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For 43 years, The St. Louis Children’s Choirs (SLCC) has powerfully impacted the lives of thousands of children. Our mission of “shaping young lives through musical excellence” is built upon the hallmarks of character education, musical excellence, and world-class performance. We foster an environment in which children and teens can gather regardless of socio-economic status to create beautiful music, as well as connect with peers, express themselves emotionally, and develop as young professionals. Visit www.slccsing.org to learn more about SLCC.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Berner, outstanding music directors train our young singers with diverse and challenging curriculum in six different ensembles based on age and musical ability. SLCC offers young artists world-class performance opportunities and a choral music experience that emphasizes musical excellence and character education.

SLCC enrolls an average of 450 students ages 6 to 18 from over 200 schools and 85 zip codes in MO and IL to sing in six ensembles. SLCC has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the White House, and concert halls around the world.

Core Curriculum
Students sing both classical and contemporary music written by master composers. Performing music that includes a variety of styles — jazz and gospel, sacred and secular, folk music and Mozart, — students grow in a choral setting where they are respected as young artists and perform with professional musicians. All ensembles of the Children’s Choirs sing at Powell Symphony Hall each December. Advanced choirs tour nationally and internationally and perform as the official children’s choir of the St. Louis Symphony.

Ensemble Levels
The St. Louis Children’s Choirs trains interested young singers within six progressive ensembles, offering a challenging and age-appropriate choral experience. The majority of our choirs rehearse once a week from late August through May, with Concert Choir rehearsing twice a week. Beginning Music Makers rehearse for 45 minutes, intermediate levels for 90 minutes, and advanced choirs for two hours. Ensembles meet in small sections at different locations and times in West County and University City.

Music Makers
Music Makers are usually 6 years old and in the first or second grades. Melody, rhythm, and musical form through singing games and choral music are introduced.

Children’s Choir
Children’s Choir, for students in third through sixth grades, teaches the fundamentals of choral singing and beginning musicianship skills.

Chorale
Chorale is mostly for middle school students who have either advanced from Children’s Choir or have demonstrated an understanding of fundamental vocal skills in their audition. Chorale offers more challenging part-singing and sight-reading skills including mastering the intervals in the major scale.

Choristers
Choristers is an advanced level choir where members have either been promoted from Chorale or have demonstrated strong musicianship and sight-reading skills in their audition. Multi-part singing, as well as additional performance and tour opportunities are added for the Choristers’ experience.

Concert Choir
Concert Choir is the top treble-voiced touring choir that typically performs with the St. Louis Symphony and participates in national and international tours. Invitation for membership is extended to those singers who, through evaluation or audition, demonstrate appropriate skill and ability levels plus the proven commitment and self-discipline necessary for participation in this ensemble. Placement is re-evaluated annually.

Young Men’s Chorus
Young Men’s Chorus is for young men with changed or changing voices who demonstrate a commitment to the art of ensemble singing by maintaining the high level of skill and self-discipline necessary to perform challenging literature. Placement is evaluated annually and by audition.

Music Reading
Music reading classes are offered beginning at the Chorale level and recommended for students who are in 6th grade or above. Students learn to sight-read through solfege (do, re, mi, etc.), which enables singers to mentally hear a pitches before singing them aloud. Sight-reading is a different skill than playing an instrument like the piano, where the touch of the keys produces the sound. Reading music is similar to learning to speak a foreign language, and ability improves with regular practice. Music reading proficiency is required for placement in the advanced ensembles – Choristers, Concert Choir, and Young Men’s Chorus. Students must pass a proficiency test in both Chorale and Choristers in order to move up to more advanced ensembles.

Music Made Together (MMT)
SLCC strives to elevate the vitality, value, and visibility of choral music education and its role in the arts community by offering sustainable, high quality activities that engage a diverse group of students, parents, educators and audiences.

Community performances include nine concerts at under resourced elementary and middle schools, Griscom Juvenile Detention Center School, Children’s Hospital, and senior living centers. A Conducting Workshop offers music educators advanced Choral Music Experience Institute (CME) accreditation courses. Three summer camps let children continue their musical education beyond the regular school year. MMT programs include:

College Night Workshop
Music Teacher Conducting Workshop
Serving St. Louis Through Song Tours
Scholarships & Financial Aid for students and teachers
Professional Development Workshops for music educators
Des Lee Middle School Honor Choir
Elementary Honor Choir Festivals in South and North County – 3rd – 6th grade
Middle School Acappellooza Jr. Camp
High School Vocal Jazz Camp