Oakland Youth Chorus
For more than 45 years, we've encouraged young people to find their voices and helped amplify them to create a better world. From Mozart to Motown, South African freedom songs to original commissioned works, Mexican lullabies to Filippino folk songs - we sing it together in harmony.
OYC offers:
- Award winning choral training
- Family friendly culture
- Inspiring Community Performances for all program levels
- Focus on diversity and inclusion.
We're looking for kids in grades 2 - 12, who love music, sing in the car or with ITunes playlists, and want to learn songs, games, and movement from different styles of music and songs from around the world. Whether live on Zoom with supported practice resources, or in person (outdoors and masked), our teachers create engaging and connected learning experiences that support young people in connecting to friends, expressing themselves, singing joyfully, and building respect and understanding for diverse cultures and peoples.
Join the Oakland Youth Chorus and create Harmony at Home and in our community!
Regular weekly classes will be held online via Zoom. If community covid-levels allow, we hope to meet in person 1 - 2 times this semester for special outdoor, masked and distanced all-ages choral performances.
Prerequisites:
NO PRIOR MUSIC EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED. We ask of our singers that they fully participate and support each other as learners and friends so we can grow together in harmony.
Itinerary:
Our curriculum meets CA educational Visual and Performing Arts standards. Singers are placed in the appropriate rehearsal group to allow them to thrive based upon their individual skill level. Elementary singers (grades 2 - 6) will connect in opening connecting activities, build skills in solfege, rhythms, movement and beginning theory, sing in small groups, and use call/response and other strategies to learn new songs and languages. Elementary-level classes include special community building activities - in the past these have included pet introductions, found object rhythm ensembles, musical scavenger hunts at home, and writing/arranging songs online with their teachers.
Concert Chorus and Chamber Singers (grades 6 and up) are required to have a 15 placement interview/audition, where we will determine their current skill level to choose the appropriate rehearsal group and set goals for the semester. Singers will work on 2, 3, 4, and 8 part harmonies, muscianship, and song writing. Planned virtual and remote projects include themed recitals, collaborative work with choruses and community organizations, and creating new works together. OYC also creates friendships and connections through small group breakout sessions and social activities such as paint parties, online watch parties and more.
OYC’s award winning Chamber Singers have performed in recent years with Roger Waters at the Oracle Arena, Oakland Ballet, Oakland Symphony, Sacred and Profane, Richard Sherman and Jodi Benson, and the Oakland Gay Men's Chorus. They have toured nationally and internationally, collaborated on recording projects to end human trafficking and racial injustice, and represented Oakland singing for the National Guild for Community Arts Education, CASMEC, Gap Foundation, Oakland's Virtual Presidential Inaugural Ball, and the Forbes 400 Philanthropy Summit.
OYC will provide practice materials so students can record themselves for participation in virtual chorus performances in the fall/winter semester.
Other Details:
There is an additional $35 materials fee for performance attire needed for virtual choir performances. This fee includes shipping to families.
To learn more and register for our Elementary class (Wednesdays 5 - 5:45 pm) visit https://bit.ly/OYCFall21Registration2-5
To schedule a placement interview/audition for singers in grades 6 and up visit http://bit.ly/OYCFall21Audition