African Children's Choir

The African Children's Choir is made up of some of the neediest and most vulnerable children in their countries. Many have lost one or both parents to poverty or disease. The African Children's Choir helps these children break away from the everyday cycle of poverty and hopelessness. Before being selected to join the Choir, children, generally aged between 7 and 11 attend Music for Life camps. These camps are fun and stimulating environments that provide a break from the daily hardships the young children face at home.

From the hundreds of children who attend the camps, approximately 50 will be chosen to audition for the Choir. Games, crafts, music and devotions are some of the activities the children look forward to at camp. Once the children are selected, Choir Teams will spend a few days visiting the children's homes to determine their needs and suitability for tour life. They then have the difficult task of selecting the group of children who will form the next African Children's Choir.

Ames Children's Choir

Artistic Director Dr. Sylvia Munsen founded the Ames Children's Choirs (ACC) program in 1995. The program includes boys and girls ages 8-16 from central Iowa communities singing in three choirs: Concert Choir, Chorale and the Preparatory Choir. A fourth ensemble, the Chamber Singers, is a smaller ensemble from the Concert Choir. ACC focuses on the development of self-esteem through artistic experience and is utilized as part of teacher training for choral music education students at Iowa State University (ISU).

Notable performances for the Concert Choir include: the World Premiere of John Rutter's Mass of the Children at Carnegie Hall with the composer as conductor; solo concerts at Washington's National Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC, and Temple Square in Salt Lake City, a performance with the Des Moines Symphony for the World Food Prize Laureate Program and a concert for the Meredith Willson Centennial in Mason City. The choir has performed in ISU residencies with composers John Corigliano and Libby Larsen and in a master class with Cantus. ACC singers have performed four times with Simon Estes in MCCF and ISU Celebrate America concerts.

Anima - Young Singers of Greater Chicago

Anima means breath, life, soul, spirit and mind and reflects our mission to provide experiences of excellence through choral singing, which enliven and shape young lives.

Anima is a world class youth choral organization, founded in 1964, which is internationally renowned for the quality of choral education and performance it provides. Formerly the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus, Anima welcomes young people from Kindergarten through High School in various ensemble programs.

The heart and soul of the program is the extraordinary choral sound which is developed in a nurturing, communal atmosphere with a group of other young people who love to sing. We invite you to peruse our new website and learn more about us; and if you would like to become part of Anima through enrollment, donations or hiring the Chorus to sing at an event, or if you just want to know more about us, please contact us.

Bach Children's Chorus

The Bach Children's Chorus is western New York's most respected children's classical music ensemble. The chorus appears regularly with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rochester Chamber Orchestra, Mercury Opera Rochester, and other area ensembles. The girls and boys in the group range in age from 8 to 16. and are known in Rochester's arts community as the best young singers in the area.

The BCC selects its members through rigorous audition each spring. Their repertoire consists of classical and folk music in many languages from the 18th through the 21st centuries. The children meet weekly for rehearsals throughout the academic year.

Beijing Angelic Choir

The Beijing Angelic Choir is a children's choir based in Beijing, China Since its establishment, it has toured extensively in the world as well as in China. !t came to be known to the world when it won a National Association of Independent Record Distributors Award in the U.S. in 1995.

Bulgarian National Radio Children's Choir

The Children's Choir of the Bulgarian Radio and Television is laureate and winner of Grand Prix, special and first awards, gold medals and diplomas for great artistic achievements at many national and international choir competitions and festivals."It is long since a choir performing in such a natural, fresh and easy manner came to New York", declared the "New York Times".

Hristo Nedyalkov - composer and Sofia University professor of Choral conducting (born 1932 in Dryanovo, Northern Bulgaria) received his musical education at the Bulgarian Academy of Music in Sofia and is considered to be one of the most outstanding representatives of the Bulgarian music. Artistic director and conductor of the Children's Choir of the Bulgarian Radio and TV with numerous concert tours in Europe, America, Asia and Africa.

Cantemus Children's Choir

Cantemus was formed in 1975 as a primary school choir and continues to be the school choir of the Zoltan Kodaly primary school in Nyiregyhaza in Hungary. Like other school choirs the eldest members leave and new members join every year as part of the normal progression of the state school education system. While the school specialises in music due to its name it does this within the normal curriculum and the choir members have to learn and rehearse their music in addition to normal lessons.

