Cantabile Youth Singers

Please enjoy Cantabile's latest promotional video as our singers, faculty and staff share Cantabile's message, the impact our programs have on our young singers and the community created through music-making.

Community

Join our Community

Learn about our comprehensive, Kodaly/Orff based system of choral music education.

Explore Our Programs

Artistry

Experience our Artistry

Watch and listen to Cantabile performances.

Experience Cantabile

Legacy

Understand our Legacy

Experience the joy and passion of 25 Years of music making with Cantabile.

Mission

Meet Our Artistic Director

ELENA SHARKOVA

Artistic & Managing Director, Conductor of Vocalise, Artistic Advisor to Aria

Elena Sharkova has been Artistic Director of the Cantabile Youth Singers since 2004 and oversees all educational and performance aspects of the program, in addition to conducting the top choir, Vocalise and being the Artistic Advisor to Aria.

Under her leadership, the organization has grown from 80 to over 250 singers, has toured Denmark, Sweden, Spain, England, Ireland, France, Russia, Estonia, Finland and Italy, performed at the American Choral Directors National (2019), Western Division (2016) and State (2018) Conferences, made two solo appearances on stage of Carnegie Hall...

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Meet Our Artistic Staff

JAZMINE HARNISHFEGER-BRAND

Intermezzo Conductor

Jazmine Harnishfeger-Brand began her musical studies with piano lessons at age four. She was extensively involved with school music programs throughout her education. While attending Long Beach Polytechnic High School (a Grammy Signature Gold School), she extensively performed with a diverse group of ensembles and instruments (including Harpsichord, Baritone Saxophone, Classical and Jazz Piano, Mallet Percussion and French Horn).
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EMILY BENDER

Prelude I and II Instructor

Born into a choral family, Emily was attending choir rehearsals as soon as they would let her. Emily sang in school and church choirs growing up, and sang her first church solo at age 3. At age 10, Emily started performing in musicals, and continued that throughout high school and college.
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JACE WITTIG

Associate Artistic Director, Young Men’s Division Director, Bravi and Aria Conductor

Baritone, clinician, and educator Jace Wittig joined Cantabile as a guest artist in 2014, following a nearly nine-year tenure with GRAMMY Award-winning men’s choir, Chanticleer. He received his Bachelors of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, studying voice with Dr. Craig Priebe and piano with Dr. Jim Helton. Mr. Wittig sang baritone with Chanticleer for five seasons, after which he was appointed as the Interim Music Director from 2011 to 2014.
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AMY FICKENSCHER

Prelude II and Allegro Instructor

Amy Fickenscher is a music educator, specializing in teaching choral, vocal, and general music to young students. Most recently, Amy served as an adjunct faculty member in Music Education at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance, where she worked with pre-service Choral Music Education students. At the same time, Amy was the Director of Elementary Choirs at Pacific Youth Choir in Portland, Oregon. She also served on the artistic faculty of the San Francisco Girls Chorus from 2009-2012.
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AMANDA KU

Accompanist

A native of Silicon Valley, Amanda Ku grew up singing in choirs and has played piano for as long as she can remember. A passion for making music with others has since become a driving force in her life, and she is excited to take the next step in her musical career with Cantabile.
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