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The '''Hawai{{okina}}i Youth Opera Chorus''' ('''HYOC''') is Hawai{{okina}}i's premier children's choir. It is currently under the direction of [[Nola Nahulu|Nola A. Nāhulu]] as well as several assistant directors, accompanists, and various other instructors. It is currently housed at the [[University of Hawaii at Manoa|University of Hawai{{okina}}i (Mānoa)]] music department, although previously it was housed at [[Kawaiahao Church|Kawaiaha{{okina}}o Church]],located in [[Downtown Honolulu]] on the [[Hawaii]]an Island of [[Oahu|Oʻahu]].

In addition to performances with the opera, HYOC has developed its own diverse repertoire which ranges from classical, spiritual, secular, and Hawaiian music. HYOC has also branched out to include other endeavours, such as hula and piano classes. It has also recently introduced a special rehearsal for the male voices of the organization, in an attempt to draw more interest towards boys.

==History==
Originally the '''Honolulu Children's Opera Chorus''' (HCOC), HYOC was founded in 1961 to provide children for the [[Hawaii Opera Theatre|Hawai{{okina}}i Opera Theatre]] (HOT)'s production of [[Giacomo Puccini]]'s ''[[La Bohème]]''. So many children appeared for the audition that it was soon realised that Hawai{{okina}}i was in great need of a children's chorus. Since then, HYOC has grown tremendously. It now contains singers from Kindergarten to 12th grade in eight ensembles. To this day, HYOC shares a strong connection with HOT, and the operas that require children use singers from HYOC. The 2006 season operas ''[[Il Trittico]]'' (''Suor Angelica'') and ''[[Tosca]]'' featured children from HYOC's Cantilena and Scelto ensembles. Past productions include 2005's ''[[Turandot]]'', 2003's ''La Bohème'', 2002's ''[[Carmen]]'', and 2001's ''[[Pagliacci]]/[[Cavalleria Rusticana]]''.

HYOC started out as a single ensemble, but as its attendance grew it continued to add additional choirs. Cantilena, for example, was created when the Coro ensemble became too large. Gioventù Musicale was created when the age range of the organisation expanded to include youth rather than just children.

As HYOC has grown, it has attracted more and more singers from all over [[Oahu|O{{okina}}ahu]]. It has members from most of Hawai{{okina}}i's public and private schools as well as homeschooled members.

== Performances ==
In addition to the operas, HYOC performs at a variety of venues either alone or with other groups. On 22 November 2006, together with the [[Honolulu Symphony]] and the Symphony Chorus, HYOC presented [[John Rutter]]'s ''Mass of the Children'', featuring HYOC as the prominent children's chorus.<ref>{{cite news | last = Arcayna| first = Nancy| title = Youth chorus, orchestra hold free concert| publisher = Star Bulletin| date = 21 November 2006| url = http://starbulletin.com/2006/11/21/features/story04.html| accessdate = 2006-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309201936/http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/11/21/features/story04.html|archive-date=March 9, 2016}}</ref>

HYOC also hosts several music festivals. Most notably, HYOC holds the annual Pacific Rim Children's Chorus Festival in July, bringing singers from all over the United States and elsewhere to Hawaii to study choral music of the [[pacific rim]] with clinician [[Henry Leck]].

==Ensembles==
HYOC has eight separate choirs, or ensembles. The attendance of each ensemble is primarily based on age of the student, although there is some overlap based on each student's achievement and length of time in the organization. All but one have [[Italian language|Italian]] names; Nā Leo Kūho{{okina}}okahi is the only ensemble with a [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]] name.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.hyoc.org HYOC's website]

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[[Category:American choirs]]
[[Category:Choirs of children]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1961]]
[[Category:Native Hawaiian musicians]]
[[Category:1961 establishments in Hawaii]]

Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus - Revision history

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