As one of the most dynamic forces in the classical music world today, Grammy® Award-winning conductor Luke McEndarfer has built a career defined by visionary leadership, artistic excellence, and a deep commitment to youth development through the arts. With an impressive résumé that includes collaborations with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Kronos Quartet, and Josh Groban—as well as a conducting career spanning both coasts and the worlds of film, television, and stage—McEndarfer brings an unmatched passion to every endeavor. At the heart of his work is the National Children’s Chorus (NCC), where he currently serves as Artistic Director, President, and CEO. Under his leadership, the NCC has grown into one of the country’s most respected and innovative youth arts organizations. We caught up with McEndarfer to learn more about the mission of the NCC, its groundbreaking partnership with Compton Unified, and his vision for the future of music education.
Tell us about the mission of the NCC and your role as the Founder and Artistic Director
The National Children’s Chorus (NCC), with chapters in Los Angeles and seven other U.S. cities, aims to empower young people across the country through a comprehensive performing arts program that builds solid musical skills while fostering profound personal development. Over the years, our team has witnessed the incredible, world-class artistic achievements of NCC’s young vocalists, in addition to seeing how their participation in the program shapes their sense of self, confidence, and commitment to integrity. We now know that the NCC goes far beyond excellence in music, inspiring students to embody excellence itself as an overall approach to life. Though most graduates from our program choose to pursue career paths outside of music, there is an undeniable consistency in their success. NCC graduates are remarkably driven, creative, and committed, setting the stage for positive impact within their lives and the lives of those in their communities. With each passing year, the evidence becomes increasingly clear as more alumni report astounding levels of accomplishment. The NCC believes that through music and its uniquely designed curriculum, young people gain extraordinary insight into themselves during their tenure, leading to lifelong outcomes that are both impressive and meaningful.
My role in building the NCC as Artistic Director and CEO over the last twenty years has been to set the vision and facilitate the organizational growth needed to support our students at the highest level. This has included constant innovation, expansion, and improvement in all areas of our work. As part of its operational culture, NCC’s team of artistic and administrative professionals never stops setting the bar higher, continually dreaming up new ways to better serve our families and national community. My oversight and management of the NCC’s long-term evolution is perhaps the most important aspect of my position.
You recently announced a huge partnership with Compton Unified, benefiting youth across Los Angeles. What are you most excited about with this program?
The palpable momentum currently building within the Compton Unified School District, supported by a passionate board of directors and community leaders such as Dr. Dre, is one of the most exciting movements currently happening within the city of Los Angeles. The more I learn about Compton’s vision for the future, the more I am inspired by its boldness to unleash unlimited potential. The National Children’s Chorus was deeply honored this past year to be enlisted by the district’s leadership to join their efforts in uplifting and launching the youth of this community to take their rightful place among the nation’s best and brightest. At the NCC, we know that talent and capability are inborn and immune to economic or societal inequality. By that assumption, the only factor that could hinder the progress of youth in underserved communities is specifically their access to knowledge, training, experience, and resources. The trailblazing team of professionals leading the charge for Compton’s ascension to world-class is determined to ensure that the district’s youth do, in fact, have access to the finest educational opportunities, giving them the tools they need to seize their incredible potential.
The NCC’s role in this effort is to bring unparalleled vocal and musicianship training directly into select Compton schools as an accredited class, fully funded by the NCC through a new endowment made possible by a $1M leading gift from the Tylis Family Foundation. The most exciting aspect of our work with students in Compton is to develop the talent that already exists within them, strengthening both their musical voices and overall ability to express themselves effectively. Utilizing the robust national and global network of the National Children’s Chorus, our goal is to connect Compton’s gifted youth with the industry’s top-level coaches, instructors, mentors, and thought leaders. Students from Compton will also benefit from participating in the NCC’s acclaimed performance opportunities, including concert appearances at Carnegie Hall and internationally.
The NCC students perform all across the nation, including here at the Disney Concert Hall. What is that experience like for these students, and what benefits does it have for their future goals?
I think there are many similarities between architecture and music, and when talking about the world’s greatest concert halls, these are buildings created by some of the most prolific visionaries of all time, designed specifically for the art of performance. Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles is a perfect example of how extraordinary architecture not only sets the context for the music that is to be performed, but also inspires that music and shapes it in real time. For both performers and audience members, one can already hear the music upon arrival at the hall, gazing at its iconic steel sails façade and then being immersed inside a world of exotic woods that acoustically act as an instrument themselves. People may not fully realize it, but all of the world’s finest concert halls play a large role in every performance delivered on their stages.
When students of the National Children’s Chorus are honored with an invitation to sing at world-class venues, the experience is nothing short of life-changing. Not only do they feel inspired by the beauty, majesty, and creativity surrounding them in such spaces, but they also feel seen and heard on stages that are generally reserved for adult virtuosos. Getting to be part of the hall’s music and creating their sound in such a striking environment gives them a powerful glimpse into their own futures. When they are exposed to such multi-sensory excellence, it sets off a chain reaction in their minds, stimulating their imaginations to dream boldly. Seeing is believing, and when they excel superbly in such stunning settings, it really proves that their aspirations are limitless.
