YNS History
1984
Young Naperville Singers is founded in Naperville, IL by Helen Grubbs. Over 70 children join the choir in the first year, giving their first concert in 1985.
1989
YNS tours for the first time to the west coast of the United States. Concert performances are given in Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Disneyland, Sea World and Pasadena with the Los Angeles Children’s Choir.
1991
Young Naperville Singers participates in the Des Moines International Children’s Choral Festival, placing second in the choir competition.
2004
YNS celebrates 20 years! The organization has grown to over 240 singers in five levels of choirs.
2006
YNS participates in the 175th Anniversary of Naperville by singing the song “Naperville, My Naperville” written by local poet, Glenna Halloway, and music by Daniel Brewbaker. This piece was commissioned in honor of the city’s milestone birthday celebration.
2009
With more than 275 singers and seven choirs, YNS celebrates its exceptional growth over 25 years with a gala performance.
2012
YNS opens up its first Boys Choir with 22 boy singers!
2014
YNS celebrates 30 years! The organization has grown to eight choirs and over 340 singers.
For its 30th anniversary performance, YNS commissions renowned member of the King’s Singers, Bob Chilcott, to compose and conduct the premiere of “The Sun and Stars are Mine”.
2015
The very first international tour for YNS takes more than 50 singers to Ireland! Performances are held for adoring crowds in Kylemore Abbey, Crossmaglen Rangers Hall, and Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin.
2018
Young Naperville Singers partners with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to sing in their Merry, Merry, Chicago concerts in December of 2018, featuring over 100 singers from Bella Voce and Bella Cantare.
2019
With 440 singers in ten choirs, YNS has grown to more than six times its original size. Celebrating 35 years of excellence in choral music, YNS commissions Andrea Ramsey to conduct and premiere “The Light Returns”, a song of hope and light, exemplifying the spirit of YNS.
2020
YNS sang through COVID-19! Through zoom and outdoor rehearsals, our singers sang and bonded like never before. #keepsinging
2021
After three missed concerts due to COVID, YNS was back on stage singing all together again for our “Moonlight on Snow” Winter Concerts.
2022
YNS begins touring again with an adventure to New York City with the National Youth Festival Chorus under the direction of Robyn Lana. Over 80 singers from YNS traveled to NYC to sing at Carnegie Hall!
2023
Over 100 YNS singers toured to Germany, Switzerland & Italy on our first international trip in 4 years. It was an adventure of a lifetime!
2024
YNS celebrates 40 years! Our 40th Anniversary concerts in May will feature 4 commissioned pieces by Dominick DiOrio, Reena Esmail, Elaine Hagenberg & Lee Kesselman.
Young Naperville Singers is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations made to Young Naperville Singers are tax-deductible. Many employers offer a contribution-matching program.
