OUR VOICES, OUR JOURNEY

Highly regarded for their skill and beautiful sound, the Cabrillo Youth Chorus has performed with Santa Cruz County Symphony, Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Cantiamo!, Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, Cabrillo Music Festival, and the South Valley Symphony.

They have toured throughout the West Coast, have sung in Carnegie Hall, and some members toured Eastern Europe and Russia. Composers have written works specifically for Cabrillo Youth Chorus. Since its inception, nearly 1,000 young singers have been through the program, many of whom have become music majors in college.

Cheryl Andersen

Founder and Musical Director

Cheryl Anderson is the Director of Choral Activities at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. In her tenure at Cabrillo College, her ensembles have 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. Anderson has most recently served as President of the Western Division of the American Choral Directors Association.

In addition to her elementary and secondary school teaching, she has served on the faculties of Transylvania University, Colorado State University, University of Northern Colorado, and University of California, Santa Cruz in choral/vocal music, music education, and music theory.

Jana Marcus Photography

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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.

Michael Locke-Paddon
Teacher Assistant and Composer

I have a B.A. in Music Composition from the Lionel Hampton School of Music, University of Idaho. I have been a regular Cabrillo Community College attendee for at least 15 years, starting in 2007. I participated in the Concert and Symphonic Bands, various choral groups including Il Dolce Suono, the Cabrillo Chorale, the Symphonic Chorus, the West Coast Voices, and also dabbled in piano, violin and cello.
I have been working to teach music to kids in my area for over ten years, including individual lessons on piano and drum set, and serving as both assistant director and director to a general music program and youth choir at my former church, the Watsonville First United Methodist Church. I have been working with the CYC for about seven years. I enjoy working with young singers and musicians and love teaching music theory concepts most.

Cristian Rincon
Teacher's Assistant

Cristian is an aspiring tenor currently a music major at Cabrillo College, studying voice, guitar, and Cello. He never misses a chance to sing with the three choirs at Cabrillo that professor Cheryl Anderson conducts, as well as her off-campus choir at Peace United Church of Christ. He is also part of the classical guitar and string ensembles in Cabrillo. He has had the opportunity to participate in the past two summer productions of Cabrillo Stage, most recently Candide (Summer of 2022). Cristian looks forward to meeting and working with all future and returning Cabrillo Youth Chorus students. He would like to thank all CYC parents for allowing him to be part of their children's music education.

Ulysses Patano
Teacher's Assistant

Ulysses is a composer/arranger, violist and classical guitarist at Cabrillo College. He is in many ensembles: Intermediate Orchestra, Classical Guitar Ensemble and multiple Choirs. He also studies voice under the direction of Cheryl Anderson. He has arranged and composed pieces for strings ensemble and classical guitar ensemble, many of which have been performed. He has also been part of Cabrillo Stage.

Olivia Siemer
Teacher's Assistant

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.

Rile Hoagland
Teacher's Assistant

I am a student at Cabrillo College. Focusing on voice, I have been taking music classes at Cabrillo College since 2018 and am currently in all three Cabrillo choirs, including Chorale, Cantiamo!, and Symphonic Chorus, as well as a Teachers Assistant for Cabrillo Youth Chorus. I enjoy using my skills to help young singers learn new skills and grow their voices.

Guthrie Goss
Teacher's Assistant

I’m from North Lake Tahoe. I love the outdoors and spending time with close friends. I joined the music program at Cabrillo in the spring of 2022 and fell into the beautiful web of singing in choir and playing awesome music. I also play the guitar and trombone in some of the ensembles here at Cabrillo. I’m looking to transfer and continue my music education at a four year university. My favorite things are always made better by music. I feel as though music is how we decorate time, and simply listening can inspire life. Besides music, I love skiing, mountain biking, surfing, swimming and dancing. I hope to help create a fun, safe welcoming class with all the members of Cabrillo’s excellent youth chorus.