Our Choirs
Music Makers: First Experiences in Singing is offered in 9-week sessions in Fall, Winter, and Spring on Tuesdays 3:30-4:25pm at SLO Nazarene Church. This activity-based program is designed for boys and girls ages 5 to 6 and focuses on developing our youngest musical artists in a fun and dynamic environment. Children will learn musical principles and develop a personal understanding of music through participation in singing, movement, games, and exploration of instruments, including the voice.
All of the following ensembles also rehearse on Tuesdays in San Luis Obispo at the SLO Nazarene Church. They are considered performance choirs and participate in concerts that close the Fall and Spring semesters. Additional performances are sometimes scheduled. These choirs begin the season with a day-long retreat in August.
Brio is a performing choir open to boys and girls ages 7 to 9 who would like to continue developing their voices, experience singing in a group, and learn musicianship in a fun environment! Brio singers learn basic disciplines of the choral art, including healthy vocalizing, beginning musicianship concepts, stage and audience etiquette, and studying and memorizing three to four age-appropriate choral pieces. Brio singers appear in our major concerts and often participate in scheduled community events. Performance in concerts is dependent on maturity and stage presence. No audition or prior experience is required.
Cadence is our upper elementary performing ensemble where treble singers, approximately ages 9 to 11, continue developing general musicianship and singing skills. Vocal coaching, healthy vocal development, and learning and memorizing age-appropriate repertoire are integral components of rehearsals. Cadence singers also concentrate on ear training and harmonizing, fundamental music theory concepts, stage presence and performance etiquette, and building ensemble teamwork. Cadence participates in major concerts and community events. A friendly vocal assessment for part assignments is needed; prior singing experience is suggested, but no audition is required.
Cadenza is designed to serve the vocal needs of middle-school-aged treble voices, usually for singers ages 12 to 14. Cadenza singers build on the same skills mentioned for Cadence singers, honing their musicianship and vocal skills and concentrating on higher level ear training, sight-singing, and vocal technique. These singers will deepen their understanding of the choral art and learn to evaluate, interpret, express, and connect choral music [the songs they are singing together] to everyday experience. Cadenza singers learn leadership and self-direction while practicing the various disciplines of ensemble work. Cadenza singers will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the upper-level choirs. This choir concentrates on honing their vocal and higher-level musicianship skills in preparation for the transition into the next level choirs. Though an audition is not required, some singing and musical experience is highly recommended.
Young Men's Ensemble is designed for ages 13-19 for both changed and unchanged voices and no audition is required. As with all of the CCYC ensembles, the emphasis is on musicianship and vocal training, along with choral studies. Healthy voice-building is stressed; regular voice checks are a part of rehearsal. YME typically joins Vivace on selected songs. In addition to performing in the CCYC seasonal concerts, they may tour or participate in choral festivals and appear at other local happenings including sporting events. This is the place for men to find their voices!
Vivace is an auditioned choir for young women from ages 14 to 19—some exceptions for younger singers apply at the discretion of the Director. Singers perform repertoire from classics to 4-part a cappella and all styles in between. Vivace singers are required to have vocal independence and developed musicianship skills. Members are expected to make choir a priority, come to ALL rehearsals, and understand that they are an integral part of a team. Vivace sings in all major concerts, choral festivals, and has occasional opportunities for traveling to festivals and other musical events. Vivace often collaborates in performances with local adult groups such as OperaSLO, the SLO Symphony, SLO Vocal Arts Ensemble, and SLO Master Chorale. Vivace auditions can be scheduled by contacting our office at info@centralcoastyouthchorus.org.
AVE is CCYC’s Advanced Vocal Ensemble, an auditioned chamber group made up of Vivace members. The recommended age range is 16 to 19, but exceptions do occur. A year-long singer commitment is preferred in order to build a strong ensemble. AVE members are expected to make choir a priority and realize that their commitment to the smaller ensemble [team] is essential. AVE singers must value their roles in the larger framework and understand that membership includes the following: leading as examples, mentors, and section leaders for younger singers; acting as ambassadors for CCYC; committing to participation in outside, possibly unscheduled, performances; willingness to work outside of rehearsals [responsibility for rehearsing/memorizing music independently]; attending every rehearsal possible, including Super Saturdays, extended Tuesdays, and occasional weekend meetings. Musically, members are expected to understand and be able to apply intermediate theory skills, learn difficult music, and hold their own part independently. Excellent work ethic, focus, and mature comportment is expected in rehearsal, on stage, and as audience members. Again, auditions can be scheduled by contacting our office.
