On May 10th, 2025, a group of students stood on the stage and performed three songs as a choir at St. Mary’s International School’s Carnival in Tokyo. Rain dropped against the gym’s roof, but inside, the choir voices created harmony and warmth that seemed to push back against the gloomy weather. Mr. Takami, the middle school choir director, watched with pride. “I really enjoyed the grade eight and high school students [working] together,” he explains. “Usually, the choir is separated, like middle school choir and high school choir, but they worked together and even some eighth-grade singers took the solos.”
This unique collaboration was made by the Tokyo Youth Ensemble, an afterschool choral ensemble formed by Yotaro Koya with members across eighth grade through eleventh grade at St. Mary’s International School, aims to raise funds through awareness to aid cancer patients. The group was founded March 2024, and it has grown from a small collection of middle school and high school students into a team of eighteen vocalists.
“I started this group because of the influence of Mr. and Mrs. Stenson,” explains Yotaro Koya, the ensemble’s founder and eleventh-grade conductor. “They really made me want to try conducting and learn more about music and teaching it to people.” The ensemble’s mission extends beyond musical performance. Last year, they raised funds for Save the Children after the Noto earthquake. This year, they’re collaborating with the Japan Cancer Society, and transforming their musical talents into a powerful tool for community support.
The ensemble carefully selected three pieces to perform, and each was chosen to showcase different musical styles and emotional depths. “In the past, the group has mostly performed pop pieces,” Koya explains. “This year, I wanted to conduct a little more choral piece.” The repertoire includes “Ride in a Chariot,” a traditional African-American spiritual song that highlights themes of hope and resilience. With the experiences of enslaved African Americans, the song uses biblical imagery of a chariot as a metaphor for deliverance and freedom. Its powerful call-and-response structure and rhythmic intensity reflect a rich musical tradition of community and perseverance. “When the current seniors were in middle school, they performed ‘Ride in a Chariot,'” Koya explains. “I wanted our singers to perform it because I loved it so much. It’s not pop—it’s more spiritual, like gospel—I chose that as like a different genre.” The second song called “Imaliyam” represents the ensemble’s exploration of South African choral traditions. “I chose it because it’s another genre. It wasn’t pop, it wasn’t spiritual, it was more [like] African folk,” said Koya. This piece shows the group’s technical abilities, drawing from a musical style that emphasizes community expression and emotional storytelling. “[Another reason is] that’s also a song that the varsity ensemble performed two years ago…The fact that varsity sang it, we can say we were tackling new and more difficult songs,” says Koya. The song’s complex rhythms and layered harmonies challenge the singers while connecting them to a broader cultural theme.
The last song is called “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and it is an iconic Simon & Garfunkel song that has become a timeless anthem of support and friendship. For Mirai Kobayashi, an eighth-grade dedicated ensemble member, this piece holds special significance. “‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ is probably the most meaningful to me because it’s one of the few songs we did towards the start of this ensemble when I joined,” he explains. For Koya, the song carries a similar perspective. “Bridge over Troubled Water has definitely the most meaning because we sang the same kind of arrangement last year when we had our first performance. And it means a lot because I can see the improvement from last year of the singers, which makes me really happy of like how [far] we’ve come.”
For Mirai, joining the ensemble was a transformative and significant experience. “When I started music, I was always learning alone or in one-to-one with a teacher,” he reflects. “So doing something in a group outside of class was a first-time experience for me. My perspective on music really changed as it’s a united thing, it’s a social event. And something that brings people closer in together.” The ensemble’s collaborative and student-led nature has its own challenges. “Especially because everyone [have] all these different schedules,” Mirai said. “Like this week where I skipped like most of the classes,” Mirai laughed and said.
Despite the challenges, the ensemble has created lasting memories. Mirai recalled last year’s Carnival performance: “We performed at the choir booth. It wasn’t on a stage or anything, but a lot of people came and watched us and listened to our music. And I think that was one of my most memorable experiences in this group.” Yotaro Koya shares a similar sentiment about the power of their performances. “So last year’s Carnival,” he recalled. “It was my first time conducting a performance. There were times during rehearsal [when] I was worried. But seeing everyone when they are singing, when they are really engaged in the music and giving 100% was something really nice to see as a conductor.”
Koya sees music as more than just an artistic expression; it’s a powerful community-building tool. “In terms of community service, it really shows how music is a way [that] can really build community, because people come together to sing, people come together to watch, and that’s a really powerful tool to really let people notice these causes.” The group has already raised 45,000 yen through small performances and online fundraising campaigns. In a world where young people are increasingly seeking meaningful ways to contribute to society, the Tokyo Youth Ensemble represents a growing movement of student-led initiatives that combine artistic passion with social responsibility. What truly distinguishes the group is that students manage every aspect of its operations, from songs selection to performance organization. It is a microcosm of how the next generation is taking ownership of both cultural preservation and community support. The Tokyo Youth Ensemble will perform at St. Mary’s International School’s Choir Room on June 3rd. All donations will benefit cancer support programs through the Japan Cancer Society.