Cantemus has however become a special choir because the standards and successes it has achieved have given it a national and international reputation. They have also led to the creation of two other choirs which have established their own international success and reputations. The first of these - Pro Musica - was formed for older girls who had left the primary school choir and it began its individual career by wining the GRAND PRIX of the Bartok Bela International Choir Competition in Debrecen in 1986. More recently the Cantemus Mixed Choir has been established for both male and female voices under the direction of Szabo Soma and this has also achieved major success at international level. The vocal sextet Banchieri has also been formed from choir members and again has travelled extensively, competed successfully at international level and recorded many CDs. Links to the web sites of these other groups are provided on the front page of this site.

Chicago Children's Choir

In 1956 during the Civil Rights Movement, the late Christopher Moore founded the multiracial, multicultural Chicago Children's Choir at Hyde Park's First Unitarian Church. He believed that youth from diverse backgrounds could better understand each other-and themselves-by learning to make beautiful music together. Today's Choir is fully independent and serves all of Chicago from its home in the Chicago Cultural Center. Christopher Moore's vision of a choir combining high artistic standards with a social purpose continues to define the Choir's mission. The Choir currently serves more than 2,800 children, ages 8-18 through choirs in 45 schools, after-school programs in 8 Chicago neighborhoods and the internationally acclaimed Concert Choir. Under Artistic Director Josephine Lee, the Choir has undertaken many highly successful national and international tours, received a Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award for the 2008 documentary Songs on the Road to Freedom, and has been featured in nationally broadcast television and radio performances, most recently on NBC's Today show and the 2007 PBS series From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall.

Children's Chorus of Washington

Now in its 15th year Anniversary season, the Children's Chorus of Washington (CCW) has taken its place among the finest children's choral ensembles in the country, and is recognized for its program and artistic excellence. CCW comprises three performing ensembles and its 170 young singers, ages 9-18, represent over 100 public and private schools in the greater Washington, DC area.

In response to requests from parents, Founder and Artistic Director Joan Gregoryk established this outstanding performance-based choral music education program for children from the greater Washington area in 1996. In Europe, the tradition of children's choral music is centuries old. In the United States, the artistry embodied in the voices of children and the rich musical literature written for them has only been recently been recognized.

Chorus Angelicus

Chorus Angelicus is comprised of four choral ensembles, involving more than seventy children who hail from towns throughout southwestern New England. The Artistic Director is Grammy-nominated composer and conductor, Nicholas White, and the choirs are in residence at Trinity Episcopal Church in Torrington, CT.

The choruses perform a large and varied repertoire, from the classics of choral literature to contemporary and original compositions. There is a strong emphasis placed on musical education, as well as performance, for all the age groups and ability levels.

Colorado Children's Chorale

For more than three decades, the Colorado Children's Chorale has brought its artistry and charm to audiences throughout the world. With a diverse repertoire ranging from fully staged opera and musical theater to standard choral compositions in classical, folk and popular traditions, the Chorale performs with an innovative stage presentation and a unique theatrical spirit. In recognition of its artistic excellence, the Chorale was awarded the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and the prestigious El Pomar Award for Excellence in Arts and Humanities.

Crystal Children's Choir

Crystal Children's Choir was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1994. Since then, it has grown into a 1,000 member organization. The choir's mission is to strive for choral music excellence by providing choral music education to children and blending the best of Eastern and Western musical traditions.

>Crystal Children's Choir has toured Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America, and has performed at prestigious venues including St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican, Taipei National Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Davies Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Beijing Concert Hall. Crystal Children's Choir also received numerous invitations to perform in the CMEA Convention and the 2004 National Kodaly Educators Conventions. In 2006, the choir was selected to perform at the MENC 60th National Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Crystal Children's Choir also made two appearances at the ACDA Western Division Convention in 2002 and 2006 and was honored to p

Guelph Youth Singers

Guelph Youth Singers (GYS), now in its 20th season, has become a high profile representative of the City of Guelph in the field of choral music. The organization was founded in 1991 to provide children and youth with an opportunity to experience a professional level of musicianship. The four treble choirs in the organization are: Choir I, a training choir of children aged 6 and up; Choir II, a more advanced training choir of children and youth aged 9 and up; Choir III, a choir for singers who have superior singing and music reading skills, aged 11 and up; and the Chamber Choir, singers aged 14 and up chosen from Choir III who rehearse separately and prepare more challenging repertoire. Drawing from all choirs, a seasonal Boys Choir was developed in 2005 to compete in the Guelph Kiwanis Festival, to sing a feature piece in the major spring concert, and, more generally, to encourage the boys to appreciate their special part in the overall choir.

