Quotes
“The mantle that once belonged to the deans of ‘golden era’ choral music conductors has been passed, and it rests with Francisco Núñez.”
— Barbara Murray, Director of Music, NYC Department of Education
“Francisco J. Núñez, who directs the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, has been raising the bar [for children’s choruses] over the last decade by commissioning a steady stream of works from composers who usually write for adults and weaving them into programs that include choral classics, spirituals, theater songs and pop arrangements.”
— The New York Times
“YPC [who Francisco conducts] sang [Four Heartfelt Anthems] with precision and artistry at the highest level. Every marking was observed. They sang so incredibly, it was inhuman…Francisco Núñez is the Horowitz of the choral world.”
— David Del Tredici
“Francisco Núñez conducted his own Es Tu Tiempo, a joyously swinging samba brightly sung by the LAMC High School Choir Festival Honor Choir mingling with adult members of the Master Chorale. If there was a single hit of the evening, this was it – and the song was promptly reprised.”
“Artistic Director and Founder Francisco J. Núñez must be some kind of wizard to have pulled such performances from these youngsters.”
“ And finally, how delicious was by Mr Núñez new arrangement, of Ah, vous dirai-je, maman, better known as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (which is also the subject of a remarkable arrangement by Mozart), for which the Young People’s Choir was augmented with 40 pre-teen members.”
“The best dancer on the podium in the business, Núñez even got the Master Chorale moving some.”
“Francisco Núñez led his own work [Es Tu Tiempo] with vigor and joy. Opening with a gospel feel, the song soon broke into a joyous Latin groove. Embodying the words “take a chance to believe, take a chance to dream,” the infectious rhythms soon had the entire audience tapping their feet and smiling like the students performing... It is a gloriously tuneful and unabashedly joyous work of music. While it’s a bit too late to be anthem for this year’s World Cup, I would like to put in my vote for the next Olympics. This is a tune that everyone could – and should – be singing. The audience was not content to let the work end, and their standing ovation was rewarded with an encore.”
