This special newsletter is an abbreviated post from the new blog of Cantare Board President Graham Seel!

Dear Treva,


Leah Schatz joined Nova, Cantare’s Oakland-wide youth choir for middle and high schoolers, as a shy sixth-grader.

 

“My first rehearsal was pretty nerve-wracking,” she recalls, “I was a pretty anxious kid, and I didn’t know many people there, and I didn’t know much about reading music. I was afraid of messing up.”

 

Now, as a junior in high school, Leah exudes a quiet, steady confidence. She is a senior member of Nova’s Leadership Team. She works as a counselor at Cantare Summer Music Camp. And she holds the distinction of being our most dedicated Student Board Member ever.

“I’ve had time to grow into myself,” she explains thoughtfully. “But a huge part of that is the community I found—people who share my passions, who help me challenge myself and who support me, mentally and emotionally. Cantare is one of those communities.”

 

As Board President of Cantare, I’ve witnessed stories like Leah’s again and again. Research confirms these stories: choral singing does build confidence in young people. In one study, 71% of parents noticed their children’s confidence grow after they joined a choir.

 

The reasons for this growth are as layered and harmonious as the music itself.

1. Skill Mastery

Learning to sing well takes practice and patience. When young singers finally nail a difficult harmony or hit that high note just right, they experience a tangible sense of achievement. That’s self-belief in action: “I worked hard, and I did it!”

 

2. The Courage of Performance

Stepping onto a stage can be terrifying. You feel so vulnerable, so exposed. But when you do it—you hear applause, you see smiles, and you realize you made it through—fear shrinks. Performing in front of an audience helps young singers confront and conquer their fears.

 

3. Belonging and Teamwork

A choir is a team in the truest sense. You lean on each other, listen to each other, and build something beautiful together. When young singers like Leah feel that support, it’s easier for them to take risks and trust themselves.

 

4. Peer Connection

Singing with friends makes the whole experience richer. It’s a place where kids feel seen, where they laugh together, stumble together, and succeed together. That kind of connection can work wonders on how they see themselves.

At Cantare, we are intentional about creating these transformative experiences. Our motto is “Lifting Voices, Uplifting Lives” because our mission is to help people—especially young people like Leah, from under-resourced areas of Oakland—discover the confidence within them. We use choral music not just to teach notes and rhythms, but to build up young hearts and minds.

 

Leah adds, “When I started singing in Nova, I was quiet while singing. Over time, especially as I got to know the other people and made amazing friends, I’ve become less afraid of messing up, and more willing to try new things. I’m more willing to sing louder.”

Graham Seel

Cantare Board President

Support Cantare
Facebook  Youtube  Twitter  Instagram