Community. Excellence. Heart.
Greensboro Youth Chorus is dedicated to helping students develop their musical talents, nurturing their love for music, and creating a strong sense of community through the joy of singing together. We provide a positive and supportive environment where children can learn, grow, and express themselves as talented musicians, amazing performers, and exceptional individuals.
With choirs for grades K-12, we help youth explore their love of singing. Our students learn music-reading, sight-singing, and choral techniques. We perform a wide range of repertoire from diverse places, times, and composers.
Through music we foster cultural awareness, community involvement, and collaboration, all while making friends! No auditions or experience required, just a love for music and having fun! If this sounds like your student, we’d love for them to join us!
Join
Registration for Spring 2025 will open soon! Spring rehearsals begin on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 and run through Tuesday, May 20, 2025. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Register here via Adobe Sign. | Tuition Payments
- Tuesday, September 3, 2024 – First Rehearsal – “Bring a Friend” Rehearsal – Come see what GYC is all about!
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024 – “Bring a Friend” Rehearsal – Come see what GYC is all about!
- Tuesday, September 17, 2024 – Fall 2024 Registration Deadline
Tuition payments may be made online through our Square store where you can setup a monthly payment plan or pay tuition in full.
Music Explorers
Grades K-2
Claire Jurs, conductor
Meets Tuesdays, 4:15-5:00pm
Greensboro Cultural Center
200 N Davie St, Room 121
$165/Semester
(~ $10/class)
Payable in full or in 2 monthly installments of $82.50
Fee includes weekly instruction and t-shirt.
Registration Opens Aug. 12
Music Explorers provides an opportunity for children in grades K-2 to learn the beginnings of music fundamentals and singing. Students explore basic music skills and concepts through movement, singing games, and music reading activities to prepare them for singing confidently and accurately in a group setting.
Apprentice Choir
Grades 3-5
Claire Jurs, conductor
Meets Tuesdays 5:15–6:30pm
Greensboro Cultural Center
200 N Davie St, Room 121
$465/Year
(~ $12.50/class)
Payable in full or in 6 monthly installments of $77.50
Fee includes weekly instruction, t-shirt, at least 3 public performances, and NC Sings registration.
Registration Opens Aug. 12
Apprentice Choir is the training choir of Greensboro Youth Chorus and introduces basic vocal and music skills for choral singing. Singers will learn a variety of quality repertoire to help them develop a healthy vocal technique, poise, and confidence in singing with others. Music reading will be introduced, as well as basic sight-singing skills using solfège (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and ti). Repertoire consists of unison and 2-part singing.
Concert Choir
Grades 6 and Up
LJ Martin, conductor
Meets Tuesday 5:45-7:15pm
Greensboro Cultural Center
200 N Davie St, Room 403
$600/Year
(~ $15/class)
Payable in full or in 6 monthly installments of $100
Fee includes weekly instruction, t-shirt, at least 5 public performances, NC Sings registration, and Piedmont Invitational Children’s Choir Festival registration.
Registration Opens Aug. 12
Concert Choir is for singers who will continue to develop strong sight-reading skills and sing repertoire in 3 or 4 parts. This choir often has the opportunity to perform with other community arts ensembles including Bel Canto Company, and may travel for prestigious performance opportunities.
Concert Choir members will also have the opportunity to audition for Encore, a small advanced ensemble. Encore will have
additional rehearsals on some Tuesdays from 7:15-7:45pm (schedule to be announced),
and perform additional, more challenging music throughout the year.
2024 Performance Opportunities
- Saturday, Sept. 21 – Retreat Rehearsals & Parent Open House (Apprentice & Concert Choir)
- Saturday, Oct. 5 – NC Sings at Queens University, Charlotte ( Invited members of Apprentice & Concert Choir)
- Thursday, Dec. 5 – Sunday, Dec. 8 – Nutcracker with NC School of the Arts (Concert Choir)
- Saturday, Dec. 14 – Winter Showcase Concert (All Choirs)
- Sunday, Dec. 15 – The Night Before Christmas Matinee Holiday Concert with Bel Canto (Music Explorers & Apprentice Choir)
- Friday, Feb. 28 & Saturday, Mar. 1 – Piedmont Invitational Children’s Chorus Festival, Raleigh, NC
- (Concert Choir)
- Saturday, May 17 – Spring Showcase Concert (All Choirs)
Greensboro Youth Chorus does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community including board members, staff, singers, volunteers, and audience members.
Summer Choir Camp 2024
Week 1: July 22nd – 25th, 2024 – CLOSED
Swingin’ & Singin’ – Jazz & More
Week 2: July 29th – August 1st, 2024 – CLOSED
Imagination: Music of Dreams, Creatures & Fantastical Beings
Monday – Thursday | 8:30am-1:00pm
The Academy at Lincoln, in partnership with Guilford Co. Schools Summer Arts Institute
Open to rising 1st through rising 6th graders
7/24/2024: Registration is now closed for all 2024 Camps. Please note, because of production deadlines, those who registered after 7/12/2024 may not receive a camp t-shirt.
Brochure | Registration Form | Payment Link | Counselor Application (7th grade and up – Apply by June 1)
Sign your student up for Summer Choir Camp! Led by Greensboro Youth Chorus Co-Directors LJ Martin and Claire Jurs, Summer Choir Camp is a Monday-Thursday choir day-camp designed to immerse students in the world of music, providing them with the opportunity to learn singing and music skills while engaging in a variety of exciting activities such as visual art, creative movement, and dramatization. Register for either week or both! (Activities and repertoire will be different each week.)
Summer Choir Camp is open to rising 1st-6th graders. Each week we will split up into two choirs. Grades 1-3 will be in one, and grades 4-6 in the other. Each week’s diverse range of activities are designed to not only broaden students’ musical knowledge, but also foster cultural awareness, community involvement, and friendship!
At the conclusion of each week of camp, we are excited to welcome parents, friends, and family to attend our free Thursday “inform-ance” where students will showcase the music they have rehearsed and demonstrate the musical techniques they have worked on all week.
Summer Choir Camp is offered in partnership with Guilford County Schools Summer Arts Institute. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Students are welcome to bring their own lunch and snacks.
Tuition is only $125 per week. Need-based scholarships are available (application included in the registration packet). We are pleased to partner with Guilford County Schools’ Summer Arts Institute, though which both breakfast and lunch will be provided to participating students.
Registration opens on March 22 and will remain open until both weeks are filled. Sign up today and fill your summer with singing!
For rising 7th graders and older, we have mentor and counselor opportunities. You can apply here or contact us for information.
FAQs
Who can join?
Any student Grades K – 12 who loves to sing may join, no experience required and all voice parts are welcome!
How do I register?
To register for Fall 2023, please complete the 2024-2025 Registration Form via Adobe Sign. (Available starting Aug. 1.) Your registration will be complete once we receive your registration form AND first tuition payment, which can be made online via Square at: https://bel-canto-company.square.site/#YxBTGQ.
When and where are rehearsals?
Weekly rehearsals will be Tuesday evenings in the Greensboro Cultural Center (200 N Davie St):
- All students will check in and check out in designated their rehearsal room before and after every rehearsal.
- Music Explorers, Grades K-2, 4:15-5:00pm, Room 121 (located on the first floor on the hallway perpendicular to the main hall)
- Apprentice Choir, Grades 3-5, 5:15-6:30pm, Room 121 (located on the first floor on the hallway perpendicular to the main hall)
- Concert Choir, Grades 6 and Up, 5:45-7:15pm, Room 403 (located on the fourth floor on the hallway behind the water fountain and restrooms)
Greensboro Cultural Center policies require that all children 12 years of age and younger must always be accompanied by an adult when in the building. Parents/guardians should escort their children to the check-in table before every rehearsal and must come inside to check out their child after each rehearsal.
Parking is available in the Church Street Parking Deck (on the corner of Church St and Friendly Ave, next door to the main branch of the Public Library). Deck parking is free after 6pm. Before 6pm, parking is free for the first hour and $1.00/each additional hour before 6pm.
What is the level of commitment required?
Singers are expected to participate fully in the choir program, including performances and consistent attendance for weekly rehearsals (ranging from 45 minutes to 2 hours a week, depending on the choir level and performances throughout the year). Calendars are distributed to families by September for the choir year. Please contact your student’s Conductor if they will be absent.
Are there scholarships available?
Yes! Partial, need-based scholarships are available by submitting a Scholarship Application.
Who can I expect to be contacted by?
- Claire Jurs ( cjurs [at] choralartscollective.org )
Music Explorers & Apprentice Choir specific rehearsal/performance information - LJ Martin ( lmartin [at] choralartscollective.org )
Concert Choir specific rehearsal/performance information - Jeffrey Carlson ( gyc [at] choralartscollective.org )
Registration and tuition information
How do I pay tuition?
Full tuition payments can be made and tuition payment plans set up online via our Square Store at https://bel-canto-company.square.site/#YxBTGQ.
What is covered in tuition?
Tuition includes a T-shirt, participation in the Piedmont Invitational Children’s Choir Festival (5th grade and up), and local performances. Regional and national performances my require additional fees when applicable.
Are there uniforms required?
All singers are expected to purchase their own concert attire.
Specifics will be provided at the beginning of each season. In general, GYC concert attire entails clothing items that are modest, professional, and relatively uniform. Black skirts or pants are typically paired with a black or white dress shirt or top, depending on the ensemble. Black dresses are also acceptable. Skirts/dresses must be ankle length and tops must have some sort of sleeve with no plunging necklines. Shoes must be solid black. Socks/hose must also be solid black. Jeans, leggings, t-shirts, and sneakers are NOT permitted.
For community outreach performances (e.g. national anthems, workshops, etc.), we will most often wear the season’s GYC t-shirt with black pants or long skirt and solid black shoes.
Attire may be purchased anywhere you like to shop – we want to give as much flexibility as possible in the hopes that whatever you wear can be worn for other occasions too. Ultimately the goal is to create a uniform look without the expense of buying a “uniform.” Examples will be provided at the start of the year.
What mitigation measures against COVID-19 are in place?
- All students who are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to do so. All staff and volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated.
- At times of high community transmission, families will be notified if participants are required to wear masks during rehearsal.
- Upon arriving at rehearsals, singers must be able to answer “no” to the following questions in order to participate.
- Have you tested positive for SARS_CoV-2 in the past 10 days?
- Have you experienced any of the following symptoms in the past 24 hours?
- Fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, congestion or runny nose
- Have you had close or prolonged contact with anyone having or suspected of having COVID-19 or any of the above symptoms in the past 10 days?
History
Since 1988, Greensboro Youth Chorus has offered opportunities that enrich students lives through music education. Led by an outstanding music staff that empowers young musicians through a diverse curriculum developed for young voices at all experience levels and for all voice parts.
In 2021, Greensboro Youth Chorus merged with Bel Canto Company to form The Choral Arts Collective, a not-for-profit organization supported by generous individuals and organizations in the Greensboro community.
We have had many exciting performance opportunities including state, national, and international competitions and festivals, as well as collaborations with outstanding conductors and composers.
Annual Concerts
- Opus Series Concerts, City Arts annual concert series
- Bel Canto Company Annual Holiday Concerts, selected guest choir
- Piedmont Invitational Children’s Choral Festival
- Advanced Choral Workshop
- Biltmore Holiday Candlelight Tours, by invitation
- Duke Chapel Worship Service
Tours and Music Festivals
- New York City, Carnegie Hall (2019)
- Williamsburg, Virginia – Bruton Parish Church (2015)
- Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC (2012)
- Appalachian Festival of Young Voices, Charleston, WV (2008)
- Canterbury International Choral Festival (1998, 2005)
- Montana International Choral Festival Missoula, MT (2003)
- Kathaumixw International Choir Festival-Powell River, British Columbia (1994, 2000)
- Central European Choir Festival (1996)
Special Concerts and Events
- 2022 — Greensboro Opera Company La bohème
- 2019 — Greensboro Opera Company, Hansel and Gretel
- 2017 — Greensboro Opera Company, Carmen
- 2014 — Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, Holiday Concert
- 2013 — 25th Anniversary Concert, Commissioned works composed by Andrea Ramsey and Tom Shelton
- 2013 — Help! Help! The Globolinks!, UNCG School of Music and Greensboro Opera Company
- 2013 — Elijah, Choral Society of Greensboro
- 2012 — Voices of Light, Southern Division American Choral Directors Association
- 2010 — L’Enfant et les Sortilèges
- 2010 — Amahl and the Night Visitors
- 1999 — Hansel and Gretel
- 1994 — War Requiem, Benjamin Britten
- 1991 — Amahl and the Night Visitors
- 2012 — Music for a Great Space Concert Series
- 2010 — Carolina Chocolate Drops, Triad Stage
- 2009 — Carmina Burana, Choral Society of Greensboro
- 2009 — Brooks Whitehouse and Friends, North Carolina School of the Arts
- 2004 — Mass of the Children, John Rutter composer and conductor, Hinshaw Music Celebration
- 1997 — Music for a Great Space Concert Series
Conventions
- American Choral Directors Association, North Carolina Fall Convention, Greensboro, NC (2013)
- American Choral Directors Association, Southeast Regional Convention, Winston-Salem, NC (2011)
- American Choral Directors Association, North Carolina Fall Convention, Greensboro, NC (2008)
- American Choral Directors Association, Southeast Regional Convention, Norfolk, VA (1996)
- International Kiwanis Convention, St. Louis, MO (1991)
Conferences – Workshops – Seminars
- North Carolina Summer Institute for Choral Arts, Boone, NC, selected choir-in-residence
- Choral Music Experience, Elon University
- Hinshaw Music Publishing Co Celebration, demonstration choir, Dr. Lynn Gackle, clinician
Past Performances and Achievements
Collaborations with Conductors and Composers
Robyn Lana, Dan Forrest, Dr. Paul Salamunovich, Dr.Henry Leck, Dr. Lynn Gackle, Dr. Randall Stroupe, Dr. Rollo Dilworth, Jean Ashworth-Bartle, Joan Gregoryk, Tony Guzman, John Rutter, Nick Page, Dr. Janet Galvan, Dr. Sandra Snow, Dr. Rollo Dilworth, Dr. Sigrid Johnson, Paul Caldwell, and Tom Shelton
Awards and Achievements
- Lullaby and Slumber Songs CD in co-operation with Moses Cone Hospital (2005)
- Award of Merit for outstanding achievement in the progress of better music in the Greensboro honored by the Euterpe Club of Greensboro (2003)
- Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence CD (1998)
Grants Received
- Community Foundation of Greensboro
- Arts Greensboro
- Grass Roots
Community Service Fundraisers
Current Greensboro Youth Chorus Parents Information
Greensboro Youth Chorus members are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. We ask that absences be kept to a minimum, as the commitment of all choir members and families is essential to helping Greensboro Youth Chorus maintain high musical standards and grow in their sound together.
Please notify your conductor as soon as possible and at least two weeks in advance of an upcoming absence. In the event of a last-minute emergency or illness, please contact your conductor as soon as possible.
Full tuition payments and and payment plans for Greensboro Youth Chorus can be made securely via our Square Store.
Coming Soon – New Greensboro Youth Chorus Member Online Dashboard (powered by Google sites)