Mission and Values
Brooklyn Youth Chorus nurtures and develops young singers of diverse backgrounds through artistic excellence and innovation in choral music performance, training, and the creation of new works.
Brooklyn Youth Chorus stands for:
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE: We raise the standards of music education and exceed expectations for choral performance
DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE: Our nurturing environment fosters personal growth and confidence while teaching professionalism and providing transferable life skills
ACCESS & INCLUSION: Our community ensures absolute value and respect for each individual, and an appreciation and understanding of the broad spectrum of all our differences
INNOVATION & CREATIVITY: We embrace new artistic frontiers through our three-fold identity as an educator, performer, and creator
LEADERSHIP: We expand the expected boundaries for what a youth chorus can achieve for its young people, audiences, and the art form itself
BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS is a Grammy Award-winning ensemble, led by Founder & Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker, recognized for stretching the artistic boundaries of youth chorus for over three decades. Our choristers perform on the world's most renowned stages, including three appearances at Carnegie Hall in a single season, Madison Square Garden with Joe Hisaishi, and the United Nations. We regularly collaborate with an impressive range of organizations and artists, such as the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic (with Gustavo Dudamel), The National, Wye Oak, Bon Iver, Sir Elton John, and Davóne Tines.
As a bold commissioner of new music, the Chorus has introduced more than 120 original works and world premieres by contemporary composers like Pulitzer Prize-winners Caroline Shaw, Tania León, David Lang, and visionary Philip Glass. The Chorus has a strong reputation as a producer of original works, including the impactful Silent Voices series and Black Mountain Songs. In May 2025, the Chorus premiered Port(al)—a new, evening-length, site-specific choral theater work co-created by Dianne Berkun Menaker, Paola Prestini, Jad Abumrad, and Jessica Grindstaff—which transformed the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard into a vibrant canvas for immersive storytelling. Founded in 1992, Brooklyn Youth Chorus has served nearly 10,000 students, with over 500 students currently enrolled in its after-school and public-school programs.
Brooklyn Youth Chorus Bio
Dianne Berkun Menaker Bio
DIANNE BERKUN MENAKER is the visionary Founder & Artistic Director of Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Under her leadership for 33 seasons, the Chorus has become one of the most highly regarded ensembles, stretching the artistic boundaries for youth choruses. Hailed by The New York Times as "a remarkable choral conductor," Ms. Berkun Menaker has prepared choruses for performances with acclaimed conductors like Gustavo Dudamel and major organizations including the New York Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra. Her work has resulted in a Grammy Award-winning recording and extensive collaborations with iconic artists such as Barbra Streisand, Sir Elton John, The National, Bon Iver, and Beyoncé & Jay-Z on various albums and global tours.
Ms. Berkun Menaker is also a renowned arts producer, having developed over 120 original works and world premieres by contemporary composers, including Pulitzer Prize-winners. She conceived of and co-created Port(al), a critically acclaimed, site-specific choral theater work that premiered at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in May 2025. Her legacy includes the impactful Silent Voices series and Black Mountain Songs. Beyond her producing, she is an acclaimed choral clinician and the creator of the Cross-Choral Training® method, a holistic approach to vocal pedagogy now widely recognized for developing healthy, versatile singers.