Weekly instruction includes vocal technique, theory and sight singing, and is augmented with workshops by guest clinicians in drama, movement and voice throughout the year. GYS performs up to five major concerts per season as well as workshop, festival, corporate, community and guest performances.

Indiana University Children's Choir

Founded in 1980 by Dr. Mary Goetze and Dr. Jean Sinor, the mission of the Indiana University Children's Choir is to teach young people to value and experience excellent singing through musical activities which develop skills, sharing, self-expression, and personal growth. This goal will result in a lifelong appreciation of fine music.

Indianapolis Children's Choir

Every week, thousands of young people in Central Indiana join together as members of the Indianapolis Children's Choir. The 2010-2011 season is ICC's 25th anniversary season, marking a quarter century of great work with remarkable kids and families. The staff, singers and families of the ICC share a commitment to the highest quality of music making and true artistic excellence. The whole organization enjoys musical experiences that reinforce mission driven goals of fostering a sense of self-esteem, discipline, respect, accomplishment and pride. The program proudly includes First Steps in Music, an early childhood division for 3 to 5 year olds, as well as a preparatory program for grades 1 through 4. The majority of the choirs meet at the ICC headquarters on the campus of Butler University. The eight performing choirs have children as young as 4th grade, and include the Indianapolis Youth Chorale, a choir for high school age teens. In addition, ICC sponsors several regional choirs representing Hamilton County, Johnson County, Boone County Hendricks County, and a neighborhood choir, Indianapolis Eastside. The first ICC regional choir, now called the Columbus Indiana Children's Choir, is celebrating its 15th anniversary.

Lawrence Children's Choir

Founded in 1991 by sisters Janeal Crabb Krehbiel and Marilyn Crabb Epp, the Lawrence Children's Choir has grown from one 40-voice choir to an organization comprised of six choirs serving approximately 250 singers from Northeast Kansas, including the communities of Lawrence, Perry, Emporia, Osage City, Topeka, Baldwin City and Eudora. Current choirs include Capo, for preschool-kindergarten students; Cadenza, for kindergarten-3rd grade students; Choristers for 3rd-6th grade students; Tour Choir for 5th-10th grade students; the Ambassador Choir for 8th-10th grade students, and the Crescendo Choir, for senior citizens. Upon Janeal Krehbiel's retirement in April, 2012, long-time assistant Carolyn Welch as

Los Angeles Children's Chorus

Now celebrating its 25th anniversary season, Los Angeles Children's Chorus under Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson is recognized throughout the country for its exceptional artistic quality and technical ability. Founded in Pasadena in 1986, LACC performs frequently with leading music ensembles including the LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Calder Quartet and Pasadena Symphony. LACC also assists Los Angeles Opera by training and providing children for its opera productions that require children's chorus or child soloists.

Michigan State Children's Choir

Founded on the belief that music dramatically enhances the quality of life, Michigan State University's Community Music School (CMS) offers opportunities for the study, appreciation, and therapeutic use of music while nurturing the musical development of all individuals. CMS is the outreach division of the MSU College of Music.

At CMS, students and therapy clients are brought together with music professionals who are committed to sharing their extraordinary gifts by offering accessible and affordable music instruction, music therapy, and performance opportunities for all in the community.

Milwaukee Children's Choir

Milwaukee Children's Choir is Southeastern Wisconsin's premier children's choir. We provide children with exceptional choral music instruction and performance experiences they can get nowhere else in the area. Founded by Emily Holt Crocker in 1994, a new era began when Carol Storck became MCC's Artistic Director in 2009.

Under Ms. Storck's leadership, we offer programs for children ages 4 through 18. All classes and rehearsals are educational, child centered, and age appropriate. We believe in educating the whole child, and work with the human voice to teach not only music but also important life skills such as poise, self-confidence, focus, problem solving, and teamwork. Experts agree that singing in a choir has a remarkably positive impact on children. Choir parents agree with the experts. Our choristers simply say how much fun it is to be a part of the choir!

