Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus
Ann Usher, Director
The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus was formed in 1967 to provide a high-quality choral group for the many orchestral works written for children’s voices, and to offer choral training to schoolchildren in the Cleveland area. Today, the 65-member Children’s Chorus performs annually with the Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus at Severance Hall and in the summer at the Blossom Music Center. Over the decades, the extensive performance history has included Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Britten’s War Requiem, Berlioz’s Te Deum, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Berlioz’s Damnation of Faust, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. The children also sing at the University CircleFest each December and perform at the Orchestra’s annual Christmas Concerts. The Children’s Chorus presents an independent concert each spring featuring a diverse repertoire of children’s chorus literature and has also sung the national anthem for several Cleveland Indians home games.
Eligibility
The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus and Children’s Preparatory Chorus are open by audition to boys and girls entering 5th-8th grades. All boys must have unchanged treble voices, however 8th grade boys whose voices have changed are eligible to audition for the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus. The 45-member Children’s Preparatory Chorus is a training chorus for less experienced and younger singers. Both choruses rehearse at Severance Hall on Monday evenings. The Preparatory Children’s Chorus rehearses on Mondays from 6-7 p.m. and the Children’s Chorus rehearses on Mondays from 7-9 p.m. Training for both groups includes vocal production and choral performance skills, and teaches sight-reading using movable do solfege and Kodaly/Curwen hand signs. Students will also develop leadership skills that will help them strengthen other choirs they participate in, including those at their schools. There is a nominal cost to the student for participation, plus the cost of concert uniform attire. Scholarships are available to those in need.
Auditions
Auditions for the Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Choruses are held each spring. For audition dates and requirements, please call the Chorus office at 216-231-7384, send an email to chorus@clevelandorchestra.com, or click here for the most current audition information.
