Cantabile Youth Singers

Due to COVID-19, Cantabile Youth Singers has cancelled in-person rehearsals and events for the remainder of the season. As of mid-March, all rehearsals and elements of the Cantabile curriculum fully transitioned online. Conductors and staff have worked diligently to offer increased time for communication and feedback, as well as opportunities for students to connect within this new model, and will continue to explore new avenues for musical engagement.

Questions? Please call us at 650-424-1410 or email info@cantabile.org.

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

We invite you to learn more 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 Twenty Years of music making with Cantabile.

Mission

What People Are Saying About Us

Dr. Craig Jessop, Director Emeritus of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and current Dean of the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University

"To work and perform the Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 with Elena Sharkova and the Cantabile Youth Singers was one of the great experiences of my professional career. The beauty of their angelic voices coupled with the mature artistry of their musical performance is simply one of the great treasures of children's choirs in America!”

Jim Papoulis, Composer and Conductor

"I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of choirs on all continents, and Cantabile is among the best. My experience with Elena Sharkova and her choirs was magical. The musical integrity, the desire to improve, and the vision by an amazing conductor, creates a superb experience for the creation of real music. The combination of musicianship, depth of programming, and pure enjoyment from the choristers was truly unique.”

Mark Lemaire, Recording Engineer, RubatoRecording.com

"Incredible! In my years of recording choral groups of all ages, I have never heard young people singing with such precision, grace, and power. The repertoire, drawn from many cultures, is mind-opening and musically challenging. Bravo, Elena Sharkova and Cantabile!"

David Bratman, San Francisco Classical Voice

"The choruses outstripped even the soloists in awesomeness…The Chorale enunciated its lyrics with a clarity that overwhelmed its position far off at the back of the stage."

Ragnar Bohlin, San Francisco Symphony Chorus Director, Artistic Director, Cappella SF & Corty Fengler, Cappella SF Board Chair

"It was a great concert last night. The girls shone bright; their singing was stunning, and of course they impressed everyone with the fact that they had all that Russian memorized. Not to mention the French! Cantabile is surely a bright star in the Bay Area."

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...

See full bio

Meet Our Artistic Staff

ANDREA KLINE

Avanti Conductor and Prelude I and II Instructor

A native of Silicon Valley, Andrea Kline brings her life-long love of the Choral Arts to her new role as Avanti Conductor and Prelude I/II Instructor with Cantabile Youth Singers. A professional choral conductor, vocal soloist and instructor, as well as theater Vocal Director and performer, Andrea received her Bachelor’s degree in Music, emphasis Voice, from U.C. Santa Cruz, and her Master’s of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Yale School of Music.
See full bio

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).
See full bio

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.
See full bio

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.
See full bio

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.
See full bio

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.
See full bio