What is the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir?
The All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir (AOSFYC) was founded in 1963 by Glenville D. Thomas, who led the Youth Choir in concerts for thousands of visitors at the Ohio State Fair, directed them in a number of European tours and took them to several national parades. Championed by four-term governor James A. Rhodes, the Choir has sung for several gubernatorial inaugurations and was named Ohios Singing Ambassadors of Goodwill by the state legislature. Since 1992 the All-Ohio Youth Choir has been led by Charles R. Snyder of Coshocton. He and his staff have emphasized vocal health vitally important for the Fairs outdoor performances and unpredictable weather conditions, and commissioned new works which the AOSFYC has premiered. Five days before the opening of the Ohio State Fair, the new Choir meets at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus and launches into a rigorous schedule that includes vocal training; sessions on vocal health; part, sectional and full rehearsals; solo auditions; and marching in
