of variety in popular music in the 1970s,” said Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture’s executive director David Read. “Hard rock got harder but then there was soft rock and lots of innovation with new music including funk, disco, punk and even new wave and people loved the variety. And the audience will love the variety at this concert as well. Tickets are going fast so don’t’ delay. Order tickets today at yubasutterarts.org or call 530-742-ARTS.”

The grand finale performance for this session will be at 7 p.m. May 24 at the Burrows Center for the Arts, 624 E St. in Marysville. General admission tickets are $10 and tickets for children 12 and under are $5.

 The Yuba Sutter Youth Choir takes the stage during a summer performance. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture