`Til Dawn, Youth in Arts A Cappella ensemble, is an advanced vocal music program for motivated young artists. `Til Dawn celebrates the value of the arts, encourages positive messages about meaningful social issues, and inspires children of all ages. The group performs a mix of rock, pop, blues, jazz and soul standards and contemporary hits, in addition to original songs by group members.
`Til Dawn is a tuition-based program, but no student is ever turned away because of inability to pay.
ANNOUNCING:
New Members of `Til Dawn
Patrick E. – Bass – 2028 – Novato High School
Kaden H. – Tenor – 2028 – San Marin High School
Aaron J. – Tenor – 2026 – Archie Williams High School
Sydney L. – Soprano – 2028 – Terra Linda High School
Nadia R. – Alto – 2029 – Archie Williams High School
Welcome to `Til Dawn a cappella!
Upcoming Performances
April 25, 2026; 11 am – 3 pm
C Street Celebration at the HeadsUp Carnival
Join `Til Dawn for a FREE, full length concert celebrating the group’s work from throughout the year. As part of YIA’s C Street Celebration, join us as we witness the passion, creativity, and talent of these young musicians. Bring friends and family to this community-focused concert.
July 1, 2026; 2 - 2:30 pm
Marin County Fair
July 9, 2026; 6:45 pm
San Francisco Giants vs. Toronto Blue Jays at Oracle Park
Watch `Til Dawn open the game with the Star Spangled Banner!
November 7, 2026; Time TBD
SchoolsRule Marin Fundraising Gala at the Bill & Adele Jonas Center, College of Marin
Audition Information
Upcoming:
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT AUDITION DATE
What to prepare?
Auditionees should prepare 1 minute of 1 song of any genre. It’s better if the genre is pop, jazz, rock, r&b, gospel, folk or blues.
Can I do a private audition on another date?
No
What is the audition process?
Step One: Sing 1 minute ofa song (preferably your song snippet a
cappella. ‘Til Dawn’s repertoire typically consists of 20+ songs,
ranging from doo wop classics to Motown to Maroon 5. The vast
majority of our repertoire is in English, and is pop, rock, folk, classic
R&B, or jazz-based. 1 minute of anything in one of these genres will
be appropriate.
Step Two: Pitch Matching. Austin will play a series of pitches on the keyboard and you sing them back on whatever vowel you want.
Step Three: Sing a background part in a quintet/sextet with `Til Dawn.
Additional Information
`Til Dawn rehearses 6 hours a week, roughly forty-six weeks a year. In addition to the rehearsals, `Til Dawn averages about 25 performances a year; these typically include a mix of community events, fairs, festivals, elementary and middle schools, private parties, mental health centers and periodic radio and television
appearances.
The group typically goes on three weekend-long retreats a year to strengthen the interpersonal relationships in the group. We are looking for people who want to learn about music, about performing, about listening and about being a part of an ensemble.
Mentor Artist Austin Willacy
Members of `Til Dawn receive hundreds of hours of instruction and mentorship each year from Director Austin Willacy. Austin provides not only vocal training and direction, but also leads `Til Dawn members in discussions and retreats that build the group’s cohesion as well as the critical thinking and interpersonal skills of each member.
Austin is a professional singer and songwriter who performs and records both solo and with Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. artists The House Jacks. `Til Dawn members often have opportunities to see Austin perform with the House Jacks or his own band. Most years `Til Dawn will open for the House Jacks in at least one professional performance. Read more about Austin here.