The Susquehanna Youth Chorale is part of the Educational Outreach Program of the Susquehanna Chorale and provides a focused rehearsal and performing opportunity for students within the Susquehanna Valley. The Youth Chorale was founded in 1988 and consists of 60 students in grades nine through freshman year of college.

The Chorale was formed to complement existing school music programs, giving talented young singers a chance to rehearse and perform with other highly motivated students at an advanced level of artistic excellence. Students are auditioned for membership and are required to pay a membership fee. A scholarship fund has been established to provide financial assistance for any deserving young musician who has auditioned successfully for the chorale. 

The Chorale rehearses two hours each week for ten weeks during the fall. Rehearsals focus on a Scholarship Benefit Concert and the annual Youth Choral Festival in November. The program's repertoire includes pieces from many periods of music history and encompasses a wide range of styles, from sacred music to folk songs. Emphasis in rehearsals is on fine choral literature and developing good vocal habits through choral techniques.

The Youth Chorale has sponsored a conducting internship each season, offered to area college juniors or seniors. Interns are chosen based on application and recommendations from college music directors.  

Youth Chorale members are offered a course in sight-singing/sight-reading each week for eight weeks, usually taught by members of the adult Susquehanna Chorale.

Many members of the Youth Chorale have appeared as soloists with the group, have won Pennsylvania State Choir honors, and have gone on to major in music at the college level. Many of the student conductors have gone to graduate school and are involved in or planning careers in choral music. One has come back as a member of the adult Susquehanna Chorale.

The Youth Chorale has performed for the Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Awards, the Founder's Day program at the Milton Hershey School, at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank's Taster's Luncheon, as part of the Harrisburg Symphony's Christmas Pops Concert, as well as for area churches and Messiah Village, a large local retirement center.

A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, George Diehl has a strong theater grounding from his days as a performer in high school and college musicals. He graduated magna cum laude from Susquehanna University and holds a degree in music education with a vocal emphasis.

In addition to his duties with the Youth Chorale, Mr. Diehl is music director for Central Dauphin East Junior High School and Assistant Marching Band Director for Central Dauphin East High School.

"I look forward to every Tuesday night rehearsal with the Youth Chorale," says Diehl. "It’s a joy to work with a choir of this caliber."

He also looks forward to giving youth an opportunity to sing outside of the school environment. "There are programs for children and for adults, but nothing for this age group," says Mr. Diehl. "No other program centers on developing the voice, and encouraging students to keep music in their lives even beyond school. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with students from many school districts, and look forward to many good years with the Youth Chorale."