San Diego Children's Choir


The San Diego Children's Choir is a nonprofit organization committed to providing high quality music education and performance experiences to a diverse range of youth from the San Diego, California area. Founded in 1990, the San Diego Children's Choir is the area's oldest and largest choral training program serving more than 500 children ages four–18 at locations throughout San Diego County. It was incorporated as a non-profit public benefit corporation in 1990. Rehearsals and performances of fine music literature form the foundation of instruction and provide the youth of San Diego opportunities for artistic and personal growth through choral music performance.

Structure

Early Years Program - Early Years is a beginning music exploratory program designed for preschool, TK, and Kindergarten students. This class focuses on the fundamentals of music — ear training, healthy singing, intonation, early-music reading skills, beat-keeping, focus, concentration, and improvisation. Early Years is an active learning environment, engaging students' motor, oral, aural, and cognitive skills. Instruction is active and game-oriented. This is a non-auditioned, non-performing group. Early Years classes are offered in 8-week sessions in the Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Each of the following Core Choir levels builds a foundation of skills for the next level. Weekly rehearsals consist of between 20-30 students at each site, with the full choir gathering for all-together rehearsals and performances
Preparatory Choir - for 1st -3rd graders. Children joining Preparatory Choir typically have little to no prior musical experience. They learn basic vocal techniques such as posture, resonance and breathing, sight-reading and performance skills, including choreography. They sing unison and two-part repertoire in many languages and present four to six public performances locally each year, including two major concerts with the auditioned upper level choirs.
Children and youth in 3rd through 12th grade require an audition for placement purposes.
Apprentice Choir - for 3rd-5th graders. Children match and repeat pitches and rhythms, are competent English readers and function comfortably in the group rehearsal environment. They continue to develop their well-supported healthy singing voice and work weekly on a sequential music literacy curriculum. They sing in unison, frequently in rounds and occasional two-part repertoire in many languages and present five to eight local public performances yearly, including an optional full-day mini-tour each spring.
Intermediate Choir - for 5th-7th graders. Children continue to hone posture, breathing and vocal technique, developing a greater degree of musical independence through part-singing, sight-singing and aural skills. They participate in discussions regarding style, cultural context and history of various repertoire. They are local ambassadors of the Choir and frequently represent the organization at events. Intermediate choristers are becoming vocal and social leaders through development of their musical skills and confidence. This ensemble begins advanced level repertoire singing in two, three and four part rounds, and has six to 10 public performances and concerts each season, including an optional full-day mini-tour each spring.
Premier Choir - for 6th - 12th graders. At this level, choristers sing independently in three-four parts. They demonstrate advanced vocal techniques, fluency in sight-reading and harmony, and perform music successfully in a variety of languages and styles. Advanced sight singing and aural skills, an understanding and analysis of the choral score, a secure sense of vocal independence and adaptability as a performer are taught and emphasized. Youth take on elected roles to further develop leadership and independence both in and out of the Choir program. Extensive home study is required intermittently throughout the year. Choristers are required to attend an overnight retreat at the start of the fall semester, and perform in eight to 15 concerts each season, including local collaborative and high-profile performances. They have the opportunity to participate in summer tours that alternate from national to international each year.
Chamber - for 10th - 12th graders or changed voice males. Simultaneous participation in Premier Choir is required to participate in the level, including all required events and retreats. However, certain exceptions can be made in special circumstances. Choristers in this changed voice ensemble are expected to exhibit advanced musical independence and be able to sing mixed-voice choral works with confidence. Extensive home study is required intermittently throughout the year.
OUTREACH PROGRAMS:
Neighborhood Choir - offered on a limited, contractual basis to schools and community sites throughout San Diego County. In this sliding-scale program, elementary school students from all economic backgrounds experience choral music education in a convenient location. Children who start with limited to no choral experience benefit from peer interaction, musical knowledge and leadership skills. Informal recitals are held for family and friends at the end of each session.
Summer Camp - a week-long day camp for elementary school children. Program features singing, dancing, music making and art inspired by a special guest world teaching artist. A final recital is held at the end of the week.

Performances

The San Diego Children's Choir schedules two major concerts each year at which all ensemble choristers perform – the Holiday Concert at the end of the Fall semester and the Spring Concert at the end of the Spring semester. During the year, they perform at other venues suitable for each choir level. The younger choristers perform many outreach programs at libraries and senior citizen homes.
The Choir has collaborated over the years with other performing groups. They regularly participate in Holiday Concerts with the San Diego Symphony. In 1996, they performed the world premiere of "Requiem in Memoriam, Oklahoma City" under the direction of the composer, Ron Gillis. The San Diego Children Choir has performed Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" three times: once under the direction of Sir David Willcocks in Royal Albert Hall, London, under the direction of Maestro Yoav Talmi with the San Diego Symphony, and with the Choirs of the University of San Diego.
The Choir presented the opera "Noye's Fludde" in 2012 which was featured in Voice of San Diego.
Tours are also part of the educational program, providing an opportunity to be ambassadors for San Diego as well as travel and performance experience. The Premier and Chamber Choirs travel every summer, and they follow the tradition of international tours every other year. Tours normally include 6 to 7 concerts, home stays with host choir organizations, and daily tours of the visited countries. The Intermediate and Apprentice Choirs tour locally in Southern California in preparation for the longer tours when the choristers advance to the Premier Choir.
In June 2017, select choristers toured to New York and performed music composed by Francisco J. Nunez in the prestigious Carnegie Hall.