All of the following ensembles also rehearse on Tuesdays in San Luis Obispo at the SLO Nazarene Church. They are considered performance choirs and participate in concerts that close the Fall and Spring semesters. Additional performances are sometimes scheduled. These choirs begin the season with a day-long retreat in August.
Brio is a performing choir open to boys and girls ages 7 to 9 who would like to continue developing their voices, experience singing in a group, and learn musicianship in a fun environment! Brio singers learn basic disciplines of the choral art, including healthy vocalizing, beginning musicianship concepts, stage and audience etiquette, and studying and memorizing three to four age-appropriate choral pieces. Brio singers appear in our major concerts and often participate in scheduled community events. Performance in concerts is dependent on maturity and stage presence. No audition or prior experience is required.
Cadence is our upper elementary performing ensemble where treble singers, approximately ages 9 to 11, continue developing general musicianship and singing skills. Vocal coaching, healthy vocal development, and learning and memorizing age-appropriate repertoire are integral components of rehearsals. Cadence singers also concentrate on ear training and harmonizing, fundamental music theory concepts, stage presence and performance etiquette, and building ensemble teamwork. Cadence participates in major concerts and community events. A friendly vocal assessment for part assignments is needed; prior singing experience is suggested, but no audition is required.
Cadenza is designed to serve the vocal needs of middle-school-aged treble voices, usually for singers ages 12 to 14. Cadenza singers build on the same skills mentioned for Cadence singers, honing their musicianship and vocal skills and concentrating on higher level ear training, sight-singing, and vocal technique. These singers will deepen their understanding of the choral art and learn to evaluate, interpret, express, and connect choral music [the songs they are singing together] to everyday experience. Cadenza singers learn leadership and self-direction while practicing the various disciplines of ensemble work. Cadenza singers will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the upper-level choirs. This choir concentrates on honing their vocal and higher-level musicianship skills in preparation for the transition into the next level choirs. Though an audition is not required, some singing and musical experience is highly recommended.
Young Men's Ensemble is designed for ages 13-19 for both changed and unchanged voices and no audition is required. As with all of the CCYC ensembles, the emphasis is on musicianship and vocal training, along with choral studies. Healthy voice-building is stressed; regular voice checks are a part of rehearsal. YME typically joins Vivace on selected songs. In addition to performing in the CCYC seasonal concerts, they may tour or participate in choral festivals and appear at other local happenings including sporting events. This is the place for men to find their voices!
Vivace is an auditioned choir for young women from ages 14 to 19—some exceptions for younger singers apply at the discretion of the Director. Singers perform repertoire from classics to 4-part a cappella and all styles in between. Vivace singers are required to have vocal independence and developed musicianship skills. Members are expected to make choir a priority, come to ALL rehearsals, and understand that they are an integral part of a team. Vivace sings in all major concerts, choral festivals, and has occasional opportunities for traveling to festivals and other musical events. Vivace often collaborates in performances with local adult groups such as OperaSLO, the SLO Symphony, SLO Vocal Arts Ensemble, and SLO Master Chorale. Vivace auditions can be scheduled by contacting our office at info@centralcoastyouthchorus.org.
AVE is CCYC’s Advanced Vocal Ensemble, an auditioned chamber group made up of Vivace members. The recommended age range is 16 to 19, but exceptions do occur. A year-long singer commitment is preferred in order to build a strong ensemble. AVE members are expected to make choir a priority and realize that their commitment to the smaller ensemble [team] is essential. AVE singers must value their roles in the larger framework and understand that membership includes the following: leading as examples, mentors, and section leaders for younger singers; acting as ambassadors for CCYC; committing to participation in outside, possibly unscheduled, performances; willingness to work outside of rehearsals [responsibility for rehearsing/memorizing music independently]; attending every rehearsal possible, including Super Saturdays, extended Tuesdays, and occasional weekend meetings. Musically, members are expected to understand and be able to apply intermediate theory skills, learn difficult music, and hold their own part independently. Excellent work ethic, focus, and mature comportment is expected in rehearsal, on stage, and as audience members. Again, auditions can be scheduled by contacting our office.
