MYT's Shining Stars
Music & Theater Education for students in grades 2-5
Shining Stars take the next step in performing arts. Students learn choreography, how to read basic music and notation, improve reading and memorization skills, and begin character development while gaining confidence, learning to project, and how to work as a team. The program ends with a 30-minute musical where every student gets their moment to shine.
Now in rehearsal:
Music Man KIDS
See our show Nov 21-22! Buy tickets.
Upcoming Registrations:
Spring 2026 registration opens soon!
*Spring is grades 1-12 (including Kindergarteners who participated in Fall 2025)
MTC '26 (Summer Camp) Early Bird Registration:
Oct 26-Oct 31. Learn more.
Our Program
MYT is a year round program for students in grades K-12, staging 12 productions in this 2025-26 season. In addition to preparing for the show, our rehearsals also focus on teamwork, music, dance, and character development. Our Shining Star program runs for 3 months in the Fall and for 2 2-week sessions in the summer. In the Spring, everyone works together on the same musical.
Rehearsals and Performances
Our program rehearses at the Y-Arts Building (14-16 W Main) in the fall and spring, with performances at Edison Middle School. Our summer camp programs rehease and perform under the MYTent at Mountain Mist Day Camp
Registration
Registration for all MYT programs is processed by the Meriden YMCA. If you are not a member of the Y, you can purchase a program membership to sign up for Y programs like MYT. Current Y members may register online. Others may call or visit the front desk (110 W Main).
Our Staff
Jalina Secchiaroli is the director of our Shining Star program. Carolyn Daniels is the MYT program director. You can contact her at cdaniels@meridenymca.org.
Our junior staff, interns, and CITs support the Shining Star program year-round, creating a unique mentoring program where our elementary students work with high school and college students who are alumni or studying education in college.
Shining Stars History
2016: 101 Dalmatians KIDS & Elf JR
2017: Aristocats KIDS & Sendin' Out Love
2018: Willy Wonka KIDS & BCPE
2019: Frog and Toad KIDS & The Greatest Snowman
2020: Annie KIDS
2021: Jungle Book KIDS & Frozen KIDS
2022: AristoCats KIDS & North Pole's Got Talent
2023: Winnie the Pooh KIDS & Once on a Housetop
2024: Finding Nemo KIDS & Willy Wonka JR
2025: Frog and Toad KIDS
