OUR VOICES, OUR JOURNEY

Educating, developing, and inspiring young musicians in Santa Cruz County for over 25 years.

Directed by Carlin Truong, the Cabrillo Youth Chorus (CYC) is the Ensemble-in-Residence at Cabrillo College Music Department.

CYC is a comprehensive vocal music program for young musicians 8-18 years of age. CYC offers four choirs that combine beautiful singing and music literacy in an inclusive environment that celebrates its diverse membership.

Cabrillo Youth Chorus is highly regarded for their skill and beautiful sound. CYC has shared the stage with Santa Cruz Symphony, Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Cantiamo!, Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, Cabrillo Music Festival, and the South Valley Symphony among others. Composers such as Ēriks Ešenvalds have written works specifically for this ensemble. CYC has also toured throughout the West Coast, sung in Carnegie Hall, and toured Eastern Europe and Russia.

Dr. Carlin Truong

Musical Director

Dr. Carlin Truong 張希 (he/him) is an educator and conductor whose mission is to make music education more accessible to all. Since his
early career, he was involved with pop a cappella ensembles, and is consequently known for programing nontraditional repertoire in
addition to the beloved canon. He’s known for curating student-centered, innovative, and expressive concerts that engage people on both sides of the stage. As an advocate for social change through the arts, he has directed concerts that address LGBTQIA+ rights, mental health, women’s suffrage, criminal justice reform, and
immigration policies.

Prior to his appointment at Cabrillo, Truong has directed ensembles at Clear Creek Middle and High School in Colorado, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Arkansas Tech University,
University of Houston, Clovis East High School in California, Crystal Children’s Choir, and University of Ghana. He also served as an assistant conductor for the Moores Opera Center at the University of
Houston and as a chorus preparer and co-chorus manager for the Houston Symphony Chorus.

Truong is a proud alumnus of Crystal Children’s Choir, San José State University, and University of Houston.

Cheryl Andersen

Founding Director

Cheryl Andersen is the Founding Director of the Cabrillo Youth Chorus, and the long-time Director of Choral Activities at Cabrillo College.

In her tenure at Cabrillo College, her ensembles performed at all levels of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the National Association for Music Educators (MENC); she has lead Interest Sessions at four Divisional Conferences, and she has served on the ACDA Western Division Board as National Repertoire & Standards chair. Having served as Bay Area Representative, California, ACDA Executive Board and Chair of the Composition Competition, Ms. Andersen most recently served as President of the Western Division of the American Choral Directors Association.

After 35 years of service to Cabrillo College, Ms. Andersen retired in June 2025. We are forever grateful for her leadership and vision!

Dr. Carlin Truong 張希, Director

Cheryl Andersen, Founding Director

Jana Marcus Photography

TEAM

We have a team of excellent Cabrillo Teaching Assistants who work with the singers individually and in small groups to learn their music and learn music theory. The challenges and rewards in the preparation and performance of great literature serve to shape both their musical and their intellectual development. We sing in a variety of languages, parts, styles, and backgrounds.

Marina Kandieva-Thomas
Pianist and Accompanist

Marina Kandieva-Thomas was born in Alushta, Crimea. She began to play piano at the age of 6 and attended the Alushta Music School for 8 years. She is a graduate of the Peter I. Tchaikovsky College in Crimea and the Music Conservatory of Odessa, one of the oldest conservatories in Ukraine, receiving the highest diplomas in Chamber Music, Accompaniment, and Music Education. She currently is an organist, pianist and a piano teacher at Watsonville First Methodist Church, and is the accompanist for the Cabrillo College Choirs. In addition to Cabrillo, Marina has appeared in concerts with Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra,
Espressivo, Arioso Singers, the Organ Kaleidophone, Cabrillo Youth Chorus, Il Dolce Suono,
and the Santa Cruz Chamber Players.

Olivia Siemer
Teacher's Assistant
2026-27

I’ve grown up in Santa Cruz and I am currently an honors student at Cabrillo studying music and sustainable agriculture. I graduated as a salutatorian from Santa Cruz High School in 2020 after spending four years in the school’s Cardinal Regiment Marching Band as a trumpet and a bagpiper. Before that, I was a singer in CYC during middle school and high school. Outside of school, I love to read books about epic adventures, explore the great outdoors, and play the occasional game of volleyball with my friends down at the beach. I compete as a solo bagpiper and play with the Santa Cruz Pipes and Drums. I am so happy to be back here as a TA to help share the amazing experience of CYC with a new generation of musicians.

Niall Andrews
Teacher's Assistant
2026-27

I am a music educator, pianist, and vocalist studying Music at Cabrillo College. I am focused on
music education and plan to transfer to pursue a Bachelor’s degree and teaching credential in
Music.
Beyond my Teaching Assistant roles for other areas within the Cabrillo music department,
including Jazz Singers and beginning piano, I also teach piano and voice privately and regularly
perform in both classical and jazz settings.
As a Santa Cruz County native, I am committed to giving back to my community by making
high-quality music education accessible to young musicians, drawing on my own experiences
growing up in local music programs. I am delighted to be back with CYC and look forward to a
wonderful season of discovering the joy of collaborative choral music together.

Madeleine Demers
Teacher's Assistant
2026-27

About Madeleine:

Sebastian Stock
Teacher's Assistant
2026-27

Sebastian Stock is a tenor/baritone who studied choral music at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. Having sung with Cabrillo choruses since he was in the Youth Chorus, he is back in town working as a singer, conductor and pianist. Most recently, he appeared in Cabrillo Stage’s production of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as Victim 1.