Community voices blend in harmony as OYC celebrates over 30 years of changed lives

Voices of the community have joined together to begin a new year with the Oshkosh Youth Choir. Embarking on its 31st year, the choir rings in the new season with high hopes for new director Ryan Lindley. Students from grades 3-12 are invited to embrace the opportunity to sing outside of their school choirs, gaining new skills and friendships while tuning their musical abilities. 

The transition to Lindley marks a significant paradigm shift in 2024. Former director Jennifer Jensens kept coming back for 20 years for the idea of what the choir could be. 

“Music has always been a huge part of me, and once I started building the program I saw potential in what we could do and I just wanted to see that come to fruition,” she said.

The youth choir’s primary focus lies primarily on the education of the children involved.

“Students have only so many opportunities that they can do in the school district, I think that an organization like the youth choir is an invaluable resource for music development,” Jensen said.

OYC has grown tremendously over the years; Jensen attributes this to the addition of two new choirs separated by grade level.

“The challenge was finding music that served the eighth graders so they weren’t bored but won’t scare the crap out of the fourth graders so they quit, which is why we did our first split,” she said.

In the current day, Oshkosh Youth Choir is divided into Aria, the highest level choir, Lyric for middle level students, and Atude for grades 3-5. But this system was not forever in place; students used to grow out of the choir after 8th grade; until one student changed that forever.

“Aria choir exists because I had a student in fourth through eighth grade who got really upset her freshman year when she played violin and couldn’t do choir. She would beg me to do a high school group,” Jensen said.

Students are the foundation the choir rests upon. In fact, it was a group of middle schoolers who were responsible for Lindley’s interest in the choir itself. 

“I heard about OYC through my middle school students over at Tipler; I had no idea it existed before then,” he said.

This small conversation inspired Lindley to reach out to former director Jensen; their first meeting assured Jensen the program would be in good hands.

“We had a five hour conversation at Caramel Crisp and we found out we have a very similar background. I left the meeting thinking I want nothing more than to be the OYC director,” Lindley said. 

After many years of directorial discontinuity before Jensen took over, it was a priority to find someone willing to provide the best and most long-lasting experience for the students. Specifically, someone willing to stay with the choir for the foreseeable future. 

“She said she did it for 20 years and I want to match that,” Lindley said. 

Lindley plans to stay true to the Oshkosh Youth Choir’s mission, explaining how having music outlets affected his own childhood growing up. 

“Music was always a safe space for me growing up. I tried to be athletic and it didn’t work very well and so choir and band was always that safe space,” he said. 

Another value of the choir is creating a space for students to thrive and meet like-minded people, and to learn the social benefits music can bring. 

“I want to teach kids to be better humans and give them a place I didn’t have growing up in middle school, and the way I can do that is through music because that is my talent,” Lindley said.

The music and lessons learned extend into all aspects of student life.

“There are so many scientific studies that show the value of music in a growing person’s life; it does things to your brain because there’s so many different facets you’re using to understand that music,” Jensen said.

Many students have been committed to the Oshkosh Youth Choir for most of their childhoods. Senior Julia Skinner, who’s entering her tenth year of OYC, is a prime example of that experience. 

“The friends I’ve made and my connection with Mrs. Jen is what kept me coming back each year,” she said. 

The change of directors has not deterred returning students as their love of music keeps them coming back.

“I’m excited for the new music we’re going to learn and the new people that I will meet this year,” Skinner said.

Senior Alyssa Vigil took a one year hiatus from Youth Choir but is returning for her third and final season.

“I want to be with my friends and enjoy the new music now that I have room in my schedule; I’m really excited for this year,” she said.

Skinner highly encourages others to check out the organization. 

“People should join because it’s a great opportunity to practice music outside of school and meet new friends,” she said.

OYC offers a unique learning experience for students, getting away from the traditional public school atmosphere. 

“There’s little to no distractions in the sense of behaviors because you’re paying to be in the group, there’s another level of professionalism expected of the kids, even the third graders,” Lindley said.

The goals of OYC revolve around the students, and giving back to Oshkosh.

“We want students to form a bond and a family while making wonderful music, and to give back to the community by performing,” Lindley said.

All in all, the Choir has been a music staple for young performers in the community for over 30 years, expanding from one small choir to three choirs composed of students from many schools and walks of life in Oshkosh. 

The significance of OYC extends beyond just an after school choir, it is a place of both personal and musical development. 

“It’s not just a Tuesday night after school choir, it’s so much more to these kids,” Jensen said.

by Delaney Smith

Published October 7 2024

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue I