About Voices in Plainfield THE SKILLS YOU LEARN IN CHOIR LAST A LIFETIME.
VIP Voices in Plainfield (formerly Spectrum Youth Singers)
VIP is excited to enter its 11th season, bringing choral music to young singers in grades 1-12.
VIP helps children of all abilities find their voice, grow, and have fun while singing great music. We believe that if a child can speak, they can sing! Our choral rehearsals provide a stimulating and nurturing environment where every singer can grow musically, intellectually, and personally. An audition is required for our main performance group which meets on Tuesday evenings. There are two flagship concerts per year and unique performance opportunities. The goal is joyous singing!
Mission
To enrich the lives of young people through choral music.
VIP Members Learn:
Healthy vocal and breathing techniques
Mindfulness exercises to stay focused and engaged
Musicianship skills, note-reading, music theory
Songs from diverse cultures and traditions
Life skills: empathy, critical thinking, self-awareness, responsibility, commitment
Our Program Includes:
Weekly engaging rehearsals with our professional director and skilled accompanist
Small group lessons and one-on-one coaching with the artistic director
Video and audio resources
Special Projects: meeting composers, connecting with international choirs, serving the community
Collaborations with renowned organizations and musicians; the choir has performed with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and DuPage Symphony Orchestra.
Leadership development for high school students: leadership training, choral conducting lessons, personalized voice lessons, opportunities to lead rehearsal, community service opportunities.
Development of self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-growth
Dedicated social time so children can connect, build community and have fun!
Schedule: VIP grades, 6 - 12, Tuesdays, September 9, 2025 - May 2026, 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Rehearsals are held once a week. In addition to full ensemble rehearsals, each singer receives one-on-one coaching or small group lessons with the Artistic Director several times a semester. Individual musicianship skills, note-reading, and vocal skills are worked on according to the level of each singer. VIP is ideal for students who would like to move to the next level of vocal technique and are self-motivated to practice independently. An audition is required for VIP.
VIP High School Leadership Development, grades 9-12, continues until 8:15 pm several times a semester. VIP offers exclusive opportunities to: lead rehearsals, conduct with podium time, train with 1:1 vocal coaching, build leadership skills. The first leadership meeting will be Tues. Sept 2, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. If you are in high school and would like to attend, please contact us.
VIP Junior, grades 3 - 5, Mondays, 5:15- 6:10 PM; Jan. 26 - April 27, 2026. Singers will be welcomed into a creative, energetic environment where they build confidence and develop a genuine love of music. Through group collaboration, students learn healthy vocal technique, listening skills, and music literacy. Every child’s voice is valued in this positive, upbeat class centered on teamwork, growth, and joy. No experience necessary. No audition required for VIP Junior, just sign up!
Plainfield Park District Program "Sing and Shine" VIP offers vocal programs for children ages 6 -11 through the Plainfield Park District, Thursdays, September - December 2025, and January 2026 - April 2026. An audition is not required for these programs. Registration is through the Plainfield Park District.
Artistic Staff
Artistic Director • Music Educator • Conductor: Oksana Rodak
ksana Rodak is an internationally experienced conductor and music educator, known for her dynamic leadership and dedication to excellence in choral artistry. She has worked extensively across Canada, the United States, and Europe, inspiring singers of all ages with artistry, insight, and encouragement. Oksana holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from the University of Toronto, where she studied with the esteemed Dr. Doreen Rao. She also earned a Certificate in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Her formative training includes studies at the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine, where she focused on choral conducting, piano, voice, and bandura, and studied with the legendary Ukrainian conductor Pavlo Muravsky in Kyiv.
A certified Artist-Teacher and Master-Teacher through the CME Institute for Choral Teacher Education, Oksana has held a variety of influential positions. These include Artistic Director of the Cantate Children’s Choir, Conductor with Anima – the Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus, and Coordinator of Children’s Music at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. During her tenure as Artistic Director of Young Naperville Singers, she founded the Boys Choir and the Boys Power Sing program. Under her leadership, the choir premiered at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, performed at an American Choral Directors Association convention, and began international touring.
Oksana’s artistic excellence has been recognized with the Glenn Gould Memorial Scholarship and the Leslie Bell Conducting Prize. She currently serves as Artistic Director of the Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America, continuing to champion Ukrainian musical heritage on the international stage.
Oksana's passion is working with young singers and guiding them to find their authentic voice. She believes that ordinary children can achieve extraordinary levels of musicianship. In pursuing excellence, she helps her singers nurture their musical development, self-knowledge, self-esteem, and confidence.
Accompanist: Heather Reddout
Heather Reddout was sitting at a piano as soon as she was sitting up and started lessons when she was five years old. She has spent the last 15 years playing piano for local church services, weddings, and funerals. Heather has enjoyed accompanying several local school choirs and school musicals, assisting and accompanying students for music contests and auditions. She has loved playing for local theatre projects and has been a part of the VIP and Spectrum Youth Singers family for six years. Life would "B Flat without music!"
Performance Highlights 2025 National Night Out, Aug. 5. Plainfield Art in the Park, July 12. Crescent City Choral Festival, New Orleans, LA. June 27- July 1. Joliet Slammers, singing the National Anthem, June 19. Plainfield Township, singing the National Anthem, May 14. Service Project: Timbers of Shorewood Retirement Community, April 26. Honor Choir, American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Convention, Dallas, TX. March 19-22. "Gather Ye Round," Music Institute of Chicago, Evanston, Feb. 9.
2024 "A Christmas Carol" with Playfield Players, Plainfield, Dec. 20, 21, 22, 2024. "Gather in Gratitude" with NaperVoice, Naperville, Nov. 17, 2024. Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Oct. 5, 2024. Veteran's Appreciation Event, Plainfield, Oct. 5, 2024.
Joliet Slammers, singing the National Anthem, July 25, 2024. Plainfield Township, singing the National Anthem, May 8, 2024. Service Project: Timbers of Shorewood Retirement Community, April 24, 2024. Spectrum Youth Spring Concert, April 21, 2024. Honor Choirs, American Choral Directors Association Midwestern Conference, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 7-10, 2024. Plainfield Community Gathering: celebrating unity and diversity, Jan. 27, 2024. Chicago Steel Hockey Game, Jan 27, 2024.
2023 DuPage Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert, Wentz Hall, Naperville, Dec. 17, 2023. Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Holiday Concert, Ozinga Chapel, Palos Heights, Dec. 9, 2023. Tree Lighting, Plainfield, Nov. 25, 2023. Spectrum Youth Singers Fall Concert, Nov. 12, 2023. Service Projects: Veterans Appreciation Breakfast, Community Hope Day, Nov. 4, 2023; singing at senior homes and medical facilities, Dec. 2023. Illinois ACDA Honor Choir, University of Illinois, Urbana, Oct. 28, 2023
Plainfield Township, singing the National Anthem, June 14, 2023. Joliet Slammers Baseball Game, singing the National Anthem, May 20, 2023. Spectrum Youth Singers Spring Concert, May 6, 2023. Singfest, April 22, 2023. Plainfield Village Hall, singing the National Anthem, March 6, 2023. Service Project, Community Hope Day, March 4, 2023. National Honor Choirs, American Choral Directors Association National Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 22-25, 2023.
2022 DuPage Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert, Wentz Hall, Naperville, Dec. 18, 2022. Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Concert, Ozinga Chapel, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, Dec. 17, 2022. Holiday Concert, Plainfield, Dec. 10, 2022 Downtown Plainfield, Grinchmas on the Green Tree Lighting Celebration, Nov. 26, 2022. Lincolnway Chorale Holiday Concert, New Lenox, Nov. 20, 2022. Art Without Boundaries International Student Online Conference, Nov. 5, 2022. Children's Choirs Connecting, autumn 2022, online connections with children's choirs from Canada, South Africa, Scotland, India, USA. Service Project, Book Collection for Bernie's Book Bank, Oct. 2022.
Ice Dreams Tour, Centennial Rink, Wilmette, June 5, 2022. SYS sang for Olympic Medalists and US National Champions in figure skating.
2021 Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Concert, Dec. 11, 2021. Ozinga Chapel, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, SYS sang for patrons before the concert and joined the orchestra on stage for caroling. Holiday Concert, Plainfield, Dec. 5, 2021
SYS AT THE LEGENDARY CARNEGIE HALL IN JUNE 2020. Canceled due to Pandemic.
2019 SYS at the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Concert, Dec 21, 2019. Spectrum Singers Holiday Concert, December Downtown Plainfield, Heart of Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration, November Downtown Plainfield, Crèche Lighting, Plymouth Congregational Church, November National Children’s Honor Choir (American Choral Directors Association Conference), Kansas City, Missouri SingFest, A Community Celebration of Song, April, Elmhurst Spectrum Singers Spring Concert, May Plainfield, Plainfield Township Days, September
