WHEN: Sunday, August 17 and 24 from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas 92024
QUESTIONS: Email Info@NorthCoastSingers.com or visit www.NorthCoastSingers.com
Encinitas, Calif. (August 11, 2025)—San Diego North Coast Singers invites music-oriented students in grades two through 12 to join its three youth choruses. Based in Encinitas, North Coast Singers provides an outstanding choral music education through performance opportunities and a culturally diverse repertoire spanning classical, folk, jazz and contemporary genres. The organization’s fall season begins in September. Interested students may obtain registration information and schedule an audition appointment by emailing Info@NorthCoastSingers.com. No experience is required.
The nonprofit youth chorus is North County’s leading youth choir offering students a welcoming place to sing. Being part of the choir helps students enhance vocal technique, learn harmonization, boost confidence and make friends. Weekly rehearsals for the three youth ensembles, Giocoso, Brioso and Capella, are held in Encinitas.
Now in its 33rd year, North Coast Singers looks forward to its next phase of organizational leadership having recently appointed Michelle Risling as Interim Artistic Director. Risling began singing with North Coast Singers as a child herself and has led the Capella high school ensemble since 2008. She has also served as Artistic Director of Sorelle Women’s Chorus since 2022. Risling reflects the lifelong positive impact the arts organization brings to its members.
“North Coast Singers developed my love for music as a young singer and has been instrumental in shaping who I am today as a conductor and music educator. I deeply believe that both the musical and life skills these choirs provide are so necessary to young people. It is a welcoming and inclusive place to create art, and we are passionate about bringing this opportunity to local students and the larger San Diego community. For kids who love to sing, choir can be a lifelong creative outlet that offers so much to each of us artistically and personally. I am thrilled to continue the legacy of North Coast Singers,” explained Risling.
Risling has an extensive background in youth choral education, currently directing multiple curricular choir classes and a guitar orchestra at Temecula Preparatory School. Since 2008, she has conducted professionally and performed as a soloist and ensemble singer.
Rejoining North Coast Singers this season is Dr. Justine Hansen as Director of Giocoso and Brioso ensembles. Dr. Hansen has taught and directed music for nearly 20 years. She is currently the Director of Music at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Coronado and performs locally as a freelance soprano soloist and ensemble member. Also this season, Sally Husch Dean, founder of North Coast Singers, has rejoined the organization’s Board, strengthening the nonprofit’s dedication to the choral arts.
ABOUT NORTH COAST SINGERS
Created to provide an excellent choral music education to local youth, San Diego North Coast Singers is recognized for its exceptional artistic quality and the joyous performance of songs from diverse cultures. The nonprofit youth chorus program was founded in 1993 by Sally Husch Dean and is now led by Interim 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. For more information, visit www.NorthCoastSingers.com.
San Dieguito United Methodist Church
San Diego North Coast Singers