Mississippi Children's Choir

The Mississippi Children's Choir was formed in 1990; comprising some 200 members from across the state, the assembled ranks -- all aged 7 to 17 -- were originally brought together as an opening act for headliners the Mississippi Mass Choir, but were such an immediate hit with audiences that they soon proceeded to record their own LP, 1992's Children of the King. With 1994's A New Creation, the Mississippi Children's Choir introduced featured vocalist Bryan Wilson, who soon after recorded his debut solo album Bryan's Songs. When God's Children Get Together followed in 1998. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

National Catholic Youth Choir

The National Catholic Youth Choir was founded in 2000. The choir is sponsored by the School of Theology•Seminary and meets on the grounds of Saint John's Abbey and Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. This choir was begun under the motto Spreading the Catholic Faith Through Great Music as a response to the call of Pope John Paul II for a "new evangelization." The choir sings music of various Christian traditions, ranging from medieval Gregorian chant to twentieth century music. The primary focus of the choir is liturgical, and the choir seeks to implement the directive of Vatican Council II that the "treasury of sacred music" be preserved and fostered in the modern liturgy.

New Orleans Children's Chorus

An advanced group of musicians who serve as the organization's premiere touring ensemble. Singers range in age from 10-18. Members perform a variety of compositions representing many musical styles from all periods. The Concert Chorus continues the development of musicianship in each individual singer, as well as the ensemble as a whole. Their tour destinations have included many cities in the United States, as well as Canada, Italy, England and Ireland.

The Concert Chorus has appeared at three regional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. They have presented solo concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City, performed at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, served as Artists-in-Residence at three universities and performed frequently with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Orleans Symphony. The choirs have also won numerous awards in music festivals throughout the Southern United States and frequently perform with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

Salt Lake Children's Choir

The Salt Lake Children's Choir, founded in the fall of 1979 by Ralph B. Woodward, as long regarded as one of the finest ensembles of its kind in the nation. The choir consists of boys and girls, generally between the ages of 8 and 15, who hail from the Salt Lake Valley and nearby communities. It emphasizes natural vocal production and works of the immortal masters, as well as oustanding folk and contemporary music from around the world. The children have sung music from the countries of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Namibia, Zambia, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Korea, China, and Native and African America. A prize winner in international competition, the choir has appeared with many internationally celebrated artists and organizations -- including Grant Johannessen, Frederica von Stade, Marvin Hamlisch, Pete Seeger, Kurt Bestor, and on numerous occasions with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Utah Symphony, with whom it has also recorded. The choir has been featured at several conventions of the American Choral Directors' Association, and has been heard on Public Radio International and PBS. Its singers are also regularly requested for major sound-tracks and promotions, including projects for CBS, NBC, and Walt Disney Productions).

Seattle Children's Chorus

In 1997, director Kris Mason and the board of Seattle Children's Chorus pursued an opportunity to serve the Puget Sound area children's choir community by hosting a festival for young, newly formed children's choirs The Seattle Children's Chorus hosted the Puget Sound Children's Choral Festival at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington, in June, 1997, which included a grand performance in the McCurdy Performing Arts Pavilion.

In June of 1998, the Chorus fulfilled one of its long time dreams as they embarked on their first overseas tour to England , performing in London and southern England and participating in a week of concerts and events at the MusicMakers Festival in Bournemouth, England . The Chorus (with choristers ages 10-18) received top honors as Senior Youth Choir of the Year, competing against all-high school groups.

Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir

In the Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir great music of all styles and historic periods is performed. The repertoire includes classical music, contemporary music, folk songs of many cultures, newly-composed works and sacred and secular songs with emphasis on love, peace, and friendship. Concerts are given both locally and in major centers of the United States and the world. Rehearsals are conducted with strict discipline with emphasis on regular attendance, preparation, punctuality, and excellence. Technical knowledge is imparted through practice and performance. Solfege-inspired teaching is at the heart of the rehearsals. Because learning to read music is an important part of SVCC participation, choristers receive weekly solfege instruction and will complete solfege memorization, practice sight-singing, and homework based on these lessons. Children with treble voices in grades 3-12 who have passed an audition may participate. Financial assistance is provided to qualified, interested children who would not otherwise be able to participate.

South Bay Children's Choir

The South Bay Children's Choir (SBCC) is a select group of talented young singers sponsored by El Camino College (ECC) in Torrance, California. Comprised of over 125 boys and girls ranging in age from 7 to 17, these young singers come from over 25 communities in the Los Angeles and South Bay areas, from Long Beach to the south and Santa Monica to the north.

Co-founded in 1996 by Artistic Director Diane Simons and the late Dr. Jane Hardester, the choir performs annually in the Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College, and has appeared at many other venues throughout the southland, including Royce Hall at UCLA, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Los Angeles Music Center, Segerstrom Hall in Orange County, and the Armstrong Theater in Torrance.

