The St. Louis Children’s Choirs Give Every Singer the Chance to Shine on Stage

Something beautiful happens every time a child performs their favorite song. Even if they stumble over a lyric or tumble off key, the joy they find in exploring their musical journey can be felt by those lucky enough to listen.

When hundreds of these young voices come together on one stage, that’s when something truly magical happens. As they share one song in perfect harmony, guided by directors who value the beauty of each voice, their impact can touch an entire city.

For the past 48 years, The St. Louis Children’s Choirs (SLCC) have transformed the lives of thousands of kids through musical excellence, allowing them to develop their musical literacy, build character and community, and experience unique, world-class performance opportunities. Yet, as exciting as it is to sing at Carnegie Hall or perform with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, it’s the one-on-one connection with SLCC instructors and their fellow performers that has the biggest impact on kids’ lives.

“One thing I love so much about The St. Louis Children’s Choirs is our ability to care for our young artists’ souls, to care for their emotions, and to care for their educational development,” said artistic director Dr. Alyson Moore. “We want every child to feel like they have a spot on the stage and a place in this world where they feel seen, known, and heard.”

To provide more children the opportunity to participate in its musical curriculum, SLCC recently expanded its summertime auditions into a year-round process that invites students to enroll throughout the concert season. With upcoming audition dates around the corner in December and January, and three program locations to choose from, your child can be part of one of the most celebrated children’s choirs in the country.

From lifelong memories to long-term friendships

SLCC’s expansion beyond its Creve Coeur headquarters into both University City and Edwardsville, Ill. has broadened the organization’s reach across the St. Louis region. Today, more than 370 children from 125 schools and 75 zip codes take part in SLCC’s lineup of ensembles.

Said Dr. Moore, “I hope that children come into the program finding a part of themselves they can’t find anywhere else. Not only are they experiencing their love of music, they’re able to go beyond the boundaries of their schools and neighborhoods to connect with kids just like them who love music, but also have a different set of experiences they can learn from. It’s not just about being able to share music at this time in their lives, but to build forever bonds and friendships.”

SLCC offers six progressive ensembles to meet children where they are in their musical journey. Kids as young as six years old can participate in Music Makers, which introduces melody, rhythm, and musical form through singing games and choral music. Once they reach third grade, they can join the Children’s Choir to learn the fundamentals of choral singing and musicianship skills before progressing to more advanced level choirs, including Chorale, Choristers, Concert Choir, and Cantus. Depending on the ensemble, rehearsals can last from one 45-minute session each week to two 2-hour sessions per week.

When singers join SLCC, they can participate in amazing experiences they wouldn’t have otherwise. In addition to four group concerts each performance season, choir members have sung with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, filmed an Emmy-nominated music video with the U.S. Air Force Bank of Mid-America, and performed at Carnegie Hall alongside their family members over the past year.

This season, SLCC will join The Ambassadors of Harmony, the five-time international Barbershop Harmony Society gold medalist, for a special concert, and travel to Portugal for an international tour. Another big highlight is SLCC’s return to the newly renovated Powell Hall for the much-anticipated "Illuminate" Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 7.

While participating in SLCC offers children incredible memories that will follow them throughout life, it also provides them with critical learning, emotional, and social skills they need today and in the future.

Explained Dr. Moore, “We teach music through an educational philosophy that uses small building blocks and puts them together so students can learn to deal with complex information. Music exercises the part of the brain that helps kids solve math problems and boost their reading comprehension. For example, we had one child who was struggling with reading at school, but after a year of learning to read and understand music, something just clicked when they picked up a book.”

For executive director Ben Nordstrom, the benefits of choir participation expand beyond the classroom into all areas of a child’s life. “Music teaches kids not only to be independent leaders, but to be young professionals. When you know you have to be prepared, show up on time, and walk on stage in front of hundreds of people, that’s a level of discipline, integrity, and work ethic that follows a child long after they’re no longer in choir.’

Auditions for aspiring singers are open now

Making performance opportunities more accessible to busy families across the region has become a top priority for the SLCC team. With recent changes to the audition process, kids can try out throughout the year and find a music program in tune with their school and activity schedules.

“As a parent, I know life feels busier, and we’re all a little bit more all over the place,” said Nordstrom. “Rolling admissions are our attempt to be more available to families and meet them where they are to be sure their kids can participate. They don’t have to wait an entire year if they miss us during summer auditions – they can jump into our curriculum anytime and get a year of music education.”

Kids of all ages and abilities are invited to try out for SLCC, and no one is ever excluded from participating. Choir auditions simply help instructors determine which ensemble will be the best fit for the child.

Explained Dr. Moore, “We’re looking for that spark in a child who loves to sing and wants to perform with other kids. It doesn’t matter if they come to the auction and sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or “Happy Birthday” – we want them to sing what song is on their heart in that moment. Eventually, the educational piece will fall into place, but our main goal from that very first audition is to ensure every child feels welcome the moment they walk through our doors.”

To learn more about The St. Louis Children’s Choirs and their upcoming audition calendar, visit www.slccsing.org.