The Yuba Sutter Youth Choir is for students from fourth-grade through 12th-grade. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture’s youth choir is ready to reconvene for a great fall season of singing. The theme of the choir season is “Better Not Pout” and it’s an opportunity for young people to learn vocal techniques from an experienced professional.

The Yuba Sutter Kids & Teen Choir is for students from fourth- through 12th-grades and is part of the Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture’s Arts in Education program. Youth Choir rehearsals will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays from Sept. 26 through Dec. 22 (there is no rehearsal Nov. 28). There will be a holiday performance at 7 p.m. Dec. 13.

Rehearsals and the performance will be at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts, 754 Plumas St. in Yuba City. The cost for the choir program is $20 and includes a T-shirt. There is a “2 for 1 Special” for families with two enrolled students. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.

The Youth Choir will again be directed by Gay Galvin, who has been singing and playing piano since she was 6 years old. Trained in classical and jazz styles, Galvin has worked in big bands, musicals, jazz trios and various classical ensembles. She is an accomplished vocalist and has taught choir at all age levels. Galvin is a co-founder of the Yuba Sutter Big Band. Originally from Ohio, Galvin has a master’s degree in music and teaches piano in her studio in Marysville. Galvin plays most musical genres and has played in rock bands. Galvin also leads her own jazz trio.

Gay Galvin is the Yuba Sutter Youth Choir director.  Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

Choir students will work on a repertoire of seasonal favorites with several themes.

The “Bells” related songs will include “Ding, Dong Merrily on High,” “Jingle Bells,” “Ukrainian Bell Carol,” “Bells in the Steeple” and “Silver Bells.”

The “Santa Claus” section will include “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “When Santa got Stuck up the Chimney” and “’Zat You, Santa Clause?”

The “Winter” section will feature “White Winter Hymnal,” “Let it Snow” and “Winter Wonderland.”

“I’m so privileged to lead the youth choir again this year,” Galvin said. “And what better way to engage young singers than with the universally-loved holiday songs.”

Interested parents or guardians can visit yubasutterarts.org to register or contact Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture at 530-742-ARTS or email abbie@yubasutterarts.