How YCM began: The Story of Youth Chorus of Milan

From 12 kids to a thriving arts community in Milan.

I never planned to be a choir director. Sing in choirs? Yes. Lead one? That was never on my radar. Then Giuseppe Verdi came along. Yes, you read that right. Verdi, the man, the legend, the composer, accidentally set me on the path that would eventually lead to YCM. Let me explain.

I was teaching middle school music at Collegio San Carlo, a bilingual school in Milan, when the education department at Orchestra Sinfonica Giuseppe Verdi reached out. They needed 100 children to sing Verdi in 2013, a year of celebration across Italy for their most beloved composer. The gala concert was just months away, and they were short of their goal. So we decided to form a group of sixth graders from the school to learn the repertoire and join the big event. We gathered 12 kids, planned a 4-month rehearsal schedule, and chose 6 choral pieces to perform at the end of the school year.

Simple, right? Then we realized the gala concert conflicted with a major school event. We braced ourselves for disappointment. But something unexpected happened: all twelve families said yes anyway. They wanted their kids to sing. So there I was, with twelve kids, a four-month rehearsal schedule, and the freedom to choose the repertoire for our own end-of-year concert. That moment changed everything.

I hadn’t looked at a treble choral score in years, but I dove in. I wanted a program that was range-appropriate, included real harmonies, and made everyone smile. I found some amazing composers writing fantastic music for young voices. One piece introduced the kids to meter changes and complex harmonies without them even noticing. Another taught them the foundation of contrapuntal singing while feeling like pure fun.

After the second rehearsal, I was hooked. I loved everything about it, the energy, the discovery, the way kids light up when they realize they can make something beautiful together. That experience planted a seed. Years later, that seed grew into Youth Chorus of Milan, a vibrant community where young singers find their voice, make lasting friendships, and experience the joy of making music together. All in English, right here in Milan. And it all started with one scheduling conflict and a handful of families who said yes.

Want your child to be part of the next chapter?

by Amy Barton, YCM Artistic Director