River Sounds 

Youth Choral Performance Brings Magic to Naperville Riverwalk

July 16, 2025, Naperville, IL – Last night, Young Naperville Singers (YNS) captivated the community with a breathtaking live musical performance as part of the Downtown Naperville Alliance’s River Sounds summer music series. On a beautiful summer evening, the Riverwalk, the heart of downtown Naperville, became the stage for an unforgettable celebration of music and community.

The evening’s magic reached its peak when YNS alumna and local jazz musician, Isabella Isherwood, stunned the crowd with a surprise acoustic set from a boat floating gently on the river. In a moment that took the audience’s breath away, over fifty youth singers from Young Naperville Singers lined the Riverwalk and joined Isherwood in a harmonious rendition of “Turn” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Onlookers on both sides of the river were visibly moved, with spontaneous applause and murmurs of awe filling the air.

“Last night was a beautiful example of how music can inspire us. The element of surprise and excitement when our fifty young singers joined Isabella Isherwood in song was unforgettable. Watching the crowd’s faces light up as they experienced this unexpected moment of harmony was truly magical. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do – fostering a love of music and creating unforgettable experiences for our community,” said Angie Johnson, Artistic Director, Young Naperville Singers.

“This series is about creating moments that surprise and inspire,” said Shannon Greene Robb, one of the event’s organizers. “To see the community pause, come together, and experience something so unique is the kind of magic we hoped to achieve with River Sounds.”

The Riverwalk, with its serene beauty, provided the perfect backdrop for a night filled with melodies that seemed to slow time. The event emphasized Downtown Naperville’s creativity in using the DuPage River as a vibrant venue. “The river is an incredible resource, and bringing music to life on the water creates something unlike anything this community has experienced before,” added Greene Robb.

Organized by the Downtown Naperville Alliance with support from SECA (Special Events and Community Arts), the River Sounds series is designed to surprise and delight both scheduled attendees and spontaneous passersby. This event was a perfect blend of artistry and community. It brought people together, filled the air with music, and reminded us of the magic that summer evenings on the river can bring.

ABOUT YOUNG NAPERVILLE SINGERS

YNS is proud and excited to begin its 42nd year of making beautiful music and growing exceptional human beings. Founded in 1984 by the late Helen Grubbs, YNS has developed into a premier community-based children’s choral music education program in Chicago’s western suburbs and the Fox River Valley. This organization has grown from its founding into a dynamic 11-choir, 450-voice nationally recognized children’s choir. The mission of YNS is to sing with excellence and to share music with the community and the world and we welcome singers from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is the belief of the YNS staff, parents and Board of Directors that singing touches the heart, stimulates the mind and sets the spirit free. Under the musical leadership of Artistic Director Angie Johnson, YNS has flourished, with choirs performing locally, nationally and internationally, promoting the highest level of artistic excellence in choral music through educational and performance opportunities.  For more information on YNS please visit: www.ynschoirs.org