33 Years of Making Music: San Diego North Coast Singers Passes the Baton to One of Its Own

Celebrating 33 Years of Song

San Diego North Coast Singers celebrates 33 years of song with a new Artistic Director, three youth choir ensembles serving grades K through 12, a select women’s chamber chorus and an ambitious year of making music. North County San Diego’s premier youth chorus program, North Coast Singers provides an excellent choral music education for students through culturally diverse repertoire and inspiring performance opportunities. Enrollment is now open for children who love to sing. Rehearsals start in September and are held in Encinitas. Families are encouraged to visit www.NorthCoastSingers.com or email Info@NorthCoastSingers.com to learn more.

North Coast Singers has this year reached a full-circle moment having named Michelle Risling Artistic Director—Risling grew up as a member of the organization’s youth choirs, inspiring her to pursue music professionally. As a conductor, Risling is known for her thematic, well-thought-out repertoire that spans different cultures, and hopes her singers will experience joy, diversity and curiosity from choral singing. “My goal is to make sure that kids experience the same connection to each other and the same connection to music that I did as a child because it changed my life,” expressed Risling. “I want to share music from around the world and from people who traditionally haven’t had a voice in classical music. It’s my hope that music from other cultures will make children curious about the world.”

Singing Together Since 1993

Founded in 1993 by Sally Husch Dean, North Coast Singers has become the gathering place where others come together in song. The nonprofit youth chorus program is a leader in regional choral collaboration, best known for its Youth Creating Harmony Choral Festival. A focus on musical cooperation and artistic excellence has made North Coast Singers a vibrant arts community and culturally important organization for San Diego-area families seeking a welcoming and inclusive place to sing.

Risling has been conducting professionally since 2008 and recently earned her Master of Music in Conducting from San Diego State University, where she studied with Dr. Arian Khaefi. She continues to direct the Capella high school ensemble and Sorelle San Diego, the organization’s women’s chamber chorus, as well as provide overarching artistic leadership to the organization. 

Dr. Khaefi, Director of Choral Studies at San Diego State University, and Music Director and Chorus Conductor of La Jolla Symphony & Chorus shared, “The act of singing with others builds empathy and confidence, creates community, has myriad cognitive benefits and is simply a ton of fun. Under the incredible leadership of Michelle Risling and Justine Hansen, North Coast Singers provides a space for children to explore making music together in a fun, safe, rigorous environment.”

Risling is delighted to take this year’s middle and high school students to the Sing A Mile High International Choral Festival in June 2027. The Denver tour follows a variety of performance opportunities that also include North Coast Singer’s own Youth Creating Harmony Choral Festival in April 2027, a hallmark collaborative festival born out of the organization’s 20th anniversary.

Coming up next for North Coast Singers is Sorelle San Diego’s Universalis fall concert on October 18 at 3pm in Encinitas that also features the Capella high school ensemble. The Universalis program is inspired by the mythological figures that lend their names to the planets of Earth’s solar system. Each piece, starting with the outermost Pluto and ending with the life-giving Sun, will contribute to the narrative arc of darkness to light. Visit www.SorelleSanDiego.com for ticket information.

About North Coast Singers

North County’s premier youth chorus program, San Diego North Coast Singers was created to provide an excellent choral music education for students through culturally diverse repertoire and inspiring performance opportunities. The nonprofit youth chorus program was founded in 1993 by Sally Husch Dean and is led by Artistic Director Michelle Risling and Director Dr. Justine Hansen. The organization has grown to four ensembles, including three youth choirs and a select women’s chamber chorus.

Melissa Dennis is a Carlsbad-based marketing consultant. She sings with Sorelle San Diego and is a member of the North Coast Singers Board of Directors.