Southern California Children's Chorus

In response to requests for a child-focused organization, the Southern California Children's Chorus was founded in 1996 as an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to "enriching children's lives through distinguished choral music education and world-class performance."

Over 300 children are enrolled in a sequential choral program consisting of seven choirs: Ensemble, Concert, Advanced, Intermediate, Apprentice, Primary and Kinder levels. Guided by a talented and diverse Board of Directors and a highly-skilled musical and administrative staff, choral members perform locally throughout the year at special events and venues like the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Auditions are held in May, August, and early September.

St. Louis Children's Choir

The Children's Choirs includes about 500 talented young singers (ages 6 to 18) from more than 230 schools in Missouri and Illinois who bring their artistry and love of classical, sacred, contemporary, and world music to the concert stage for everyone to enjoy.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Berner, an outstanding music faculty trains young singers through a challenging and diverse curriculum with six ensemble levels that match the children's musical abilities. Now entering its 33rd season, The St. Louis Children's Choirs offers young artists world-class performance opportunities and a choral music experience that emphasizes musical excellence and character education.

St. Marys Children's Choir

St. Marys Children's Choir and Festival Youth Singers was founded in 1981. Over its history, more than seven hundred young people have participated in its training programs. Because of their involvement with the choir, many choristers have made and continue to make a contribution to the cultural life of Canada through their participation in church choirs, school and community bands, professional and community orchestras and some have chosen a professional singing career.

The choir has three divisions. Piccolo is a preparatory choir for children as young as six. Presto is the senior treble choir, which performs advanced-level repertoire and tours widely. Festival Youth Singers is a choir for boys with changed or changing voices and girls sixteen years of age and older. Individual coaching , by professional vocal coaches, and theory instruction is offered to choristers in the three treble divisions.

Tapiola Children's Choir

This Finnish childrens choir is considered one of the best in the world with an emphasis on both individuality and the singer's ability to blend with the other voices. The basic element is the young singer's own voice, moulded by the vernacular. The ideal sound is that of a stringed instrument: it is warm, light and translucent, the phrasing is musical and the singing gives the impression of being easy and effortless. But the ideal sound of the Choir is not just one closely-defined concept; it is a combination of different choral timbres and is always adapted to the music being performed.

Ever since the 1960s the Choir has been associating with many of Finland's leading composers. The result has been new repertoire of a high standard, free of all the mannerism of "songs for children". This collaboration has not been confined merely to premiering new works but has involved active participation in the process of composition.

Toronto Children's Chorus

Founded in 1978, the Toronto Children's Chorus is Canada's premier treble choir. Having performed around the world and having won numerous choral competitions, the Chorus's musical education model is copied around the world.

The Toronto Children's Chorus consists of six choirs: five Training Choirs and the Main Choir. Within the Main Choir are the Cantare, Chorale, Chamber, and Choral Scholars. As choristers become more and more accomplished, they graduate to higher levels within the choir structure. The highest level a chorister can achieve is to be a member of the Choral Scholars.

The Chorus is a world class treble choir. The Toronto Children's Chorus has performed on numerous professional classical recordings and has been invited as guest artist in acclaimed concerts around the world.

Voena

Voena (Voices of Eve 'N Angels), founded in 1994, has performed for Presidents Clinton and Bush in Washington D.C. and Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in Rome. As goodwill ambassadors, they have toured with their message of celebrating global diversity to China, Mexico, Italy, Greece, and Japan - from the White House, Mondavi Music Festival, Davies Hall to Carnegie Hall. With 100 + voices ranging in age from 6 to 18, VOENA achieves rich and inventive a cappella vocal arrangements by using multiple percussion instruments, dance, and theatrical elements, performing in a splash of color, and embracing our many cultural differences.

Vox Aurea Choir

Vox Aurea ("The Golden Voice") is a children's choir formed from the special music classes of the city of Jyvaskyla, Finland. The choir consists of 35-45 singers aged 11-17. The conductor of the choir is Sanna Salminen.

Vox Aurea was founded in 1968 and its first conductor was Torsten Lindfors. His successor, Kari Ala-Pollanen, was appointed conductor of the illustrious Tapiola Choir in 1994. Under Pekka Kostiainen since 1994 the choir continued to exel in varied and demanding repertoire the emphasis being on modern works, most of them composed by Pekka Kostiainen.

The singers in Vox Aurea are aged 11-17. They are chosen for the choir after auditioning. There are also two training choirs for younger singers to practise choir singing before joining Vox Aurea.