“I want to be a choir director. I’ve been making music my whole life, but there’s no opportunity to sing in a choir like this.”
— Michael Gonzalez, Youth Choir participant
NorthWest Vocal Arts, a project of choral director Samuel Barbara, strives to foster human connection, inspire the next generation of professional and amateur musicians, and positively impact individuals and audiences in the Pacific Northwest and beyond through the universal language of vocal music and innovative community-focused initiatives.
Mentorship from Chance to Excel’s Clinch Fuentes, in tandem with seed money from the nonprofit, helped bring to life the dream of offering free tuition for its youth choir where the students are paired with professional vocalists as mentors. Chance to Excel shares in the belief in the power of musical excellence, youth mentorship, and community outreach to foster generational transformation.
They performed their first Winter concert in 2024– over 350 tickets were sold! Together we raised about $9,000 in tickets and about $10,000 in donations.
By Spring 2025 concert, with 177 tickets sold, our collective efforts ensured all members of the youth choir received a full tuition scholarship.
Summer 2025, NWVA held its first Summer camp for young singers. The 3-Day Choral Intensive drew about 30 singers from 8th grade to recent high school graduates from across the Portland metro area. The students spent their mornings with guest clinicians Alishia Garcia and Nicholas Meyer for small group/private voice lessons, masterclasses and ensemble singing. In the afternoon, the students rehearsed with Youth Choir conductor Karen Bohart and Artistic Director Samuel Barbara for a public performance of Robert Ray’s iconic Gospel Mass. All this at a very low cost to the students, which is NWVA’s mission.
This Fall, NWVA prepares for their upcoming “Autumn Celebration” on October 19th. Oregon Artswatch excitedly writes, “Vivaldi’s Gloria RV 589, one of our favorites, is probably the choral work we know best by this prolific Italian Baroque composer who wrote a substantial number of sacred choral works. Not only is the Gloria a compact little baroque gem but it is accessible to a wide range of choral musicianship and vocal capability. And that is exactly just what NWVA is going for. Half of their 32-member Chamber Choir – aspiring choral singers in high school and college – sing alongside the adult choral professionals. And they are paid for their artistry, just like the pros.”
The thrilling 2025 – 2026 concert season has been welcomed with great enthusiasm and we are well on our way to adding additional programs for 2026 – 2027 season. Our goal, and this goes for all our nonprofit partnerships, is to support NorthWest Vocal Arts being self sustainable in the next couple of years.
From Dr. Sam Barbara, Executive Artistic Director:
A particular highlight of this concert (Voices of Winter: What Sweeter Music – 2024) as the amazing Youth Choir, all of whom are provided 100% tuition scholarships from generous donors. Many of these young singers have never been able to sing in a choir like this due to the cost. As they made clear at the concert – there are enormously talented young people in our community that just need to be given an opportunity!
Thanks to NWVA board vice-president Elizardo Fuentes, and the Chance to Excel Foundation, every gift made to Northwest Vocal Arts will be matched up to $50,000. Every dollar raised directly supports scholarships for our Youth Choir and makes our innovative choral apprenticeship and internship programs possible.”
Northwest Vocal Arts is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and all donations are tax-deductible. Please join us in helping create opportunities for the next generation of professional and amateur musicians!